Serving size and amount of servings not matching up? - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

SNMomof1 · 01-05-2010, 10:38 PM

Has anyone else ran into this "problem"?

Everytime I measure out my servings/portions, the amount of servings doesn't match what the box says. For intance, a can of Del Monte no salt added whole kernel corn is supposed to be 1/2cup servings and 3.5 servings per can. I have NEVER been able to get more than 3 servings from the can. Normally it's exactly 3. Tonight I made some hamburger helper and it was 1 cup prepared servings and 5 servings per box. When I measured, everything out it was a little over 4 servings.

I have 3 different kinds of measuring cups and they all measure exactly the same, so I know the error isn't in the cups. I don't pack in the food and I try to make sure the amounts are level. What could I possibly be doing wrong?!

CLCSC145 · 01-05-2010, 10:50 PM

Gross thought, but they aren't counting the liquid too in that serving size are they? It might explain the extra 1/4 cup... The only way I can think of to double check is to use a food scale to weigh it out.

medinazarley · 01-05-2010, 10:55 PM

I have a similar problem wit hfood like pretzels which have a weight & # of peices, when I measured the weight I came in 3-5 peices less than the package says, i just always go with whichever is smaller.

SNMomof1 · 01-05-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLCSC145

Gross thought, but they aren't counting the liquid too in that serving size are they? It might explain the extra 1/4 cup... The only way I can think of to double check is to use a food scale to weigh it out.

Great point with them counting the liquid! Hadn't thought of that.

cassieroll · 01-06-2010, 12:53 AM

Does the corn say approx servings 3.5? I know a lot of stuff I eat says approx on it. I figure it doesn't matter until it's the last serving and I usually count the full serving in my journal anyway.

SNMomof1 · 01-06-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassieroll

Does the corn say approx servings 3.5? I know a lot of stuff I eat says approx on it. I figure it doesn't matter until it's the last serving and I usually count the full serving in my journal anyway.

The veggies usually say approximately so I never stressed about it. But the hamburger helper last night said flat 5 servings and it yielded 4.

ars · 01-06-2010, 04:21 PM

Now that I have started using a food scale, I have found measuring cups to not be accurate at all (even though the packaging will clearly state 1/2 cup or 1 cup). If you had a scale and went by weight of a serving, I bet you'd get 5 servings from that hamburger helper.

SNMomof1 · 01-06-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ars

Now that I have started using a food scale, I have found measuring cups to not be accurate at all (even though the packaging will clearly state 1/2 cup or 1 cup). If you had a scale and went by weight of a serving, I bet you'd get 5 servings from that hamburger helper.

Excellent idea. I'll try using the scale instead. Thanks.

Passionista · 01-06-2010, 05:19 PM

I JUST opened a can of corn and, since I'm being more strict with such things, measured and it came to 3 servings and not 3.5! Funny!

ennay · 01-07-2010, 11:39 PM

On the flip side I have found that if I weigh my icecream instead of measure I get to eat MORE. WOOOHOO! They must use a high pressure squeeze to fit that much icecream in 1/2 cup. I usually measure closer to 3/4 cup.

Pasta is the other one. If I weigh out 2 dry ounces and cook it I get WAY more than the 1 cup cooked for most types of pasta.

If you are doing something like corn or hamburger helper I would not go by weight of a serving as listed on the package. I would weigh the entire amount (drained corn, cooked meal) and divide by the number of listed servings to get the weight of the prepared servings.

SaySumthing · 01-09-2010, 07:39 AM

I think with the corn, because the can yield's more than 3 servings (even if it's just 3.1) they have to put more. I don't think they can say it's 3 servings if it is actually, even fractionally, more than that, that's why they say aprox.

With the hamburger helper, I also suspect that part of the issue is that cooked hamburger not only weighs less, but has less volume than raw hamburger. Some of the fat cooks out (even more so, if you drain it) and some of the moisture in the meat evaporates. Again, I think they're suppose to err in the side of more servings, than less.

Most people would be upset if they ate a whole package thinking it was 1 serving and 100 calories, when it was actually 1.4 servings (140 calories) and they rounded down and said it was just one, kwim?

SNMomof1 · 01-09-2010, 08:14 AM

Ennay - Great idea about weighing all of it and then dividing! I'll give that a try next time.