People who eat the same things every day

sarahcuddle

Some of my MFP friends, and quite often the successful weight loss ones, eat almost the same foods every day. Personally I could never do that and I enjoy a wide variety of things. Occasionally this trips me up as I'll eat something I think will be OK and fit into my plan and it doesn't (We won't mention the Starbuck's almond croissant for 430cals - lol) I had to miss a meal to make up for that faux pas!. I can understand why people do it, it keeps you on track because you know exactly what you are going to eat and when and this makes you less likely to stray calorie wise. Should you also consider though if all the essential nurtients we need, vitamins, minerals etc can actually be contained in just one days worth of food? Especially women on lower calories like 1200, you could be missing out and affecting your health long-term. I also think it seems to have consequences for these people when they are forced away from their habitual food, like on holiday or eating out. They either go mad and binge on multiple slices of pizza, or maybe they just don't know which other healthy lower calorie foods are out there because they have never tried them? What do you think?

Trilby16

I think that, for a lot of people, trouble starts when they think too much about "what do I feel like eating today?" If you have go-to meals for breakfast and lunch, you have less to think about and obsess about, and less trouble to get into. Just my two cents.

AntWrig

For many variety leads to trouble. If I want something, I will adjust my macros around it.

kellehbeans

I suppose if they like those foods, then why not - as long as they're getting the right amount of nutrients. I know quite often my lunch can be the same, but I do like to swap and change my breakfast, snacks and dinner. I know I would get very bored if I had the same dinner or breakfast every single day, lunch not so much. Not sure what it is, but I really have a thing for brown rice at the moment! I hope you didn't mean me anyway!

I suppose, just let people get on with it. Variation is nice, but some people love routine because it does keep you in check.

I have started planning my meals in advance to allow myself more variation.

evilmj31

I would get totally bored eating the same thing every day, I need variety. I know what I can eat so I just try different way to eat a variety of fruits and veggies. It has been working okay so far

ndj1979

is it just me or is the original post kind of contradicting. You say that people that eat same thing every day may hurt themselves on holiday, but then you admit to doing the opposite of that and say that you ate a croissant from starbucks that had 500 calories in it.

I do not eat the same thing every d ay..but I eat the same kind of foods - chicken, vegetables, steak, pork, eggs, whole wheat, brown rice, quiona, etc....I have built my lifestyle around these foods....now, every once in a while I will eat some pizza, buffalo wings, etc but I make them fit into my daily goals...

I would say build your lifestyle around healthy foods and strength training....and if you go to starbucks look on the nutritional info or find something similar so that you can get an idea of the calories contained within ...

lauren3101

Most of my meals are the same every day. I tend to have the same breakfast and the same lunch, and then I have probably about 10 regular dinners that I choose one from every night. My snacks are usually the same too..

I'm getting a decent amount of protein, carbs, fats, fruit and veg and even room for a treat every day by eating almost the same. It also works for me and I don't feel deprived. As long as that is the case, I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

rosebarnalice

personally, I'm with you-- I like variety and eating the same thing every day would make me crazy.

But I've also heard the "eat boring, be skinny" argument (see #3 on Men's Health Eat This Not That list--http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slideshow/print-list/186550) that novelty foods drive us to consume more, and I have found myself guilty of the "oooh this is so good, and it may be a while before I get to eat this again!" mindset.

bobbyunangst

I have 2-3 go to breakfast and lunches that I rotate through out the week. I have allowed myself a dip into the forbidden on Sundays so that I can still enjoy Sunday morning breakfast out with my husband and kids. Dinner time is where I really move things around since it is the one that is most likely to vary anyway. Also snacks in the day. I refused to not give myself a treat that I want because I know I will cave later if I do.

My calories are set for 1400 right now. I feel a lot of what I need to change about my eating is all about moderation. I can have a piece of chocolate, just enjoy it and keep it to one AND record it. Don't sneak it, be honest with yourself.

traceytwink

I could never eat the same things every day I would get so bored, I love food and I love variety I don't see any food as a son and eat whatever I fancy, I've changed the whole way I look at food and since being on mfp I'm not constantly thinking of what I'm going to eat next and will it be ok for my diet, I think that's because I no longer think of myself as being on a diet any more

fit4lifeUcan2

We are creatures of habit. Some love to have their morning oatmeal, or their eggs etc. My husband has to have his cereal and chocolate pudding lol. I personally have times when I will eat the same thing every morning for a week or 2 then I get tired of that and switch to something else. It also depends on what I have left in the house. If I can't get out to go food shopping I'll have whatever is left in the fridge. Sometimes that means eggs every morning for breakfast. The rest of the day I do stick with having a salad with either chicken or salmon on top for lunch and dinner. Yup just about every single day.

BflSaberfan

Some of my MFP friends, and quite often the successful weight loss ones, eat almost the same foods every day. Personally I could never do that and I enjoy a wide variety of things. Occasionally this trips me up as I'll eat something I think will be OK and fit into my plan and it doesn't (We won't mention the Starbuck's almond croissant for 430cals - lol) I had to miss a meal to make up for that faux pas!. I can understand why people do it, it keeps you on track because you know exactly what you are going to eat and when and this makes you less likely to stray calorie wise. Should you also consider though if all the essential nurtients we need, vitamins, minerals etc can actually be contained in just one days worth of food? Especially women on lower calories like 1200, you could be missing out and affecting your health long-term. I also think it seems to have consequences for these people when they are forced away from their habitual food, like on holiday or eating out. They either go mad and binge on multiple slices of pizza, or maybe they just don't know which other healthy lower calorie foods are out there because they have never tried them? What do you think?

I tend to eat the same things for breakfast and lunch and snacks, but have a dinner different each night. I am pretty picky when it comes to my food so I'm kind of limited but it works for me. I also find it easier to keep track of my calories when I do this, which I only really do M-F. On the weekends I am a little more relaxed.

Just curious when you over ate by 400 calories, why not exercise to gain those calories back instead of skipping a meal?

LorinaLynn

I mostly eat the same thing for breakfast (usually a bagel) and maybe for lunch (usually a sandwich), but planning and cooking a delicious dinner is sometimes the highlight of my day. Which sounds really sad and pathetic now that I type it out. :laugh:

CEHayes73

(We won't mention the Starbuck's almond croissant for 430cals - lol)

What does Starbuck's put in their food? The calorie counts on everything there is huge!!!! Even if you compare say a piece of banana bread from there and ones from other places, it's always way more. I avoid Starbuck's for that reason - and because it's so expensive.

fit4lifeUcan2

I mostly eat the same thing for breakfast (usually a bagel) and maybe for lunch (usually a sandwich), but planning and cooking a delicious dinner is sometimes the highlight of my day. Which sounds really sad and pathetic now that I type it out. :laugh:

Oh i wish I could figure out what to make for dinner. Doesn't help that I hate to cook plus I'm never home to make dinner unless I make it in advance for the family. I have to fill up the crock pot and leave it on all day so when I'm not hope everyone can help themselves. I spend most of my time on campus.

Hazel2005

I eat the same breakfast pretty much everyday. It's more of a preference and convenience than anything else. I have a grapefruit and oatmeal, it's quick and easy and I add my egg whites to the water when I'm nuking it. I'm not bored......but probably a little boring

AmandaReimer1

For me, sometimes it's because it's a satisfying meal. Breakfasts are pretty standard. My snacks will usually be the same (yogurt, banana, apple, grapes or a treat ). Lunch can vary, I'm actually in a lunch rut where nothing interests me for lunch. Dinner is where the variation can come in. I plan meals when I go grocery shopping so I have things to already choose from.
Sometimes, it's better to have the same thing. I hate the "what do I want to eat?" dance.

PetulantOne

I always eat in cycles. I'll get on a tuna kick and eat everyday for weeks. Then all of a sudden I get sick of it and switch to something else. But I've always been like that. If I have a spur of the moment craving, I'll log the food before I eat it to see if it fits my macros. If it does I eat it. If not I might still eat it lol

angieleighbyrd

different strokes for different folks

LoraF83

I always eat in cycles. I'll get on a tuna kick and eat everyday for weeks. Then all of a sudden I get sick of it and switch to something else. But I've always been like that. If I have a spur of the moment craving, I'll log the food before I eat it to see if it fits my macros. If it does I eat it. If not I might still eat it lol

This is how I eat too. I find something I like (and that works well in my macros) and then I eat it like crazy until I'm tired of it. For example, right now I'm eating a homemade steak & egg breakfast burrito. I made a huge batch of them and they are delicious - and high in protein, which is important to me right now. So, I'll eat these most days until they are gone and then I'll find something else to eat.

girlie100

I'm definately a creature of habit for breakfast and lunch, have the same thing for both every day.

I get my variety from my dinner where I try different things. I do my meal prep Sunday nights for work so its all done and I don't have to worry in the morning with what to take.

danim90

Most of my meals are the same every day. I tend to have the same breakfast and the same lunch, and then I have probably about 10 regular dinners that I choose one from every night. My snacks are usually the same too..

I'm getting a decent amount of protein, carbs, fats, fruit and veg and even room for a treat every day by eating almost the same. It also works for me and I don't feel deprived. As long as that is the case, I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

Completely agree and I do the same. Luckily I have found foods that I enjoy which helps. I couldn't eat the same thing every day if I didn't. My dinners vary with regards to the accompanyment i.e. potatoes, rice etc, and there are a few different mains I will have.

It's also easier to just have the same when I'm at work everyday etc

Lyssa62

The way I eat may not work for everybody but it works for me...and resulted in a "doctor called with lab results that were the BEST she's seen in years" and wanted to know what I was doing.

I eat the same thing every morning for breakfast -- I know it keeps me filled up until I can get a quick bite around lunch time in ...and more than likely it will be at least right around the same thing.

so breakfast -- 1/4 cup of perfect portions no sugar added maple oatmeal nuked with water, 1 small banana sliced up in the oatmeal and 1 packet of stevia in the raw

lunch -- 1/4 serving of almonds, (sometimes to kick things up a notch I will throw in a greek 100 calorie yogurt)...4 celery stalks with laughing cow wedge cheese, 2 crackers, some mixed fruit

supper is my variant -- but I have my basic to go to recipes I try to cook. Like tonight we will have the turkey chili I am about to throw in the crockpot.

this is how I have to eat or I will go right back up to the weight I was before and this time...that aint' happening. For me it works...for others it wouldn't.

Unknown

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1258936

I personally thrive on consistency. I like eating the same thing for breakfast and lunch everyday (at least weekday) and it helps keep me on track. I'll mix it up with a diffrent salsa or diffrent fruit, but it's the same basic thing. When I deviate, I have a very hard time getting back on track and it's easier for me mentally and for prep to do the same thing. Co-workers do think I am crazy though. They always ask, is it the same thing today? Yes. Yes it is, and I like it that way. :happy:

Mokey41

Except for my supper I eat pretty much the same thing every day and it works fine. Breakfast is 2 hard boiled eggs and a yogurt, mid morning snack is an apple, lunch is a 250 calorie frozen dinner, afternoon snack is a pack of Special K Crisps& 2 cups of almond milk, a 300 to 400 calorie supper and maybe a piece of fruit later as a snack.

I look at food as fuel for my body instead of some kind of super sensual reward pleasure that I need to think about all day. I just eat my food without giving it any special powers. It seems successful people learn not to let food rule their lives. Sure some things taste great and I can enjoy good food but food doesn't offer me comfort or control my life.

MsLilly200

Me and mom tend to have the same basic dinner most evenings, a meat, a vegetable and some kind of sauce or side. Like, chicken, broccoli and bearnaisse, or steak, peas and creamsauce.
Sometimes we make like a stew or something, but then we make a biig pot and eat the leftovers for lunch and dinner over the next days.

I tend to have phases when it comes to breakfast, one time I had oatmeal with applesauce for 2 weeks straight, then I had philadelphia on toast for a week, for a while I had cheese, ham, tomato omelettes, then I didn't eat breakfast at all.
This week I'm eating flapjacks, the english kind, not pancakes... What? They're basically oatmeal or a granola bar. But better.

Phaedra2014

Some of my MFP friends, and quite often the successful weight loss ones, eat almost the same foods every day. Personally I could never do that and I enjoy a wide variety of things. Occasionally this trips me up as I'll eat something I think will be OK and fit into my plan and it doesn't (We won't mention the Starbuck's almond croissant for 430cals - lol) I had to miss a meal to make up for that faux pas!. I can understand why people do it, it keeps you on track because you know exactly what you are going to eat and when and this makes you less likely to stray calorie wise. Should you also consider though if all the essential nurtients we need, vitamins, minerals etc can actually be contained in just one days worth of food? Especially women on lower calories like 1200, you could be missing out and affecting your health long-term. I also think it seems to have consequences for these people when they are forced away from their habitual food, like on holiday or eating out. They either go mad and binge on multiple slices of pizza, or maybe they just don't know which other healthy lower calorie foods are out there because they have never tried them? What do you think?

I am one of those people who eats mostly the same foods every day; I just dress them up differently! My staples are vegetables, fruits, lean meats, fish, beans on occasion, eggs, brown rice or quinoa on occasion, a tortilla (gluten free) at breakfast and I dunno...it satisfies me and my family too.

iLoveMyPitbull1225

As others have commented, I used a combination of both... I pre plan all my breakfasts, lunches, and snacks and those meals are usually the same types of things everyday, which doesnt bother me at all....Because I always make something different for dinner. I save most of the daily allowance of calories for this meal so that I can have more freedom to have different things and it really does help me not get bored. Like I said I eat the same TYPES of things for my breakfasts/lunches/snacks, like fruit. But there are so many different types of fruit. I mix it up some days and have a wrap and some days I have something different, but the consistency and balance I get out of planning is what keeps me successful. And as far as your comment about getting essential nutrients, I personally take a multi vitamin for several reasons, this being one of them.

capnrus789

I eat the same stuff all the time. I get my variety with beer.

bbbgamer

its easy for me to eat the same thing every day. if one eats the right things nutrients, etc... arent an issue.