Or maybe you don’t eat at the “right” times?
Just like the idea that different people don’t need to like the same food, different people also don’t need to eat the same amount of food. Looking to others as a way of determining how much to eat is a very, very dangerous idea. No two people have the exact same body and lifestyle, and therefore no two people should be eating the exact same amount.
This was my breakfast today: Sugar Cookie Oatmeal.
I ate it, post-run, along with strawberry slices and peanut butter. Pre-run breakfast consisted of fresh watermelon and a bunch of pistachios. After breakfast, I talked with my little sister on the phone. She’d just woken up and was eating her own breakfast: a single container of yogurt.
Whose eating style is correct?
Both of ours! I probably eat about twice as much as my sister, and yet we’re both perfectly healthy. She’s shorter than me, has a slower metabolism, and doesn’t go running; therefore she needs less. If she were to eat like me, she’d probably end up with the world’s worst stomachache. And if I were to eat like her, I’d be so hungry I could eat an elephant. (Don’t worry, fellow vegans. I said I could, not I would.)
The mainstream media tells us there is also a “right” number of times to eat: five or six small meals, divided throughout the day. But once again, I have to argue that no one should take this advice as something set in stone. Do not trust society to tell you what or when to eat; experiment and find out what works best for you. I think eating every 3-4 hours works best for many people because it keeps energy levels up. But if you find that your energy doesn’t drag even if you go six hours without food, why should you feel like you have to eat anyway?
As an example, let’s use my friend Sarah.
She normally eats a small breakfast, followed by a big lunch and dinner, and she rarely ever snacks during the day.
Unless I make Lemon Poppyseed Muffins.
Those, she can’t resist.
On the other hand, I usually eat six meals a day and will almost always taste-test recipes in between meals as well. You’d be hard pressed to find a time my mouth is not stuffed with food. Does this mean one of us is eating incorrectly? No, not at all! It just means we’re different people with different needs.
Do you eat three meals per day? Or six smaller meals? Or maybe you’re a grazer?
And do you ever compare the amount you eat to what others eat?
How much you eat is completely up to your body and different for every person. I wish more people understood this.
I’ve recently noticed I only eat “a lot” when I’m upset. All throughout the last week, I ate a lot of junk food. I’ve been pretty stressed trying to find a job and go back to school, so it only makes sense.
Normally, though, I only eat when I’m hungry. I also like to think I have pretty good restraint. I don’t snack a whole lot, unless I have a craving for something. I eat small to medium sized portions, because I’ve found it just works best for me. I know some people who go all day without eating, and I could never do that. I’m hypoglycemic, so my blood sugar would crash and I’d feel like crap if I went too long without eating.
I wish society was less adamant on its views of what eating right is and isn’t. Everyone is different, like you said!
Now that it’s summer I tend to just eat when I’m hungry and I don’t really go by a schedule. Not sure if it’s the best strategy, but like you say, its all about what works for you. 🙂
Thank you so so much Katie! I LOVED this post!
I’m in recovery from an eating disorder and have been struggling like crazy with just how much food is tue right amount for my body. I live a very active lifestyle, generally running 3 times, playing touch football once, boxing twice, and doing light kickboxing and weights 3 times every week! Of course, this amount of exercise requires I eat a lot of food and intend to eat two bowls of whatever it is I’m eating for breakfast, a light lunch, a big afternoon tea (usually consisting of WAY TOO MUCH peanut butter) a big dinner and usually an after dinner snack. I sometimes even wake up hungry through the night!
I’ve been so worried that I’m eating too much (that old disordered eating voice doesn’t go down without a fight!) and even sometimes try to not listen to my body and eat less than I feel I need.
While this post obviously isn’t the answer, it did help me see that maybe this IS the right amount for me!
Don’t stop being amazing!
I eat probably a lot compared to some, but not much compared to others just like you. I am also a runner and I run anywhere from 8-13 miles a day. So I need to eat a lot. The problem is I don’t always eat the best of food choices. But O’well, I love what I eat, I’m healthy, active, and happy. I try to not compare my eats with other bloggers or people. I cannot wait till tomorrow to get the pancake recipe!!!! Pancakes are in my top 3 foods 🙂
Thank you so so much Katie! I LOVED this post!
I’m in recovery from an eating disorder and have been struggling like crazy with just how much food is the right amount for my body. I live a very active lifestyle, generally running 3 times, playing touch football once, boxing twice, and doing light kickboxing and weights 3 times – every week! Of course, this amount of exercise requires I eat a lot of food and I usually eat two bowls of whatever it is I’m eating for breakfast, a light lunch, a big afternoon tea (usually consisting of WAY TOO MUCH peanut butter) a big dinner and usually an after dinner snack. I sometimes even wake up hungry through the night!
I’ve been so worried that I’m eating too much (that old disordered eating voice doesn’t go down without a fight!) and even sometimes try to not listen to my body and eat less than I feel I need.
While this post obviously isn’t the answer, it did help me see that maybe this IS the right amount for me!
Don’t stop being amazing!
Aww you’re so sweet!!
P.S. no such thing as too much peanut butter! 😉
(Oh ok, maybe there is… but in a perfect world we could eat pb all day and not feel sick.)
Ugh, I keep forgetting to change my website… the above link no longer works!
Some days I eat 3 solid meals, and some days 5 or 6 smaller meals! It really depends on my mood and how I’m feeling!
I really, really love this post!
this is SOOO true. my best friend eats 3 meals a day and rarely snacks, but I snack CONSTANTLY!!!! She could go without eat bfast all day, and Im starving the second I wake up! Im even guilty of eating in the middle of the night sometimes on days where I do a lot of activity 😉
it completely baffles me how 2 ppl can eat so different, but its their body and their life- they can eat how they want as long as their healthy!!
so thanks for this post 🙂