PLANNING YOUR FOOD DIARY?

Wynterandemiliano

Does anyone plan the night before what they are going to eat the next day to stay within their daily limit?
I am thinking about doing this, I might try tonight because I feel overwhelmed with what I should and should not eat throughout the day and I started out strong earlier this week and I am kinda going downhill,,stress is killin me and making me forget at times what I am trying to accomplish. I am thinking that if I know exactly what to eat then I can hold myself more accountable.

gdurham2014

This is huge if you ask me, because its so easy to run down the street and grab something quick and easy and to often quick and easy is loaded with calories and fat.

addean1

Not usually the night before, but when I log my breakfast, I usually know what I'm having for dinner, and I'll add it right then, then I know what I left to work with for the rest of the day.

knra_grl

This is huge if you ask me, because its so easy to run down the street and grab something quick and easy and to often quick and easy is loaded with calories and fat.

It depends on whether or not I am working - if not I just log as I go - if I work I plan it out - I will often enter one dinner or lunch for work but split it into 2 mini meals and pack plenty of healthy snacks (I work 12 hour shifts typically) The bag of food I took to work last night was huge! If I am planning a day out I eat a modest breakfast because chances are lunch will be more than I anticipated.

Also if you are overwhelmed until you get used to the food values of what your are eating - planning is good.

kd_mazur

I usually do it in the morning each day. It helps to know what the plan is:)

sfbaumgarten

I do. My menu doesn't vary much from day to day (especially work days) so I think it's easier for me than some others. I've already logged what I will probably eat next M-F and will make changes as they come. I'm not usually that aggressive with it, but I had some free time and figured... Why not?

970Mikaela1

Dinners are planned a week in advance(helps make our grocery list). My lunches are very much the same from day to day. Im not a big breakfast eater.

Healthydiner65

I pre plan my menu in the morning for that day. That is how I control the calories and sodium. I may make a few minor changes depending on my mood but normally stick to what I had planned!

Cueball55

I preplan for sure, it's pretty much the only way I stay on point. Not only on the standpoint of total calories, but especially for hitting my macros.

watchingbella

I find that I actually plan for the week what I will have. I do much better if Mon-Fri I stay close to the same (slight changes). That way when the weekend comes I feel pretty strong to continue my battle ...ok choice of eating better. I bombed today, because of high stress...bummed

ElizaB84

I preplan before bed some nights. Makes it quicker to cookthe next day. Sometimes I do it in the morning.

GracieGag

I always plan a day ahead. It helps you stay on track and is less stressful to be prepared.

AlongCame_Molly

Every g**d*mn day.

1healthyerin

I do it the night before. That way I know if I have calories to spare if I'm offered a snack. It keeps me in check so I don't consume too much before dinner and deprive myself at dinner time .ALSO, for me, it keeps eating healthy stress free. I don't have to wonder or guess all day where I am and I don't have to log it quick to check. I have my meals and snacks all planned, thus a stress free, healthy day. I have had times where I make adjustments the day of. Good luck!

JenJBS

I almost always plan the day ahead. I don't force myself to stick with it if plans change - it's a guide not a straight jacket - but I like having the paln in place the night before. I'll even plan a few days in advance before I go grocery shopping to make sure I get what I need.

For example, yesterday a friend brought in her yummy home-made chili. I ditched the lunch I'd planned and afternoon snack to have it. But the lunch I'd planned, and afternoon snack (nuts) were there for me today.

GGDaddy

When eating my normal breakfast, I plan dinner that evening with my wife. Then I log it and fill in the gaps, as I know what I can plan to have for lunch, afternoon snack, evening snack.

Then during the day I just make myself stick to the plan. If I feel a bit hungry, I know I'm getting the fuel I need so I suck it up buttercup.

ScientificExplorerGirl

Yes, during the week I do plan in the evening for the next day and then pack my lunch. That way in the morning I can get my workout in, shower, and get dressed in time to be off for work. I am much more relaxed about it during the weekend but generally plan around a "splurge" meal on either Saturday or Sunday.

angel7472

Im pescatarian so I plan my meals since my husband and kids eat different from me. Morning is always greek yogurt with my truvia hot cocoa mixed in. Lunch is usually a Lean Cuisine with more veggies added to it to make it more filling. Dinner is usually the same thing. So technically I eat the same so therefore its always planned. Except for today I want pizza today and I adjusted my lunch for me to have my pizza and I will enjoy every single bite of it! My big thing is eating enough protein and not going over my salt intake. If it helps you to be more accountable then go for it!! Its all about what works for you! Good Luck!

HARDEYHORLAR

I think it really helps, planning your food make you know the amount of calorie you have left for the day. As for me I make the plan at night, but when am too tired I do it in the morning. Seriously, it has really help me to control what goes into my mouth.

sarainiowa

I think through things in the morning. I plan my lunch and dinner usually while enjoying breakfast. It works for me because I know what I feel like that day, my day in generally planned and once I'm done eating dinner, I'm not thinking about food. If I'm always thinking about food then all I want to do is eat.

wpwarrior88

I just finished planning my meals for tomorrow. I typically aim for 2000 calories that meet my macros, then once i have finished exercising for the day I know how much more I need to eat so I finish a couple hundred calories under my goal.

GBrady43068

Nope. I am not a "planner" person although I do "guesstimate" mentally on nights I'm eating out or eating at a friend's house and therefore not sure what the dinner will be calorie-wise. Usually I hope to keep each meal around 500 and try to get in the neighborhood of 300 exercise calories on a workday.

For now this is working although I anticipate I will have to force myself to be more "type A" as I get closer to my goal weight.

wshultz14

In my home there are only two of us. I like to select at least three things to cook every other day, and we eat left overs the other day's or I have a freezer meal for a quick meal latter. To me this makes it easier to plan my weekly eating plan, and I know what I am going to buy at the grocery store.. I shop with a list, and it seems to reduce (not eliminate) impulse buying for me.

Good Luck, and have a Blessed Day

mtallan72

I find that I do very well if I plan ahead. I use to prepare meals on the weekend for the week and I just have to warm up the meat and put together the salad or roasted veggies. Good luck planning your meals ahead, I will give this a try again.

Wynterandemiliano

THANK YOU THANK YOU. I am really starting this feeling so overwhelmed by what to do and what not to do and how much and all of that kind of thing, This community is so great and helpful, I think this is going to be a great thing for me!

fortally

I plan the night before because I like waking up knowing I have a plan in place. Otherwise I wander into the kitchen in the morning and start grabbing whatever I see. I write out the whole day and then make up meals/snacks so that they are ready to go for the next day. I find I'm much more likely to stick to healthy snacks (like hummus and cucumber sticks) if they are already prepped when I want to eat them. It also helps me to eat a balanced meal plan throughout the day (making sure I get the veggies in). When I don't plan ahead I find that I overeat during the day and end up with no calories left for dinner (resulting in a plate of broccoli for dinner - not fun!).

Three tips:

1. Be flexible. Sometimes I end up changing what I want to eat for a meal, but having an 'idea' in place helps me make a 'swap' for something similar (like grilled salmon on my salad instead of grilled chicken). If you make a plan, then change your mind and don't want something - change it. Don't force yourself to eat it just because you put it in writing. You'll be much happier!

2. Leave wiggle room. I generally leave 100-150 calories out of the plan so that if I get hungry I have room to eat an extra snack. Sometimes I don't end up eating the calories and that's okay. But when I do eat an extra snack I don't have that 'man I blew it!' feeling because they were essentially 'extra' calories anyway. [Maybe just a mind game, but it works for me!]

3. Plan the junk. I plan the ice cream, Dove chocolate, and whatever else right into my day as part of my daily calories. If I know I get a small bowl of ice cream after dinner then I am generally able to fend off cravings for junk throughout the day.

epj78

A day ahead.....I do a week ahead - lol.

Well, I meal plan a week ahead. I won't actually put into MFP until the night before. If I don't pre-plan (based on where I'll be, what hours I have to work, etc) is KEY. If I don't, I fall apart. If I do, it's fantastic. I don't think about what I'm going to eat - I just follow the plan. I take all choice out so I can't make a poor one - lol.

lindsykaye

I always plan my day the night before or first thing in the morning. However, whatever I have planned, it is always different by the end of the day. As soon as I hit 'Complete Entry' I start to switch things around. I've never been good at making decisions (and sticking to them) until the very last minute. Oh well, it works for me, lol!

leigh__

I preplan to prevent overeating and just assuming it's going to fit in with my calories and macros! Definitely helped me stay on track

wyattj99

I got grocery shopping weekly, keep me accountable, know what I will eat for the week from breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with my snacks. Now I know it can be changed up a bit with social events so I work around it.

MsMarlaJean

I definitely think that planning ahead for you would make things less overwhelming, especially if you are newer to this and you have a busy schedule or hectic life because then you just follow the road map you lay out for yourself and it's done!

Like a few others have said it is always wise to remember that your meal plan should be a guideline, and maybe at first set in stone, so to speak, but later when you are a bit more comfortable remember to be a little flexible with yourself for when things and "life" come up...if you aren't you may fall into the "guilt" trap because you didn't stick to your plan and etc. etc.

Personally, I have planned weeks ahead in the past, but nowadays during the week I usually plan my day out in the morning while eating breakfast and then on the weekends I kinda wing it! However, if I have plans for something special...like tonight I will have a little "girlie" time with one of my Besties and we are ordering take-out, so I plugged in what I was having for dinner first and then planned the rest of my day around that!

Good luck to you!