The reasons for estimating carbohydrates can be quite different. People with diabetes need the information to calculate insulin needs, athletes and people on a diet also pay close attention to the nutritional values of their meals.
As a rule, carbohydrate information is printed on all packaging. However, the information alone is not sufficient to calculate his meal. Because the data are usually marked for 100g. In order to know the exact information of its meal, the weight must be weighed before cooking.
This is where it starts to get complicated. If you don't eat at home, haven't cooked yourself or forgot to weigh up your food, you have to rely on your gut feeling or wealth of experience.
This is usually done by comparing similar meals and plate sizes. Especially meals in deep plates are not easy to appreciate. Sweetened sauces also have a lot to offer, as they can also be served with sweeteners. Sweeteners are not processed by the body and excreted after digestion, but still taste very similar to sugar. Estimating unknown meals is therefore not easy.
People who are dependent on the exact number of carbohydrates can, however, find a remedy with eating habits.
Tips and tools for estimating carbohydrates
Eating habits vary from person to person. But one or the other routine will surely be found by everyone, whether breakfast, favourite snack or the classic evening meal and snack. In these cases the carbohydrates only have to be calculated once. At the same time, this information provides a good basis for comparing and evaluating other meals more accurately.
When cooking, measuring cups, markings in bowls, cups, number of heaped spoons, and other measuring and calculating aids can help. For example, muesli could always consist of 6 heaped spoons to avoid constant weighing.
Those who like to eat from their favourite bowl can also mark a small mark with a waterproof pen.
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