Points confusion
 

I have a question about differing calculations of points and the points listed in the complete food guide. For example 1 pack of Lipton cream of chicken cup-o-soup has 70 calories, 2 grams of fat, and 0 fiber which calculates out to 2 points, right? In the complete food guide it lists this same item as having only 1 point. I've also seen this with other things and I was wondering should I just use the higher points and be careful? Thanks!

We have been told time and time about the diffrence between the books and the point finders. The books are "general" and not product specific. Therefore, you would be safer using the nutritional information on the package of whatever you are using to get the accurate points. For instance, rice is listed as 4 points per cup, but the Uncle Ben's original rice comes to only 3 points per cup based on the nutritional info on the box. Sometimes it gets very confusing; but trust the nutritional info and you can't go wrong.:dizzy:

I would view the book as an ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT when no other information is available. This is because, as Ginaki noted, it is a general, average value for similar products, AND because it is a point value (which is imprecise) for a specific serving size. It doesn't give you the information you need to figure out points for the amount YOU are having. For example, the book says 6 anchovy fillets are a point--which they probably are. But it turns out that a WHOLE CAN (drained) comes out to 2 points. If I counted out those fillets, I'd probably charge myself substantially more using the 6 fillets = 1 point. But something can be 1 point if it has 30 calories or 1 point if it has 70 calories. I use standard calorie reference books, websites (here's a great one: www.calorieking.com), nutrition labels, etc.

Eventually you'll figure out your own comfort range, too. Sometimes you'll want to count up to 75 cals. as one point, and other times you'll go with a 35 cal. basis. It will become more instinctual as you get more familiar with the program, with your own losing pattern, and the foods you normally eat. And honestly, unless you are consistently over/under charging yourself, it all evens out in the end.