400 calories for breakfast?

MissKalhan
MissKalhan Posts: 2,282 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've heard through a few people that your breakfast should be around 400 calories. Is this true or just a myth? My breakfasts are usually between 150to 300 calories and this keeps me full until 2 which is when I usually get a snack before lunch. Anyone know if not having 400 calories for breakfast can stop weight loss?
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Replies

  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    I eat 500-600 calories for breakfast. The rest of my meals (5 in total) are 400-500 calories each.

    Adding: A lot of coaches and people I have spoken to state that a big breakfast, medium sized meals throughout the day, and a small, low carb dinner is overall best because then you've got the energy you need for the day, but when you eat dinner is often just before you go to bed, so you get more protein and fat for recovery, and fewer carbs during dinner because you don't need the energy.
  • Dee_84
    Dee_84 Posts: 431 Member
    You can eat as much for breakfast as you like. Some people eat 800 calories and lose weight, some people don't eat breakfast at all and lose weight.
    If your breakfast works for you, stick with it!
  • jodiegauv91
    jodiegauv91 Posts: 20
    Do whatever feels right for you! I definitely can't get by on a 200 calorie breakfast and usually average 400 (usually need a snack late morning also!)
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    You can eat as much for breakfast as you like. Some people eat 800 calories and lose weight, some people don't eat breakfast at all and lose weight.
    If your breakfast works for you, stick with it!

    This. When you eat and how much you eat is entirely preference.
  • elleloch
    elleloch Posts: 739 Member
    Mine are typically 200-300 cals but I always have a roughly 200 calorie mid-morning snack, so it's kind of a little more I guess.
  • Rinkermann
    Rinkermann Posts: 108 Member
    well, you have a certain number of calories you can eat each day. how many & when you eat them is entirely up to you. currently i have a 200 calorie breakfast because i find i'm just not that hungry in the morning.
  • RickMckc
    RickMckc Posts: 38
    I once had a friend who would say "eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper." I'm not sure it's how things really work, but he was in great shape!
  • kaajay
    kaajay Posts: 62 Member
    It has been suggested that breakfast should be the biggest meal of the day -- your metabolism spikes after awakening.

    Lunch should be smaller.

    Dinner should be smaller than lunch.
  • MemphisKitten
    MemphisKitten Posts: 878 Member
    I have better luck having 400-600 cals for breakfast than eating a small breakfast or skipping. Try to eat small amounts every 3 hours after breakfast to keep your metabolism burning at its hottest. Just make sure your dinner is small and you don't graze at night. If you're going to have a large meal or a "cheat meal," ALWAYS do it at breakfast or lunch, NEVER at dinner! Good luck to you!!:wink:
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    Mine is usually around 200-300. I have my greek yogurt and usually some grapefruit. I'm boring that way.
  • greenbaboond
    greenbaboond Posts: 5
    Mine is usually between 400-500. I find I'm just too hungry if eat less than this - and then I end up binging on salty or sweet snacks.
  • gshoemaker06
    gshoemaker06 Posts: 264 Member
    I've heard through a few people that your breakfast should be around 400 calories. Is this true or just a myth? My breakfasts are usually between 150to 300 calories and this keeps me full until 2 which is when I usually get a snack before lunch. Anyone know if not having 400 calories for breakfast can stop weight loss?

    I used to not eat breakfast at all and still lost weight (that's actually when I lost the most weight). I now drink a protein shake which is about 300 calories and I do fine. I don't think it matter
  • StoutGirl09
    StoutGirl09 Posts: 73 Member
    Breakfast should always be your biggest meal, it starts your day, you burn these calories ALL DAY LONG. :) I don't see why not! :)
  • irisheyez718
    irisheyez718 Posts: 677 Member
    My breakfast is usually between 400-500 calories, except on rest days, when its still usually more than 300.
  • Jesstruhan
    Jesstruhan Posts: 331 Member
    I don't stay full unless I eat about 400 calories. I end up eating that between breakfast and AM snack anyway, so i let myself have the bigger breakfast. I don't feel compelled to have a huge lunch or dinner after.

    On the flipside though, I often am hungrier all day if i have a nice breakfast. It's a mental adjustment for me.
  • portalm
    portalm Posts: 201 Member
    I've heard through a few people that your breakfast should be around 400 calories. Is this true or just a myth? My breakfasts are usually between 150to 300 calories and this keeps me full until 2 which is when I usually get a snack before lunch. Anyone know if not having 400 calories for breakfast can stop weight loss?
    \

    On weekends I eat 1000+ calories for breakfast! Because I am a beast HEAR ME RWARRRR.

    But on a serious note. 750-1000+ calories, breakfast is yummy. Tho it doesnt matter when or how you eat your calories just that you hit your macro nutriants and stay within your calorie deficit.
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    It has been suggested that breakfast should be the biggest meal of the day -- your metabolism spikes after awakening.

    Lunch should be smaller.

    Dinner should be smaller than lunch.

    This and
    Breakfast should always be your biggest meal, it starts your day, you burn these calories ALL DAY LONG. :) I don't see why not! :)

    This are entirely false.

    Further reading:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/529002-a-compliation-on-meal-frequency?hl=compliation+meal+frequency
  • Montanarush
    Montanarush Posts: 76
    My breakfast is 400-600 calories, with at least 30-40 grams of protein. At my weight loss clinic they also told me that if you eat that much protein, you will lose about 40% more fat during the day. Its working for me. I've lost 54 lbs. so far.
  • kiminikimkim
    kiminikimkim Posts: 746 Member
    I eat between 200 - 380 calories. My weightloss went fine. No problems.

    Maintaining now and my breakfast is the same.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    Ideal breakfast for me is 500 or so calories. When I eat less than that it just isn't enough to properly be able to budget my calories throughout the day.
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    my breakfast today will be 383 calories. And thats not even being creative and putting in anything yummy.

    I'm so boring with my food :(

    In all honesty, while eating a big breakfast have mental reasons to cause weight-loss (makes you feel fuller, gives you more energy throughout the day etc), how much you eat doesn't matter that much. If you're feeling energetic till your next meal with 400, go for it. If it takes you 800 calories to get to your next meal, so be it. What matters is how many calories you eat overall
  • stargazer008
    stargazer008 Posts: 531
    You decide on how much calories you want to eat for breakfast, whether it's 200 calories, 500 calories, etc. There really is no magic number for how much calories you should eat at a meal.
  • KombuchaCat
    KombuchaCat Posts: 834 Member
    I usually eat at least 400 calories for breakfast but it varies, some days more, some days less, depends on what I'm in the mood for that morning. I would agree with most people here that you should do what works for you.
  • haleylovessoccer
    haleylovessoccer Posts: 10
    I used to eat around 200 calories for breakfast but I would find myself getting really hungry and then over eating at lunch. Now I eat between 350-400 calories for breakfast and find myself staying full and eating a smaller lunch. But that is just what works for me and my schedule. The way you space out your calories is completely up to you and how hungry you get through out the day.
  • loserbaby84
    loserbaby84 Posts: 241 Member
    I once had a friend who would say "eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper." I'm not sure it's how things really work, but he was in great shape!

    I really dig this - your friend is awesome :)
  • WestCoastPhoenix
    WestCoastPhoenix Posts: 802 Member
    I never eat breakfast...I do intermittent fasting, breakfast is an Americano with nothing in it. Works for me! :smile:
  • WestCoastPhoenix
    WestCoastPhoenix Posts: 802 Member
    I once had a friend who would say "eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper." I'm not sure it's how things really work, but he was in great shape!

    I really dig this - your friend is awesome :)

    Your friend is also clueless.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    I'll have anywhere between 400 and 600 calories for breakfast - I need the energy for my mid morning workouts!
  • lmeasterling
    lmeasterling Posts: 139 Member
    My stomach can't handle a lot of food when I first wake up & I almost never go over 200 cals at breakfast (except on weekends). My typical morning meal is either a bowl of cereal with 1% milk, light vanilla yogurt with fruit or a scrambled egg with a little cheese on top.
  • chubtofit
    chubtofit Posts: 67 Member
    My breakfasts are usually around the 400 calories mark. I always believe that you need a good nutritious start to the day to rev up your metabolism (which is low and sluggish when you first wake up). Think of your metabolism as a fire and that you need plenty of "logs" & "kindling" to get it going and turn it into a roaring fire. Without it, it would only smolder and the same is said for your metabolism. So for those that either skip breakfast or have very little, their bodies are starting in a slow way and not working to their full potential (even if you don't feel hungry).

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