When do you eat your "big meal"?

Dan112358
Dan112358 Posts: 525 Member
edited December 17 in Food and Nutrition
Just wondering when people have their "big meal" for the day. I typically eat about half of my daily cals (about 8-900 of my 2000) at lunch. I usually eat a 4-500 cal meal in the morning and a 5-600 cal meal in the evening. For me, eating more mid-day keeps me from snacking in the late afternoon. Just wonder what others thoughts are.

PS, I know there's no metabolic advantage to when food is consumed, just wonder about people's preferences.
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Replies

  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    Dinner, for sure. I am somewhat hungry at lunch but dinner is when I want to eat the most.
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    I tend to eat about 200-230 calories for breakfast then 300-400 for lunch with the remaining calories at dinner (550-750 depending on if I snack in the afternoon). I find that its easier to do less calories at meals when Im at work than with dinner at home. Plus, if on the rare chance that we eat out at dinner, I dont feel like I have to really hold back- just stick under the remaining amount.

    P.S. Im trying to stick to 1320 calories per day.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Just wondering when people have their "big meal" for the day. I typically eat about half of my daily cals (about 8-900 of my 2000) at lunch. I usually eat a 4-500 cal meal in the morning and a 5-600 cal meal in the evening. For me, eating more mid-day keeps me from snacking in the late afternoon. Just wonder what others thoughts are.

    PS, I know there's no metabolic advantage to when food is consumed, just wonder about people's preferences.

    why do you eat 2000 calories is the question. lol.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    why do you eat 2000 calories is the question. lol.

    What's wrong with that?


    EDIT: Also OP: I tend to eat most of my calories in the evening. Small-ish meal around lunch, gigantic dinner after workout, then continual grazing until bed.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    My preference is to have the biggest meal around "dinner time".
  • Spanaval
    Spanaval Posts: 1,200 Member
    I tend to eat most around dinner time, although that's a combination of meal and snack. Although I try and plan it out, it often ends up being 'Oh *kitten*, you've got WAY too many calories left', and then I have to eat more to make up the deficit.
  • yummy♥
    yummy♥ Posts: 612 Member
    Just wondering when people have their "big meal" for the day. I typically eat about half of my daily cals (about 8-900 of my 2000) at lunch. I usually eat a 4-500 cal meal in the morning and a 5-600 cal meal in the evening. For me, eating more mid-day keeps me from snacking in the late afternoon. Just wonder what others thoughts are.

    PS, I know there's no metabolic advantage to when food is consumed, just wonder about people's preferences.

    why do you eat 2000 calories is the question. lol.

    i cannot understand why that "is the question"

    i often eat 2000 cal a day as well, with the majority of them being consumed between 5-10pm.
  • shell3986
    shell3986 Posts: 98
    I eat the majority of mine at breakfast. Then I have a small lunch since I workout right after work and don't like to feel too full.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Just wondering when people have their "big meal" for the day. I typically eat about half of my daily cals (about 8-900 of my 2000) at lunch. I usually eat a 4-500 cal meal in the morning and a 5-600 cal meal in the evening. For me, eating more mid-day keeps me from snacking in the late afternoon. Just wonder what others thoughts are.

    PS, I know there's no metabolic advantage to when food is consumed, just wonder about people's preferences.

    why do you eat 2000 calories is the question. lol.

    i cannot understand why that "is the question"

    i often eat 2000 cal a day as well, with the majority of them being consumed between 5-10pm.

    because it's my prerogative to ask what I think is relevant. you're also a female--he is a male. big difference.
  • leodru
    leodru Posts: 321 Member
    majority of my eating tends supper and at night. I'm trying to shift to earlier in the day as it is supposed to help with cravings but i'm not there yet. i can barely survive on 1900 calories without going over...
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    because it's my prerogative to ask what I think is relevant. .

    That's a good point and I agree.
    you're also a female--he is a male. big difference

    While I can't assess w/o knowing his overall lifestyle and activity, based on his stats 2000 is likely within the realm of reasonable for a cut unless he is highly active outside of the gym.
  • makemoneymom25
    makemoneymom25 Posts: 1
    Dinner, I read online breakfast should be your biggest meal.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    because it's my prerogative to ask what I think is relevant. .

    That's a good point and I agree.
    you're also a female--he is a male. big difference

    While I can't assess w/o knowing his overall lifestyle and activity, based on his stats 2000 is likely within the realm of reasonable for a cut unless he is highly active outside of the gym.

    fair--he just looks rather lean and for a male I always seem to think under 2500 is rather low with a reasonable amount of activity.
  • Dan112358
    Dan112358 Posts: 525 Member
    because it's my prerogative to ask what I think is relevant. .

    That's a good point and I agree.
    you're also a female--he is a male. big difference

    While I can't assess w/o knowing his overall lifestyle and activity, based on his stats 2000 is likely within the realm of reasonable for a cut unless he is highly active outside of the gym.

    fair--he just looks rather lean and for a male I always seem to think under 2500 is rather low with a reasonable amount of activity.

    Hey, sorry for the lack of clarity, I threw the 2000 number out there as a rounded figure. I actually averaged 2425 cals per day over the past 7 days and have had a total calorie defecit of about 3500 for the week. This thread wasn't really about that anyway, it was about people's eating habits with respect to time. That being said, if you have any suggestion with regards to my nutrition, feel free to fire away, I'm always looking for new ideas.
  • Dan112358
    Dan112358 Posts: 525 Member
    I eat the majority of mine at breakfast. Then I have a small lunch since I workout right after work and don't like to feel too full.

    I find this an issue for me as well. I don't like to workout on an empty stomach (so morning workouts are tough for me) or if I'm feeling "full". My schedule allows me to eat lunch at around 12:00 and I'm usually in the gym around 2:30, home by 4:00 and eating soon thereafter.
  • c3nterstage
    c3nterstage Posts: 46
    Usually dinner because lunch is to close to track practice. But sometimes on the weekends it's breakfast, i love me some eggs and waffles!
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    Lunch. Like you I find it helps with afternoon and late night snacking.
  • steadk
    steadk Posts: 334 Member
    i do around lunch. If i do that, then i don't want a large dinner. :)
  • tbellamy1
    tbellamy1 Posts: 353
    I eat almost 2000 cals a day normally between 1600-2000. My big meal is breakfast its about 600+
  • hippietofugirl
    hippietofugirl Posts: 430
    I agree with lunch. Also I've always heard its bad to eat a lot a night...it gives you less time to work off those calories before you go to bed and your body stores them.
  • shannonperry13
    shannonperry13 Posts: 99
    i usually have about 300 calories for breakfast and lunch, and usually 200-300 calorie snacks after breakfast and lunch. and then for supper i would say i usually have about 500 cal or so. i seem to feel hungrier around 4-5pm
  • JonathonMars
    JonathonMars Posts: 358 Member
    Breakfast. It's also when I consume the most carbs. Also probably my favorite meal of the day.
  • nathan72
    nathan72 Posts: 91 Member
    Dinner, for sure. I am somewhat hungry at lunch but dinner is when I want to eat the most.
    ^^this
  • missquela
    missquela Posts: 60 Member
    depends...on weekends, i eat a big breakfast and then have small snacks until a 4-500 cal dinner, and on workdays i have a tiny breakfast 1-200 cals and divide the rest for lunch and dinner...if i know i'm going out, i'll have a light lunch, if i know i'm eating a lean cuisine, i'll eat more cals at lunch so i won't have to eat too much later.
  • tashaa1992
    tashaa1992 Posts: 658 Member
    It depends on the day. Usually on my work days dinner will be my biggest meal just because I feel really hungry after my workout after work, but on my days off usually I'm just snacking in the afternoon and this can add up to 600+ easily:)
  • MissYatta
    MissYatta Posts: 57 Member
    I eat my big meal at dinner because it's when I have time to actually cook without my nephew tearing the house down. I also like to eat after my workout, that way I don't get hungry during the night and snack on everything.
  • kluvit
    kluvit Posts: 435 Member
    I try to save up for the evening meal when my husband and I cook together or go out with friends. It's much easier to eat lighter at work with little or no breakfast (yogurt, fruit, nuts) and a light lunch (frozen dinner, salad, or half of a light entree). If I've got extra calories left after dinner, I enjoy dessert! ;)
  • xlolitabandita
    xlolitabandita Posts: 242
    Usually I like to eat a big breakfast with lots of protein from eggs and carbs from fresh fruit. I look forward to making myself a beautiful, colorful plate and the meal really gets my day off to a good start. Not to mention, I have all day long to burn those calories off.
  • jlbeach
    jlbeach Posts: 1
    Breakfast. I'm just starting out with this so I'm still sorting it out. I get reactive hypoglycemia after I eat if I have carbs with lunch and then I crash at work. I've found that getting a cardio workout in the morning and having a solid breakfast keeps my energy level up throughout the day.
  • Slendertree
    Slendertree Posts: 12
    The morning, I eat 300-400 calories for breakfast. I also work out in the morning. If I don't eat enough before I workout I get very sick and dizzy.
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