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How do YOU count carbs?

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BBarb

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We used to be able to pick up a leaflet listing the number of calories in everyday foods, but I've never seen anything listing carbs. At first I looked on packets and weighed out everything, such as 1 slice of bread or half a can of salmon, and did my sums using the information on the container. But when I came to things like tomatoes or an apple I was stumped - then with cauliflower mash, is it cooked or uncooked weight? Now I just use the 'omit/avoid/eat freely' lists but I'd really like to know exactly how many carbs I actually eat.
I've tried google but can't find anything to help here although I've noticed many of you more experienced low carb-ers seem to know the values of everyday foods and will say 'I eat ?? carbs a day'. How do you know? Where do you find this information?
 
I paid £3.99 for an app on my phone called Carbs and Cals. It's been my life saver. It has fruits, veg, ready meals, bread etc etc and you can even chose your portion size!
 
The same people who do the app also do a book! I would not buy the app as it had too many negative reviews!
 
Has it? I personally use it regularly and have always found it pretty handy especially for fruit and veg.

Also, if you do have a smart phone, Google can tell you the carb content of most foods. If not, I find something similar and make an educated guess!
 
The app is my life line!! Te only downside I've found is that you need some kind of internet connection in order for the pictures to load, so living where I do (aka the middle of nowhere) often the local pubs have no internet connection, so I always keep the book in my car just in case!
I've another app called Cook and Count which my consultant recommended, it allows you to build recipes and calculates the nutritional content for the whole, really useful!
If you're eating out, many restaurants, usually the chains, have the nutritional values available online, or in a book they keep behind the counter 🙂
 
You can tell Carbs&Cals to download all the pictures permanently if you have enough space on your phone! Although it still seems to need to check the Internet each time you open it anyway, maybe it's just checking it's licence or something...

We do the following in this order:
1. Get the info from the back of the packet.
2. If that fails, use carbs and cals.
3. If that fails, google it!
4. As a last resort - guess! (We've been carb counting for 4 years now so can estimate reasonably well in most cases, although I don't claim to be anywhere near perfect and would rather have the correct info if possible)
 
I also have a calories and carbs bible that was given to me when I got my pump, plus I bought a set of scales that contains a database of foods- I have to use it in conjunction with the book though as it isn't clear for example when weighing fruit, whether I should be weighing it before or after peeling. Makes a big difference to the net carbs in a grapefruit, melon or banana, for instance!
 
I don't have one of those phones, I'm 77 and have enough IT in my life with this laptop. 😱
Where do you get the book? Can I buy it online?
 
BBarb said:
I don't have one of those phones, I'm 77 and have enough IT in my life with this laptop. 😱
Where do you get the book? Can I buy it online?
Click to expand...
Amazon sell the book
 
I'm using myFitnesPal application that is a general calorie counting application - but track carbs, fats and proteines too.
I'm using more to weight loss aid but the barcode system to enter packaged food and the nutrients breakdown are useful functions.
 
The most useful book I have is Collins Gem CALORIE Counter book (but it is one you'll need your reading glasses for) which lists all the nutritional values (cals, carbs, protein, fat and fibre) of thousands of foods. They also do a 'Carb' counter one but that has helpful things like 'A third of a baguette' and the values of that - but they don't say how big the ruddy baguette was to begin with - a proper traditional French one, a metre long and skinny - or what? Or, when you sliced it, was it full of holes? LOL

Available on Amazon same as most other books but also at WH Smith, Waterstones etc. Price £3.99 I believe.

I also treated myself to a set of digital 'Add & weigh' scales - Salter ones - use a hearing-aid type battery - on which I spent the princely sum of £9.99 one day in Home Bargains. (Had them about 8 years now and I did have to treat them to a new battery after about 5 years.)

Do you really count the carbs in cauliflower? Grief, there are carbs in cucumber too - with some things there are so few, they really ARE negligible to my mind.
 
I have both books Jenny mentioned , I prefer The Carbs and Cals one, I found it cheapest on Amazon!
 
I'm with Rosie. I use carbs and cals, back of the packet or Google. If there is nothing exactly the same I guesstimate - generally verging on the side of caution.
 
Newbie question...how do you know how many carbs to eat?! Very confused....
 
There is no on size fits all, I am afraid! Some go very low about 50 grams a day, personally I do about 100-120 grams a day!
 
There is no on size fits all, I am afraid! Some go very low about 50 grams a day, personally I do about 100-120 grams a day!
 
You keep testing and eat what you can get away with without your blood sugar going sky high. What works and what doesn't unfortunately varies from person to person so you have to experiment and find out what combination of foods works best for you!
 
I brought carbs and cals book which meant I could download the app for free, use the app at least twice a day as have phone with me the whole time, it's brilliant. Also use info on packets
Jo
 
How long after a meal should I test my blood again to see the impact of what I've eaten?
 
I think after 1 and 2 hours if you are being really thorough, ideally your BG shouldn't go up by more than 2 mmol/l from whatever it was before you ate. Once you get the hang of it and start spotting patterns you will probably be able to scale that down and only test when you try something new.
 
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