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Do you prefer 3 larger meals or snacking all day -what helps you?!

kisses71213
kisses71213 Posts: 97 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been snacking all day but would like to try just having 3 larger meals (that fit my calorie limit of course). I know lots of protein is important in keeping you satiated but I'm afraid I will get too hungry in between meals anyway...
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Replies

  • sandryc79
    sandryc79 Posts: 250 Member
    I snack all day, small meals, then the evening meal is larger.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    I snack in the morning but I have to have a big late lunch and a big dinner. If I don't, I have found myself easily going into a binge.
  • kisses71213
    kisses71213 Posts: 97 Member
    sandryc79 wrote: »
    I snack all day, small meals, then the evening meal is larger.

    Thanks- I like this idea.. a little of both worlds!
  • Lasmartchika
    Lasmartchika Posts: 3,440 Member
    It really depends on the day... sometimes I just do 2 meals, other times I do 3, and other times I do 2-3 and a snack. But I always just make my meals fit into my daily calories. :drinker:
  • kisses71213
    kisses71213 Posts: 97 Member
    Asher_Ethan wrote: »
    I snack in the morning but I have to have a big late lunch and a big dinner. If I don't, I have found myself easily going into a binge.

    I will try this approach, thanks so much!
  • Emilia777
    Emilia777 Posts: 978 Member
    I have two large meals (lunch and dinner) and a few snacks, usually at night (I’m SO hungry at night). It works for me. At the end of the day, it’s all about what suits each person. It’s worth trying a few different eating patterns to see what works best for you.
  • rachael00679
    rachael00679 Posts: 186 Member
    I eat a large lunch and graze when I am hungry on smaller things to keep me going.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    I have a light breakfast, a largish lunch, afternoon snack, largish dinner, and bedtime snack.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I prefer 3 larger meals AND snacks...I just plan them into my day.
  • CrabNebula
    CrabNebula Posts: 1,119 Member
    I take about 45-90 minutes to eat breakfast and lunch at work. I'm the queen of stretching it out, plus I get distracted by actual work. In the afternoon, after rowing, I have a large protein shake. It normally takes me the rest of the shift to finish it.
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    Most days three meals and two snacks are about right. I choose the snacks based on how much I ate in the regular meals and how hungry I am feeling. Usually a light snack after work, before dinner and a slightly larger one after aikido/before bed.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    edited April 2015
    600 cals for breakfast
    250 for AM Snack
    1000 for lunch
    250 for PM Snack
    1000 for dinner
    250 for late PM snack

    Give or take...
  • cotewalter
    cotewalter Posts: 111 Member
    i prefer all of the above but I guess i have to control myself. >:)
  • kisses71213
    kisses71213 Posts: 97 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    600 cals for breakfast
    250 for AM Snack
    1000 for lunch
    250 for PM Snack
    1000 for dinner
    250 for late PM snack

    Give or take...

    I only wish I could have the cal intake you have!! ;)
  • Lexicpt
    Lexicpt Posts: 209 Member
    Skimp calories during the day so I can eat a big dinner and dessert. :smiley:
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    kisses71213 wrote: »
    Hornsby wrote: »
    600 cals for breakfast
    250 for AM Snack
    1000 for lunch
    250 for PM Snack
    1000 for dinner
    250 for late PM snack

    Give or take...

    I only wish I could have the cal intake you have!! ;)

    Get a bicycle and ride it a lot :)
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    I intermittent fast and eat 4 small meals every 2 hours in a 6 hour window: noon, 2pm, 4pm and right before 6pm. The first meal at noon is usually smallish, as is the 6pm meal.
  • kisses71213
    kisses71213 Posts: 97 Member
    mamapeach910 wrote: »
    I intermittent fast and eat 4 small meals every 2 hours in a 6 hour window: noon, 2pm, 4pm and right before 6pm. The first meal at noon is usually smallish, as is the 6pm meal.

    Ah ok, nice approach!
  • mygnsac
    mygnsac Posts: 13,413 Member
    During the workweek, I find I do best during the day if a have a larger breakfast with lots of protein and good fats (500-600 cals)...typically keeps me full till lunchtime, a smallish lunch (300-400 cals), and an afternoon snack (100-200 cals). Dinner tends to make up for what, if anything I lacked in the day. Sometimes its small, sometimes large, sometimes lots of veggies, protein, dairy, etc. (around 400-500 cals). Maybe an evening snack if I want (100-200 cals).

    On the weekend, I have a tendency to sleep right through breakfast, so my first meal of the day is usually "brunch"!
  • PostExamsHealthBinge
    PostExamsHealthBinge Posts: 26 Member
    I do breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner (sometimes desert), snack and it perfectly fits into my low cal diet :)
  • nycalling6192
    nycalling6192 Posts: 22 Member
    During a workweek, I don't like to eat while I'm at work. I always feel tired after eating, even eating a small portion. I don't remember who posted above, but I prefer my calories for when I get home from work and doing activities. I can only speak for me, but I'm a lot more productive when I'm hungry.
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    Meals as snacks. I eat slowly, so I make a normal sized meal, eat about 1/3-1/2 of it, save the rest for later.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    3 squares and a hefty snack. It winds up meaning fewer cals for dessert type treats, coffees, drinks, etc. But it also means being less hungry.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    kisses71213 wrote: »
    Hornsby wrote: »
    600 cals for breakfast
    250 for AM Snack
    1000 for lunch
    250 for PM Snack
    1000 for dinner
    250 for late PM snack

    Give or take...

    I only wish I could have the cal intake you have!! ;)

    Get a bicycle and ride it a lot :)

    Yup...
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    I eat 2 meals (lunch and dinner) and then snack as needed. Usually I only have a bed time snack and don't need anything in the afternoon. I just have never enjoyed eating in the morning (I actually feel sick if I do) and big meals feel better to me.
  • rocknlotsofrolls
    rocknlotsofrolls Posts: 418 Member
    I don't eat breakfast, I just drink coffee, and then I divide my other 1100 calories up between lunch and dinner.
  • cavia
    cavia Posts: 457 Member
    4 meals 2 snacks. I like 2 breakfasts.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    Three meals. Three snacks. Most days.
  • toniangu
    toniangu Posts: 2 Member
    edited April 2015
    What's been working for me usually is light breakfast with emphasis on protein, med-large lunch, medium-ish dinner. I'll snack on a little bit of fruit in between meals if I feel like it. I'm also a big coffee drinker so I think that helps me not feel like having to snack all the time!
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    edited April 2015
    I do 16:8IF and have an eating window of 11am-7pm. I usually break my daily fast between 11-noon with my largest meal of the day. Then I may or may not have a snack late afternoon. And then I have a second meal between 6-7pm. I very rarely eat after 7pm, though I do usually have a couple evening beers on the weekends.

    Meal timing is a preference thing, just experiment and figure out what works best for you :)
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