What are your go-to "small meals"?

MegaMooseEsq

Over the last few months I've more or less accidentally fallen into the six-small-meals pattern of eating. I promise I don't believe any of the woo, it's just the best way I've found I keep satiated throughout the day. I'm really curious to hear from people who eat in multiple smaller chunks how you do it. I hear people talk about "meals," but for me it's really more of a series of 100-250 kcal snacks with a hot dinner towards the end.

usmcmp

Breakfast: Fiber one bar
Snack: Protein shake (usually because I haven't eaten in 7 hours and need something in me before I lift)
Lunch: Chicken and vegetables
Snack: Nuts/fruit/candy bar (depends on my macros)
Dinner: Hamburger or chicken with vegetables
Snack: Peanut butter or ice cream

I am probably not a good example since I am a picky eater.

Abby2205

80 g can oil packed tuna drained, 4-5 small chunks of feta cheese, tsp of lemony vinaigrette, and as much baby spinach and cucumber as I can eat. Maybe a tsp of pumpkin seeds if I have them around.

lmangifico

Mighty muffins by flap jacked that you can make in the microwave at work, nuts n more (it's addictive though), protein bars (one and quest bars are my favorite), sliced up veggies like cucumbers and tomatoes and it's easy bc there's a farmers market on wednesdays outside my office, I also get fruit like apples, bananas, peaches, pears and usually have them at my desk. I also do the fage 0% plain Greek yogurt with a tablespoon of honey and bee pollen or fruit. I eat about 6 times a day bc that is what feels good to me and keeps my energy levels stable and not feeling hungry

PowerliftingMom

Yoplait Protein Greek Yogurt, cheese sticks, protein bar, nuts, apples, watermelon, grapefruit

jemhh

I've started eating more snacks in addition to meals. In the morning before work I make a baked sweet potato in the microwave. Then I take it in my lunch bag with an ice pack to work. I eat it plain and cold and really like it. (I don't eat the skin.)

__TMac__

I eat the same way.

Plain yogurt with fruit and nuts
2 fried eggs on toast
Homemade egg mcmuffin
Raw veg and guacamole or hummus
Herring or cheese on crackers
Sliced apple and PB
Banana and PB on toast
Overnight oats with blueberries
Small portion of dinner leftovers
1/2 a toasted bagel with cheese & turkey

Javagal2778

Cottage cheese and fruit
Hard boiled eggs and veggies
Veggie omelette
Protein bar (I love Quest)

MegaMooseEsq

I'm maybe seeing a common theme of having some trouble getting enough protein, or is that just a coincidence? I know I've struggled with that one. Usually dinner centers around a meat so I get the bulk of my protein there, but if my husband does something a little lighter on the protein I sometimes end up short at the end of the day (he plans and cooks dinner for us both largely without my input). I wonder if there might be protein bars in bite sizes I could top off the day with if needed. There's not much nutrition in these jelly beans I'm munching on right now.

VeronicaA76

Tuna salad with egg, mustard, & salsa.

cmriverside

Ok, protein it is! Hard boiled egg chopped up with a little avocado on toast.

Cottage cheese with chopped vegetables.

Cucumber, pepper and hummus on toast.

Greek yogurt and a potato.

Greed yogurt and any frozen fruit.

The above are around 200 cals, max.

usmcmp

MegaMooseEsq wrote: »

I'm maybe seeing a common theme of having some trouble getting enough protein, or is that just a coincidence? I know I've struggled with that one. Usually dinner centers around a meat so I get the bulk of my protein there, but if my husband does something a little lighter on the protein I sometimes end up short at the end of the day (he plans and cooks dinner for us both largely without my input). I wonder if there might be protein bars in bite sizes I could top off the day with if needed. There's not much nutrition in these jelly beans I'm munching on right now.

You could create some protein bites. There are lots of recipes out there for them.

(Ignore the cheesy intros)

https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/6-sweet-nighttime-protein-treats.html
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-bake-energy-bites/
https://beamingbaker.com/15-healthy-protein-packed-no-bake-energy-bite-recipes-gluten-free-vegan-paleo-dairy-free/
https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/8-must-try-whey-protein-snacks.html
https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/5-high-protein-snacks-to-fire-up-your-muscles.html

Machka9

My day ...

No breakfast
10:30 am snack - cheese & crackers
12:30 pm snack - banana
2:00 pm lunch - chicken, rice, steamed veggies or occasionally LaZuppa soup, noodles and steamed veg
3:30 pm snack - yogurt
4:45 pm snack - apple, mandarin or some other fruit
6 pm snack - cottage cheese, raw veggies, whole wheat crackers
7:30 pm dinner - steamed veggies & ... whatever else my husband makes
9:30 pm snack - yogurt
11 pm snack - toast with nutella & honey ... sometimes without the nutella ... sometimes with cheese instead of either the nutella or honey
12:30 am snack - McVities digestive biscuit with chocolate coating or a few cheese crackers if I still have the calories for them.


Whether I eat large meals or not, I get ravenously hungry about 1.5 hours later. I can pack away a massive dinner, and be prowling around the kitchen 1.5 hours later. Therefore, I feel so much more comfortable if I just keep the food coming on a regular basis ... but keep everything on the small side.

My larger "meals" are the 2 pm lunch and the 7:30 pm dinner but it is rare that either one will go over 500 cal. The rest of my snacks are usually somewhere around the 100 cal point.

womanisadevil

My lunch for work on a normal day would be:
Apple 80 cal
Banana 100 cal
Turkey bacon/sliced turkey sandwich with tomato and spinach 260-290 cal
(Weight watcher bread 50 cal a slice, yes!!)
Rice and veggies with hot sauce 250-300 cal
Fibre 1 bar 90-100 cal

Sometimes I'll bring overnight oats, instant oats, various fruits or veggies in a mason jar.
If i dont eat every 2 hours or less I'm hangry.

Almond milk and multigrain cheerioes or an omelette is usually my quick supper if I don't want to cook a big meal and just need something small.
Soup is good too, homemade or canned if you don't mind the sodium.

Or popcorn... with hot sauce.
40 grams of lighty buttered popcorn is 150 cal

Yayyyy now I'm hungry

MegaMooseEsq

usmcmp wrote: »

MegaMooseEsq wrote: »

I'm maybe seeing a common theme of having some trouble getting enough protein, or is that just a coincidence? I know I've struggled with that one. Usually dinner centers around a meat so I get the bulk of my protein there, but if my husband does something a little lighter on the protein I sometimes end up short at the end of the day (he plans and cooks dinner for us both largely without my input). I wonder if there might be protein bars in bite sizes I could top off the day with if needed. There's not much nutrition in these jelly beans I'm munching on right now.

You could create some protein bites. There are lots of recipes out there for them.

(Ignore the cheesy intros)

https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/6-sweet-nighttime-protein-treats.html
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-bake-energy-bites/
https://beamingbaker.com/15-healthy-protein-packed-no-bake-energy-bite-recipes-gluten-free-vegan-paleo-dairy-free/
https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/8-must-try-whey-protein-snacks.html
https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/5-high-protein-snacks-to-fire-up-your-muscles.html

Man, you were not kidding about the cheesy intros - I don't usually read cooking blogs, so I had no idea. Thanks though, I will definitely have to check those out (especially the no-bake ones).