People's ideas of "cheat meals"

Disclaimer: I hate the idea of cheat meals. I've been trying to separate myself from that phrase, because I feel like it's not "cheating" if you're working it into your macros, and practicing moderation. I will be using "cheat meal" in quotes for this reason.

Anyways, I saw a post on FB today, where someone said they had a "cheat meal". It consisted of a chicken sausage link, a bagel thin, a piece of cheese, and an egg. I don't know the exact items that they used, minus one, but I decided to rough up a standard breakfast sandwich based the items they described.

Mine in the recipe builder came out to around 400 calories, 36g carbs, 18g fat (I used provolone, but I'm sure this individual probably used a lower fat version), 27g protein, 7g saturated fat.

Is it just me, or does that seem like a pretty well rounded breakfast? Especially if you're coupling it with a workout, and are following a 1,400-1,700 cal intake a day like many of us, that doesn't seem like a "cheat meal". Yes, the sat fat is potentially high (my macros say no more than 19g a day), but you're getting a good boost of protein, and the items themselves will lead to a filling breakfast that would probably last you until a snack or lunch. It seems like a meal that you can easily work around the remainder of your day. Not only that, I've looked up that brand of chicken sausage (Al Fresco), and it's definitely MUCH healthier than its beef/pork based counterpart! It's also a lot bigger, and it's less calories than the tiny standard pork/beef links you get in the freezer section.

Have you seen any "cheat meals" that seem like regular meals of other people that have made you scratch your head?
I know everyone has their own ideas and preferences as to what they want to put into their body. But I guess my question is how do other people's choices compare to your own, especially with what you're learning about macros and changing your lifestyle?

Replies

EllieB_5

Is it just me, or does that seem like a pretty well rounded breakfast?

The bagel would consist of a cheat for me as I need to avoid wheat, starches and refined sugars. So, a hearty bowl of oatmeal with berries, vanilla, and sweetener would be a perfectly good meal for most but for me would be a sinful cheat meal. Just like a few tablespoons of sugar-free whipped cream is perfectly acceptable to my diet I'm quite certain it would be a cheat to most others.

Perhaps the hang up here is that you're comparing others' cheat meals to your own specific diet needs?

toronto_j

That does seem rather low for a "cheat" but I don't want to judge too much or pay that much attention to what other people do. I consider a burger and fries a cheat meal, though others may not. I could fit it into my daily calories but it's at least twice (or more) the calories I normally eat for lunch/dinner, and to fit it in, I'd have to exercise or not eat much the rest of the day.

Francl27

Disclaimer: I hate the idea of cheat meals. I've been trying to separate myself from that phrase, because I feel like it's not "cheating" if you're working it into your macros, and practicing moderation. I will be using "cheat meal" in quotes for this reason.

Ok and how about that meal that doesn't fit in your macros, what do you call it? Just curious.

I agree with you otherwise, some people's notion of a cheat meal makes me scratch my head. Heck... I had a 1000 calorie breakfast this morning. I'm not even calling it a cheat meal because it will fit in my calories today. But that 3200 calories meal I had for my anniversary 3 weeks ago? I'm not too sure what else I could call it.

For me cheat meal = eating whatever you like without worrying about the calories and/or nutrition. But as usual, people are going to just argue semantics for pages.

missiontofitness

Is it just me, or does that seem like a pretty well rounded breakfast?

The bagel would consist of a cheat for me as I need to avoid wheat, starches and refined sugars. So, a hearty bowl of oatmeal with berries, vanilla, and sweetener would be a perfectly good meal for most but for me would be a sinful cheat meal. Just like a few tablespoons of sugar-free whipped cream is perfectly acceptable to my diet I'm quite certain it would be a cheat to most others.

Perhaps the hang up here is that you're comparing others' cheat meals to your own specific diet needs?

I did consider that bias, which is why I rounded the question in the end to compare it to what you're doing yourself. Every person is different, and like you said, one thing may be viewed differently by others.
I can see how the bread can be a "cheat" for some people. It's also interesting to see what people's idea of "cheating" is.

Francl27

I'd say 'cheating' means eating something that isn't supposed to fit in your new lifestyle - whether it's no bread, low carb, calorie restriction or whatever. Or having that bagel with no intention of making up for it later in the day I guess, and ending up 250 calories over because of it.

missiontofitness

Disclaimer: I hate the idea of cheat meals. I've been trying to separate myself from that phrase, because I feel like it's not "cheating" if you're working it into your macros, and practicing moderation. I will be using "cheat meal" in quotes for this reason.

Ok and how about that meal that doesn't fit in your macros, what do you call it? Just curious.

I agree with you otherwise, some people's notion of a cheat meal makes me scratch my head. Heck... I had a 1000 calorie breakfast this morning. I'm not even calling it a cheat meal because it will fit in my calories today. But that 3200 calories meal I had for my anniversary 3 weeks ago? I'm not too sure what else I could call it.

For me cheat meal = eating whatever you like without worrying about the calories. But as usual, people are going to just argue semantics for pages.

I personally don't call it anything. It's food that I ate.
If I don't follow my plan for a day, I don't think it's cheating. Did I work out a lot that week? Cool. Did I not work out a lot that week? Better try harder next week. It's all just what I ate in a day to me. I think it's because the word "cheat" implies that I'm doing something wrong. If the meal doesn't fit into my macros, it's not the end of the world. If it does, even better.

And I think we all could use a 1,000 calorie breakfast every now and then! I was contemplating one for a hike I want to do soon, haha.

wiss22

..., because I feel like it's not "cheating" if you're working it into your macros, and practicing moderation.

I couldn't agree with this more! Cheating has such a bad connotation! If it fits, or it's in moderation, is it really cheating? Maybe just "life."

missiontofitness

I'd say 'cheating' means eating something that isn't supposed to fit in your new lifestyle - whether it's no bread, low carb, calorie restriction or whatever. Or having that bagel with no intention of making up for it later in the day I guess, and ending up 250 calories over because of it.

Do you think that's healthy though? I think you def brought up a good point; if you have a plan and don't stick to it, some people may view that as "cheating". But what happens if you do go over once in a while with a bagel, or pasta, or what have you when you're low carb, for example? It just seems kind of sad that someone would potentially feel guilt or like they did something wrong.

jenmom2myboys

A cheat meal to me is a food that I will not eat daily. I do not eat potatoes or bread so if we take the kids to Red Robin I get a Gardenburger and fries. That may not seem like a cheat meal to some but it is for me. And I do not take it as a negative connation the term cheat. I purposely choose to go there and eat it.

missiontofitness

..., because I feel like it's not "cheating" if you're working it into your macros, and practicing moderation.

I couldn't agree with this more! Cheating has such a bad connotation! If it fits, or it's in moderation, is it really cheating? Maybe just "life."

Yep!

crevices

im pretty sure everything i eat is a "cheat meal" to most people because it's not their standard of healthy or doesn't fit their diet/lifestyle/etc :laugh: why deprive myself of yumminess

dwilks42

im pretty sure everything i eat is a "cheat meal" to most people because it's not their standard of healthy or doesn't fit their diet/lifestyle/etc :laugh: why deprive myself of yumminess

^This right here x1000

janine2355

Disclaimer: I hate the idea of cheat meals. I've been trying to separate myself from that phrase, because I feel like it's not "cheating" if you're working it into your macros, and practicing moderation. I will be using "cheat meal" in quotes for this reason.

Anyways, I saw a post on FB today, where someone said they had a "cheat meal". It consisted of a chicken sausage link, a bagel thin, a piece of cheese, and an egg. I don't know the exact items that they used, minus one, but I decided to rough up a standard breakfast sandwich based the items they described.

Mine in the recipe builder came out to around 400 calories, 36g carbs, 18g fat (I used provolone, but I'm sure this individual probably used a lower fat version), 27g protein, 7g saturated fat.

Is it just me, or does that seem like a pretty well rounded breakfast? Especially if you're coupling it with a workout, and are following a 1,400-1,700 cal intake a day like many of us, that doesn't seem like a "cheat meal". Yes, the sat fat is potentially high (my macros say no more than 19g a day), but you're getting a good boost of protein, and the items themselves will lead to a filling breakfast that would probably last you until a snack or lunch. It seems like a meal that you can easily work around the remainder of your day. Not only that, I've looked up that brand of chicken sausage (Al Fresco), and it's definitely MUCH healthier than its beef/pork based counterpart! It's also a lot bigger, and it's less calories than the tiny standard pork/beef links you get in the freezer section.

Have you seen any "cheat meals" that seem like regular meals of other people that have made you scratch your head?
I know everyone has their own ideas and preferences as to what they want to put into their body. But I guess my question is how do other people's choices compare to your own, especially with what you're learning about macros and changing your lifestyle?

I guess it depends what kind of "diet" this person is on. TO me, that is NOT a cheat meal. That is how I eat following WEIGHT WATCHERS! The chicken link is a good substitute for a pork sausage link, the bagel thin is the substitute for a regular bagel, and one slice of cheese was used, (not too terrible) and ONE egg. That is not bad at all. But, like I said, it depends on what type of diet she/ he is doing.

janine2355

Disclaimer: I hate the idea of cheat meals. I've been trying to separate myself from that phrase, because I feel like it's not "cheating" if you're working it into your macros, and practicing moderation. I will be using "cheat meal" in quotes for this reason.

Ok and how about that meal that doesn't fit in your macros, what do you call it? Just curious.

I agree with you otherwise, some people's notion of a cheat meal makes me scratch my head. Heck... I had a 1000 calorie breakfast this morning. I'm not even calling it a cheat meal because it will fit in my calories today. But that 3200 calories meal I had for my anniversary 3 weeks ago? I'm not too sure what else I could call it.

For me cheat meal = eating whatever you like without worrying about the calories and/or nutrition. But as usual, people are going to just argue semantics for pages.

I agree. If something fits into my calorie budget than it's not a cheat meal. If I eat something that is 1200 calories all on its own, then yeah, that's my cheat meal. This is how I have always done it, and I have always lost weight. It works for me. But, everyone has their own style.

suremeansyes

I call my Sat and Sun meals cheats because I do not follow my macros at all. I eat lower calories M-F so my weekends are free to have a donut, pizza and beer, ice cream if I want to. I don't like having one treat every day, I like having a day and a half of indulgence.

I always log it, so it's not cheating in that I don't know the calorie amount. Just that it doesn't fit my 35%P, 35%F, 30%C macros.

Cheat meal, to me, doesn't involve a negative connotation. I never feel guilty afterwards, and thoroughly enjoy my weekends.

janine2355

I call my Sat and Sun meals cheats because I do not follow my macros at all. I eat lower calories M-F so my weekends are free to have a donut, pizza and beer, ice cream if I want to. I don't like having one treat every day, I like having a day and a half of indulgence.

I always log it, so it's not cheating in that I don't know the calorie amount. Just that it doesn't fit my 35%P, 35%F, 30%C macros.

Cheat meal, to me, doesn't involve a negative connotation. I never feel guilty afterwards, and thoroughly enjoy my weekends.

I also do this. At the office It is really easy for me to say within my calories. I make my lunch breakfast and snacks at home, and bring it to work, so it's easy not to cheat. But weekends, I loosen the reigns a little. If we go out to dinner I eat what I want, and if there is something I really want I have it. I'll do my treadmill Sat and Sunday and then Monday I'm back to my prepared foods. For me this works.

Rawr1978

today is my cheat day. I'm having a coldcut combo from subway, some chocolate, and some alcohol later on. I've also eaten during the day, all healthy stuff, but since I'm over my calorie limit and haven't touched exercise, I consider it all to be cheating.

estaticaa

My idea of "cheat meal" = screwing up something good or eating something I'm not supposed to. Sabotage. Wreckage. Weight gain. Guilt. It's the kind of label I used in the past, back when there were "good" and "bad" foods and when I was constantly feeling remorseful and apologetic for the things I ate.

Well, not anymore. I will not feel guilty about anything I eat these days, no matter how high cal they might be. If I know how to incorporate it into my day / week plan and continue to lose weight in a healthy way, why should I call it cheat meal and feel like I am doing something bad?