Comments on: How do you define a "Meal"?

By: leah

leah — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:00:11 +0000

I used to be a grazer and if im not careful i still do. Since healthier eating Izmir my goal, I eat 3 meals and 2 snacks all within my daily points.

By: Kerry

Kerry — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:15:08 +0000

I do a lot better when I focus on meals which satisfy me; I do not do well with grazing. So if I were to allocate 18 points, it would ideally be 6 for breakfast, 5 for lunch, 1-2 for snack, and 5-6 for dinner. I am eating more than that currently, but the ratio stays about the same.

By: Deanna - The Unnatural Mother

Deanna - The Unnatural Mother — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:07:55 +0000

It’s funny that you write this. My definition of a meal was all screwy too. I started losing weight about two years ago, successfully lost 23 pounds and in July I was blessed with an opportunity at Health Magazine. http://diet.health.com/2009/09/20/help-us-reach-our-feel-great-weight/ Where I was granted another blessing of seeing a nutrionist for 7 months. The food plan was to have 6 meals a day. I’ve read this my entire dieting life but always said 6 meals, crazy… because I was thinking of meals as sandwhiches, pastas, meal meals not snacky meals. I never researched it or looked into further because I didn’t get it – I thought I couldn’t do it. Until I saw the nutrionist, or as I say the Goddess Marissa, because she has enabled me to view food in such a different manner – as fuel and to enjoy, with a purpose, putting good foods in your body instead of crap (although I do have crap too but limited.) Anyhoo, the light bulb went off… oh meals can be a wasa cracker and hummus, or carrots and salsa, not a 6 inch sub. Ya know? So to answer your question after my long A#$ comment, I am a grazer and it’s done wonders for me. 53 pounds and still going strong.

By: Rob Dyess

Rob Dyess — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:02:37 +0000

Nichole… I am with Roni on this one. Nature Valley Oats and Honey (or really any of the flavors are the best ones that I have found. Again… check out my blog at:

http://www.weighdownsouth.com

Thanks!!!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:52:18 +0000

Bridget—

I currently use Weight Watchers eTools, but I’m slowly transitioning over to Fatsecret.com. I’ll be hitting goal in a few months and I don’t want to have to keep an online membership just to use a really good food journal. Fatsecret isn’t as good as eTools, but it’s definitely more user-friendly and functional than other tools I’ve used (dailyplate, fitday, etc). For finding the counts of random food, I typically use dailyplate, as it seems to be the most comprehensive database I’ve found. For journaling, I recommend fatsecret (you can program it to spit out WW points for you!) or WW eTools if you’re a member.

By: bridget

bridget — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:38:54 +0000

? what does everyone use as a food journal? I just can’t seem to keep a good one. All my points today were great except for the random archway cookies, which would not have happened if I were really using a food journal.

By: love2eatinpa

love2eatinpa — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:32:41 +0000

i’m a grazer for sure! cuz i luv to eat, i eat small mini meals/snacks throughout the day, no more than about two hours apart. i would get a terrible headache and be lightheaded if only had three squares. i would pass out between lunch and dinner. :)

By: Tami @nutmegnotebook.com

Tami @nutmegnotebook.com — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:19:53 +0000

This is a great question. I eat 3 meals and 2-3 snacks. I eat a small breakfast and then a couple hours later I have a protein and carb snack, lunch, mid afternoon, another healthy snack, dinner and then a snack around 7:00 if I am hungry.

By: sarah

sarah — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:18:44 +0000

Good question and interesting posts. Personally, I’m a three square kind of gal with one or two snacks thrown in. My biggest meal of the day is usually lunch for some reason I haven’t quite figured out yet. Breakfast is around 4 points, lunch about 7, afternoon snack 2-3, dinner around 6 or 7 and tv snack 1-3 (I love popcorn and 1 pt cookies!).

By: Shelley

Shelley — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:10:23 +0000

Great question! Especially b/c I was thinking about the same thing yesterday looking at my food journal. It has sections for Breakfast, Snack, Lunch, Snack, & Dinner, & my eating just doesn’t fit into that mold all the time! I’ll have a “snack” of an apple, & then munch on veggies & hummus while making dinner (but that’s not really part of dinner OR snack) – additionally, last night after dinner I had half a banana w/2 tsp. peanut butter – not part of dinner, & nowhere else to put it!

As for granola bars, I’m trying to stick to eating “real” food right now, & I’ve discovered Larabars! 4 points for the whole thing, & just a few ingredients, & they’re all “real” food! The only downside is they’re on the small side.