Average meal calorie count?

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anchiel
anchiel Posts: 9
in Food and Nutrition
Hiya guys,

So I've noticed that I'm often eating about 800 calories if I have a full meal - meat, starch, veggies - which is about half my daily intake limit. Just wondering how other's meals compare, if that's normal or not, tips on what to change or substitute if that's too high...
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Replies

  • onefortyone
    onefortyone Posts: 531 Member
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    That sounds about right for me. It is easy for me to do breakfast/lunch for under 400 cals each, dinner for 800, then a snack with the leftover (and exercise) calories. I do not want to skimp on dinners that I really enjoy! I sometimes cut down portions, and use leaner meats (chicken/turkey instead of beef, or leaner beef), and sometimes supper comes in at 500-600, but I prefer a bigger meal, it feels more emotionally satisfying to me :)

    I say, if it is working, keep at it!
  • AmandaLY17
    AmandaLY17 Posts: 184 Member
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    Im typically around 500 cals per meal and 200-500 for snacks. Sometimes its a bit higher or lower, especially if im planning ahead for a special outting/meal (like tonight!) My diary is open if you want to take a look for ideas. Easter was really bad, the last 2 weeks havent been stellar, but whatever. With the exception of a couple days in the last 2 week I log everything I eat whether or not im happy with the day so no judging lol
  • lemonsnowdrop
    lemonsnowdrop Posts: 1,298 Member
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    My breakfasts and lunches are usually small, since I have busy days. My dinners are often high in calorie, but dinner is the only meal where I feel like and have time to be eating that much! Doesn't matter when you eat, as long as you eat. :)
  • raindawg
    raindawg Posts: 348 Member
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    Small breakfast, usually 300 or under. Lunch and Dinner usually 500 - 600. Snacks range from 100 to 300.
  • anchiel
    anchiel Posts: 9
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    Yeah, the larger meals do feel a bit heavy for me - I should probably portion smaller and spread the food out throughout the day. Thanks for giving me a base of reference, guys!
  • anchiel
    anchiel Posts: 9
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    Your ladybug is crawling off your counter xD What do you have for breakfast usually, if I may ask?
  • emeraldeyes_bc
    emeraldeyes_bc Posts: 200 Member
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    I have the opposite problem. I have a really hard time getting in calories... I usually add avocados or PB to fill my count lol mmmm
  • anchiel
    anchiel Posts: 9
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    Small breakfast, usually 300 or under. Lunch and Dinner usually 500 - 600. Snacks range from 100 to 300.

    Sorry, above was meant for you! Apparently I'm technologically impaired when if comes to this forum format.
  • anchiel
    anchiel Posts: 9
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    That sounds about right for me. It is easy for me to do breakfast/lunch for under 400 cals each, dinner for 800, then a snack with the leftover (and exercise) calories. I do not want to skimp on dinners that I really enjoy! I sometimes cut down portions, and use leaner meats (chicken/turkey instead of beef, or leaner beef), and sometimes supper comes in at 500-600, but I prefer a bigger meal, it feels more emotionally satisfying to me :)

    I say, if it is working, keep at it!

    Sounds like that works well for you! How important would you say is it to eat three meals a day? I'm doing better with that now that I'm on a more proper sleep schedule, but if that varies, it usually affects my eating schedule and I drop down to two or something even weirder.
  • FoxyLifter
    FoxyLifter Posts: 965 Member
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    Small breakfast, usually 300 or under. Lunch and Dinner usually 500 - 600. Snacks range from 100 to 300.

    Monday through Friday, this is my plan. On the weekends, though, I usually have 3 meals, 40% of my calories at breakfast, 20% at lunch and 40% for dinner. I eat very light at lunch, especially if I workout at lunch.
  • verhunzt
    verhunzt Posts: 154 Member
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    Mine are usually 500 calories. :)
  • JessieSky
    JessieSky Posts: 79
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    I typically have a small breakfast, under 300 calories, 300-400 for lunch depending on the day and then a slightly larger meal for dinner; with 100-150 calorie snacks.
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
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    Typically two meals under 400 calories each, then snacks that total around 300 calories, and the third meal is whatever my exercise for the day has allowed for the remainder.
  • GiveMeCoffee
    GiveMeCoffee Posts: 3,556 Member
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    Typical day for me is 2 meals averaging 700-900 calories followed by dessert for about 250-300
  • KatDJZ
    KatDJZ Posts: 224 Member
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    My breakfasts are usually 200-350, lunch is 300-500, and then dinner can be anywhere from 350-800 depending on what I'm having. Then snacks take up whatever is left over.
  • liftingandlipstick
    liftingandlipstick Posts: 1,857 Member
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    Sounds like that works well for you! How important would you say is it to eat three meals a day? I'm doing better with that now that I'm on a more proper sleep schedule, but if that varies, it usually affects my eating schedule and I drop down to two or something even weirder.

    WHEN you eat isn't nearly as important as WHAT you eat. I've never been a breakfast eater, especially on work days, so I usually have an energy drink count as breakfast. I try to eat a granola bar around 9, but I usually only eat half, or completely skip it and end up saving it for later. I eat light lunch (again, especially on work days- I can't work if I'm too full!), usually tuna on crackers, or lunch meat on a dinner roll, stuff like that. At least half of my daily calories come from dinner and evening snacks. It works for me, I feel best while at work, have plenty of fuel to get me through my afternoon workouts, and feel sated but not stuffed in the evening when I go to bed. I'm losing 2.5-3 lbs per week. Every body is different, and if that's working for you then don't mess with it just because "three square" meals is supposed to be healthier :)

    My diary is open (though my goal is 1900 without exercise, and I usually eat closer to 2500), feel free to check it out!
  • rissa876
    rissa876 Posts: 38 Member
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    I usually range 300 for breakfast, 400-500 for lunch/dinner, snacks are between 100-150.
  • raindawg
    raindawg Posts: 348 Member
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    Your ladybug is crawling off your counter xD What do you have for breakfast usually, if I may ask?

    I usually have a banana and a whey protein powder drink. On weekends I'll have a costco breakfast sandwich and a banana.
  • Apocalypz
    Apocalypz Posts: 155 Member
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    Most meals are 200. Snacks/tea are usually ~100. Meals and snacking happen ~12 times a day.
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
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    My main evening meal varies from day to day, but is generally between 600 and 800 calories.
    My other meals are around 300-400 calories.

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