I may already know the answer to this, but how do you calculate the amount of calories consumed from the milk you use in your cereal? I put more milk in than what I actually consume, but I don't know how much I end up eating. I'm not one of those people who drinks the milk when they're done with the cereal, so I know I'm not consuming the full amount of calories from the amount of milk I poured in. Is there an easy way to figure out about how many calories I consumed, or do I just have to measure the amount beforehand and then measure afterwards and use the difference as the amount of milk I consumed (I'm hoping for an easier way!). Any help would be appreciated.

Well for me, I expect calorie counting to be an estimate, so I would just count the milk I poured in and figure little ups and down in measuring even out throughout the day.

But, if you really want to know. For 3 days, pour the leftover milk back into a measuring cup and measure it. Take an average. Subtract that average from the amount you pour in every day. Voila. That is the amount of milk you normally consume with cereal.

I use a half cup of skim milk in my cereal and count it all, even though there's always some left in the bottom of the bowl. All calorie counting is estimating and to me, 10 calories or so isn't enough to worry about.

If you do want to try to quantify how much you're eating, I think you've hit on the best solution.

I just measure it out and add it in, if I don't finish it I don't subtract calories. Perhaps measure out less milk to reduce the "wasted milk" at the bottom of the bowl?

Measuring or weighing is the only way to know for sure, if you don't drink it all. There is a much easier way, use a lot less milk, just want you expect to finish and measure it all going in, so there's less to worry about. Even a 1/4 cup of skim milk has only about 20 calories, so I usually only measure in a 1/2 cup into the bowl. That way, there's not enough left to worry about - at most 15 calories left behind in the bowl.

I do the same.. I measure out 1/2 a cup and count it all, even if I don't consume it all.

Similarly, I'd love to know how many calories in what I spill.

Part of my disability is a serious case of the dropsies, I probably drop/spill about 150 calories every day, but don't know for sure. I just chalk it all up to an estimate and figure that it doesn't matter too much, it's never that accurate. The only way to be sure of the calories in your exact personal meal and know that the ingredients added in manufacturing (e.g. bread, cereal) it were smoothly averaged out into your personal serving is to set fire to it in a calorimeter. Since you don't do that...

Is there a reason you routinely put on too much milk? Since you are making lifestyle changes just now anyway why not just put on a bit less each day, or if you are worried it might end up too dry put on whatever amount, say 4oz on the cereal and keep 2oz in a jug so you can put it on if required. Then you can put the excess back rather than throw it away. Add up how much you pour away each year and think of the impact of all those cows, all those diesel miles bringing it to the store for you to buy and then chuck out, it might motivate you to just use what you need.

You've figured out how to measure it, but I recommend you really make a point of consuming all the milk you put in your bowl. I suspect when you made the comment that you don't drink the milk that's left in the bowl that you may also not be a milk drinker so getting all the milk into your diet that you can in "sneakier" other ways is really important for most women who don't get enough recommended Calcium unless they work at it.

I was going to suggest using less milk too. If it were me, I would count it even if I didn't eat it - same as I record 1/2 cup of milk for my morning tea because I usually have two, but if I only have one tea I don't reduce the amount. I like overestimating a bit.

I just count whatever I've used, regardless of whether I've consumed it or not - but you could weigh out your cereal, tare it off, pour in your milk and then once you are done with your cereal, weigh the remaining milk?

ETA: The above is a very petty way of counting - I'd just count what you pour! :P

Measure it first. If you don't eat it all give the rest to the cat he/she doesn't give a darn about calories.