Finding A Balanced Eating Schedule
What does your current eating schedule look like? Is every day different or are you consistent with what time of day you eat? There is no one size fits all with ANYTHING nutrition related, as every single person is different and has a unique lifestyle, thus requiring different energy requirements.
Considering personal preferences and different lifestyles, there are still some general rules that can benefit the majority of people when it comes to your meal timing and frequency. According to a few studies (1)(2), the overall conclusion was eating your biggest meal of the day at breakfast time, compared to your largest meal eaten in the evening, had the best impact on weight loss efforts and overall long term health.
Not only was eating more of your calories earlier in the day an important discovery for overall health, but eating less frequently throughout the day, too. This would mean eating 2-3 meals per day rather than 6+ meals/snacks all day long. This might go against some information you’ve seen for “metabolism hacks” and “lose weight by eating every 2-3 hours” articles but, again, there is no one size fits all. It has actually shown to have positive impacts on someone who only eats 2-3 times per day, as this allows your body to not be constantly digesting food. In addition, if you’re eating enough protein, fat, fiber, and veggies at each of your meals it will keep you satiated longer where you don't feel like you need to eat between meals.
One of the biggest tips to finding a balanced eating schedule for your day is being prepared + organized with a plan. Once you’ve determined what you’re planning to eat for the day, you should start thinking about WHEN you’re going to eat. Your body anticipates when you will eat so it can prepare to optimize metabolism. So, if you eat around the same time every day it’s actually beneficial for your body to prepare for the food you’re about to eat by secreting hormones.
Depending on the amount of activity and the time of day you exercise, the amount of times you eat per day very well might change. Along with activity levels, if you are pregnant or have any health concerns, consult with your doctor or seek out a nutritionist to help determine the best eating schedule for you.
If you’re not currently reaching your health goals or weight loss efforts, try adjusting when you’re eating the bulk of your calories for the day, and try eating less frequently throughout the day. If you’re looking for more support with your nutrition, check out our coaching options for more information on how we can help!