If you have cals left over - what do you eat?

RawCarrots
RawCarrots Posts: 204 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've been looking over my dairy today and it seems foodwise I'm yoyo-ing most weeks - I have one or two days slightly over (100-200 cals max) but then rest of the week I'm under. I'm on 1400 a day and many days I'd be anything between 300 to 500 under.

I've decided to eat 1200 cals minimum from now on but not sure how to make up the difference?
For example, it's now past 11pm and I have 485cals left - what should I eat to make up the difference to 1400? I'm not hungry at all and had already eaten a banana and an apple an hour ago.

What do you snack on?

Replies

  • creech6317
    creech6317 Posts: 869 Member
    A nice realxing glass of wine with a couple strawberries (or some sort of fruit, if I don't have fruit just the wine). :drinker:
  • paperstars
    paperstars Posts: 76 Member
    Despite my efforts, I'm typically under my calories. I've started eating a bowl of greek yogurt with a banana after the kids go to bed every night and that's around 200, depending on what else you put in the yogurt.
  • CrystalX82
    CrystalX82 Posts: 68 Member
    If you're looking to lose weight then having left over calories is ok. A deficit of 500 calories a day would equal up to a pound of weight loss in a week. If you're just looking to maintain, some late night snacks are an ounce of cheese and some crackers, or pretzels and hummus or some yogurt. I have some chocolate rice cakes on hand to handle that sweetness craving... otherwise, if you're not hungry, you don't need to force yourself. Sometimes I just wind up drinking water or tea and then brushing my teeth and that really helps kill my food cravings.
  • debbiestine
    debbiestine Posts: 265 Member
    dark chocolate- 85%. It's supposed to be very good for you and I don't like red wine :)
  • RawCarrots
    RawCarrots Posts: 204 Member
    A nice realxing glass of wine with a couple strawberries (or some sort of fruit, if I don't have fruit just the wine). :drinker:

    Hahahaha!!! Priceless!
  • hooperkay
    hooperkay Posts: 463 Member
    Have a higher calorie breakfast. or split into so many calories per meal. Not good to eat most of your calories at 11. I understand some days I leave a bunch. I try to get 1200 though.
  • michellematteson
    michellematteson Posts: 134
    Dark chocolate (full of antioxidants - 300 calories), red wine (proven to help the heart if taken daily - 175 calories), or Nutella ('cause it tastes like chocolate but is thick enough to hit the spot - 100 calories for a tablespoon).
  • Cortney397
    Cortney397 Posts: 1 Member
    I found protein powder that doesn't taste all chalky and gross like some powders do. It's called Elite protein. I mix it with milk and it's filling and nutritious. Also, when I'm craving something sweet I have a diced up peach with a tsp of cinnamon sugar and microwave them for 1 min. It's sweet and yummy and about 100 calories!
  • lucylAnneMason
    lucylAnneMason Posts: 87
    I give myself a treat or two =)
  • fitnspin
    fitnspin Posts: 27 Member
    Plain yogurt, almonds or dark chocolate.
  • rose_mortem
    rose_mortem Posts: 147 Member
    I eat... nothing :noway:

    My under-days make up for my over-days :blushing: :laugh:
  • scythswife
    scythswife Posts: 1,100 Member
    if i am hungry i usually have some cashews however most days i am not hungry and i just let them go. i can't bring myself to eat if i am not hungry or i fall into old habits of just eating to eat
  • carld256
    carld256 Posts: 855 Member
    If I'm seriously under calories I'll reach for the peanut butter jar. That usually takes care of it. I'd prefer a piece of dark chocolate, but I don't keep any around. It's too tempting.
  • kabbit42
    kabbit42 Posts: 77 Member
    Mmm, chocolate milk. Or if I have some in my fridge I'll have a plain yogurt and be mighty pleased with myself.
  • JayByrd107
    JayByrd107 Posts: 282 Member
    Have a higher calorie breakfast. or split into so many calories per meal. Not good to eat most of your calories at 11. I understand some days I leave a bunch. I try to get 1200 though.

    Why not at 11?
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    :laugh: :tongue: :laugh:
    Have a higher calorie breakfast. or split into so many calories per meal. Not good to eat most of your calories at 11. I understand some days I leave a bunch. I try to get 1200 though.

    Why not at 11?

    Well gee, everyone knows you MUST finish eating by 10:46 on the dot, right......?:laugh:
  • soleilxo
    soleilxo Posts: 202
    nothing! lol..the goal is to HAVE calories left over :P
  • ktied
    ktied Posts: 137 Member
    It depends, if I haven't reached my nutrient goals yet I will eat something to satisfy those. I'm usually low on protein, so tuna or almonds or something like that. If I have reached my goals, a glass of red wine =)
  • jvendramin
    jvendramin Posts: 15
    I only eat more if its before 8PM. If its once a week or so, no big deal. If its more than that, a more nutritious breakfast or lunch may be inn order. Also, I try to eat something with something other than just straight carbs: cheese, yogurt, almonds, apples with peanut butter, hummus & veggies, etc.
  • awmejia
    awmejia Posts: 147 Member
    Corona light LOL
  • Ravenesque_
    Ravenesque_ Posts: 257 Member
    Marmite on toast.
  • wookiemouse
    wookiemouse Posts: 290 Member
    I try to plug in my meals as early in the day as possible so I'm not stuck with a deficit at night, because it really sucks to make that up. :(

    My go-tos - greek yogurt with stevia and blueberries (a few almonds if I'm REALLY behind), or whole grain toast with peanut butter (maybe a small bowl of cantaloupe or watermelon with it).
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    nothing! lol..the goal is to HAVE calories left over :P

    Actually, you are wrong. Mfp already builds in a calorie deficit according to what goal you set yourself, so you are actually supposed to try and eat the calories it allots to you, or as close as you can get.
  • Brennaohh
    Brennaohh Posts: 47
    nothing! lol..the goal is to HAVE calories left over :P

    Actually, you are wrong. Mfp already builds in a calorie deficit according to what goal you set yourself, so you are actually supposed to try and eat the calories it allots to you, or as close as you can get.

    not to mention, I have found that this site UNDER estimates. So (for me anyways) my calorie goals are lower then they are supposed to be.
  • wookiemouse
    wookiemouse Posts: 290 Member
    nothing! lol..the goal is to HAVE calories left over :P

    Actually, you are wrong. Mfp already builds in a calorie deficit according to what goal you set yourself, so you are actually supposed to try and eat the calories it allots to you, or as close as you can get.

    not to mention, I have found that this site UNDER estimates. So (for me anyways) my calorie goals are lower then they are supposed to be.

    Agreed. Mine routinely has me at 1500-1600, while my cut is actually 1875.
  • Sapporo
    Sapporo Posts: 693 Member
    Glass of milk and almonds. Sometimes crackers like Wheat Thins (I know, probably really junk food but I love them) and cheese.
  • savageman69
    savageman69 Posts: 339 Member
    Really sick of this dont eat after 11pm or 8pm crap....just because its dark out doesnt mean your body dies inside and says WHOOA no more food im shut down, common use your head your body is constantly working even when your asleep eat when you want and dont listen to the ones that think they cant eat late. The ones who dont eat late also think eating fat makes you fat its called a myth.

    I eat after 8 and 11 almost all the time and its probably made me loose more then anything and i have no problem loosing weight

    Oh and my go tos are peanut butter and a spoon, protein shake, trail mix
  • mgoetsch1982
    mgoetsch1982 Posts: 339 Member
    If you are trying to make up for some calories at night, try to have it be high in protein and low in carbs. A couple good ones would be hard boiled eggs or a protein shake. If I know that I am going to be low by a couple hundred, I will have a protein shake after I work out.

    I personally don't like to eat at night, but there is nothing wrong with eating once it gets dark out. I don't like to go to bed with food in my stomach
  • phitless
    phitless Posts: 9
    I feel your pain. It is a rarity that I consume 1800. MFP wants says about 2200 without exercise...add in the 200-600 calories I burn, and I am under 600-1000 calories. Today (Thursday) was one of the few days I was over, and that was just because I hit Rally's for lunch.
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    nothing! lol..the goal is to HAVE calories left over :P

    Actually, you are wrong. Mfp already builds in a calorie deficit according to what goal you set yourself, so you are actually supposed to try and eat the calories it allots to you, or as close as you can get.

    not to mention, I have found that this site UNDER estimates. So (for me anyways) my calorie goals are lower then they are supposed to be.

    Agreed. Mine routinely has me at 1500-1600, while my cut is actually 1875.

    What does that mean, "my cut"?

    MFP is a site written by two dieter dudes with, as far as I can tell, zero training. I don't do the MFP plan, just log here, but if I did I certainly wouldn't force-feed to meet its goal when my own body is content with what I've already eaten. Despite what you read here, weight loss really is about racking up deficits and there is no starvation mode.

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