3 Meals a day or 6?

mrsgoodwine

I've just started doing 6 mini meals a day. Anyone else doing this? If so, are you splitting your calories evenly? I tend to get too hungry for just 3 squares and it keeps my blood sugar in check. What has been your experience?

DrJenO

I eat 3 meals w/ 2 snacks, and the occasional after dinner dessert if I have the calories for it. My evening meal is the largest, sometimes comprising 40-50% of my total daily allowance.

It really doesn't matter, as long as it works for you.

dawnmcneil10

I eat 5-6 times a day and will often times drink a snack too because some days a nice latte is my idea of the perfect snack.

I tend to have around 300-400 calories at each meal (the 3 traditional) and about another 400 or so in "snacks". Most days my calorie count of my snacks are higher than my individual meals because of what I snack on. For example my greek yogurt with fruit and granola has a much higher calorie count than my veggie omelet.

diannethegeek

I eat three meals and several snacks throughout the day. But that's because it's what works for me and my schedule. Meal timing is personal preference and people should play around and find what works best for them.

BarbieAS

I don't necessarily go for 6 meals per day purposefully, but I'm a snacker/grazer by nature, and it makes it much easier for me to stay in my calorie goals if I plan for 2-3 snacks in addition to my normal 2-3 meals (I go in phases on whether or not I eat breakfast at a "traditional" time or if I eat it at about 10:30 at work) so that I can fit them in my goals and have a good macro balance to make and keep me satisfied (instead of mindlessly munching on pretzels all afternoon).

A typical, well-planned day would see me having about 350-400 calories for lunch and 450-500 for dinner, and then 3 snacks/smaller meals that come in anywhere from 150-300 each, totaling around 1500 calories, give or take 50 or so. I do deviate from that, especially on weekends, but that's pretty average.

swimmermama

I am a total hobbit. I eat breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, supper, dinner, and dessert.

My calories are fairly even spread across the day, with dinner being the biggest meal followed closely by breakfast and second breakfast. My diary is open if you want a look!

rsclause

I like to eat a really big 900 calorie healthy fruit nut oatmeal breakfast, mid morning apple snack and a protein shack (low cal).
Lunch is some chicken wrap or sandwich of about 400 calories followed by an afternoon snack of tree nuts and a 50 cal baby bella cheese snack.
Dinner is some lean meat and veggies with wine.

So yes I think 6 meals / snacks work for me. The snacking keeps me from feeling hungry and I believe helps keep my metabolism high.

mrsgoodwine

I am a total hobbit. I eat breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, supper, dinner, and dessert.

My calories are fairly even spread across the day, with dinner being the biggest meal followed closely by breakfast and second breakfast. My diary is open if you want a look!

Lol, I must be a hobbit because I love second breakfast too!

yvie63

I do 5 or 6 meals a day, I prefer to spread my calories over the day otherwise I get hungry and binge. So Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner I have slightly more calories and have mid-morning and mid-afternoon small snacks. If I have enough calories I have an evening snack before bed. This really works for me and keep my blood sugar up throughout the day.

kherrons

I tried to do the 6 meals but I couldn't keep 6 meals in the right caloric limit. So now I just eat when I'm hungry.

CallMeCupcakeDammit

I am a total hobbit. I eat breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, supper, dinner, and dessert.

My calories are fairly even spread across the day, with dinner being the biggest meal followed closely by breakfast and second breakfast. My diary is open if you want a look!

Lol, I must be a hobbit because I love second breakfast too!

I do two breakfasts, too. I didn't know it was a Hobbit thing until someone mentioned it to me. I usually have ice cream with 2nd breakfast. You might find this interesting, OP. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/820577-meal-frequency-rev-up-that-furnace-lol

odusgolp

I have 8/day. Am I going to die?

carriecoo

I have been doing 3 meals and 2 snacks since January and have been successful at maintaining a 37 lb loss

psuLemon

I don't know how many meals I eat because I never stop eating.



but probably around 8 meals a day or so.

ksolksol

Really depends on what works for you. I'm finding small breakfast, small lunch, big dinner, few or no snacks keeps me under my limit. If I'm really, super-hungry I'll have a light snack, but it's rare these days. If I go out to lunch with a friend, I make that my big meal.

I can handle being hungry during the day, but not as well in the evening. And I like food enough that I want to have one meal where I can go ahead and dig in. Six small meals or three meals + 2 snacks would be a recipe for me to be mildly hungry all the time, which is not sustainable for me. I need to feel full for at least part of the day.

I cut out snacks in part because it dawned on me that when I was 6 years old, it was assumed I could make it from breakfast to lunch with nothing but a sip from the drinking fountain. Surely, I can do that at 46. ;-)

mrsgoodwine

I have 8/day. Am I going to die?

Lol, love it!

mrsgoodwine

I have been doing 3 meals and 2 snacks since January and have been successful at maintaining a 37 lb loss

Congrats!!