Food Measurements?

[lookingahead 7]

I've talked myself in circles over here while I'm doing some advanced planning.

My NUT says that meal sizes are supposed to be 4 oz, or half a cup. I'd always thought that 4 oz was referring to the weight of the food, but it sounds post sleeve as though it's the size of the food (and the size of the sleeve)? And that food needs to be translated to cups (i.e 1/2 cup = 4 oz)?

So if I am breaking down a meal with Protein, veg and fruit, it would be: 1/4 cup Protein, 2 tablespoons veg, and 2 tablespoons fruit? Do you measure precooked or cooked? I'm assuming cooked since many foods shrink while cooking. And how do you get green Beans in a tablespoon?!

Is there ever a need to weigh food or will it always be by cups?

Appreciate your insight, I still have another week or so before I meet with my NUT.

[Lissa 2,631]

Looking, You need to measure your Protein post op. I do mine by ounces rather than cups. Usually I'm measuring out 3 oz of Protein and then I add veggies/carbs as I can tolerate them after eating the protein. At nearly 4 months post op, I had pot roast for lunch today. I ate my 2-3 oz of pot roast, then a few bites of mashed potato, maybe 2 teaspoons worth and 2 whole baby carrots. The rest of the plate is in my NEW fridge waiting for me to eat a few bites for the next few days.

I'll probably get 4 or 5 meals from the pot roast itself. I ordered the senior pot roast plate at Bob Evans today, if that helps for reference.

With other veggies, I find that cooked veg is easier to eat and digest than raw veg, even now. And, I'll eat a bite of two of veggies, but there's not a lot of room left after putting the protein in me.

I literally eat and think of food as protein or not protein. If it's protein, I'm eating it. If it's not protein, I have to think about it. My most favorite veggie is steamed broccoli. But, I can only eat a couple of bites of it at a meal.

Good luck!!

[RickM 1,747]

I just use weight and don't bother with volume measurements. In theory, your stomach has a specific volume capacity, but in pracatice it depends upon the density of the food and how quickly it goes thru - liquids go right thru me, though they don't for everyone. From a practical perspective, i have weighed food for a long time as it's just more convenient (assuming that you have a decent scale, ) and more repeatable - just how much is a half cup of spinach (or green beans) - how finely chopped, how compressed? Even relatively early on I was having somewhat complex meals that would have messed up too many measuring cups and spoons - much easier to put the bowl on the scale and add an ounce of this, 10grams of that, 15grams of something else... You soon learn what your comfortable capacity is for different foods and combinations.

[Amanda 3.0 140]

When the bariatric coordinator and nutritionist were talking ounces, they seemed to be talking "liquid" measure, which is by volume (measuring cup), not weight (scale). We all have measuring cups, but many Americans are not so familiar with the kitchen scale.

The bariatric coordinator gave me a small 7" diameter styrofoam plate that she had marked up as a visual guide. I will try to attach a cell pic.

Anyway, from what I can see, in my case, they kind of expect us to use measuring cups, but I will be weighing my Protein on my gram scale and using measuring cups for vegetables and starches. That is, when I get on real food again!