Has anyone tried having small dinners ?

Baileysgirl6
Baileysgirl6 Posts: 10
edited November 2023 in Getting Started
I typically like to have my largest meal at dinner. 1 maybe 2 day out of the week I eat out w/ friends at dinner. My problem is that lunch and dinner were both ending up large! I've known a couple of people who have told me they eat their smallest meal at night for dinner and they've lost weight/kept it off. Anyone else take this approach at eating?

I am thinking of cereal w/ almond milk and strawberries for dinner prob around 250 cals max. So I will eat most of my calories at breakfast/lunch. Am I setting myself up for disaster? I am thinking I'll be hungry but if I eat most of my calories prior to that, maybe not?

Replies

  • jr235
    jr235 Posts: 201 Member
    My biggest meal has always been dinner and I've never had trouble keeping weight off or losing weight when I have my act together. Meaning I'm exercising and not eating too many calories throughout the day.
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    Meal timing is personal preference. Do whatever you feel is going to help you achieve your goal.

    ETA: Play around with the amount of calories in each meal and find which approach will work better for you.
  • FrankiesSaysRelax
    FrankiesSaysRelax Posts: 403 Member
    My biggest meal has always been dinner and I've never had trouble keeping weight off or losing weight when I have my act together. Meaning I'm exercising and not eating too many calories throughout the day.

    Same.
  • SkinnyMsFitness
    SkinnyMsFitness Posts: 389 Member
    I typically like to have my largest meal at dinner. 1 maybe 2 day out of the week I eat out w/ friends at dinner. My problem is that lunch and dinner were both ending up large! I've known a couple of people who have told me they eat their smallest meal at night for dinner and they've lost weight/kept it off. Anyone else take this approach at eating?

    I am thinking of cereal w/ almond milk and strawberries for dinner prob around 250 cals max. So I will eat most of my calories at breakfast/lunch. Am I setting myself up for disaster? I am thinking I'll be hungry but if I eat most of my calories prior to that, maybe not?

    Ideally, breakfast should be the biggest, lunch a little smaller and dinner the smallest. Try eating a healthy, more fulfilling lunch...i.e. chicken!! You'll feel soo full during the day, you couldn't possibly eat a huge dinner!! I know this is difficult b/c I struggle with it too! My dinners are usually the biggest, but that's not ideal. If you cannot avoid large dinners, eat small breakfasts and lunches...that's what I've been doing...and drink plenty of water!
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    Experiment until you find something that works for you ....... that's the beauty of this :drinker:
  • fourfiftythree
    fourfiftythree Posts: 203 Member
    I tend to eat light during the day and eat a big, hearty dinner. If I only had 250 cals for dinner, I would essentially be going to bed hungry - and I would feel over stuffed during the day trying to make other meals larger. But that is just me. No harm in experimenting and finding what best suits your lifestyle.
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    I typically like to have my largest meal at dinner. 1 maybe 2 day out of the week I eat out w/ friends at dinner. My problem is that lunch and dinner were both ending up large! I've known a couple of people who have told me they eat their smallest meal at night for dinner and they've lost weight/kept it off. Anyone else take this approach at eating?

    I am thinking of cereal w/ almond milk and strawberries for dinner prob around 250 cals max. So I will eat most of my calories at breakfast/lunch. Am I setting myself up for disaster? I am thinking I'll be hungry but if I eat most of my calories prior to that, maybe not?

    Ideally, breakfast should be the biggest, lunch a little smaller and dinner the smallest. Try eating a healthy, more fulfilling lunch...i.e. chicken!! You'll feel soo full during the day, you couldn't possibly eat a huge dinner!! I know this is difficult b/c I struggle with it too! My dinners are usually the biggest, but that's not ideal. If you cannot avoid large dinners, eat small breakfasts and lunches...that's what I've been doing...and drink plenty of water!

    Actually, some people practice intermittent fasting and do not eat breakfast at all. So, no, breakfast does not have to be the biggest meal of the day and yes, dinner can be the biggest meal of the day.
  • Tum22
    Tum22 Posts: 102 Member
    Its OK but what if you eat a big bf and lunch and then lose willpower and still eat the big dinner!? I also think a big dinner helps one sleep better at night.
  • lorenzovonmatterhorn7549
    lorenzovonmatterhorn7549 Posts: 495 Member
    Yes, I eat small meals throughout the day. I'm very happy with it and am consistently losing weight.
  • bound4beauty
    bound4beauty Posts: 274 Member
    It's calories in vs calories out. It doesn't matter what time of the day you eat. That's just another gimmick to sell diet books. Do what works for you and learn to be flexible. If you know you're going out for dinner then have a smaller lunch so you have extra calories for dinner.
  • curly1986
    curly1986 Posts: 98 Member
    Dinner is my biggest meal. I tend to eat out of boredom and if I am sitting at night after my daughter has gone to bed I can get bored. So if I eat a nice big dinner (anywhere from 700-1000 cals of my 1500 allowance) I'm not interested in eating later on. But if you're not a night time snacker/grazer that might not be an issue for you. I also dont like going about my day feeling full, so prefer to eat a bit lighter during the day. You have to do whats best for you and what you think works for you.
  • HeyGoRun
    HeyGoRun Posts: 550 Member
    think about like this what are you gonna be doing in the next 3 hours? If sleeping then smaller meal if being active then bigger meal.
  • Nachise
    Nachise Posts: 395 Member
    My breakfast tends to be one of my larger meals. For me, personally, it curbs a lot of urges and cravings. Lunch the smallest, and to appease my husband, dinner is a close contender to breakfast. There are some days that dinner does tend to be the smallest. This works for me. I cannot guarantee that it works for everyone.
  • FerretBuellerr
    FerretBuellerr Posts: 468 Member
    I've heard from friends (but never looked up any information on it to see if it's accurate or not, and the consensus on MFP is very divided) that it depends on what time you eat dinner, not necessarily how much. I've been told not to eat anything after 5 or 6 pm (which is pretty much impossible right now due to my schedule), so then your body uses up the calories you've eaten rather than eating a meal right before bed and your body digesting but not really burning anything.

    That being said, I think a big meal at dinner is okay, but only if you are up for enough hours after you eat. My meals of the day are fairly even calorie wise, but I try to eat heavy for breakfast - I hear a LOT of people on here say you don't need to eat breakfast, but I find if I eat a large breakfast in the morning, it gives me more energy and I don't need to eat as heavy or as much through the day.
  • carefulkate
    carefulkate Posts: 34 Member
    There is research to suuport all of the things on here i.e some people say breakfast should be biggest meal but just recently research showed it made no difference I think it is all about finding what works for once you get that sorted the weight will come off
    Good luck x
  • sealevels
    sealevels Posts: 123
    I'm an early morning exerciser, so I hate having anything in my stomach when I run/work out. I've tried - my stomach is killing me afterward. So I eat a hearty dinner the night before. I usually have no problem completing my workouts with energy.

    I have a big dinner because I'm not usually hungry in the early hours. I have been trying, however, to make my breakfasts larger as well as my lunches.
  • HotAshMess
    HotAshMess Posts: 382 Member
    I've always wanted to, but honestly....I like to sleep in and it makes it very tricky.
  • lambchristie
    lambchristie Posts: 552 Member
    I typically like to have my largest meal at dinner. 1 maybe 2 day out of the week I eat out w/ friends at dinner. My problem is that lunch and dinner were both ending up large! I've known a couple of people who have told me they eat their smallest meal at night for dinner and they've lost weight/kept it off. Anyone else take this approach at eating?

    I am thinking of cereal w/ almond milk and strawberries for dinner prob around 250 cals max. So I will eat most of my calories at breakfast/lunch. Am I setting myself up for disaster? I am thinking I'll be hungry but if I eat most of my calories prior to that, maybe not?

    I find I need to spread out my calories throughout the day, 3 larger type meals and then snacks in between or I get to hungry. I would not be satisfied with a 250 calorie dinner because I work out 5 mornings a week PLUS 3 to 4 nights a week and I am super hungry after working out.

    Each person and body is different like many others have stated ... experience with what works for you and then stick to it! :wink:
  • leebesstoad
    leebesstoad Posts: 1,186 Member
    Yes, I eat small meals throughout the day. I'm very happy with it and am consistently losing weight.
    ^^^ Yup. Right there with you. I try to keep them fairly close to even all throughout the day.
  • horrorstory
    horrorstory Posts: 125 Member
    I eat a very small dinner. Usually a protein shake with banana, and then some sort of small snack a little later in the evening. It works great for me because Im more active during the day, and not very active in the evening.

    You just have to find whatever works for you!
    :)
  • kmash32
    kmash32 Posts: 275 Member
    I think it is different for everyone and really depends on your body and how it burns. There is no harm in trying for a couple of days. I personally typically eat about 250 for break, 350-400 for l lunch and then 400-450 for dinner and the rest in snacks. However for me I find when I am delegant what works is no carbs for dinner like bread, pasta, cereal (lol). I stick to a good portion of protien and a salad. I don't always manage this but try as much as I can. Another big thing for me is keeping the sodium low at night, if I eat anything with salt I will be bloated the next morning with water gain.
  • naturallyme36
    naturallyme36 Posts: 155 Member
    Dinner has always been my biggest meal of the day, but have also been thinking of changing that due to not being able to burn it off and also being so sluggish after. I would love to hear everyone's feedback on this.
  • fivethreeone
    fivethreeone Posts: 8,196 Member
    I typically like to have my largest meal at dinner. 1 maybe 2 day out of the week I eat out w/ friends at dinner. My problem is that lunch and dinner were both ending up large! I've known a couple of people who have told me they eat their smallest meal at night for dinner and they've lost weight/kept it off. Anyone else take this approach at eating?

    I am thinking of cereal w/ almond milk and strawberries for dinner prob around 250 cals max. So I will eat most of my calories at breakfast/lunch. Am I setting myself up for disaster? I am thinking I'll be hungry but if I eat most of my calories prior to that, maybe not?

    Ideally, breakfast should be the biggest, lunch a little smaller and dinner the smallest. Try eating a healthy, more fulfilling lunch...i.e. chicken!! You'll feel soo full during the day, you couldn't possibly eat a huge dinner!! I know this is difficult b/c I struggle with it too! My dinners are usually the biggest, but that's not ideal. If you cannot avoid large dinners, eat small breakfasts and lunches...that's what I've been doing...and drink plenty of water!

    This is completely false. Meal timing, size, and frequency have nothing to do with weight loss if you are controlling your overall calories.

    Here is a study that shows meal frequency has nothing to do with weight loss: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19943985
    from this study: "...We conclude that increasing MF (meal frequency) does not promote greater body weight loss..."

    Here is a report that shows that meal size has nothing to do with weight loss, if you are controlling the overall amount of calories that you are eating: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/pdf/portion_size_research.pdf

    Here is a study that show that overweight/obese people should, if anything, reduce the size of their breakfasts rather than increase them: http://www.nutritionj.com/content/10/1/5
  • ziggyc
    ziggyc Posts: 191 Member
    I'm the same way with eating large dinners all the time. During my more disciplined times, if I needed to keep it small, I would cook a frozen salmon filet in a little bit of olive oil with seasoning, and steam a ton of broccoli on the side with seasoning and just a shake or two of salt. I would drink a small glass of low fat milk with it and then finish off with a glass of water. I kept a bag of decent frozen salmon in the freezer for these occasions and ate it like once a week or so. Super low cal with some good protein, fiber, and enough fat to satisfy me.
  • mjharman
    mjharman Posts: 251 Member
    Since I cook for my entire family (my husband and my three sons who are all in their 20s), dinner is the meal that I tend to splurge on a little...meaning, it isn't planned as well as breakfast and lunch are. It gives me something to look forward to because, whereas breakfast and lunch tend to be very similar from day to day, dinner is not.

    However, I do carefully control my dinner portions. I use a small salad plate rather than a large dinner plate, and I fill half of it with the vegetable of the day. This seems to be what works best for me!

    ~Marsha
  • Inacay
    Inacay Posts: 47 Member
    I recently tried intermittent fasting. The goal is to have a "feeding window." I fast 12 to 24 hours then I eat. My feeding window has been 8:00 PM to 12:00 PM. My meals have been both larger and smaller. If I want to lose more weight, I may eat less calories. I really get to eat a lot of food in intermittent fasting, but my caloric intake is about 1,500 during a feeding window. Yesterday, I had 4 bowls of matzo ball soup (mostly broth), two bowls of fiber cereal, fruit, and two glasses of apricots blended juice and one slice of pizza. Again, it seems like a lot of food, but I have been losing weight. When I have had calories throughout the day, a smaller meal would definitely help with weight loss. If you feel deprived, your next battle would be not falling off the wagon because you feel deprived. I have gone on the vicious cycle of feeling deprived. What does your heart and body tell you? Make sure you are self-compassionate, because it takes courage to ask these kinds of questions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35CfS0AZemg
  • CycleFlow
    CycleFlow Posts: 55
    I think you need to experminet with yourself.

    My only question is - are you eating a large dinner because you are not fueling yourself properly throughout the day??

    I used to eat large dinners because I would hoard all my calories for the end of the day out of paranoia that I would run out of usable food calories too soon - of course I was starving!

    I find now that I eat more calories througout the day its EASY to eat a small dinner because Im not insanely hungry by 6pm.
    I have found that it also curbs my evening cravings. If I dont eat well in the day then have a huge dinner - guarenteed Ill have the night snacking urge. Strange I know.

    Anyhow - Try it out both ways - but give it a week or two for both...
    You never know til you try!
  • Baileysgirl6
    Baileysgirl6 Posts: 10
    Thank you all for the replies! Lots of good info!

    I totally get calories in vs calories out, doesn't matter what time of day you eat, etc. I was just trying to think of a way to help me curb my evening appetite/snacking. So by eating my bigger meals during the day fuels me throughout the day in the evening I won't need as much energy. I will give it a try and see how it goes!

    I do walk twice a day at work totaling 30 minutes and am "planning" on using my elliptical 3-4 nights a week. I'm going to start with 15 minutes maybe a couple of days then build up. Currently, I'm not active at all at night after work.

    I have tried intermittent fasting and I liked how I felt on it but I didn't like not going to the bathroom every day. It also not very convenient with my current schedule.

    Here's how my days normally go and this is what has me thinking that driving by all these places tempts me to eat bad in the evenings. Thus my theory to avoid it by eating larger breakfasts/lunches from home and then dinner being cereal or salad w/ protein.

    Breakfast
    Raisin Date Walnut Oatmeal & Bacon 285 cals
    or
    Scrambled Eggs, Bacon & Grits 345 cals

    Lunch
    Frozen meal w/ side salad w/ lite dressing 300-400 cals
    or
    Tuna salad on ww w/ veggie chips 300-400 cals

    Dinner
    Whatever I feel like could be a burger and fries or chicken sandwich, pizza (calories go out the window here)

    Snacks anywhere from 200-300 calories a day
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,658 Member
    Personally, I prefer something like fruit or eggs for breakfast, a lunch of around 400 calories, with the largest meal being dinner.
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