Why do you snack?

Zeromilediet

I'm not much of a snacker ... a handful of nuts once in a while, usually if skipping lunch because I'm busy. Snack food is big business for convenience and food companies, so they encourage it, I guess. Some people schedule snacks throughout the day in their diary including before bed. This I don't get, so just wondering what reasons you have for doing this? Is it something you've done from childhood, part of an eating plan to lose weight, boredom, habit, or raging hunger? Other? Wanting to understand this. Thanks for any responses.

vim_n_vigor

So I don't binge

MB_Positif

I surely grew up in a snacking household, but I actually have low blood sugar so if I don't eat at least something small between meals I get lightheaded and can't even think straight some of the time. That said, if I have a great protein filled breakfast I usually don't snack nearly as much! So basically I usually just snack to make sure I don't become "stupid" between meals!

jlschuh44

Usually - simply because I'm bored...and just slightly hungry.

rmsrws

I snack because I am hungry and feeling sluggish. I can't consume large quantities at meal time, so my snacks are more of a supplement. If I eat 5-6 very small meals, I am full and satisfied.

Jamcnair

I usually snack because I'm hungry between meals and don't want to become ravenous and overeat or let my blood sugar drop...there are times when I feel like snacking because I'm bored or watching tv, but I try not to let myself do that

Mom2rh

Hungry, thirsty, bored, stressed...

andreahanlon

I snack when I'm hungry to maintain blood sugar levels so I don't overeat at meals. Sometimes if I don't snack in between meals, I feel ravenous and totally overeat unintentionally; so it's easier to control my food intake if I eat little bits throughout the day. That's my good snacking. I "bad" snack sometimes out of boredom/relaxation... like when watching TV on the weekend. That's the snacking I try to avoid!!!

MrsCon40

I only snack if I am ravenously hungry and it's not time for a meal. I have to be careful, though, because snacks can snowball into a binge quite easily.

Instead I try to eat larger meals where I feel honestly full. Knowing that I have a good sized meal coming up helps me resist the urge to snack.

melizerd

Scheduled snacks are so that I remember to eat more often, so that I don't think I'm ZOMG starving at a meal and over eat there. It keeps my tummy happy

I do unscheduled snacks because I'm bored or feel crummy, stress etc. So I'm working on that. I TRY to remember "are you hungry or are you bored?" before I eat something.

MissMaryMac33

I do better when I eat 5 or 6 small meals closer together...helps my metabolism and its something I learned to do when I was diabetic. The weight loss reversed the diabetes, but I still prefer it... usually my snacks are just protein shakes between meals so it keeps me feeling full all day.

debdptg

I think I snack for many reasons - habit, custom, comfort. But, I have found that if I don't plan and control my snacks - make them official - then I will eventually cave in and do something stupid. So, I guess I snack so I can control what I put in my mouth.

pbeans

I have been known to snack out of boredom but now I try to make sure I snack so that I stay balanced.

LivLovLrn

Some days I am just more hungry than others. Also, I have a hard time getting all my calories on days that I exercise, so it is nice to have a snack to fill in some, since I eat until I am full at meals. One more reason is that I am hypoglycemic and sometimes I just feel like I need to eat to get back on an "even keel". Often I'll eat fruit for a snack, or veggies or nuts.

ShaoonaRae

It's better for your metabolism if you eat 6-7 small snackish meals a day as opposed to 3 big meals a day. I used to only eat once a day, and even though I didn't eat more than what I burned, I gained weight from it. I switched to the snacking approach and I feel more energized, and I'm losing weight.

wickedcricket

I might have a piece of fruit between breakfast & lunch if my breakfast was light. It's generally a long time between lunch & supper so I have something to keep me from getting too ravenous. I try NOT to snack after supper/before bed.
Most diets that I've seen recommend 4 or more small meals per day instead of 3 big ones. This seems to suit me better. I get too hungry between meals in the afternoons.

fteale

I go through phases. Mostly I don't snack, but I do schedule in an evening one, because sometimes if we are watching a film I like to have a drink or some yoghurt (especially if I haven't met my food quota), and it isn't accurate to list it under supper if it's 3 hours later.

In my family we always have afternoon tea between 4 and 5pm. I don't know if you would count it as a snack. It is as much a meal as lunch in my family, usually toast or scones for the children, as they are always starving after school. Again I don't always have anything, usually just a cup of tea and a piece of fruit, but it still needs to be listed IMO.

I think for a lot of people, it's a way to break up the day. If you are at work, 1pm can seem a long time from breakfast, and I think it is reasonable to have something to look forward to as a bit of a break mid-morning. I don't work, so it isn't relevant to me, I never have breakfast until 10am (after the school and nursery runs and exercise), but I can see why people do it.

MHackrott

You should be eating every 3-4hrs to keep your metabolism going. You should stick with healthy good for you snacks. If you schedule them ahead of time and preplan and prepare you wont be as tempted to grab something unhealthy

ChantalGG

I cant have chocolate for dinner. duh

bhagavatilad1

Most people do it for health reasons as you get older if you don't eat for more than 4hrs you start getting shaky and light headed and you can't think straight this happens if you are hypoglycemic and most people are and if you have blood sugar problems like diabetic people. It is a good idea to balance your diet every 2-3 hrs so you are not hungry all the time.

baisleac

To make sure I keep my digestive thermogenic engine running... and as reminders to eat (left to my own devices I'll forget).

EvilDave14

I snack at work because I have such a boring job. Sometimes I go to the shop just to get out the office for a while. I will want to eat at work when I know I'm not even hungry, yet I don't really do this at the weekends.

At least I'm getting a bit of exercise when I go to the shop!

BodyRockerVT

I am a snacker because I am by nature a grazer. I don't really eat meals, ever...SOMETIMES dinner but not usually. I actually had to get a Drs note when I was a kid because I needed to eat during class or I would feel SUPER sick. I just don't hold much food at once so I snack all day long.

Jenscan

I cant have chocolate for dinner. duh

Best answer on this thread!

I snack because I want and need to. OP, if you don't want to snack, don't. To each his own.

Jenscan

I cant have chocolate for dinner. duh

Best answer on this thread!

I snack because I want and need to. OP, if you don't want to snack, don't. To each his own.

JediMaster_intraining

i snack because i know i will eat a lot if i didn't. and i like eating. lol
also i want to make sure my metabolism isn't like stalling in between meals!

lwdllc

snacking is a frustrating battle, for me, I try to plan a few reasonable snacks throughout the day because if I don't and I get too hungry I will go and raid the fridge, and pantry, and possibly drive thru LOL. When I'm really on the wagon with my diet I can stop myself from this, but if I'm just getting started or haven't been planning, I really get myself in trouble and can't get a handle on my eating, so planned snacking, actually PLANNED eating in general is the key for me - and sticking to the plan - NO CHOICE -

The Beck Diet Solution is my diet Bible )

megz4987

I don't generally snack unless I'm up really late and need something in my stomach to sleep.

Riebop

I cant have chocolate for dinner. duh

^That... and because I'm actually hungry. I don't like to eat big meals. Gassy and bloated just doesn't work for me. So, I usually get hungry every 2-3 hours. I eat when I'm hungry and try to snack on fruit and nuts.

giaciccone

My family have always been "pickers." Usually, when friends & family are dinner guests, there would always be some pepperoni & cheese cut up - We're Italian, can you tell? - and put on a plate in the living room. People would pick at that when they arrived around 3:30-4pm to keep satisfied until dinner around 5:00-5:30. It's always been that way for me, so naturally snacking is something I'm used to.

Now that I've joined this site however, I say no to the platters my parents leave out & snack on things like multi-grain crackers and Laughing Cow cheese wedge spreads, almonds or yogurt. I'm really proud of my strides

27strange

I was never really a big snacker. I didn't raid the cupboards for candy, chips, salty snacks, little debbie cakes, etc

BUT I do snack now as part of my healthier eating plan. I snack on fruit, fresh veggies like cucumber or carrots, yogurt, nuts, protein bars, etc between meals in the morning and in the afternoon. I do this because it helps me not be hungry for meals and therefore overeat or make bad choices because I am starving. Also, I feel like I have more energy snacking on fruit and whatnot throughout the day.