When Serving Sizes Are Wrong

   I have shared that a low energy diet is endorsed by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and is the cornerstone to Volumetrics and  Weight Watchers.  Energy density of a food or meal is determined by dividing the total calories by the weight of the food(s) in grams.
   Sometimes the serving size of a food is provided in ounces not grams.  This is usually not a problem as ounces are easily converted to grams.  If you are choosing between two products and they are both given in ounces, you can just divide calories by ounces to see which is the least caloric.  Sometimes the serving size is given in ounces AND grams.  But be careful....
   I was choosing ice cream today - ice cream always gets me.  When it is a tub of ice cream the serving size is 1/2 cup - which is not useful for two reasons.  First it is unrealistic.  We tend to eat more than one half.  And Second, it isn't calories per half of cup that we need to be aware of but calories by weight - in grams.  I have pointed out before that the 1/2 c serving sizes have unequal weights across products and flavors (the grams are always provided so you can do your own math).
   When buying ice cream bars, (I choose from Weight Watchers and Skinny Cow).  I read the grams per bar to know which one is REALLY the lower calorie option. The front of the box might say that they are 100 calorie bars, but that does not mean that you get the same amount of ice cream.  I always want more ice cream for my calorie - more bang for my buck.  Usually Skinny Cow wins the calories per gram contest.  The Weight Watchers Fudge Bar is the exception.
   But today something caught my eye in the small print on the front of the package.  This led me to check those grams again.  On all the packages (excluding the fudge), all flavors of both brands said 6- 2.65 fl ounce bars per package.  How can they all be the same fluid ounces if they are NOT the same weight in grams?    The 2.65 ounce bar in the Weight Watcher group weighs about 52 grams and the Skinny Cow ones weigh  63 or slightly more grams.  
   But wait... fluid ounces?  Ice cream is not a liquid.
Either way the ounce to gram conversion doesn't equal what the product says.  When using fluid ounces the conversion from 2.65 = 78g, when using the more appropriate ounce to gram conversion the 2.65 ounces = 75 grams.  None of the conversions were true to the label grams.  
   When in doubt, ALWAYS refer to the grams..Actually, doubt or no doubt - its calories/gram so use the grams.
Now - time for some ice cream. 

Healthy NE Low Calorie

Natural does not automatically mean healthy and healthy does not necessarily mean low calorie.  I have said this before - but it always bears repeating.   (the abbreviation NE is from data analysis code - it stands for not equal- and I am spending too much time with data!)

About a week ago I saw a press release that announced the the purchasing of a company called Mrs. Mays by Dole Food Co.  I did not find that exact story when I searched again today but here is one from the WSJ.  In the story I read, the spokesperson for Dole was explaining that this was a perfect fit for the company as it is trying to improve vending options with healthier snacks.  Mrs. Mays is known for its natural snack foods.  When I read this, I made a note to look up the company, Mrs. Mays, and their products.  I did so because I know that natural does not mean natural much of the time and 'healthy' is just as suspect.  

I did my looking up today and in fact, I their ingredients hold up pretty well for the natural claim.  And ok - I will give them the 'healthy alternative to junk food' claim as well - should we be thinking candy bars and chips. However, they do not get the 'low in calories' kudos.  It can be tricky, but the serving size for most of the snacks is less than 1 oz - LESS than.  The packages contain a couple of ounces.  Some of the items are not loose - i.e. a fruit strip or a bar - and the serving size for those is just over an ounce.  Taken this way - the products are very high in energy density - over a hundred calories for an ounce of food? 

Mrs. Mays may be a good vending choice, but for me, fresh food continues to give the most bang for the caloric buck - with a high level of nutrients.

If I bookmarked this link correctly, it should open on the nutrient facts panel for one of the products.  This package contains 4 ounces and the serving size is just about 1 ounce - that one ounce has 150 calories and I am certain most people would eat half if not all of the package in one sitting.  (remember that declaration from some of the FOP labeling discussion.  The IOM thought that the package should give total calories if it was expected that the entire package could reasonably be consumed in one sitting)