How many meals a day do you eat?

beatyfamily1

I've heard 3 is better. I've heard 6-8 is better. I eat 2 only because I fell full longer and not much time to cook several times a day. How many meals a day do you eat and why? Is there a difference for different goals?

janejellyroll

The best number of meals will vary by person. If two works for you (keeps you full, helps you meet your goals), then it's the best for you.

I eat three meals a day because it fits my schedule and seems to give me the best mood and energy. Sometimes I will add a snack.

GUARDiAN_GUiLD

Like 1 or 2 now that I'm back to LCHF/IF. But yeah, within that 5-6 hour eating window, I'll have 1-2 meals.

Clobern80

I eat 1.

Why? Because that is the only time I am hungry. And I enjoy "bingeing" at night so I am allowed to because that is the only time that I eat. It is easy for me (since I am never hungry during the day and I don't have to prep multiple meals) while making it easier to stay within my calorie goal (it is not impossible to overeat my calories in one meal, but much more difficult). And I haven't had to give up any foods I like.

And it really doesn't matter how many meals. You will get people who say you have to eat breakfast. You will get people who say you have to eat 6 times per day. You will get people who say you have to eat 3 meals per day. "My dietitian said this!" and "Dr. Oz said that!"

In the end, CI/CO is all that really matters for weight loss.

Nutrition is a whole different ball of wax. You may not get the nutrients you need with one meal, but that is something you can work on.

LUHAN27

I also eat 2 meals a day. Lunch and dinner. My "breakfast" is usually coffee/tea or a snack(apple). I eat snacks in between, but 2 meals is fine enough for me.

MelaniaTrump

3 with healthy mini snacks in between. All logged. Do you snack?

cnbbnc

I eat 6 times, but that's because I'm more of a grazer and I just like eating my way through the day. It doesn't matter though. As long as you get your calories in, the "when" isn't important.

SonyaCele

i eat about 5 or 6, but i'm a slow eater and im basically eating from one meal to the next .

Danimri84

2 meals, 2 snacks. I do not get hungry in the mornings. I have a meal around noon, a late afternoon snack, a dinner, and a post workout snack in the evening.

bpwolf77

1 big meal, then if I get hungry I snack. Down 41 pounds so far

pichu318

I only eat two meals a day. The first one I start eating somewhere between noon and 6PM the second one I start eating between 5PM and 10PM. If I don't get to the second one due to plans I likely just go to bed that night and tell myself I can eat those calories the next day :P

hyIianprincess

3 meals, 2-3 snacks. I have gastroparesis so it's easier on my stomach this way.

ReadyWillingEager

I eat 3 meals and 2 or three snacks. It leaves me eating all day which I enjoy because it gives me more energy and I don't feel over stuffed or deprived

MamaMc3

During the work week, I eat three meals and one or two snacks. On the weekends, I tend to eat a bigger breakfast or brunch, so it's usually two meals and one or two snacks. I typically eat most of my calories in the evening because that's when I am hungrier. I don't think it matters how often you eat as long as you are staying within your calorie budget. You may find that you have more energy if you eat at regular intervals, but that's not true for everybody, either.

jdhcm2006

3 meals, 3 snacks during the week. I like to eat. I know some people believe in "eat to live" but food is delicious. So this keeps me satisfied and keeps me from reaching for excess. On the weekends, it's still 6 times, but it's more like 2 meals, 4 snacks just b/c I wake up later in the day. So instead of breakfast, I'll go straight to lunch.

Ashtoretet

I eat two meals and snack the rest of the day.

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robot_potato

3 meals, and post workout snacks if warranted.

brb_2013

Two for the same reason as you I feel more satisfied with larger meals. Half the time I've allotted so much food I can't finish which is starting to feel great. Just today I was able to leave the last few bites without feeling required to finish. Small wins.

RoxieDawn

3 meals.. post work out stuff snack and a snack after dinner..

Not sure of there is a debate here, but to my knowledge the body doesn't care what time of day you feed it, just as long as you do.. My body will tell me around 2:00 p.m. if I forgot to feed it...LOL

AmazonMayan

I eat several times a day but only 1 or 2 are full meals most days. I almost always have a very filling breakfast that keeps me full for hours.

shelbygracestafford

Three meals, sometimes one afternoon snack, and a cup of hot chocolate (with lots of real whip cream ;o) in the evening.

DaddieCat

For me... as many as it takes to hit macros/calories. Sometimes that's 2 or 3... sometimes its 6 to 10. Depends on how much I get to eat that day and what I'm eating.

Linzon

I tend to eat 3 meals and 3 snacks, which is what works for me.

KANGOOJUMPS

every day is different for me, depends on what exercise I do

SisC3

I generally eat three meals a day. If I am hungry I have a snack in between. This works for me, but it took a long time to discover what foods kept me satisfied.

callsitlikeiseeit

whatever works best for you. theres no 'right' way

i typically eat 3 meals and up to 3 snacks.

but not always lol

ChristinaOrr65

I typically eat the 3 main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and then have 2 snacks in between those

beatyfamily1

@gia07 No debate. Just curious how others do it. I plateaued in weight loss so I thought maybe when I eat or how much I eat in a single meal makes any difference.

HutchA12

I don't eat meals. I eat when I'm hungry and don't eat if it's past my goals. Makes it easy to just go with the flow.

RetroPolkaDot

2 or 3 and maybe 1 snack.
Dinner is my biggest meal and sometimes I want an evening snack. Sometimes I don't feel that I need that snack.
I eat lunch every day but I may or may not eat breakfast. It depends on how I feel in the morning. I don't usually have snacks between breakfast/lunch or lunch/dinner.