Are you a grazer or do you eat 2-3 large meals per day?

I'm most definitely a grazer, and I log everything I'm planning on eating into MFP in the morning to make sure it's under my goal, eating every 1-2 hours. I know it makes absolutely no difference for metabolism how frequently meals are consumed, but I'm just curious what kind of eating habits are more prominent in the community.

Replies

  • crowefoot
    crowefoot Posts: 11 Member
    I have an alarm set on my phone to remind me to eat every two hours, otherwise my blood sugar goes insane. Which is sad, because traditionally I've preferred large, infrequent meals.
  • I eat 5-6 meals per day, 3 of which are the traditional meals and the other 2-3 are snacks. My traditional meals range from 350-600 calories, and then the snacks are 150-300 calories. My net calorie goal is around 1400, and I do a bit of exercise 6 days per week to fit those 5-6 meals in at those calorie levels. I'm a big eater. Quantity matters to me, so I have to be careful which items I select.
  • Wildflower0106
    Wildflower0106 Posts: 247 Member
    Both, I might eat every couple of hours one day but then just eat lunch and dinner the next.
  • dakitten2
    dakitten2 Posts: 888 Member
    90% of the time I'm a grazer. I normally eat my meals into mini-meals. I'll eat my dinner salad at 3pm, then maybe the main course at 5pm and the same way with lunch. Then I have my scheduled snacks, nuts, fruits, etc scattered throughout the day. Although my diary is set up as a structured 3 meals and 3 snacks, I don't necessarily eat them as listed. I don't think it matters what time of the day I eat but I like having smaller portions throughout the day instead of huge meals. If I know I'm eating out, I tend not to graze as much during the day.
  • TinGirl314
    TinGirl314 Posts: 430 Member
    I have three meals a day under 500 calories and then I have three 1-200 calories snacks. :)
  • rachaelgifford
    rachaelgifford Posts: 320 Member
    I have 3 'meals' a day - but I will have a ( usually) healthy snack between each one and one in the evening. Usually fruit, or some nuts.
  • I eat at least 6 meals a day and I eat every 2 hrs because if I don't I start to feel ill and lightheaded. I guess I'm a grazer as I tend to break my meals down
  • krazyforyou
    krazyforyou Posts: 1,428 Member
    On my work schedule I'm lucky to get to eat once.
  • Deadlay
    Deadlay Posts: 135 Member
    2 sometimes 3 meals a day. But I also do IF so it works for me.
  • laurynwithawhy
    laurynwithawhy Posts: 385 Member
    I have like 1 giant meal a day, then graze the rest of the time. I feel like I'm always eating/snacking, but if I have a bunch of meals I always go over my calorie goal. 1 meal + snacks works best for me.
  • Definitely a grazer now. I eat 6 meals a day. It's awesome because I'm rarely ever hungry. I keep each meal between 300 and 400 calories. It totals about 2000 a day, plus I'm doing Insanity so I can subtract those out.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Depends on the day. I don't structure my eating plan that rigidly. I eat when I feel like it. Some days that might just be as single meal, other days that might be snacking all day. The only thing I care about is hitting my macro targets.
  • mckant
    mckant Posts: 217 Member
    Grazer. It can be such a pain to log!
  • Evie_W
    Evie_W Posts: 4
    I eat 3 meals and 3 snacks a day, I have to otherwise my blood sugar crashes and I also have IBS :-)
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    Grazer.
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    My lunch is 7 or 800 hundred. My dinner is about 1000.
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    I eat one smallish meal for breakfast and one huge meal for lunch or dinner. Usually lunch during the week and dinner on week-ends. If I'm hungry at another time I'll have fruit, nuts, or popcorn.
  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
    I hate grazing, I seem to be so much hungrier when I graze. I usually skip breakfast and eat a decent lunch, huge dinner and lots of snacks. Most of my food is consumed after lunch unless it's the weekend and we go out for an obscene 900 calorie omelette. I like big meals - they tend to fill me for longer.
  • Factory_Reset
    Factory_Reset Posts: 1,651 Member
    I'm a grazer unless I get super hungry

    Then I eat all the foodz
  • victoriavoodoo
    victoriavoodoo Posts: 343 Member
    I like to wait as long as I can before I start eating for the day, because if I eat breakfast it's like the floodgates of hunger are opened and I tend to go over my goals. The most enjoyable eating schedule for me is to fit all of my calories in from like 5-10 pm so I start grazing around then.

    But I log in the morning, so I know ahead of time I'll get my 1450 cals and hit all my macros.
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
    I just eat when I`m hungry and if I think it could be that I`m thirsty then I take in some water and see how the hunger goes
  • I eat throughout the day! But with school and my internship and volunteer work, it becomes a little difficult. I try to plan and prepare my meals the night before, but sometimes I get home so late from school and I'm too tired to prepare my meals/snacks.

    I usually eat breakfast everyday and I either drink a protein shake or prepare oatmeal, cheese and egg scramble or fiber one cereal. I have fruit or nuts/greek yogurt for all of my snacks (I try to get in 3/day). Then for lunch and dinner I either have a sandwich because it's easy to take with me and on some days, I eat at home and cook. These meals usually average between 300-450 calories each.

    So in a round about way, I'm a grazer!!! ;-)
  • dunnodunno
    dunnodunno Posts: 2,290 Member
    I usually eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a later snack. If I have calories to spare I throw in a morning snack & if I exercise I add a snack after exercising or up my dinner calories.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    Neither.

    I eat one meal at the end of the day.

    I only eat when I am hungry & not because it's expected of me to eat at a particular time. I'm never hungry till anywhere after 3pm or whatever so I wont really feel like eating dinner till about 9pm.
  • DrPepper000
    DrPepper000 Posts: 48 Member
    I am a grazer. Sometimes, I group my snacks so they look like a meal. If I am cooking something that takes more than 30 min, I usually eat something else while I wait. I never plan in advance. That is why I love MFP, in the evening, I look at my macros and see what needs to be eaten.
  • jen_zz
    jen_zz Posts: 1,011 Member
    I'm a grazer unless I get super hungry

    Then I eat all the foodz

    Me.
  • trisH_7183
    trisH_7183 Posts: 1,486 Member
    I'm seldom hungry for breakfast,so lunch tastes good.Then dinner is around 5 30. Usually have 2-300 calories to spend on a treat.Maybe ice cream,might be a couple cookies with 1/2C cold milk.
    Going to start adding a shake now & then.Easy to make,easy to get some macros.
  • MrsFowler1069
    MrsFowler1069 Posts: 657 Member
    I usually have a protein-rich breakfast, running roughly 300-350 calories. Eggs or an egg-white omelet, usually. Then it depends on my day. I have been home all day today, but got a late start...and have eaten every two hours since around one.

    If I'm out and about a lot or with friends, it depends on what it going on. If it fits, I eat it. I do very occasionally go over my calorie goal, but am more likely to be under.

    To choose for the sake of conversation, I guess I'm more of a meal-eater, but just not real regular with times, etc.