Smaller meals; more snacks.

HollyTsiaussis
HollyTsiaussis Posts: 415 Member
edited October 2 in Health and Weight Loss
I just came to a conclusion about one of the main problems I have. I like to eat frequently throughout the day. I need to start eating smaller meals and having more snacks. Are any of you like this as well? If so, how many calories do you allow each meal to be and how many snacks do you have per day? Also, what are some of your favorite snacks? :) Thanks, guys!

Replies

  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    bump
  • whatwentwrong
    whatwentwrong Posts: 228
    yesss! before i started this i'd eat constantly, so small meals with snacks in between are natural for me. i usually try to stay under 300 calories, and snacks are 60 (string cheese) to 150 (almonds) calories. i eat snacks whenever i'm hungry. i'm hoping it will help shrink my stomach too :D

    you can look at my food diary if you'd like- for snacks i pretty much eat almonds, celery, celery with cream cheese, string cheese, or a hardboiled egg,m and will be eating edamame when i find some that doesn't taste like crap :P
  • aubrey23
    aubrey23 Posts: 2
    My favorite snacks right now is jello, pudding or any type of fruit. Especially chocolate pudding bc I love chocolate in general so I just eat a lil to get my chocolate fix.
  • DKBelle
    DKBelle Posts: 585
    It depends what kind of snack are we talking about?! If you talking about chips or sugary junk foods you might gain weight or not loose anymore.
  • Mamapengu
    Mamapengu Posts: 250
    This is me- I eat 5-6 meals a day and 250-300 at each one. it's amazing how much you can fit in that level. Or, try the 1500 cal-a-day cook book. 350 cal meals x 3, and 2-3 200 cal snacks. If I do eat a larger meal then I skip one of the snacks. Not so bad at all.
  • DKBelle
    DKBelle Posts: 585
    Bump, like your snacks!

    yesss! before i started this i'd eat constantly, so small meals with snacks in between are natural for me. i usually try to stay under 300 calories, and snacks are 60 (string cheese) to 150 (almonds) calories. i eat snacks whenever i'm hungry. i'm hoping it will help shrink my stomach too :D

    you can look at my food diary if you'd like- for snacks i pretty much eat almonds, celery, celery with cream cheese, string cheese, or a hardboiled egg,m and will be eating edamame when i find some that doesn't taste like crap :P
  • HollyTsiaussis
    HollyTsiaussis Posts: 415 Member
    It depends what kind of snack are we talking about?! If you talking about chips or sugary junk foods you might gain weight or not loose anymore.

    Why would I be talking about those kind of snacks? I'm trying to lose weight.
  • HollyTsiaussis
    HollyTsiaussis Posts: 415 Member
    My favorite snacks right now is jello, pudding or any type of fruit. Especially chocolate pudding bc I love chocolate in general so I just eat a lil to get my chocolate fix.

    Yum, I love the sugarfree pudding. :)
  • HollyTsiaussis
    HollyTsiaussis Posts: 415 Member
    This is me- I eat 5-6 meals a day and 250-300 at each one. it's amazing how much you can fit in that level. Or, try the 1500 cal-a-day cook book. 350 cal meals x 3, and 2-3 200 cal snacks. If I do eat a larger meal then I skip one of the snacks. Not so bad at all.

    Thanks!
  • HollyTsiaussis
    HollyTsiaussis Posts: 415 Member
    yesss! before i started this i'd eat constantly, so small meals with snacks in between are natural for me. i usually try to stay under 300 calories, and snacks are 60 (string cheese) to 150 (almonds) calories. i eat snacks whenever i'm hungry. i'm hoping it will help shrink my stomach too :D

    you can look at my food diary if you'd like- for snacks i pretty much eat almonds, celery, celery with cream cheese, string cheese, or a hardboiled egg,m and will be eating edamame when i find some that doesn't taste like crap :P

    Sounds good. :)
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    I'm pregnant right now so I get about 2000 calories. My three meals are about 500 cals each and my snacks are 200-300. When I was trying to lose weight I was eating around 1500-1600 cals a day plus I'd eat my 500-600 exercise cals. So, I supposed my meals and snacks were about the same as they are now.
  • DKBelle
    DKBelle Posts: 585
    For me snacks means those things :) sorry english not my native language I might have misunderstood you . What I usually eat is fruits, string cheese,yogurt or make out of oat meal the following:No-bake cocoa balls Ingredients: 100 gr dates 80 gr oats 40 gr raisins 30 gr mixed nuts 2 heaped tbsp organic cocoa powder 1 tsp cinnamon Mix all ingredients in a blender. Optional: add some 100% pure raw cacao nibs Add (while blending) some water or organic applejuice (appr. 70 ml) for a sticky consistency. Take out small heaps with a tablespoon and roll balls with your hands. Roll in shredded coconut. Store in the fridge in an open container (so any excessive moisture can escape) for at least an hour.

    Hope it helps.
    It depends what kind of snack are we talking about?! If you talking about chips or sugary junk foods you might gain weight or not loose anymore.

    Why would I be talking about those kind of snacks? I'm trying to lose weight.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    My diet is pretty healthy so my snacks were usually a protein shake after my workout, some yogurt with fruit and granola, an apple with peanut butter, cheese and crackers, some almonds or walnuts and dried cranberries, carrots and celery with a little ranch, things like that.
  • CrystalFlury
    CrystalFlury Posts: 400 Member
    I've had the same issue. I too feel hungry more often, which if you think about it is a good thing. It means your metabolism is working how it should therefore burning more accurately. Anyhow, I'm still trying to get a hold on the snack thing. I like the Kellogg's Mixed Berry Fruit snacks (80 calories), Orville Redenbacher's white tender popcorn (40 calories per cup I think), and any of the 100 calorie snack packs. The popcorn is a nice snack because you can eat more of it without the issue of going over on calories.

    As far as meals, I've heard making breakfast your largest meal, lunch being slightly smaller, and dinner being the smallest is the best formula to follow. Also add snacks in between obviously. I'm still working on that concept seeing as how I enjoy working out in the morning and having a large meal in my belly doesn't go so well with too much activity.
  • HollyTsiaussis
    HollyTsiaussis Posts: 415 Member
    I'm pregnant right now so I get about 2000 calories. My three meals are about 500 cals each and my snacks are 200-300. When I was trying to lose weight I was eating around 1500-1600 cals a day plus I'd eat my 500-600 exercise cals. So, I supposed my meals and snacks were about the same as they are now.

    Gotcha. Congrats on your pregnancy!
  • HollyTsiaussis
    HollyTsiaussis Posts: 415 Member
    My diet is pretty healthy so my snacks were usually a protein shake after my workout, some yogurt with fruit and granola, an apple with peanut butter, cheese and crackers, some almonds or walnuts and dried cranberries, carrots and celery with a little ranch, things like that.

    Thanks for the suggestions!
  • HollyTsiaussis
    HollyTsiaussis Posts: 415 Member
    Thank you so much for the suggestions. <3
    For me snacks means those things :) sorry english not my native language I might have misunderstood you . What I usually eat is fruits, string cheese,yogurt or make out of oat meal the following:No-bake cocoa balls Ingredients: 100 gr dates 80 gr oats 40 gr raisins 30 gr mixed nuts 2 heaped tbsp organic cocoa powder 1 tsp cinnamon Mix all ingredients in a blender. Optional: add some 100% pure raw cacao nibs Add (while blending) some water or organic applejuice (appr. 70 ml) for a sticky consistency. Take out small heaps with a tablespoon and roll balls with your hands. Roll in shredded coconut. Store in the fridge in an open container (so any excessive moisture can escape) for at least an hour.

    Hope it helps.
    It depends what kind of snack are we talking about?! If you talking about chips or sugary junk foods you might gain weight or not loose anymore.

    Why would I be talking about those kind of snacks? I'm trying to lose weight.
  • rachellosesitall85
    rachellosesitall85 Posts: 497 Member
    I've been looking to getting into this habit. I get so busy with things that I forget to eat and when I do it now it's one serving in about 2-3 meals a day and a smaller portion. I'm rarely hungry. I also need to start eating breakfast. I go shopping in a few days so I'll make sure I have food for 3 small meals and 2-3 snacks. But, I realized that at night when I'm getting ready for bed or watching a movie I like to snack. I think it's best when I eat small meals stocked away in the fridge in zip lock bags, that way I can stretch out my calories a day and munch away without going over them. This is a great way, and it gives you energy.
  • HollyTsiaussis
    HollyTsiaussis Posts: 415 Member
    I've had the same issue. I too feel hungry more often, which if you think about it is a good thing. It means your metabolism is working how it should therefore burning more accurately. Anyhow, I'm still trying to get a hold on the snack thing. I like the Kellogg's Mixed Berry Fruit snacks (80 calories), Orville Redenbacher's white tender popcorn (40 calories per cup I think), and any of the 100 calorie snack packs. The popcorn is a nice snack because you can eat more of it without the issue of going over on calories.

    As far as meals, I've heard making breakfast your largest meal, lunch being slightly smaller, and dinner being the smallest is the best formula to follow. Also add snacks in between obviously. I'm still working on that concept seeing as how I enjoy working out in the morning and having a large meal in my belly doesn't go so well with too much activity.

    Thanks!
  • Umeboshi
    Umeboshi Posts: 1,637 Member
    I'm always happier when I'm having a bunch of small meals and snacks :) I have found I actually tend to eat MORE throughout the day when I separate things into larger meals.
  • sarahazelnut99
    sarahazelnut99 Posts: 307 Member
    naturally without counting i eat around 2,500 to 3,000 calories a day. With counting calories i go from 1,300 to 2000 a day. I never really thought of being an over eater because of having emotional problems but im starting to view things differently because of this site.

    I aim low during the day and finish off my calories at night but that isnt the healthiest thing to do. what I should be doing is eating the majority of my calories during lunch and breakfast and having light dinners but its hard to switch because i wasnt raised that way.

    i know alot of people usually stick to the 300 calorie meals as a way to balance it out but when i was aiming for 1,300 calories per day it never worked out for me. when i brought my calories up so that i was losing half a pound a day i saw a greater amount of success and less guilt and worrying. weight loss is a very slow process and it should be that way.

    your doing great holly!
  • CindiBryce
    CindiBryce Posts: 438
    yesss! before i started this i'd eat constantly, so small meals with snacks in between are natural for me. i usually try to stay under 300 calories, and snacks are 60 (string cheese) to 150 (almonds) calories. i eat snacks whenever i'm hungry. i'm hoping it will help shrink my stomach too :D

    you can look at my food diary if you'd like- for snacks i pretty much eat almonds, celery, celery with cream cheese, string cheese, or a hardboiled egg,m and will be eating edamame when i find some that doesn't taste like crap :P
    Good snack suggestions, especially the edamame. However, I looked at your food diary and noticed you ate between 500-800 calories each day this week. Your weight loss ticker states that you need to lose 325 pounds. Right now, you can lose efficiently at about 1600 calories per day. You are only harming your metabolism by eating at such low amounts.

    Yogurt, fruits, hummus with carrots, and celery sticks with peanut butter make good snacks.
  • inlander
    inlander Posts: 339 Member
    I have to eat every 3 hours or so or I get cranky and distracted by my stomach rumbling. I usually eat breakfast, then a granola bar and fruit a few hours later, then I have a small lunch, then I eat a few hours later (maybe cottage cheese), then I eat dinner, and maybe I'll eat something after that if I'm hungry. I basically graze all day, but I make sure I have things portioned out so it's easy as pie to eat six times a day. My calorie limit per day is 1,620 so each meal averages out to about 270 calories. However, I tend to have a smaller breakfast (maybe 150 calories) to get me going for the day so I can distribute the rest of the calories out throughout the day.
  • pander101
    pander101 Posts: 677 Member
    My meals average from about 200-350 calories per meal. Sometimes around 150 depending on how long it has been since I ate last. I don't go above 500 though. I eat every two hours and drink tons of water. I like wasa crackers as snacks with light Laughing Cow cheese. Multigrain chips and hummus is another for me as well for a snack.
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