Most people think that 3 meals a day is what everyone needs. I for one, am only hungry for about...

[yeunthie99]

Most people think that 3 meals a day is what everyone needs. I for one, am only hungry for about 2. I don't starve myself, it's just that I'm not hungry. Does anyone agree with me that sometimes 3 meals is just too many?

[kathymuggle]

If I snack in between 2 is fine. When I do this (which is rare) I like a late breakfast and an early supper - say 11:00 and 5:00. I do it if I am travelling to cut down on restaurants.

[crunchy_mama]

I think it depends on the person and that IF'ing(intermintent fasting) can be great for better health and also weight lose. This generally works better for those already on a healthy diet that is not high carb though.

[candipooh]

It depends of calories. How many calories are you getting in your two meals a day?

Everything I read says it is healthier to eat smaller meals throughout the day. I am talking 5 meals of about 200-300 calories each. My husband will often only eat once a day but eat a ton of calories in that one sitting. It isn't healthy.

[philosoikou]

I can only speak from experience, as I am no expert in such things. But two meals are plenty for me most days. Just one is fine a lot of the time, as a matter of fact.

I've been reading a little about IF, but I think I'm only "researching" in order to justify what I *know* feels good to me. Which isn't a great reason, IMO! So I haven't really done that much of it.

I didn't always feel this way. Last year, I revised my eating habits in order to lose excess baby weight. I adopted the No S paradigm, which was very hard at first, to be honest. But over the first couple of weeks, it got much easier, and after a couple of months, I felt like my appetite had changed, and I was more in touch than ever with my physical hunger signals, as opposed to social or emotional cues to eat.

So, I went from being a 3+ meals per day sort of person, to being a 1-2 meals per day person. And I feel wonderful, I really do. In fact, when I eat too much (vacation, holidays, etc.), like I used to do all the time, I feel sluggish and a bit depressed.

Anyway, yes, I agree with you. And a year ago, I'd never have believed it.

[Jane]

I'm a one meal a day person, with a snack in the afternoon. Some people thrive on a vegan diet, some need substancial quantities of meat. Different things for different people.

[LVale]

I am 48 yrs. old, and I only eat maybe twice a day. As a child and to the present I can not eat before 11 am. I am perfectly healthy, except for going through peri-menopause. I am 4'11'' and am 102 lbs. very petite frame, and I consume maybe 1000 calories a day. This is just my norm, and I am just fine. I cook from scratch, I am just a tiny eater. I just listen to my body, not society's norm. HTH!

[claddaghmom]

I think it's fine. I think your schedule has a lot to do with it as well. Breakfast is really pushed in our culture...but most people wake up early. What if you go to bed late and sleep in 'till 8-9am? I don't get hungry until around noon. Then I eat a bit of fruit and drink water. Lunch is huge, dinner is small and comfy. Maybe a late night snack.

That was me growing up. But since pregnancy and lactation, I've included many more meals as my body asks.

[wendyland]

That's the longest title I've ever seen on here.

I've read some eastern medicine books and they advocate eating twice a day. Usually a small breakfast or no breakfast, a big lunch, and smaller dinner.

[nichole]

I also think it depends on the person. I like lots of small meals, but I read somewhere on here, that your body never gets a break from creating insulin if you are always snacking.

I normally just drink water, but one day we were taking a road trip and I found I was able to easily skip a meal if I had a soda. I'm not saying you should drink soda instead of lunch, but most people I know who only eat 2-3 meals a day are drinking lots of soda and coffee.

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by nichole

I like lots of small meals, but I read somewhere on here, that your body never gets a break from creating insulin if you are always snacking.

i actually keep reading that 4-6 small meals is optimal for your metabolism. i only eat two meals a day, and i'm trying to break that habit. i currently do not eat breakfast, and i know that is supposed to be terrible for me - but it makes me gag. i'm working on getting over that.

anyway - if there was an award for longest title, this would win

[danieliausmama]

Many small meals during the day may speed up metabolism, but what it does to our digestive system and health in general? People with slower metabolism live longer anyway. Our goal is not to stuff ourseves with as much food as possible without gaining weight.
I think, you just have to listen to your body.
Studies(probably funded by the cold cereal companies-huge bussiness)say, that eating breakfast makes you trimmer. Guess what, once I started eating breakfast, I got bigger than I've ever been. My body doesn't want to eat breakfast. In the morning I don't eat solids, just drink my made lemonade(water, lemon and honey) and freshly made veggie juices. Then I eat lunch and dinner and avoid snacking, because I noticed, that if I want to eat between meals, it is usually emotional eating, not real hunger. And with emotional hunger I deal in different ways.

[philosoikou]

Originally Posted by elizawill

i actually keep reading that 4-6 small meals is optimal for your metabolism. i only eat two meals a day, and i'm trying to break that habit. i currently do not eat breakfast, and i know that is supposed to be terrible for me - but it makes me gag. i'm working on getting over that.

My theory is that skipping breakfast is only a problem if it leads to snacking, or to extreme hunger that makes you panic and reach for the nearest vending machine/cheesesteak every day. I think that's why people are always imploring us to eat breakfast (and I'll be dainielausmama has a point about the origin of the funding/message!). IME, not eating in the morning is not a problem otherwise.

I'm pretty sure there's no "one size fits all" approach to diet. Wouldn't that be just as silly as saying all babies need to nurse every four hours, on the clock?

[sophiesgrandma]

I feel best eating 2 meals a day. Breakfast is high fiber cereal with walnuts and cranberries. Thats usually at 7:30 and I don't get hungry for lunch until about 2-3 pm. Then I eat a bunch of green veggies like broccoli, kale, rabe or pea soup or salad with lots of veggies. Also a fish like sardines or salmon or rarely-tuna. Then at night I'll have whatever fresh fruits are available.
If I'm going out for dinner, I'll eat a very light lunch like fruit or a yoghurt or a small cup of soup. I feel best eating this way.

[Serenyd]

Originally Posted by wendyland

That's the longest title I've ever seen on here.

I've read some eastern medicine books and they advocate eating twice a day. Usually a small breakfast or no breakfast, a big lunch, and smaller dinner.

That is exactly! how I like to eat.

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by elizawill

i actually keep reading that 4-6 small meals is optimal for your metabolism. i only eat two meals a day, and i'm trying to break that habit. i currently do not eat breakfast, and i know that is supposed to be terrible for me - but it makes me gag. i'm working on getting over that.

anyway - if there was an award for longest title, this would win

Check out what www.marksdailyapple.com has to say about the idea that skipping breakfast is terrible for you!

I have to say that since going primal, I rarely eat 3 times a day. Most of the time twice, sometimes *gasp* ONCE!

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by philosoikou

I'm pretty sure there's no "one size fits all" approach to diet. Wouldn't that be just as silly as saying all babies need to nurse every four hours, on the clock?

YES YES YES!!! Why is it that we feel that diet needs to be the same for everyone all the time!?! Different lifestyles, activity levels, cultures, etc are all going to factor into dietary choices!