My morning iced coffee never made it into my breakfast post, but I snapped a photo on my way out the door. So, here’s my iced coffee with vanilla soy milk. (I’m sure you’re super impressed! 
) And I didn’t plant my keys next to my travel mug for a photo opp. I was literally on my way out the door!
Lunch: Not on Schedule?
My stomach started to rumble around 11:00, which was a whole 1.5 hours later than expected. (I ate breakfast at 5:30.) I was super busy at work this morning, so perhaps I didn’t even notice my hunger until then? At 11:30, it felt intuitive to dig into my lunch.
Today’s lunch was one of those infamous “grab-n-go” meals. I had just a few minutes to throw something together, but I think I made out okay with my selections.
Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit…
Mixed into Chobani Greek yogurt…
A very filling lunch!
The rest of lunch: grapes and a peanut butter Gnu bar. Not too bad for “grab-n-go.”
I have veggies on the menu for tonight’s dinner since I haven’t eaten one all day! 
“Scheduled” Eating
After my morning post, I received a number of emails and comments about my daily eating schedule. I tend to stick to a schedule mainly because I have a full-time desk job, which adds some limitation to when I can take breaks to eat.
My schedule with approximate calorie estimates:
- Breakfast @ 7:00, 600 – 800 calories
- Lunch @ 12:00, 500 – 600 calories
- Snack @ 3:00, 100 – 200 calories
- Dinner @ 6:30-ish, 500 – 600 calories
I’ve been eating by this same schedule for YEARS now, so, obviously it works for me. It may not work for you, so I encourage you to test out your own “schedule.” You might be surprised when and what works for you. For instance, I used to eat a mid-morning snack, but realized eating a larger breakfast holds me over much better. I tend to eat a larger breakfast on days that I exercise in the morning, and on the weekends, I tend to practice much more intuitive eating.
Do you eat according to a schedule? Why or why not?
Farmer’s Market Fun
Check out Allison at the Farmer’s Market in West Chester, PA. Don’t ya just love her tote bag?! Stylish and eco-friendly! 
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a semi-schedule that I’m trying to stick too. For me it seems like no matter how many calories I eat, I’m still hungry 3 hours later. So for me smaller meals 3 hours apart seems to work. Well, except today my stomach was growling so lunch was early and I’m already eating my 2/3 o’clock snack. Opps…
I am also always hungry 3 hours later, no matter what I eat- you’re not alone Melissa! I also had a GNU PB Bar today as well- so yummy!
i definitely try to eat on a schedule during the week. i eat breakfast around 830, then lunch at 12, then a small snack (most days) around 330, then dinner sometime between 7-9, then snack around 930/10. i try to eat dinner late because i usually stay up pretty late and if i eat too early, i just end up snacking all night!!!
I had an eating schedule when I was at school since I had the same class/work schedule every day. Now that its the summer I’m working on eating more intuitively since my schedule is always changing!
I don’t really eat on a schedule. My hunger varies dya by day so I just go by that
I don’t really have a schedule, I seem to just eat when I’m hungry, and it definitely changes.
I have a loose schedule – I’ll eat when I’m hungry – but it does tend to happen at the same times every day. I think it works for me.
I tend to eat according to a schedule, too. It’s a lot easier when I’m working rather than going to school because my schedule is the same everyday. I guess it does vary whether or not I workout at night, though. I keep my meals around the same size and if I’m more hungry one day than the next, I’ll snack more. I think I should try out bigger meals because I think I’d get more bang for my buck if I didn’t snack on random things.
Great schedule. I usually eat on a schedule, more so during the week than on the weekend.
Thanks for sharing your schedule, I was wondering that too. I used to eat every three hours on the dot back when I was in weight loss mode, it really helped keep my blood sugar stable and kept me from getting too hungry before a meal (which would cause me to overeat). I would eat at 6, 9, 12, 3 and 6. These days, I just try to go with how I feel, some days I just do meals three times a day and sometimes I do the snacks in between, depends on how I’m feeling. I’ve also had to train myself to “get over” those set times…like if I’m hungry at 11, its okay to go ahead and eat even though its not what I think of as “lunch time” (after 12). I’m trying to just eat when I’m hungry and most of the time, eat what I feel like having too. I’m still working on that second part
so jealous of the chobani! I can’t get it here
I kind of eat on schedule, except for snacks and dinner, depending on what’s going on after work.
Breakfast is usually between 6:30 -7 during the week, sometimes later on the weekend. Lunch is at noon during the week and I usually don’t have a morning snack, either. Afternoon snacks when needed, and if so, usually between 3-4 pm. Dinner can be anywhere from 5:30 – 8 pm! It depends on what we’re having, when we get home, if we run that day, etc.
grab ‘n’ go meals are so fun
I pretty much stick to a schedule (not unlike yours except breakfast is usually before 6). Do you keep careful track of calories or just general ideas alongside what you want/are hungry for? (I will get to grips with intuitive eating one of these days!)
@ellie: I don’t count calories anymore, but I typically have a general idea how many calories are at each meal/snack.
i eat on almost the exact same schedule!
B: 8 am (after being at work for 1 hour) (app 400 cals)
L: 12 noon (app 300 cals)
S1: 2 PM (app 200 cals)
S2: 3:30 PM (app 100-250 cals)
D: 6:30/7:30 (app 400 cals)
I pretty much stick to the same schedule every day
breakfast at 7:30 (about 400 cals)
Snack at 10:00 (100 cals)
lunch at noon (300 cals)
snack at 3:00 (200 cals)
Dinner at 6:00/6:30 (400 cals)
If I workout that day, I normally I have a 300 cal night time snack
During the week, I have a pretty steady eating schedule b/c I work a desk job. My eating on the weekends tends to be a little wonky because I sleep late, eat a big breakfast, then don’t really have an apetite for lunch. So I either end up eating less than I normally do during the week, or, if I go out to dinner, splurging more.
Generally speaking, I eat on a schedule during the week, because I tend to get hungry at the same time every day. Weekends go out the window, because I’m big on sleeping in – alot of times it ends up being late breakfast, small afternoon snack, dinner, with no real lunch in there. But I don’t worry about it much, or about how many calories I consume when.
I too eat on a schedule, at least M-F because I have a FT job also.
6 a.m. Pre-Run Snack: 70-100 Cal.
8:30/9:00-BK 400-500 Cal.
1:00-Lunch 400 Cal.
4:00-Snack 200 Cal.
7:30-Dinner 400 Cal.
And I typically have a dessert for about 100. It varies more on the weekend.
I am currently trying to lose the last 7 or so pounds of post last baby weight – but have also started exercising in the last year – so I am hungry! I try to stay on a schedule and PLAN because it really helps me not to GRAZE which is dangerous for me!! I wake up in the monring now excited to eat my Barney Butter on a Western Alternative Sweet Wheat Bagel – have you tried them? Tons of fiber.
Sometimes I do schedules, especially when I’m with my parents, but I like to just eat whenever most of the time.
I’m such a creature of habit that I always tend to eat on schedule during the week. On weekends I try to eat intuitivley, but sometimes end up grazing :/
my sched is usually as follows:
7:45-8:00 breakfast, 400-500
11:45 snack, 150-180
1:45 lunch, 300-400
7:30 dinner, 300-400
I always finish with dessert and the time and calories vary
I don’t really eat on a schedule because my class schedule is so different day to day (and semester to semester)! On some days where I have long classes (like today I have 7 hours between when I eat breakfast and when I get back from class) I eat more snacks than meals.
Wow, 300-400 cals for a lunch seems low. I’m glad people exist like Tina and me and need lots more!
i definitely eat around a schedule normally, but i am actually trying to be more loose about it. i used to be really anal about eating at certain times, and i want to get away from that! intuitive eating is so much trickier than it sounds like it should be, isn’t it?
I have to eat on schedule because of my job as well. I don’t mind it though!
@Jennifer: What works for you doesn’t work for everyone.
this post is great for showing people you can have a healthy lunch on the go.
Do you count calories or was this just your guestimation?
I love the tote, super cute.
@jenna: I don’t count calories anymore, but I typically have a general idea how many calories are at each meal/snack.
Never commented before – but I am laughing because I tell myself I eat SO much and SO often – and yet my meal times and approx calories and I am guessing activity from what I read on your blog are nearly identical to me. I guess I am not as strange as I thought! Identification is a happy thing.
My schedule is all over the place because I have classes until 9:30 PM right after work two nights a week. But generally, I eat in the following manner:
8:30 AM – 400-500 calorie breakfast
11:00 AM – 150-250 calorie pre-gym snack
1:30 PM – 150-250 calorie post-gym snack
4:30 PM – 350-450 calorie lunch
7:00 PM – 100 calorie snack (during class)
*10:00 PM – 300+ calories – dinner (after I get home)
*unfortunately this is my most vulnerable eating time, and I usually go over in calories
During the weekends the bulk of my calories is split between two meals (breakfast between 9 – 11 AM and dinner between 4-6 PM), and then some version of a “late night” snack (party food, bar food, etc.). I’m trying to change my weekend eating habits as much as possible!
Any tips? I could use some!
Thanks for sharing your schedule, Tina! I can understand needing to stick to something due to a desk job! Is this the schedule/calorie count you established when you first started to lose weight/eat healthier?
I have a pretty strict eatins schedule too sence I am a teacher we only get certain times for breaks.
@katie s: Maybe? I really don’t remember.
@Leah: http://carrotsncake.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-tips
DEFINITELY a scheduled eater. I have found it works for me, and after months of this pattern, I know my body really well, and being able to predict when I’m hungry helps me not overeat.
Oh my gosh! I just moved to West Chester, PA not that long ago and today tried to do a google search for farmer’s markets and came up with nothing. Do you happen to know where in West Chester Allison went?
Aw, cute picture of Allison at the farmer’s market! I’m a scheduled eater just because of classes and work – I need to take the time to eat or else it would be bad news!!
You eating schedule was really helpful to see. I try to eat 300 calories every 3 or so hours although for the evening, I’ll combine those 6 hours for one large meal. But since I’m an emotional eater, it can evolve depending on how I feel. It’s really interesting to see how people eat. I guess that’s why food blogs get so much attention
I try not to eat according to schedule, but if I am running around or traveling, I try to eat before heading out b/c I can’t eat gluten & have to make sure I always have something safe to eat. I carry snacks at all times. I really try to listen to my body & honor my hunger, but don’t always do so good.
The trail mix looks so good! I eat on a similar schedule as you except my breakfast is smaller and I eat a morning snack. Most days I don’t have a snack in the afternoon but sometimes I’m extra hungry. The weekends are a whole other story!
But I try to not overdo it.
By the way, how are you feeling after your run? All recovered?
I *just* discovered that larger breakfasts work better for me then mid-morning snacks too. Funny how that works. But I feel so much better with a larger then life bowl of oats then with snacking.
Yummy looking food as always!
First time commenter here! I am a very Type-A planning type of person, and if I miss a feeding, I tend to get a bit cranky. I’m stuck at a desk most of the week as well, so I usually go by the following schedule:
7 am Breakfast
11/11:30 Lunch
2 pm Snack
5 pm Dinner
9pm Large snack
Sometimes I have to eat breakfast earlier, so I’ll have the snack around 10 am and then a later lunch. I pretty much just go by how I’m feeling, but always make sure to get all the meals in.
It’s funny you bring this up, because I just posted about how my work schedule kind of takes the fun out of meals sometimes!
i love seeing other ppl are scheduled eaters and im not alone on that! i do feel like i eat sooo much compared to everyone tho! it may be because i am still a student/part-time worker so i have a lil more time to workout than others and feel that i need to make up for the deficit in eating? idk? i usually always wake up early no matter what day tho to eat bfast/workout. i am prolly one of the few college kids who would rather not go out to a bar and get drunk bc i wanna wake up and get in my routine workout…am i a freak of nature of what?!? i feel like im already 30 yrs old in a 21 yr old body!! haha
7/8 am: bfast 400
12: lunch 500
3:30: snack 150
7: dinner 600
730: dessert 200
9: snack 400
i eat way too much at night…ugh
8am breakfast (400 cals)
12 or 1pm lunch (400 cals)
3pm afternoon snack (200 cals)
exercise after work (another snack before or after workout is needed)
8pm dinner (500 cals)
That trail mix looks delish!
I wish I could be more of an intuitive eater, but my body gets on a schedule that’s difficult to stray from:
Pre-run (8AM): 100 kcal
Breakfast (10 AM): 400
Lunch (2PM): 500
Snack (5PM): 200
Dinner (7PM): 500
Smoothie (11PM): 300
hi sarah w! the farmer’s market is at the corner of north church and west chestnut in town (near iron hill)… and it’s called the west chester growers market: http://www.westchestergrowersmarket.com. it’s great! i hope you get to check it out!
thanks again for the bag, tina!
Hi Tina,
Not sure if you’ve heard this before but whole flax seeds are very hard for the body to break down and digest. Because of this, you do not get all the great benefits of them unless they are ground or broken down.
Just wanted to let a fellow flax lover know!