Which meal should take in the most calories?

spinningma
spinningma Posts: 45
in Health and Weight Loss
Is there a rule on which meal should contain more calories? Or should they be divided out equally? Does it matter?
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Replies

  • mhuch110
    mhuch110 Posts: 130 Member
    Great question! I'm curious about that myself....looking forward to hearing all the "expert" advice!
  • GauchoMark
    GauchoMark Posts: 1,804 Member
    I don't think it really matters all that much. Your body is very good at storing energy until you need it. However, eating multiple small meals per day has the benefits of keeping your blood sugars more level during the day and keeping you from overeating due to being famished. There is also the argument of speeding the metabolism with small meals, but I think the effects of this are pretty minor when compared to exercising.

    If you are asking which of your small meals should have the most calories - this absolutely doesn't matter. I typically eat 500-1000 calories within an hour or so of bedtime and it hasn't hurt my weightloss. As long as you have calories available, eating at a certain time doesn't do anything adverse or beneficial.
  • shaynak112
    shaynak112 Posts: 751 Member
    Breakfast "should" have the most calories, but it rarely does :p
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    This is entirely a matter of personal preference. Aside from behavioral effects, which differ from person to person but shouldn't be ignored, and medical conditions aside, total daily intake is all that matters. Partition your meals however you like.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    Breakfast "should" have the most calories, but it rarely does :p
    No it shouldn't. It doesn't matter.
  • sabolfitwife
    sabolfitwife Posts: 423 Member
    I try to balance it out between my 3 main meals and my 3 snacks throughout the day. But if I plan a meal ahead and know it's high in calories then I'll limit my intake on my other meals for the day :-)
  • IronPlayground
    IronPlayground Posts: 1,594 Member
    Is there a rule on which meal should contain more calories? Or should they be divided out equally? Does it matter?

    Entirely up to you.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    This is entirely a matter of personal preference. Aside from behavioral effects, which differ from person to person but shouldn't be ignored, and medical conditions aside, total daily intake is all that matters. Partition your meals however you like.

    This exactly!! I am a Type 2 Diabetic so I tend to space my calories pretty evenly between 3 main meals and 3 snacks a day. By doing this I keep my blood sugars from crashing on me, but it really is a trial and error for you to find out what works best for you.... Best of Luck....
  • lauren3382
    lauren3382 Posts: 372 Member
    I eat 6 times a day and try to make all of my meals about the same size ~300 cals each.
  • cyclerjenn
    cyclerjenn Posts: 833 Member
    I keep my blood sugar level through the day, I eat 5 meals and split my calories between them. I also try to make sure I have a good balance of protein, fat and carbs with every meal. It seems to be working great for me so far.
  • debussyschild
    debussyschild Posts: 804 Member
    Mine are usually balanced. It really doesn't matter. No, there is no "rule" about that. It's a matter of personal preference and what your goals are.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    This is entirely a matter of personal preference. Aside from behavioral effects, which differ from person to person but shouldn't be ignored, and medical conditions aside, total daily intake is all that matters. Partition your meals however you like.


    I second this!
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    This is entirely a matter of personal preference. Aside from behavioral effects, which differ from person to person but shouldn't be ignored, and medical conditions aside, total daily intake is all that matters. Partition your meals however you like.

    ^This. Some days, my dinner has the most. Other days, it's lunch. Sometimes, my snacks throughout the day are more calories than all my meals put together. I don't eat breakfast most of the time. None of this has had any impact on my weight loss, IMHO.
  • mayerel
    mayerel Posts: 254 Member
    Agree with the masses! Totally up to you and what works for your body!

    For me, and this is totally my personal preference, my lunch usually has the most calories and I don't eat a "real" breakfast...I'm just not hungry and it makes me not feel so good!
  • AmberBucsis
    AmberBucsis Posts: 30
    Makes sense for it to be lunch time but it tends to be dinner for me.
  • Rockmyskinnyjeans
    Rockmyskinnyjeans Posts: 431 Member
    I try to have lunch and dinner be pretty even, but dinner usually has the most calories.
  • tubaman58
    tubaman58 Posts: 151
    Conventional wisdom is that it should be breakfast.......As one who has to frequently test my blood sugar I don't think a heavy supper is a great idea....

    But..... it's the total that counts in the long run and people vary considerably..... so listen to your body
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    Honestly, I do what makes me feel good.

    Most days (at least M-F):
    -Breakfast 200
    -Lunch 400
    -Dinner 600

    Leftover calories are spent on snacks or added to other meals. I eat at least 1300 calories every day. It works for me. I like the routine and stability. However, when Im off work or weekends, it can get jacked around if I sleep late or eat out.
  • KarmaxKitty
    KarmaxKitty Posts: 901 Member
    It's a matter of personal preference. I like to space it out most of the time so I don't crash, but often it's either breakfast or lunch with the most. I don't like going to bed with too many calories in me. Makes me feel sick before bed AND when I wake up, so I try to get the calories in early!
  • gatorginger
    gatorginger Posts: 947 Member
    I have better success eating my biggest calories at noon
  • Mdd2nd
    Mdd2nd Posts: 13
    There is a parable that states: Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen, and dinner like a popper!

    Personally I believe that you need your calories throughout the day, so eating a lot a dinner doesn't really do you any good. Unless you eat dinner early and plan on doing some physical activity in the evenings. If you eat a bigger breakfast/lunch you have the entire day ahead of you to burn those calories off. If you eat taco bells famous 4th Meal then you'll be storing many of those calories while you sleep!!!
  • tmpayton
    tmpayton Posts: 148 Member
    I don't think it really matters....I work a second job and often don't eat until after 11 at night-still been losing lbs.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    This is entirely a matter of personal preference. Aside from behavioral effects, which differ from person to person but shouldn't be ignored, and medical conditions aside, total daily intake is all that matters. Partition your meals however you like.

    ding ding ding ding!!! We have a winner! What do we have for our player, Bob?
  • FitBunnyEm
    FitBunnyEm Posts: 320
    I eat 6 times a day and try to make all of my meals about the same size ~300 cals each.
    ...me too
  • o2bADyer
    o2bADyer Posts: 208
    I don't know what is or isn't right, but I try to have less for my "dinner" than for my "lunch" so that I have longer to burn those calories before going to bed. But, that is just my personal thought. Good luck in finding what works best for you. :wink:
  • charanne52
    charanne52 Posts: 88 Member
    There is a parable that states: Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen, and dinner like a popper!

    Personally I believe that you need your calories throughout the day, so eating a lot a dinner doesn't really do you any good. Unless you eat dinner early and plan on doing some physical activity in the evenings. If you eat a bigger breakfast/lunch you have the entire day ahead of you to burn those calories off. If you eat taco bells famous 4th Meal then you'll be storing many of those calories while you sleep!!!

    This is pretty much what I've heard only it's "pauper" not "popper". It's pretty well known that you shouldn't go to bed on a full stomach but I've lived most of my life eating my main meal around 6:00 pm and I find it hard to change so I go for a short walk after supper. If I need to have a snack I try to do it at least three hours before going to bed.
  • MalloryCurrent
    MalloryCurrent Posts: 62 Member
    I try to keep all my meals around the same. But dinner usually takes the highest amount of calories. Some days I'll keep them all around the same calories, but not all the time. I think as long as you eat the right food and feel good about what your eating it doesn't really matter. Just make sure your body is happy and fueled with good food. =)
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Mine are generally even, but when I take in fewer caloriesat breakfast and lunch, it leaves room for dessert. We always eat around 5 or 5:30 for dinner, so I don't have any issues with eating late.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Mine are generally even, but when I take in fewer caloriesat breakfast and lunch, it leaves room for dessert. We always eat around 5 or 5:30 for dinner, so I don't have any issues with eating late.

    Why? Is eating late a problem?
  • newhabit
    newhabit Posts: 426 Member
    i think it depends on your day. for me i have certain trends i've noticed. about 400-450 for breakfast, 600-650 for lunch and then a small dinner, around 500 or less. i do my workout at night so i don't like to feel like i ate a ton of food. i try to eat by 5:30 so that i feel not stuffed at 7:30 when i workout.

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