tracking cals. on Fitday question.

[RJC]

I just started using this site an am confused on the serving size and calories. For example I was seeing how many calories are in a serving of Avacado. I put in .25 cup and got one reading then put in 2 oz. and got another reading. It's the same thing 1/4 cup. I'm a numbers person so these little things bug me if my calories are off!

[emmie]

.25 cup is volume. 2 oz is weight/mass. There is a big difference. Think of weighing almonds as an easy example: .25 cup of almonds is roughly 1 ounce... Liquids are measured in FLUID ounces, maybe that's what has confused you.
Do you own a food scale? In not, buy one. It's indispensable if you want to accurately track your food intake.

-Emma.

[karate_girl]

something like avocado (given its texture) is more dense than some other foods or liquids (chopped lettuce), therefore a cup of a particular food may not be the same as the standard weight

[emunah]

Weigh by WEIGHT, not volume.

[RJC]

I do have a food scale. So you're saying weigh all foods on that and just go off those ounces? Last night I mashed up the avacado into a 1/4 measuring cup and I thought that would be the most accurate, but I can switch.

While were on the topic. Meat ounces, do weigh the meat you cook before or after because that and sweet potatoes too get lighter I've noticed?

[emunah]

Yes, you have to weigh it. Solid food can't be computed by volume due to differences in density.

As long as you are consistent you can weigh it cooked or raw.