how do you spread your calories out

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  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
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    I try to do less then 300 for breakfast & lunch each and leave the rest for dinner & snacks

    This is what I do. Small breakfast, small lunch, and often a snack before dinner. Dinner's usually big - I sleep better when I'm full.
  • kmbweber2014
    kmbweber2014 Posts: 680 Member
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    I don't try to keep any meal at a certain caloric count. I usually know before I leave for work what I am having for dinner, so I work around that. Most of the time I put my meals in in the morning and plan my day then just adjust as needed.
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
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    I've found that it's MUCH easier for me to keep my calories low by saving up about 2/3's of my daily calories for dinner and after dinner snacks (or drinks). As long as I know I have a feast coming in the evening, then I don't mind being a bit hungrier in the daytime. And I'm usually so busy at work that I don't have much time to snack or think about food anyway.

    So focus on eating very filling, high protein, high veggie meals for breakfast and lunch. Then you can indulge yourself for dinner! Although it's best physiologically to eat your carbs right before and after exercise, I find that it's just easier to eat them at night. I have some before exercise too of course.
  • JustANumber85
    JustANumber85 Posts: 644 Member
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    For today- B=180, AM Snack=200, L=220, PM Snack=202, D=345, Night Snack=204 for 1351.
  • mtabh
    mtabh Posts: 128 Member
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    New to this, but this is my plan and what I am trying so far:

    Breakfast: 200
    Lunch: 300
    Dinner: 500
    Snacks: 200

    I eat 1200 calories per day.
  • sunflowerhippi
    sunflowerhippi Posts: 1,100 Member
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    Due to my attempt to not torture my husband with my diet, I tend to eat smaller meals all day and a larger dinner so that he can cook what he wants for dinner and I can at least eat some of what he makes. He cooks for us since I work 10+ hour days.

    300-100-300-100-700
  • ash8184
    ash8184 Posts: 701 Member
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    I try to spend most of my calories at lunch because I feel like it powers me through the rest of the day (plus, I don't like going to sleep with a full tummy). But, I don't have a family so I usually just have something small for dinner (yogurt, a protein shake, a handful of nuts, etc). May not work for everyone, but it works for me!
  • rjcelmer
    rjcelmer Posts: 431 Member
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    I love dinner. Also, eating a big lunch makes me want to fall asleep. So, I usually have about 300-400 for breakfast, 500-600 for lunch, and 900-1000 for dinner.
  • lewcompton
    lewcompton Posts: 881 Member
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    I usually eat 6 times per day... about 200-250 @ breakfast... 150 @ brunch... 200 @ lunch... 150 @ tea... 250-500 @ supper and 150-250 @ once (Chilean meal pronounced oh... ncee).
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,926 Member
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    1830 cal/daily or thereabouts:

    Breakfast - 200
    Mid-Morning - Snack - 170
    Lunch - 410
    Mid-Afternoon Snack - 200
    Dinner - 600
    After Lifting Protein Smoothie - 250

    These vary greatly, but this is what I like to do.
  • MrsDougNOLA
    MrsDougNOLA Posts: 18
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    Breakfast: 200
    Lunch: 300
    Supper: 500
    Snacks: 200
  • bgelliott
    bgelliott Posts: 610 Member
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    Roughly how I break it up with slight fluctuations here and there.

    Meal 1 - 220
    Meal 2 - 130
    Meal 3 - 250
    Meal 4 - 150
    Meal 5 - 450
    Meal 6 - 100
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
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    I just eat until I'm out.
  • Enigmatica
    Enigmatica Posts: 879 Member
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    I adjust depending on activity and energy level, but on average:

    550-700 cals in the morning (I usually run 5 miles or so before dawn)
    500-800 cals in the afternoon (depends on where my energy level is)
    500-600 cals in the evening

    Note I use a BodyMedia to track calorie burn, and I'm in maintenance mode, not trying to lose weight.
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
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    Breakfast - 300 - 400 calories (includes a protein shake and coffee)
    Snack - 200 (smoothie)
    Lunch - 200 - 300 calories (often peanut butter or other protein)
    Snack - 100 to 200 calories (fruits, veggies, or smoothie)
    Supper - 400 - 600 calories (complex carbs)

    With exercise, that theoretically leaves me enough to have some unbuttered popcorn or a beer after supper and still be at a mild calorie deficit.
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
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    My calories aren't consistent day to day because I eat when I'm hungry until I'm satisfied but these numbers seem about right to me:

    Breakfast is 500 - 800 calories.
    Dinner is 500 - 1,000 calories.

    And sometimes I have a 0 - 400 calorie snack after dinner, which going by what some other people are eating might be considered a mini meal, but it's something like dip and vegetables, cheese & pepperoni or fruit so I consider it a snack.

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