PACING MEALS AND SNACKS

chelseaamandrusiak

As I've gone along with this diet for the last month or so, I've found that my days are quite long, and I've been at times struggling with how to pace myself with meals and snacks.

Does anyone have any advice/stories/tips on how they eat when they have long days? I know it can be done because I do it a lot, but I often have 16 to 18-hour days and sometimes, it's a challenge to stretch my calories over that, especially since I'm at the gym 6 days a week.

Any response is of course appreciated

lreed

Hey there, I have had good luck with fruit, Jerky, nuts, cut veggies, protein bars, and protein powder. I pack lunch in insulated lunch box, just like my kids! Good luck!

waguchan

I eat a snack or meal every 2-3 hours no matter where I am. I pack my lunch with snacks for the entire day. My snacks usually have high protein. I also keep non-perishable high protein snacks in my office for emergencies. For example, my morning snack was a 6 oz serving of Fage 0% Greek Yogurt with 1/4 cup of Fiber One Original Cereal mixed in with it. Later, I had some Trader Joe's smooth & spicy hummus (2 Tbsp is only 40 calories) with 3 Ak Mak sesame crackers. I also have nuts handy in snack size packs and protein bars that have 15 grams of protein and very low sugar and sodium which I purchase online.

Most of my meals and snacks are between 100 - 250 calories. And I eat about 6 times a day.

The key is to be prepared and to never wait more than 3 hours to eat. Eat your planned snacks even if you don't feel that you are hungry. That will keep your blood glucose levels stable so you won't hit the junk food table at work around 3 or 4pm or eat everything in site when you finally do get a chance for a meal.

I read a book recently called the Snack Factor which talks about this. It has helped me out a lot recently.

GOOD LUCK!