Which meal should take in the most calories?

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Replies

  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    "Experts" recommend your breakfast being your "big" meal but I tend to spread them out throughout the day. I'm up long hours, drive for a living and need the constant energy from several meals/snacks throughout the day...
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    Breakfast.

    That being said, it shouldn't be a LOT bigger than your other meals. I make mine 50-100 cals higher than the rest (Average of 500 each, 5 meals/day). I also make dinner smaller by 50-100 cals.
  • JanSmelly
    JanSmelly Posts: 143 Member
    Dinner is my favorite meal, so that's where i spend the majority of my calories. I ate 1000 calories after 9 pm last night.

    Do what you like with your calories.
  • Hezzietiger1
    Hezzietiger1 Posts: 1,256 Member
    Mine are usually pretty even.. lunch sometimes has more.
  • ZugTheMegasaurus
    ZugTheMegasaurus Posts: 801 Member
    It doesn't matter at all, just do what makes you feel best. I tend to eat roughly half of my daily calories around noon and the other half around 9PM, with a little wiggle room for coffee or some fruit/vegetables in the middle. Works for me, but wouldn't work for everybody; find what works for you and do that.
  • TiffanyWasmer
    TiffanyWasmer Posts: 190 Member
    I've *heard* that your body actually continues to burn calories...even while you're sleeping!!! :bigsmile:

    It is my opinion and experience that you can eat whatever, whenever as long as it fits within your calorie allowance and assuming you don't have a medical condition that requires you to limit large meals at certain times, etc.

    As with anything else, you will get a different response from every responder; you just have to figure out what works for you!
  • hmoore202
    hmoore202 Posts: 15
    I also agree that it depends on what works best for you and your body. I eat 5-6x a day and i have noticed that all my meals are generally around the same amount of calories (200-400 for meals and 150-250 for snacks). But, i like my breakfast to be the largest meal in terms of calories and usually have a protein shake mixed with natural peanut butter and fruit, which keeps me full most of the morning until my mid-morning snack. I usually have a smaller scale dinner after i work out btwn 6-8pm (lean protein like salmon, turkey or chicken breast, green veggies and a 1/4 of a baked sweet potato) and then just drink water and green tea for the rest of the night unless i'm really hungry and need a last small snack around 9:30pm.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I've *heard* that your body actually continues to burn calories...even while you're sleeping!!! :bigsmile:

    No, really!?!?!??!?!?!!!??????
  • LisaBeateith2012
    LisaBeateith2012 Posts: 346 Member
    <
    I am the one in the black t-shirt :happy: I am on 1380 calories. I have a medium breakfast, BIG lunch and small dinner, it is working for me! My energy levels are great! It is whatever works for you! :tongue:
  • melanie3103
    melanie3103 Posts: 246 Member
    Whatever works for you. I've seen articles that say you "ought" to have a bigger bfast and a smaller dinner in the evening before bed (to aid digestion/metabolism etc. But I just make i work for me.

    So if I've a big lunch out, I have a lighter tea - and vice versa. More often than not I have more cals in the evening meal, but if that doesn't suit I mix it up. I like to have spare in the evening, in case I want a glass of wine with it. :)

    Good luck x
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    I eat 6 times a day and try to make all of my meals about the same size ~300 cals each.

    Me too - although I go slightly higher and aim for a 2000 total now
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    For me, it doesn't seem to matter but I exercise nearly every day and almost always have a bit of an exercise cal. deficit. In the end, I believe it's still all about calories in/calories out.
    And, I don't think you should skip meals. You need to keep your metabolism going and not be 'starving' at your next meal and be more likely to overeat.
    Trial and error,,, mix it up and see what works for YOU. We are all different. Good luck!
  • becki1815
    becki1815 Posts: 51 Member
    There's no "answer" to this question. Don't eat more than your body is going to burn off. If I know I'm going to Zumba that night, I eat a larger snack at my 3:00 time. I then skip dinner, because I can't exercise with it full. Then afterwords, have a snack size dinner, since there isn't time to burn that off before going to bed.

    But, in my opinion, lunch should be bigger than dinner. Breakfast should be really decent sized as well, since it kick starts your metabolism for the day.
  • Tricialew32
    Tricialew32 Posts: 96 Member
    Eat when you are hungry. This works for me and keeps me from hurting people around me.
  • TiffanyWasmer
    TiffanyWasmer Posts: 190 Member
    I've *heard* that your body actually continues to burn calories...even while you're sleeping!!! :bigsmile:

    No, really!?!?!??!?!?!!!??????

    Yes really...contrary to the popular belief that the moment the sun goes down your body goes into non-calorie burning mode! I've read SOOOO much about it on MFP!
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    when you're hungriest.
  • Hendrix7
    Hendrix7 Posts: 1,903 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.

    what he said,
  • blonde71
    blonde71 Posts: 955 Member
    I'm currently trying to bulk so I find that if I don't take in half my daily total calories at breakfast, I fall short as the day goes on. I'm really hungry at breakfast and it's after I workout so I take advantage of that to eat a lot more. Plus, the heat kills my appetite so this way lunch and dinner are not such a chore to hit my targets. That's what works for me.
  • Steve_Runs
    Steve_Runs Posts: 443 Member
    while you should eat breakfast and a hearty one, it doesn't have to be the one with the most calories. Eat often is best. And don't eat to heavy late at night.
  • CopyCat97
    CopyCat97 Posts: 75 Member
    Breakfast is the lightest for me but, i eat lunch like 4 hours later
    Lunch is usually the heaviest
    Dinner is sensible
    I do have a snack in between usually
  • Steve_Runs
    Steve_Runs Posts: 443 Member
    I'm currently trying to bulk so I find that if I don't take in half my daily total calories at breakfast, I fall short as the day goes on. I'm really hungry at breakfast and it's after I workout so I take advantage of that to eat a lot more. Plus, the heat kills my appetite so this way lunch and dinner are not such a chore to hit my targets. That's what works for me.
    that makes good sense!
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 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.

    what he said,

    And another vote for Sidesteal's post! Nutritional timing is irrelevant for most of us.

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