How many meals a day do you eat?

199WillDo

I eat every 3 hours so it averages 6 or 7 meals/day. They are small meals and each one includes some form of protein. The meals are small or more like snacks. ie small apple and string cheese; a small salad; 3 laughing cow wedges with 15.Ritz crackers; a package of Green Giant broccoli & cheese, etc

ndj1979

three or four….

OP - why not just eat larger meals so you are satiated longer?

rileysowner

3 and a snack at night. I could do just find without the snack, but I got in the habit lately, and like it.

chezjuan

I eat three meals, and have snacks throughout the day. If you counted the snacks as meals, it would be 7, but I do not count them as official meals since they are so small (comparatively).

Breakfast and lunch are typically between 400 and 500 calories. I have snacks throughout the day, generally 150 calories or less. Usually one between breakfast and lunch one in the afternoon, and I almost always have cheese and crackers when I get home from work (especially on workout days). Then I use the balance of my calories (usually 1,300 - 1,400) for dinner and dessert plus a drink or two.

ishari89

I aim for 600 calories for breakfast,lunch and dinner with 400 being dedicated to the 'main meal' (apart from breakfast where almost all of it is the 'main meal') and then 200 for snacks here and there; mostly whenever I get a little hungry between meals.

becomeanewme

I usually eat around 6 meals a day, but after pm snack I am still hungry, so I am going to experiment with 7 meals at 250 cals per meal, does any one else do this? What do you think ? I would really like to hear your suggestions. Last year I was recovering for an ED, but I am back on track

Maybe it isn't about the number of times your eating but WHAT you are eating? I just started eating 5 times a day. I get a hearty breakfast to get me going, lunch, then two snacks between that and dinner, then dinner. My meals vary between 250-300 calories and snacks between 150-200. I am eating a lot of protein, vegetables, and carbs like quinoa, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, fruit. These things are very filling to me so eating the smaller meals every few hours really helps me from being hungry. Now, don't get me wrong, I still crave things but sticking to what I do lets me satisfy my cravings once a week and that is enough for me.

I have nothing against eating whatever you want as long as you stay within your calories, but I find that a string cheese, almonds, and cucumber for a snack are keeping me satisfied until my next meal more than say the same amount of calories in just pretzels, or crackers or something on that order.

You have to find out what works for you, to each their own! There was a lot of good advice in your thread, I hope you can try something that clicks. Good luck!

elyelyse

I have nothing against eating whatever you want as long as you stay within your calories, but I find that a string cheese, almonds, and cucumber for a snack are keeping me satisfied until my next meal more than say the same amount of calories in just pretzels, or crackers or something on that order.

so true.

Savyna

I eat maybe 4 or 5.

unapologetically_crystal

i like to eat every 2-3 hours. 5 meals i suppose. breakfast - snack - lunch - snack - dinner. try ending the day with some protein? i used to end the day with a yogurt (90 calories) or a chocolate flavored vitatop. (vitatop is like a muffin top for 100 calories usually found in the frozen good section). at least find something that usually makes you feel full and end your day with that. also i dont divide all my calories evenly..

PunkyRachel

3, sometimes 2 if its a weekend and I sleep in late.

_TastySnoBalls_

17...i eat every 45 minutes :laugh:

SmartAlec03211988

Three meals, three snacks.

SweeDecadence92

Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner - Supper.

Add a "snack" of a protein shake if its an training day.

Breakfast is usually about 400 cal and supper is usually about 300 cal so I have a lot of flexibility during the day.

colortheworld

Including snacks, about 5 during the work week, I'm lucky to get 2 in on the weekends.

susanrechter

as many as I want so long as I stay under my calorie limit.

whitebalance

Three or two (if I woke up too late for breakfast)....

Same. And often one decent-sized snack, especially if I missed a meal.

GiGiBeans

Usually 3 meals, 3 snacks/mini-meals. Some days I need a little more, some a little less.

HeidiMightyRawr

If I'm working then 4-5. If I'm not then 3-4 usually.

I get hungrier at work and longer days = more food.

blueberrybelle21

Usually two. When I am at school usually I skip lunch (for some reason I am never hungry at lunchtime) and go to the library (food-free zone) to study, but I do eat a big breakfast of muesli/cereal and yogurt and have a few snacks throughout the day. I have a bigger dinner as well. So everything is balanced out, I just eat at different times

Miiimii

Two - lunch and dinner!

Seesawboomerang

Breakfast-snack-lunch-snack-dinner-snack

Sometimes I skip breakfast, and sometimes I just graze all day.

__Di__

I usually eat around 6 meals a day, but after pm snack I am still hungry, so I am going to experiment with 7 meals at 250 cals per meal, does any one else do this? What do you think ? I would really like to hear your suggestions. Last year I was recovering for an ED, but I am back on track

Unfortunately, for me, 250 calories per meal would leave me hungry, there would not be much on the plate for that amount.

I eat two or three times per day.

eksero2k

3 meals a day on the weekdays - Breakfast 200-250 calories, lunch 600-900 calories, dinner 3--600 calories. Random snacks through the day, 1-400 calories.
Weekends seems to be a bit more random!

kelly_e_montana

I don't really eat meal type meals very much. I eat mostly lean proteins, fruits, veggies, some dairy, and oatmeal so the volume of food I can eat to get to my calories is pretty high. I just eat snacks most of the time, 6-8 times per day. I plan out my "meals" as foods I plan to eat throughout the day and then just virtually grab from that pile of stuff as I desire it. I don't have any specific calorie aim per meal. It sort of works itself out.

rybo

Lunch & Dinner with an occasional snack before bed. I've found thru IF that I am WAY less hungry the less often I eat.

AmyJoShanks

2 - breakfast and dinner. I'm doing 14/10 intermittant fasting and I now work out while fasted. Works for me!

rainbow198

17...i eat every 45 minutes :laugh:

LOL! Well, you look fantastic! Haha!

I eat twice a day with a snack. Normally I will eat a good sized balanced meal around 10 or 11am, a small snack at 2pm and again at 4 or 5pm during the week and I'm more loose with my times during the weekend.

I tried eating several times a day but I was never satisfied. I'd be staring at my watch waiting for my next snack.

With this way of eating I stay full for hours, wash less dishes, my grocery bill is smaller and most importantly I've been able to control my late night snacking by closing the kitchen after my last meal. I love it!

laurenpjokl

3 meals, around 250 for breakfast, 300 for lunch and 500 for dinner. I usually then have a light dessert with my remaining calories in the evening, but I don't really snack during the day.

Things might have to change now I'm trying to maintain as opposed to lose weight.

Saucy_lil_Minx

I eat every three hours. so it works out to 5 or 6 meals (not including post-workout shake) depending on how late I stay up. I know it is not necessary for everyone to eat that way, but for me it fits my grazing tendencies. It also keeps my blood sugars very level, and so I don't over-indulge. Also keeps me from having burning hunger in the morning. :happy:

uconnwinsnc

I eat when I am hungry. I don't schedule meals, but generally it is around 3 with a large evening snack that I suppose can count as a 4th.