How do you count calories?

I

Indigo88

0
I know it's obvious when you buy something which is prepackaged and it has the exact nutritional info on it.

But for example how would I know how many calories are on a chicken breast? Would I have to weigh the chicken breast? Before or After cooking? How about the stuff you cook it with (ie. onions, garlic, salt, pepper, etc), how do you calculate that? or is it negligible?

I'm sure we can't count them exactly, but I'd like someone to guide me, or direct me to some link if there is one with this type of info.

Thanks.
 
Yes you'd have to weigh it - there's a big difference between eating 4 ounces of chicken breast vs a pound of it. Fitday.com should be able to help with that.
 
When you buy steaks or chickens, it should have the weight on the package somewhere. It's usually pounds, and not ounces. If you don't have a scale, you can guess by how many pounds something is based on the pounds on the package (you certainly couldn't eat over what the package is saying, so you can always assume that 1 chicken of the 3 is less than the weight on the package). Or better yet, you can ask one of the sales clerk if he/she can measure each of the chicken for you so you'll know how many pounds each one is.

Also, try to buy three chicken breast at equal size/length so that you can assume that each breast is 1/3 of the total weight.

You can calculate the rate which is 1 ounce = 0.0625 pounds. So 4 oz = .25 pounds, or 1/4 pounds. Also, 4 oz = 113 g, in case you're living somewhere outside the US (I think other sites measure food in grams, instead of pounds, but I'm not sure).

*EDIT: I also believe that you count the pounds before you cook. Also, each 4 oz chicken breast is usually somewhere between 110 - 120 cals, depending on how you're cooking it. Hopefully you're not using the fryer.
 
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Dallen is far more precise than I am...but to each their own.

I track everything it FitDay, but enter in most of the foods as custom foods. For chicken breasts, I approximate the size. If I eat out, I try to find the meal or entree using one of the other on-line calorie calculation tools (e.g., CalorieKing).

You can be as anal or loose (but not loose-anal) with your calculations as you want-- just find the balance of tracking the information with the time you want to spend actually coming up with the calculations.

Good luck!
 
Same here..I use fitday and give it the good ole guesstimation for size..it is still very close as long as you input the cooking method correctly.
 
A little olive oil rubbed directly on the breast, seasoned, then grill (Foreman or BBQ depending on weather). We'll also bake them sometimes.
 
Indigo88 said:
How do you guys cook chicken?

I use some olive oil on a pan... any other suggestions ?
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I bake breasts in the oven several at a time and then keep them in the fridge as quick and ready protein meals for the next day or two. I eat them with sauces I have made myself so I know what is in them.
 
drseuss said:
You can be as anal or loose (but not loose-anal) with your calculations as you want-- Good luck!
Click to expand...

:eek2: :yelrotflmao:
 
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