how many calories for breakfast?

hannahro
hannahro Posts: 20 Member
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
hi all. I eat about 1200 calories a day (and eat most of my exercise calories back). I know that it's wise to start off with a big breakfast so that I am less hungry throughout the day but I am wondering approximately how many calories I should allocate to breakfast without having to feel to restricted throughout the rest of the day? any ideas or approximations? thanks!
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Replies

  • chiera88
    chiera88 Posts: 155
    i'm struggling with this also. can't wait to hear the responses! thanks for posting this
  • deegarcia19
    deegarcia19 Posts: 98
    I don't eat a big breakfast because for me the breakfast "fullness" wears off fairly fast. I eat about 150-300 calories for breakfast. And I eat 1200 a day.
  • meredithd13
    meredithd13 Posts: 53 Member
    usually between 300-400.

    it's either muesli and natural yoghurt, home made bircher muesli with natural yoghurt (made with water not juice) or a low fat, high fibre cereal called Hi Bran that you get here in Oz, with natural yoghurt.

    although on weekends it's a bit higher as i usually go for brunch. then it's more like 400-500 and i have eggs on toast and a coffee etc.
  • Cathleenr
    Cathleenr Posts: 332
    there is no set number of calories to eat per meal, or even how many meals per day to eat, or when to eat them.
    some people dont like to eat before noon and they exercise fasted.
    some people like to nibble throughout the day.
    some people like to have a meal while laying in bed just before they go to sleep.
    if you want to have a big breakfast to get your day going, by all means have it. as long as you get all your calories in before you go to sleep, its all good.
  • annejuju
    annejuju Posts: 111 Member
    It's important to not SKIP breakfast so you don't overeat at lunch. But I think that when you eat a large meal is up to you. I don't have a large appetite in the morning so I usually have a big lunch instead. It's also important to be sure you're getting all your protein - that will help you to keep filling full. These are just my own experiences and I'm sure it's different for everyone but this is how I get through. This morning I just had toast and butter and then had a large protein packed lunch.
  • jo_marnes
    jo_marnes Posts: 1,601 Member
    I'm an evening eater and always have been. I have 200 - 250 cals for breakfast, similar for lunch, an afternoon snack and the rest at dinner (8-9pm). I have lost 55lbs and am now maintaining at 110lbs. It doesn't matter when you eat what, go with what suits you.
  • lucylue21
    lucylue21 Posts: 214
    for breakfast i do 2 pieces of 35 calorie wheat bread (it is made of vegetable fiber and is really good for you annd is not expensive) then i take an egg for protein. then i take an orange. it keeps me full and its very fiberous and has protein for a grand total of 220. i put on some sugar free jelly on my toast or spray butter. the jelly is like 5 extra calories.
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    I usually eat a lazy breakfast - a frozen breakfast quesadilla - 230 calories and I think 12g protein. No special reason except its fairly tasty and very quick.
  • significance
    significance Posts: 436 Member
    Personally, what works for me is a breakfast of 250-300 calories (e.g. oat porridge with fruit and a glass of skim milk) if I am eating *only* 1200 calories in a day, increasing to 400 (e.g. adding some nuts to the porridge) on a day with some exercise (so I'm eating around 2000 calories over the day) and 500 (e.g. bacon and eggs) if I am going to be exercising most of the day.
  • Eleanorjanethinner
    Eleanorjanethinner Posts: 563 Member
    Hi there,

    I'd say a filling breakfast, not necessarily a high calorie one.

    I eat a bowl of pre-packed oatmeal with raisins and apple bits, milk and two coffees. It's about 180ish cal, I think.

    Eggs would be a filling low cal choice - a boiled egg (or fried with a teeeny bit of oil) on wholegrain toast would be good, especially if you add some kind of veg (spinach, grilled tomato?)

    I aim for about 400 for lunch, 400+ for dinner and about 300ish for snacks. I exercise to some degree most days.

    Cheers,
    EJ
  • klynn08
    klynn08 Posts: 151 Member
    I agree with another response, I usually try not to eat an incredible amount at breakfast because it doesn't seem to make me feel full anyways. I am used to eating just a little before I head off to class and it works for me. I usually do coffee and toast or sometimes fruit or on days I want a treat a toaster strudel :) they're my weakness. But ya i usually keep it under 200. I also have 1200 calories each day
  • jlcampbell2008
    jlcampbell2008 Posts: 37
    I once read a saying: "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper."

    Now, when you break it down it makes a whole lot of sense. Eating more calories in the beginning of the day will get your metabolism going AND you will burn off a lot of those throughout the day! The lunch and dinner is only to keep your metabolism going.
  • bmqbonnie
    bmqbonnie Posts: 836 Member
    I aim for about 500 cals but then my total is a lot higher than 1200. Do what works for you- I find that if I don't have a big and balanced breakfast that i have a hard time the rest of the day. Others find that the morning is a good time to cut calories. It doesn't really matter.
  • fallenangelloves
    fallenangelloves Posts: 601 Member
    I have these amazing Fruit and Honey Energy Bars I make from Weight Watchers.... Alot! (both mine and my husbands favorite) and they hold me over til lunch just fine... Plus coffee and creamer for 396

    Or I make a double sized muffin.... Right now I am addicted to a Double Chip Pumpkin Muffin... Again for close to the same calories. But I eat 1450 calories a day plus I eat my exercise calories... But those are reserved for a glass of wine and chocolate for dessert! :love:
  • LadyGhostDuchess
    LadyGhostDuchess Posts: 894 Member
    Bumping this because this is a great question!
  • lgammy
    lgammy Posts: 33 Member
    My breakfast is around 260-300 calories. i aim for under 1400 per day but you could do similar.
  • nasprewell
    nasprewell Posts: 17 Member
    There's no benefit or downfall to eating a large breakfast, metabolically speaking. I personally feel less hungry if I munch throughout the day. Some ppl get full off one sitting. Find what works for you and stick with it :). Good luck!
  • pinkita
    pinkita Posts: 779 Member
    I once read a saying: "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper."

    Now, when you break it down it makes a whole lot of sense. Eating more calories in the beginning of the day will get your metabolism going AND you will burn off a lot of those throughout the day! The lunch and dinner is only to keep your metabolism going.

    I've heard this saying too and would LOVE to try it just for a day to see how I feel, but I've never done it! Growing up in America, dinner is always the "big meal" of the day... and i have this worry (for lack of a better word) that if I eat most of my cals for breakfast & lunch, that I'll be "missing out" when it comes to dinner... or I worry, "What if I'm really hungry at dinner and don't have many cals left?" etc etc

    I still intend to try it though! :)
  • Vaanja
    Vaanja Posts: 163 Member
    I'm not really a breakfast kind of girl but my meds require me to have protein in the morning, so I usually go with a half-cup 0% greek yogurt mixed with a quarter cup kashi go-lean crisp for 130 calories and 15 grams of protein.
    Whether I eat a big breakfast or none at all, I like to get my munch on during the late afternoon and early evening..so I prefer to save the bulk of my calories for then.
  • ackeebee
    ackeebee Posts: 1,042 Member
    i would die if i had to survive on 1200 calories a day. i tried it before and was starving all the time, not to mention i wasn't losing any weight.

    i am presently set at 1560 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week. most days my breakfast is anywhere between 400 and 550 calories. as i do also eat at least half of my exercise calories, most days i have closer to 2000 or more calories to play with. my lunch and my dinner are usually more calories than my breakfast.
  • superrjo
    superrjo Posts: 112 Member
    I used to eat a huge breakfast cos I was all for my 'sets you up for the day, brain food' stuff, but now ive cut it down a lot and i'll just have a piece of fruit in the monrings, and I actually feel less hungry sooner than I used to. It used to hit 10am and i'd be hungry again. But maybe this is also to do with the fact that I'm far more motivated now and dont WANT to eat as much !
  • 4theking
    4theking Posts: 1,196 Member
    I once read a saying: "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper."

    Now, when you break it down it makes a whole lot of sense. Eating more calories in the beginning of the day will get your metabolism going AND you will burn off a lot of those throughout the day! The lunch and dinner is only to keep your metabolism going.

    This is old school nonsense. It doesn't work that way.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    I once read a saying: "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper."

    Now, when you break it down it makes a whole lot of sense. Eating more calories in the beginning of the day will get your metabolism going AND you will burn off a lot of those throughout the day! The lunch and dinner is only to keep your metabolism going.

    Completely false. This was put about years ago and is totally untrue. When you eat your calories is completely irrelevant. Breakfast does not boost your metabolism at all. All it may do is help reduce cravings later on. If you don't have, or can control your, cravings then breakfast is just a waste of calories you could be having when you really want them.
  • graysmom2005
    graysmom2005 Posts: 1,882 Member
    Mine is usually around 400 calories. Nice big breakfast so I can hit the gym hard. :-)
  • shakybabe
    shakybabe Posts: 1,578 Member
    I usually just have oats or Rice Krispies with a cup of tea before I get up to walk my dog, then I snack on pieces of fruit or carrot sticks throughout day, lunch is salad or soup, dinner is salad or vegetables with lean white meat or fish (no batter/breadcrumbs).

    At weekend I like a cooked 'brunch' so maybe scrambled egg on (GF) toast, omelette or BLT (bacon grilled on health grill) with a gluten free pitta bread.
  • melzteach
    melzteach Posts: 550 Member
    I'm at 1300 and eat most of my exercise calories. I try to eat an even amount of calories at each meal with two snacks half that amount. For instance if I burn 400 exercising then I have 1700 available for the day. That means I can have up to 425 at breakfast lunch and dinner AND two 212 calorie snacks. I also try to have a balance of lean protein, good carbs and fat when I eat. This helps sustain me until its time to eat again.
  • klopiccolo1
    klopiccolo1 Posts: 114 Member
    I am at 1250 calories a day and I eat a bowl of oatmeal ( about 140 calories ) every morning on the weekdays. On the weekends if I dont have oatmeal my breakfast's are usually about 300-400 calories. I have found that for me the more I eat in the morning the faster I get hungry again for some reason. Before starting on MFP I never ate breakfast and would end up eating all day at work or at home.
  • Sydney1210
    Sydney1210 Posts: 2
    i eat 90 calories for breakfast and hitting 500-600 for lunch i'm 112 lbs now struggling to get to 95lbs
  • Boofuls
    Boofuls Posts: 47 Member
    I just had a flick through my diary - very variable. Usually 200-300 on work days and then 500 once a week or so when I make pancakes. Then 400 ish for lunch and about 700 between dinner and snacks. I try to be under for the week rather than the day though so sometimes I change it around a lot.
  • Amitysk
    Amitysk Posts: 705 Member
    I range anywhere from 200-400 calories depending on what's going on that day.
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