If you’ve been reading my blog for any extended period of time, then you’ve probably noticed that I’m a huge fan of snacking…
Aaaand I’ve just successfully managed to make myself extremely hungry. Nice. But I digress.
The point is, I’ve always been a snacker. As far back as I can remember, I’ve never been a fan of eating big meals, preferring to have smaller ones a lot more often. It wasn’t actually until I started recovering from my eating disorder that I starting bulking up my meals in order to gain weight, adopting the more traditional breakfast – snack – lunch – snack – dinner – snack eating template in the process. Before that, most of my ‘meals’ just resembled really big snacks and I ‘snacked’ a lot in between.
Why am I bringing this up? Well, a few readers have commented that my ridiculously ravenous days might be caused by the fact that my meal portions are on the smaller side, and that it would be a lot easier to feel satisfied for longer if I just bulked up my portions a bit. Fair enough. Wouldn’t hurt to give it a shot.
In all honesty, eating bigger meals and snacking less is something that I’ve been considering trying out for a while now. As much as I love to eat, sometimes it’s just plain annoying to feel like I have to grab something that often; and it doesn’t help that there are days where I feel like I’m constantly hungry and unable to concentrate on anything other than snacking.
So it’s time for another eating experiment. It’s time to see if eating bigger meals as opposed to constantly picking away at smaller ones throughout the day makes a difference in my satiety levels, or if those ravenous days are just unavoidable. Either way, I’ll be keeping you guys updated with how things go.
Happy Friday!
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Are you a constant picker/snacker?
Do you find that eating bigger meals less often helps keep you more satisfied?
This is something that I have been trying to do as well. I have always been a constant snacker, eating relatively small breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I think my ED has been largely to blame for this. I am afraid to eat more than I am comfortable with in one sitting, but then I am hungry and have to keep picking away all day. My dietician and I are working this out. Please let me know how it goes!!
I was just talking to my trainer today about switching to Intermittent Fasting. I thought it may be an issue (with my body, not my mind), in terms of seeing results from my training if I wasn’t feeding my body mini-meals constantly, but I really hate having to eat all the time, and I never really feel satisfied from these “smeals.” I think I am going to start “combining” my meals or really just eating bigger meals less frequency. I think food obsession definitely can be an issue in recovery when you’re eating all the time, too, at least for me. You get to a point where all you think about is eating next, so the last thing you want to think about is cooking/food. I still want to nourish my body, so I don’t want to reach for convenience junk. I always had a big appetite, so I think this will work better. Curious to see how you do with it, too. Good luck!
Okay so this was huge for me at one point. When I cut out grains, it forced me to learn how to eat differently. I was a snacker all the time. As soon as I made the transition (slowly mind you! we both know completely changing the way you eat doesn’t happen over night 😉 ), I found I only had to eat breakfast (sometimes) lunch and dinner with a nighttime snack. I love it. I don’t have to worry about snacks, and bringing food with me and all this other jazz. Doing this actually helped me because it freed me of the eating disorder even more so.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think cutting grains will cure anyone it just helped me stabilize my blood sugars and helped me feel less hungry all the time.
Your post hit the spot for me once again, Amanda! Exactly this has been one of my goals to work on throughout the next months. Snacking itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing in my opinion. But it becomes one when I’m not at home and able to prep a snack whenever I feel like it. Especially the past week with classes pretty much all day has made me realize I need to change this. By the end of classes I’ve been seriously ravenous and unable to think.
So my aim would be to be flexible in how many meals I have per day depending on what I have scheduled. Hope I’ll find a way to get there because larger main meals are still a struggle. I’m afraid that being used to my many snacks I’ll still have all of them additionally …
That was my fear as well, but from what I can tell so far (I just started experimenting today, mind you), eating more during your meals keeps you fuller longer and you don’t even really think about snacking additionally. I’ll keep you updated on how things go, but so far so good 🙂
Yes, please, definitely keep me updated. I’ll sure have to try it myself, too.
i hope this works for you – but personally….my sensitive and incredibly picky tummy doesn’t like large meals. especially at lunch. plus, they make me lethargic! but, i think if your stomach allows you – go for it! it might be nice not to have to constantly fix snacks all afternoon. hellloo chocolate cottage cheese bowl just saved my afternoon hunger beast! keep us posted!
Ugh, your pictures make me so hungry. And I just ate lunch! I used to be big on small, frequent meals…but I realized they just made me hungrier. Now, I pack tons of fruits and veggies to create more voluminous, filling meals. It’s all about finding what works best for you! 🙂 PS…send me some cookies? Noms.
Gladly! I’ve been wanting to experiment with my stand mixer more, but I’m afraid that I’ll end up buried in cookies! I think I’m going to end up having very happy neighbors soon…
I’m a big snacker as well! It’s not a problem right now, but when I worked in a restaurant is certainly was. It’s hard for me because I have hypoglycemia so I need to snack in between meals, but sometimes it’s hard and annoying when I’m out with friends. I feel like I don’t have time to be eating 5 times a day, but I have to for now since I still suffer from this. You’ll definitely find what works best for you! Sometimes we just need to play around with meals/snacks/foods to find the “perfect” combo for us.
I am the exact same – because I’m a very small person (not as in thin. I’m a healthy weight but only 5 foot) I can only take little amounts of food, but I’m hungry quite often. It can be really hard when I stay with people because they eat these huge meals and don’t snack, and wonder why I get hungry like an hour after dinner.
I tried the whole ‘bigger meals less snacks’ but it just hurt my stomach because I was trying to put too much in my stomach at one time and I found I had less energy because I also get low blood sugar a lot (thanks ED!). I’m interested to hear how you go!
It’s good to experiment — especially because from what I can gather of you, Amanda — you know what works for you and what you enjoy to do so at the end of the day you’ll be fine either way.
I tend to get easily swayed by others and can spend months trying to follow a way that works for someone else and I know you are WELL beyond that. *applause*
It’s hard to find that “sweet spot” between being stuffed after meals and feeling snacky all day. Right now I’m doing 5 meals a day, and that seems to be working pretty well for me. I’m not usually stuffed, but I’m rarely starving either.
I’m definitely a 4-6 smaller meals per day girl 😉 I always feel satisfied and never stuffed, so it works for me 🙂
confession… i’m not a big snacker either. I like 3 bigger meals and 5-6 hrs between. Although i do drink tea/coffee/cream/etc. in between.
and lick the bowls of healthy bites after!
I am pretty certain that I would love to get my hands on every single one of the snacks pictured in this post. Um, yum!!
I am a huge snacker, but I definitely still eat well-rounded meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I guess that since the majority of the time I eat fairly healthy, I am able to incorporate more snacks into my day. I could never just eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I live for snacks! 😉
Ohh I can’t wait to hear your results! Since the start of the year, I’ve traded in the snacking approach (e.g. eating 5-6 a day) to 3 significant meals and a snack before bed (can’t give that up) and I’m loving it! I rarely think about food during the day and I also don’t have many cravings- I guess my body is finally satisfied! There are some days which I’m out and about and snacking is the more feasible option, and on such days I just roll with it.
I want to blog about it all but thought I’d give the whole thing a month first and then discuss it! So take it from someone who thought she couldn’t do the whole 3-meal a day thing- it’s pretty damn great and my energy is through the roof 🙂
Oh and I also meant to add that give yourself a while to adjust- it took me a few days to figure out portion sizes that were big enough to last me till the next meal without making me feel stuffed in the process!
Thank youuuu! I remember you mentioning that it’s something you were doing and I was really hoping that you’d fill me in on how it’s going! Puts some of my fears to rest for sure. I never thought I’d be able to do the 3 meals a day thing either, so it’s encouraging to hear that it’s going well for you 🙂
I go back and forth between the two. Some days I snack AND eat big meals..ha! I hope this helps!
I am a snacker, but I dont think thats bad…Keeps your metabolism up and working harder..as long as they are 200-300 calorie healthy snacks, (low carb, sugar for me) then you should be good! 🙂
I think you can STILL have snacks , but just “beef” up the meals at the same time.
My bedtime snacks in particular are ginormous because I am very “attached” to my poor, poor habits…
I’m freaking out. I’m not an exerciser, but at least a couple of walks a day are a relief and value for my sanity…and today is a MAJOR snowstorm…major…like the winds are HIGH and the roads are a mess. I can’t walk outside. I can’t leave the apartment (600 square foot apartment), I can’t “walk” inside or do circuits inside because I live with a retired person in TINY place and she would freak out at the noise, however tiny…obviously no equipment. AND it’s going to be like this for 2-3 days. OH Amandaa, I am struggling with this bigtime. I am an “eater” and tend to “lose control” with food, despite my lowish weight, and I can’t stand this being “trapped”. SORRY, but really struggling today….
Hang in there, Jill <3 One day of being inside isn't the end of the world.
I am a snacker for sure, my stomach doesn’t seem to handle larger meals very well and I’m very indecisive when it comes to eating so I like to have a lot of options instead of having to eat 3 main meals. I think it’s worth a shot to see if bulking up your meals helps you feel less ravenous. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about increasing the size of my meals and snacks too so I don’t have to rely on snacks so much.
I usually have a pretty decent sized breakfast, and a bigger dinner, so I’m not very snacky or hungry before lunch or after dinner. My smaller meals/snacking usually happens in the afternoon, and it seems to work for me so far. I’ll be interested to see how this goes! In the past I probably wouldn’t never considered snacking less and eating bigger meals because food was all I thought about and how could I not eat all day little bits at a time? haha! How things have changed 🙂
Best of luck! I like my snacks too but do find that overall I am much more satisfied with bigger meals and less snacks! I hope this helps you!
Is it wrong that I both snack and eat quite big meals?? I’m a big portions kinda girl – what can I say, I’m greed! But I eat healthily and snack healthily so it’s all good for me. I think I get bored a lot which is why I snack – it livens things up 🙂
Wrong? Pft no. If you’re keeping it healthy and feeling good (and still eating tonnes of apples 😉 ) then why change it?
I’m actually a three square meals type of gal. (Which I have found not too many people are anymore). Though reading some of the comments, it seems about half and half. Either way, I never was much of a snacker. Now that I’ve been running mid afternoon, I’ve been eating a snack right before and that is the extent of my snacking LOL. Maybe we should just merge to become one person to be the “perfect” eater LOL.
I do relatively big meals. One that fills up a salad plate piled high. I do snack in between if a hunger craving hits and it’s usually a handful of almonds or date. But then again, since I have larger”meals” I don’t snack that much. I think I average about 4 to 5, depending on my hunger cues. And bigger meals do leave me more satisfied. I tried having a grapefruit for breakfast yesterday (bad idea #1) and by the time I was done, I only managed to eat 1/2 and was inverting my purse in a hungry fit looking for a protein bar. Thankfully I found one and that filled me up more than any freaking grapefruit. :\
I totally am a… Whelp, I don’t know what I am? I tend to eat a bigger breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack, a bigger dinner, and something sweet before bed. What does that make me? I’ve been on the fence about trying different eating habits myself, more so to see if it helps with whatever the heck is going on with my digestive system, and trying more/ less of certain food groups but that’ll have to wait until after our cruise. I hope you’re able to find what works best for you and not let everyone else’s opinion influence your decision!
I’m pretty sure that eating that way makes you normal 😛 It’s definitely worth experimenting if you’re having any kind of stomach issues, though. Those are just… ugh… not fun 😕
I’m a snacker when I am by myself and don’t have any meals planned with friends/family, but whenever I am at home I seem to always be having lunch or dinner with people. In that case, I don’t snack much and just eat bigger meals. I think it’s normal to vary between the two “types” of eating depending on the day and your schedule. But it’s worth a shot to see if the bigger meals help with feeling more satisfied! And I’m sure you will still get in lots of Amanda cereal messes 🙂
Definitely let me know how this goes for you! I’m more of a meal person myself but I always have a night snack too (dessert or something sweet!)
I prefer eating 4 bigger meals as opposed to snacking. You should probably also increase overall intake (calories).
I’ve actually always been the opposite. I hated snacking. I like eating substantial meals and I’m learning to incorporate them back into my diet to form a more regulated eating pattern. I think everyone is different- some people need to snack throughout the day and others just don’t. I’m learning that I need small snacks to get me through between means and that’s fine!
I’m doing the exact opposite! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a strict 3 meal a day person, but now I’m trying out snacking in the middle!
I used to think that eating bigger meals helped keep me satisfied, but then I got too cranky in between meals and my stomach rumbled, so I’ve begun snacking 🙂
There’s nothing wrong with snacking in between meals! I just felt like I was -constantly- picking at something, which is why I decided to switch things up. It’s al about finding what works.
I’m definitely a major snacker. I know it’s because my meals aren’t too big though but I guess I’ll be honest and say I’m sorta scared to make them bigger in fear that I’ll still snack as much just out of habit and boredom! I’ve done it for such a long time now it is definitely almost a habit for me! I’d be interested to hear how you find your experiment and I look up to you for giving change a go 🙂
I think I like to snack just because I like food & that’s basically all I think about all day long. Sad, but true. I think bulking up your meals may help you, but one other thing I’d like to suggest is eating more fat. I eat a lot of fat in my diet now & it leaves me feeling fuller longer & much more satiated, plus it’s very pleasing to the palate. I try to add more avocado, nut butters, organic butter, & oils. It’s made a difference for me, so just a thought. 😉 Good luck w/your food experiment!
I am definitely a huge snacker! My whole family always jokes with me that I can’t go an hour without food.
That’s basically what I’ve been dealing with! Although sometimes I can manage to make it 2 😉
I’ve actually never been a big snacker… my sister is though but I usually do 1-2 snacks a day. So I agree, bigger meals in between def works to keeping your hunger down lol
I got famished just looking at your eats….delish! I snack also, to the point where some folks I work with ask “You’re eating again…” I get to be an a$$hole if I don’t eat when hungry. Can’t wait to hear how your “experiment” turns out 😉 Happy Friday!
hmm I am with you, I am a snacker at heart and while I did try the big meal thing my stomach couldn’t handle it. It did take though some trial and error to see what my body wanted, some people just need the smaller meals every so often, that is how I function. see what works!
My stomach has never been too fond of bigger meals either, but I’m wondering if it’s just something that takes getting used to? Either way, trial and error is definitely the way to go… I just hope I don’t have to suffer through too much error!
In the past few years, I’ve definitely bulked up my main meals and feel hungry way less. It works, I promise! 🙂
Good Luck with that experiment girl, can’t wait to hear how it goes!I like small meals but i also like to give my body a break for a few hours in between so it has time to digest. But I mostly have my 5-6 eating times a day too so I try to keep my meals small but balanced which in my opinion the most satisfying factor – to have enough healthy fats or proteins in the meal that holds you over for a few hours. Besides that, I totally have these ravenous days too but also the others when my appetite is small. I think this is just pur body and as long as we listen to it we’re fine. Happy Friday Love!
I am such a snacker, too. I’ve been wondering the same thing, though, so I’m interested to see how this goes for you. Perhaps, I will try it, as well 🙂
I think experimenting to see what works for you is a great idea. I’ve gone from 6-7 small meals a day to 4-5 slightly bigger ones, but sometimes it just depends on what I have going on that day such as work meetings. Interested to see what you find works for you!
Can’t wait to hear how this works for you! I’ve always been a snacker as well and lately, it’s really annoying only being able to go 2.5-3 hours before dying for something else to eat, so I’m veeeerrrryyy intrigued to see how you respond! It’s almost like you’re being a guinea pig for me (which I love you for). 😉
I figured that I should probably try something new because sometimes I can’t even make it to 2.5 hours!
ahhh I had that happening to me quite often in the past. It can become tedious! I’m curious to see how things turn out for you Amanda 🙂