Comments on: Serving Serving Sizes

By: tmana

tmana — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:37:56 +0000

Given the variability even within a package (3.5 servings can range from 3.2 servings to 3.8 servings, count the grams), the only moderately accurate method is to get a digital scale and measure out everything to the last gram… which means having the self-control to not barrel through the rest of the bag, anyway, and never eating those foods “out”. Not the happiest way to live life.

By: Scott S

Scott S — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:18:57 +0000

The FDA may soon move to mandate that serving sizes correspond with package sizes. See http://nyti.ms/bweyPj for the NY Times article on that subject; this is long overdue -- how many people view a small bag of chips purchased with lunch as 3.5 servings? I'd guess no one, but the manufacturers do this to make their calorie counts appear lower than they are in reality, and they've been able to do this under the guidance from the Food and Drug Administration. The issue of how to measure broken chips is another matter entirely, one which Scott K. Johnson blogged about a while back (see http://bit.ly/bPufxe) in a post called "14 Chips?" which you might want to have a look at. The reality is the challenges dealing with measuring everything face a host of challenges that life throws in the way, which is why glycemic control will never be perfect like doctors would like. That says to me that the focus on glycemic control is a lofty theory and might be good advice with what exists today, but still a misplaced priority. A cure would be a better investment!!

By: Crystal

Crystal — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:03:31 +0000

Doritos, bad. Sun Chips, good.

I have a pump and I don’t always get it right. It happens.
Carb counting can be a weird guessing game at times, even when it’s written on the package. Then there is the over and underestimating of insulin dosage. Fun times.