6 small meals or 3 big meals

pawsnpurrs
pawsnpurrs Posts: 39
in Getting Started
I have been reading that dieticians want you to eat 6 small meals to keep blood sugar at a steady even pace yet our food diary seems to be in Breakfast Lunch Dinner Snack meals I would rather do 6 small meals and sometimes I do not want food on my stomach when I first wake up.. but then i get the 12 hour glucose dump from yesterdays last 6 pm meal What does everyone think about the 6 small meal vs. 3 big meals food log or even the eat your biggest meal at Breakfast and then each following meal is smaller I need to learn about all types of food log plans that are out there thanks for any info or advice..the student is ready

Replies

  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    Eat when you like and whatever works for you.

    I consume all my calories in an eating window from 1pm - 8pm
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    You can change your diary settings to have more meals per day, if you want.

    Unless you've been advised by a physician to eat at certain intervals to regulate blood sugar, it's really not necessary.

    If you like eating 5-6 meals a day, then do it. But if you prefer 1, 2, 3, or 10 meals a day, it's all fine as long as you are meeting your calorie and nutritional goals.
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
    i east every 3-ish hours, it works for me! 7-am breakfast 10-am snack 12-pm lunch 3-pm snack 6-pm dinner, drinking lots of water help too to keep me full! good luck :bigsmile:
  • daisypledger
    daisypledger Posts: 2
    Hey!

    You can change diary settings and adjust how your meals are set out, I personally have mine, along with time, as follows:

    Breakfast (7:30), Morning Snack (11am), Lunch (1:30pm), Afternoon Snack (4pm), Dinner (6:30pm)

    I find I cant eat much more than this, I sometimes struggle with the Afternon Snack. I think small and more frequent meals are better for you IF (and its a big if) you can control your portion sizes. Its up to you how you do it but I aim for around 400 calories at Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and then 200 caloreis for each of my 'snacks'. The other way to do it is to eat around 350 calories every 3 hours, but this takes quite a bit of control when it comes to dinner time!!

    I agree eating this way it is better for stabalising your blood sugar so you don't get nasty spikes but everyone is different and this sometimes doesnt work for some people as they end up over eating. :smile:
  • sugarlemonpie
    sugarlemonpie Posts: 311 Member
    I don't think it really matters. I eat 3 meals and 2-3 snacks during the day (fruits, veggies, nuts, etc.) I think it's more about keeping your metabolism up and not eating too much at once. If you're concerned about eating too much at once, try snacking some on healthy food (baby carrots, apples, grapes, cherry tomatoes, etc.) about an hour before your meal. Also, don't forget to drink a lot of water throughout the day.
  • magenem
    magenem Posts: 8 Member
    I've been told to give yourself a 12hr window. So if your first bite of food is at 8am then make your last by 8pm. As far as intake, I do big breakfast, snack, medium lunch, snack then small dinner! Eating low GI vegies with anything will help with your sugar spikes, so you can eat them with 6meals or 3 its up to you! :drinker:
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,086 Member
    I have been reading that dieticians want you to eat 6 small meals to keep blood sugar at a steady even pace yet our food diary seems to be in Breakfast Lunch Dinner Snack meals.
    Which dieticians?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    Hey!

    You can change diary settings and adjust how your meals are set out, I personally have mine, along with time, as follows:

    Breakfast (7:30), Morning Snack (11am), Lunch (1:30pm), Afternoon Snack (4pm), Dinner (6:30pm)

    I find I cant eat much more than this, I sometimes struggle with the Afternon Snack. I think small and more frequent meals are better for you IF (and its a big if) you can control your portion sizes. Its up to you how you do it but I aim for around 400 calories at Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and then 200 caloreis for each of my 'snacks'. The other way to do it is to eat around 350 calories every 3 hours, but this takes quite a bit of control when it comes to dinner time!!

    I agree eating this way it is better for stabalising your blood sugar so you don't get nasty spikes but everyone is different and this sometimes doesnt work for some people as they end up over eating. :smile:

    Nice work. :drinker:
    U look good
  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    You can alter your diary settings so that categories are titled whatever you like. Mine are Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with Snacks between, but a lot of times the snacks are the same size as the meals. I've also seen people just label them Meal 1, Meal 2, Meal 3, Meal 4, etc.

    As far as when to eat, it's about whatever works best for you. When I'm at work, I eat on a pretty set schedule, spread out throughout the day. However, on the weekends, it isn't unlikely for me to only eat once or twice a day because I'm eating bigger calorie items. Like with most things in fitness and nutrition, you can find support for pretty much any eating schedule, from 6 steady meals to intermittent fasting. You just have to find what makes you happiest and gets the best results for your body.
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    I've been told to give yourself a 12hr window. So if your first bite of food is at 8am then make your last by 8pm. As far as intake, I do big breakfast, snack, medium lunch, snack then small dinner! Eating low GI vegies with anything will help with your sugar spikes, so you can eat them with 6meals or 3 its up to you! :drinker:

    Calories overall is more important
  • luckypony71
    luckypony71 Posts: 399 Member
    6 small meals is important if you have diabetes, for people like my hubby it is good. Working out will lower his blood sugar, so he needs to eat. His job is physically demanding and that will also lower his blood sugar. If he eats a meal that is too large it spikes his blood sugar.

    I just eat when ever I want. sometimes it is 5 meals sometimes it is 3. I just stay in my calories.
  • tkellett2004
    tkellett2004 Posts: 1
    Eating many small meals a day is all hype. Eating 3 sensible meals a day with portion control in mind and eat healthy snacks is the best way. I have lost 60 lbs doing this in the past 5 months. I never felt hungry doing this but keep in mind you have to learn to control your appetite.
  • blueboxgeek
    blueboxgeek Posts: 574 Member
    I like to snack in between meals as I am insulin resistant and find it helps me not fill my face with rubbish at meal time so I can stay within my calorie goals.

    But unless you have any medical issues then it's personal preference I believe. Lots of people have good success with intermittent fasting and only eat in a smaller window of time and some people find good results eating 6 small meals.

    Whatever works for you is the best plan for you.
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    Eating many small meals a day is all hype. Eating 3 sensible meals a day with portion control in mind and eat healthy snacks is the best way. I have lost 60 lbs doing this in the past 5 months. I never felt hungry doing this but keep in mind you have to learn to control your appetite.

    Not really
    The person above you made a valid point, one I didn't think of.
    If a person is diabetic or some other medical issue...then 6 meals, may make perfect sense

    Like it has been said....whatever works best for you
  • segovm
    segovm Posts: 512 Member
    I prefer the small meal approach myself. I think it helps my body signal actual hunger which I can feed properly vs. just following a routine and pouring in a ton of calories.

    Right now I do mostly 300'ish calorie meals and eat them whenever I feel the need. Tends to be enough fuel for a few hours and then I eat again.

    With bigger meals eaten less frequently I'm not always responding to being hungry and more prone to put in more than I need.

    It's all preference of course. This strategy, for me, combined with eating pretty dense food (turkey or chicken breast with a heaping side of veggies for instance) has knocked me down from 2500 calories a day to 1700-1900 without feeling hungry all the time.
  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    Eating many small meals a day is all hype. Eating 3 sensible meals a day with portion control in mind and eat healthy snacks is the best way. I have lost 60 lbs doing this in the past 5 months. I never felt hungry doing this but keep in mind you have to learn to control your appetite.

    Best for you doesn't make it the best approach for everyone. As others have said, someone with insulin sensitivity of any sort is likely to better on the 6 meal approach. Likewise, there are plenty of others here who have lost just as much weight as you or more using various fasting techniques that work best for them.
  • pawsnpurrs
    pawsnpurrs Posts: 39
    HEY THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE INPUT ...a lot of good ideas there the old data on topic was from 2005


    diabetes classes I took in 2005 at thunderbird hospital went back and reread the notes and also pamphlets on diabetes type 2
    they want t-2 to eat six small meals
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    Really, this largely depends on the person. For most of us, I really don't think it matters WHEN we eat... Just how much we eat.

    For those trying to bulk up, pre-mid-post workout nutrition has some importance but it really does not have to be full meals.

    For those with metabolic disorders such as hypoglycemia and diabetes, the glucose surges and such may have some need to even out the meals a bit... For those, follow the recommendations of your medical staff

    Most of us, we just need to eat sensibly whether that means 3 squares per day with snacks OR throughout the day... It really does not matter that much in the end.

    As far as 6 small meals per day, if that is your need/preference, you can change your meals in the settings.

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