I have a question for you fine 3FC folks! Okay, as have many others, I have been convinced to begin counting calories. In the process of reading various posts and websites, I've also tentatively decided on a certain balance for my Carbs/Proteins/Fats. (I probably won't get too specific for a couple more weeks, when this semester is out.) Anyway! I'm new to this whole process, so here's the question:
What are the basic kitchen (or other) tools that you find absolutely essential to your calorie counting/weight loss efforts? Things such as scales, cups, etc. (as well as whether you use specific brands/types for reliabilty/accuracy)?
THANKS!!
P.S. I apologize if this has been addressed before; I searched the boards and came up dry.
I have an entire drawer filled with measuring cups - several of each - 1/8, 1/4, etc. and teaspoon/tablespoon sets as well. These are extremely helpful when counting calories, as I often use several at one time and no longer have to worry that my 1/4 cup is dirty or whatever. I just bought lots of the cheap ones at Wal-Mart.
I use my postal scale for weight measurements. It measures in ounces. I often wish it went into finer measurements, and weighed in metric as well, but since it's doing double duty I guess I can't complain. I use it nearly every day.
I have two sets of measuring cups, and one of them has a 1/8 cup which is nice to have. Also 2-3 sets of spoons. I often wish I had more sets of cups!
Teeny storage containers are really nice, too. Perfect for 1-oz. servings of nuts and the like, and you don't burn through plastic baggies and add to landfills. I have loads of ~2-cup storage containers too, since I always have leftovers.
A non #1 or #2 water bottle is a necessity too. You don't want to use the same kind of bottle that bottled water comes in; those are designed to break down quickly in heat and sunlight. They sell stainless steel ones, but the one I use is hard plastic with a snap lid and one of those ridgy plastic straws. It was some kind of swag I got at some point.
For me the essentials (and the really nice to haves) are:
- Measuring cups and spoons including liquid measuring cups.
- Scale that measures in lbs.oz and grams and can be zero'd out when you put a container on it.
- Calculator
- A variety of Ziploc plastic containers and plastic bags to take premeasured snacks with me
- A nice big fruit bowl that's pretty and can stay on the counter.
- A big lightweight mixing bowl to toss salads in
- A "Magic Bullet" to make my own salsa etc. in (so I know what ingredients are in it and can use more fresh ingredients.)
- PAM cooking spray
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
- Multiple dishes to bake chicken in/on (I make a lot of baked chicken)
Digital scale that measures in grams and ounces
Measuring cups and spoons
George Foreman grill
Toaster oven (I use it to bake and roast just about everything, instead of heating up the large main oven)
Cast iron frying pan
Melon baller (used for de-seeding cucumbers and all manner of squash)
Magic Bullet for mixing protein shakes and smoothies
Stick blender for pureeing soups and all kinds of other stuff
Off the top of my head, those are the things I use the most.
Hmmm, I think I might not be as "good" a calorie counter as a lot of you guys. I do have a small scale, and I use it to weigh some things like cheese and meat, and I do use a set of measuring cups for cereal, etc., but I have to admit that (Maybe because I used calorie counting to lose 45 lbs. and keep the weight off for four years pre-babies...I sort of lost my momentum with the kids...), I was pretty cavalier this time about just knowing how many calories are in most things and doing a lot of estimating. In my world, an apple is 100 calories -- big or small. Same for a banana. Eggs are 80. A capful of olive oil is 1 Tbsp. I only measured the peanut butter a couple of times before I now know what a Tbsp. of it looks like on a knife.
I think in the beginning it does take a while to learn what certain amounts of food/portions of food look like -- a half cup of rice, etc., but I plan to keep doing a modified version of calorie counting forever, and I am NOT going to haul out the measuring spoons and the cups for every meal for the rest of my life -- that just wouldn't work for me. There is nothing wrong with not being absolutely perfect on this as long as you don't fall too far into "wishful thinking" about what 1/3 of a cup REALLY looks like...or the opposite and not feeding your body enough.
I don't measure everything. I know what 2 tbs of peanut butter looks like since I spread it out over the same thing every time.
I toss my banana's on the scale if I eat it at home (peeled of course) but if I take one to school I use an average number. I weigh chicken most of the time. I always weigh my salad dressing because I would always go over if I didn't.
I mostly weigh stuff that varies a lot and has enough calories that I care. I generally estimate my spinach for example because the calorie count isn't significant enough for me to be accurate.
Mostly I'm being more picky now than I will further down the line because I'm still learning what's what.
Besides my digital scale - absolutely the best is my 12" Non-Stick Stir Fry Pan. Necessary for cooking veggies. When I first started I probably steamed all veggies but that grew so old over time. I now stir-fry and the taste difference is huge (you have to allow room for the oil calories). Also everthing cooks up so quick.
I think I might not be as "good" a calorie counter as a lot of you guys.
Since you're at goal, I think you're probably just fine.
Quote:
as long as you don't fall too far into "wishful thinking" about what 1/3 of a cup REALLY looks like...or the opposite and not feeding your body enough.
This is my problem. I never really was a binge eater, and although I ate my fair share of junk I also have been cooking for years and know what healthy foods are. My biggest problem is and always has been portion control. So for me, having a scale and measuring cups and continuing to use them is an absolute NECESSITY.
Sure, by now, after 2-ish years, I know pretty well what 2T (35g) of peanut butter looks like on my slice of bread. But it would be very easy for me to slooooowly increase that over a period of time w/out ever even noticing it. And before you know it, I'd be eating 3T of pb instead of 2. And that's an extra 90 cals a day. It doesn't sound like much, but do that with everything I eat - add a little here and a little there - and before you know it, I'm packing down an extra 500 calories or more a day and that would be bad!
Things like apples and bananas and oranges and so forth - yeah, I just estimate those, like you.
But there are some things that I will always measure and weigh because I know my particular problem areas - and it's not nearly as much *what* I eat as it is how MUCH I eat.
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Last edited by PhotoChick; 11-24-2008 at 09:45 AM.
I just started my good choices in May. I am still becoming accustomed to what a proper measurement looks like. I like the certainty of weighing and measuring my foods. So yes, I would say good measuring cups and spoons are necessary. I do not have a food scale yet but am hoping Santa will bring one and wrap it up next to my Spanx!
In addition, I also really like my Pampered Chef Apple slicer/corer and my Pampered Chef Strawberry/Egg/Mushroom slicer.
Essential Kitchen Tools?
