Distributing calories throughout the day? Snack ideas?

fubsyfern

I realized that I tend to "save" my calories until the end of the day because I don't want to risk going over my alloted 1340, but I find myself hungry by 4:00PM, and STARVING by dinner time (which leads to massive overeating...). Breakfast today was 240 calories and lunch was 310. I had some cucumber slices and a cookie as a snack, which amounted to about 56 calories. So that leaves 734 calories for dinner, which is probably too much. Any ideas on how many calories I should allot per meal? And more importantly, for snacks? I also need some ideas for snacks that will keep me satisfied until dinner time.

Thanks!

Kidominos

I tend to do that as well but I have learned it is better to have a snack if I am getting hungry and I won't have dinner for another hour or two. I used to not want to eat the calories for snacks but then was so hungry I was eating too much or grabbing whatever was easily in reach when I walked in the door from work (before I started MFP). Now if I am hungry I go ahead and eat; Greek yogurt, almonds or 1/4 of a protein bar. I keep a protein bar cut in 4ths and put in a zip lock Baggie. That way I can just eat 50 calories at a time and the protein keeps me full until I can get home and get some dinner.

FrankiesSaysRelax

I do about 400 for breakfast and lunch. I have 150 calorie snack around mid morning (usually 2 hardboiled eggs) and a protein bar (250 calories) before my workout. I also usually bring a cup of fruit or something incase I get hungry during the day. I typically keep about 600-700 calories for dinner and that works out perfectly and I can usually get in a dessert or small snack right before bed.

joan23_us

I realized that I tend to "save" my calories until the end of the day because I don't want to risk going over my alloted 1340, but I find myself hungry by 4:00PM, and STARVING by dinner time (which leads to massive overeating...). Breakfast today was 240 calories and lunch was 310. I had some cucumber slices and a cookie as a snack, which amounted to about 56 calories. So that leaves 734 calories for dinner, which is probably too much. Any ideas on how many calories I should allot per meal? And more importantly, for snacks? I also need some ideas for snacks that will keep me satisfied until dinner time.

Thanks!

let me start by saying that calories per meal doesnt really matter... what matters is AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU'VE HIT your target macronutrient breakdown or as close as possible to it... ok now that's out of the way, I usually log my breakfast, lunch and dinner and see how will 'it fit' my alloted macronutrients for the day... look on my diary to have an idea, my snacks in the afternoon is where I usually 'balance' my numbers usually it is a protein powder and a fruit, why because it is way too easy to measure powder by the grams and adjust rather than a raw meat or fish for example, this approach is called 'flexible dieting'. I make sure though at the end of the day that my numbers 'balance out' protein, carbs and fats.... the meal frequency is just based on preferrence also it is ideal to know what you plan to eat the next day already logged rather than winging it up to later in the day, thats how you will go over, when you get used to logging the foods and how portion sizes looks like then you can do the log as you go approach but still you will have to do some thingking at your last 2 meals to make sure you are hitting your numbers correctly, goodluck