When do you eat your "big meal"?

I'm finding that I feel better throughout the day with a bigger lunch. Not sure why, but I just go with it! When I run I run in the evenings, so a big dinner just makes me feel bogged down. I've also noticed if I have a big dinner I tend to go overboard and/or I want to snack all evening long. I try to do 400-500cals for lunch.

It varies from day to day. Some days I eat a big lunch, some days I eat a big dinner. Most of the time I eat fairly small lunches and dinners and eat a lot of snacks.

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.

I've been wanting to experiment with eating a huge meal (but haven't started yet) since one day I had a big breakfast which came to around 900 something calories. I felt bad that I ate all that in one setting and thought I would ruin the day since I had the whole day to go still but I noticed that I was not hungry at all for rest of the day and actually felt really good until evening which then I had the rest of the calories. I tend to eat all throughout the day and feel hungry most of the time, even if I ate like a 300 calorie meal.

I tend to have my biggest meals at dinner and then a snack or two afterwards. On rare occasion, I may have to shift that because of a work lunch. However, I usually eat a big dinner.

I have been doing a lean breakfast, either oatmeal or a piece of fruit, and for lunch I have a Smart ones or something I brought from home. I keep my total breakfast and lunch under 500, if possible, so my big meal is dinner. I like to be able to eat with my family, and while I try to cut corners (rice instead of potatoes, fresh veggies, salad) I generally make a hearty meal. After that it's up to me to watch my portions.

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.

^ THIS

I eat 2000 calories daily. My biggest meal is usually 500-600 cals. Which is usually earlier during the day.

Most of the time, dinner. I eat breakfast and lunch alone, dinner with my husband. BUT, if we go out for lunch , (or have a "holiday" party with lunch as the meal), I can switch to a heavier lunch and no or little dinner. I guess I just prefer not to eat alone.

My biggest meal is typically dinner time later in the day. It tends to keep me from snacking at night.

I have been eating a balance between all three meals. I have noticed I eat alot more during supper though. I am trying to work my way to eating more at breakfast though. Normally people do not workout a lot after supper. So, if you eat a huge meal than you are just storing all those calories. But if you eat most of your calories in the morning, you have all day to work them off.

*more face palm*

the whole don't eat before bed thing is a myth.

It doesn't matter when you eat your calories as long as your net is under your goal at the end of the day.

my meals are pretty even to be honest (my food diary is public if anyone likes being nosy).
My favourite meal is breakfast though :bigsmile:

Varies from day to day. Our kids keep us running with their soccer (all year 'round) and we have our own activities too. During the week the big meal is lunch - we rarely sit down together for dinner; on the weekends we manage to eat together it will be dinner time.

IF (intermittent fasting) varies, but basically it's no food, just water, tea and coffee (black) for a fixed time period. I usually stop eating around 8 to 10pm and I typically don't start eating until noon, sometimes even later in the day. I basically skip breakfast and morning snacks. One key is to make sure you get your minimum daily calories. I easily put away 1,600 to 2,000 calories in my 6 to 8-hour eating window. I'm not an expert, but this simply works for me. I'm shedding fat and maintaining my muscle at an incredible pace. You can check out leangains.com and ESE for more info and do what works for you. Sorry Dan, not trying to hijack your topic :drinker: .