How Do You Eat?
If you’re at all like me, when 3:30 pm hits, I’m starving– even after eating a healthy lunch just a few hours before. For some reason, I always need to eat a snack in the afternoon.
I’ve always eaten three square meals a day. I guess my brain just works like that. My mom raised my sister and me to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and dessert!), so I’ve continued to eat this way for the past 29 years. But, now that I have a new job with different hours, perhaps I should rethink the way I eat?
On Carrots ‘N’ Cake, you usually see 3 meals + 1 afternoon snack. Now that I can eat at home more often, it makes sense for me to take advantage of my kitchen! For me, preparing something at home is typically healthier and more satisfying than something I pack to take with me.
So, I’ve decided to break my lunch into 2 mini meals: one to eat at NuVal and the other to eat at home. That way, I can eat a small lunch, but also take the edge off my usual afternoon hunger with a mini meal that I can enjoy in the comfort of my own home. Plus, I won’t need to pack as much food to bring to work with me! The tupperware situation got a little out of control at times!
With that said, everyone is different and no one way of eating is better than others. I’m going to see how this new way of eating works with my lifestyle. If it works, great. If not, you’ll see 3 square meals + 1 snack on the blog once again! You gotta do what’s right for you!
How do you eat?
Lunch: Part 1
At lunchtime, I dug into my first mini meal of the day: pineapple Chobani with Go Lean Crunch and pomegranate arils.
I loved this combo! Flavors, textures, consistency, oh my! 
I also drank some hot tea with lunch. My new office mug is from the Dollar Store!
After lunch, I munched on two small handfuls of roasted almonds.
When I got home from work, I took Murph for a walk and then made myself a second mini meal: Uncle Sam’s cereal + sliced banana + vanilla soy milk.
Foodbuzz Awards
Today is the LAST day to vote for Carrots ‘N’ Cake in the Foodbuzz Blog Awards. I’m up for Best Healthy Living Blog and as well as Blogger You Would Most Like to Take to Dinner and Blogger You Would Most Want to Make You a Cocktail. Apparently people want to eat and booze with me!
In the Top 10
I’m in the top ten for the Love! This Site Award from DivineCaroline! Wahoo! If you haven’t voted for Carrots ‘N’ Cake, you can do so here!
In the News
From ice cream to coffee, fewer ingredients yield more sales
Alcohol consumption related to spread of cancer
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Nasoya Winners
Thanks for everyone who entered!
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Please email me at tina@carrotsncake.com with your full name and mailing address.
Lu — October 29, 2009 @ 4:53 pm
I split my food too. I usually eat some at lunchtime and then some at around 3. It keeps me from crashing, and I do exercise when I get home from work so I need the boost.
Food Makes Fun Fuel — October 29, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
My eating is very regular by chance, and usually totals up to this:
Breakfast about 500 cals
Lunch about 400 cals
2-3 meals about 600 cals total
Dinner about 500 cals
2-3 desserts about 800 cals
Jen — October 29, 2009 @ 5:08 pm
I’ve found this works besto for me:
300 cal breakfast
100 cal snack
200 cal lunch
150 cal snack
400 cal dinner
100 cal snack
Works out just about right so I don’t feel hungry throughout the day.
Jen — October 29, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
Whoops! Should have been a 300 cal lunch. 200 cals? I’d be starving!
Kate — October 29, 2009 @ 5:12 pm
I split mine between six meals a day since that’s what helps keep me going through my super-busy life and it also keeps my tummy happy and my metabolism zooming!
Breakfast – 600 cals
Snack – 400 cals
Lunch – 550 cals
Snack – 300-400 cals
Dinner – 500 cals
Snack – 300-400 cals
Liz — October 29, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
I follow the eat clean philosophy. 5 to 6 meals a day between 200 and 300 calories. Match every meal (or try to) with a protein and complex carb. No crashes and no hunger pains all day. Perfect.
Whitney @ Lettuce Love — October 29, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
I eat alll day! I am such a grazer it is awful. I need to be better about doing 3 meals a day — I am constantly munching.
Graze With Me — October 29, 2009 @ 5:16 pm
Well if it isn’t obvious by the name of my blog I’m a huge proponent of mini meals. I usually eat 5x day and find that the number of hours I am full is equivalent to the number of calories I eat (a 300 calorie meal will fill me up for 3 hours, 500 for 5 hours…etc).
I find that making breakfast my largest meal of the day is best for my schedule, dinner is usually forced down since I’m never hungry but need the fuel for my workouts.
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers — October 29, 2009 @ 5:21 pm
i eat and eat and eat allllll day long. mini meals work best for me. i love food too much & get too excited about my next meals to only eat 3x a day!
Eve — October 29, 2009 @ 5:25 pm
Everyday is different for me. Depending on my schedule I do different things. If I happen to be working from home I like to give myself a few small meals since I may be more tempted around the kitchen. However, when I’m really busy I make sure to have a much larger breakfast and lunch and then a snack (fruit & nuts/ fruit & cheese).
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — October 29, 2009 @ 5:33 pm
it varies every day for me, but a typical day involves a hearty breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus 2 desserts – usually dessert #1 is a small cookie/fro yo and dessert #2 is some type of fruit.
Roz — October 29, 2009 @ 5:35 pm
I have a wacky work schedule so I try to listen to my body as much as possible. I usually end up with the following schedule:
Breakfast (before my 45 minute train ride): coffee and clif bar or piece of fruit
~10am: oatmeal or bagel with hummus, more coffee
Lunch: noon (usually a vegetable, some type of whole grain, beans)
3ish: snack (usually fruit and nuts)
6ish: dinner (I’m always starving when I get home)
On most days I try to stop eating by 8pm
Side note: I’ve been reading your blog for a while and this is the first time I’ve posted a reply. Very exciting!
Lauren Christine. — October 29, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
ha, i’m lucky if i can make it to 3:00 without a snack! i think my metabolism is its fastest in the afternoon, my blood sugar drops, or i just don’t eat enough for lunch! i typically eat about 450 cals for breakfast, which will last me until lunch, but it seems that no matter what/how much i have for lunch i’m ready for a snack around 3:00. i like the idea of breaking up your lunch in to two–sometimes if i go out for lunch i’ll wrap up half of what i get for my mid-afternoon meal. but even with a snack, when 5:00 hits my tummy is grumbling again! sometimes i can’t even wait till my boyfriend gets home from work to eat dinner. maybe its time for me to do some experimenting too!
Carolyn — October 29, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
Sometimes I need both a morning and afternoon snack. It depends on what I ate for breakfast and how long I have to wait to eat lunch. P.S. I am giving away two breast cancer awareness prize packs on my blog: http://lovinlosing.com/.
Maria — October 29, 2009 @ 5:49 pm
I eat small meals throughout the day to keep my metabolism up and to keep me going.
Diana — October 29, 2009 @ 6:55 pm
I do it like this:
A nice breakfast (not too big though, we just don’t do huge breakfasts in Portugal, I’m not used to it)
A snack (3.5/4 hours after breakfast – it’s usually just fruit)
Lunch
Afternoon snack (usually at 5pm)
Afternoon snack number 2 (a piece of fruit, usually at 7/7:30pm)
Dinner (usually at 20/20.30)
And that’s it. It’s not always like this but I try to do it this way.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is — October 29, 2009 @ 6:55 pm
I love eating small meals. I have a ‘lunch’ at 11 and another at 2. It makes me feel great!
Trish (GirlatGym) — October 29, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
I’ve found that 3 meals plus one snack works best for me. I have something every 4 hours.
I’ve tried other ways (several small meals, less big meals) but this is what keeps me happy and works with my schedule.
Breakfast is at 10AM (I work at home so don’t have to be up super early. I eat this at my desk)
Luch at about 2PM
Snack at 6PM
Dinner at almost 10PM (I work a second job and don’t get home till after 9)
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries — October 29, 2009 @ 7:04 pm
I think I have 3 pretty standards meals and 2 snacks–usually one after breakfast and one after lunch… My hunger is sort of like clockwork; I always get hungry at the same times!
Sues — October 29, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
Ahh that Harney & Sons Cinnamon Spice tea is my absolute favorite!! Can I ask where you got it?? I just got some at William Sonoma but it was the kind in the pretty tea sachets and I just want the cheap kind . Discovered it at Au Bon Pain years ago and fell in love!!
Erin — October 29, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
Your new schedule sounds really well planned. Eating two lunches also sounds very psychologically satisfying
My schedule this year doesn’t leave me much time to eat, so my pattern has changed a lot. I just try to drink juice and eat whatever I can during the day. Then I oink out at night.
Tina — October 29, 2009 @ 7:14 pm
@Sues: Cardullo’s in Harvard Square sells it!
Jess — October 29, 2009 @ 7:35 pm
ooh, I think I had that same tea last week! I loved it!
I eat pretty much all day, but i’ve been noticing that if I don’t eat first thing after I wake up, I tend to wait a LONG time (like 4-5 hours) and then can’t stop eating!
Abby (Abby's VeGaN Eats) — October 29, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
I breakfast so early (6:00) b4 work that I def need a small snack of fruit or nuts or something at like 9:30/10. A decent sized lunch is at 12 then after school (teaching is fab bc Im home by 330) I have another snack. Usually eat din din at like 530 then have a bedtime snack at like 8.. I totally sound like a 3 year old!
Marisa (Trim The Fat) — October 29, 2009 @ 7:54 pm
I find I have to change it up a lot. I’ve been trying to go with what my body is wanting at the time. For some stretches of time, it’s a bigger breakfast, lunch, no snack, and dinner then, sometimes, I find I need to change it up to have small breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and dinner. My body doesn’t seem to get used to one particular way of doing it!
Jenna — October 29, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
i hope the new technique of eating works for you! i love how you stress how everyone is different!
jenna
Katie — October 29, 2009 @ 8:16 pm
I’m the same way, but with my morning snack. I am absolutely famished at 9:30am, no matter what my breakfast was. If I don’t snack then, I feel like falling over. Excited to see how your new plan works – I wish I could eat two mini lunches (one at 9:30) at work – but my schedule just wouldn’t allow for it.
ashleigh — October 29, 2009 @ 8:19 pm
i eat a lot like you used to… 3 meals a day with a mid afternoon snack and usually a small treat for dessert. i bet the mini meals will be fun!
laura — October 29, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
i usually eat a big breakfast then snack on fruit, lunch is usually random, then snack on more fruit. I try to eat one big salad a day and lots of fruit!
Leah — October 29, 2009 @ 8:36 pm
I graze all day, by having my largest meal at the start of the day and tapering off (sort of):
Breakfast (8:30 AM): 400-500 calories, Lunch (12:30 PM): 300-400 calories, Snack (3:30 – 4 PM): 100-200 calories, Dinner (8:30 PM): 300-400 calories. This varies a great deal depending on if I work out during lunch, or if I have class at night. I usually just plan out my meals for the day and eat all or part of a meal as I get hungry – sometimes I eat half of my breakfast in the AM and half of it right before noon and wait until 2 to eat my lunch, for example.
Jenna @ RunEatRide — October 29, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
I’m a 3 meal, 2 snack a day kind of girl. I have no idea what the calorie division of them is but I always include a carb,dairy or protein & a fruit for brekkie, lunch is protein,veggie,fruit sometimes carb, a carb/fruit snack, supper same as lunch & then a snack of whatever i want
I do what works for my schedule, which varies daily. It all depends on the person 
Lizzy — October 29, 2009 @ 8:58 pm
i’m a breakfast, lunch and dinner with a snack at night! thats how i was raised too. But sometimes when i have the chance to eat at home, snacking is a little more open for discussion since i’m around!
Stepfanie — October 29, 2009 @ 8:59 pm
Tina,
I see you’re also a fan of the Hot Cinnamon Spice by Harney. I absolutely LOVE that tea, along with the Hot Cinnamon Sunset. I know you’re a big fan of coffee, but that other teas do you recommend?
Caitlin — October 29, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
that is one of my favorite holiday teas..I always get it at Gloria Jeans!
Katy @ These Beautiful Feet — October 29, 2009 @ 9:12 pm
Great office mug!
I need to learn to break up my meals more. I get home from work by 4 and I am starving! Looking forward to seeing if this plan works best for you!
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) — October 29, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
I am the same- I have three meals every day, plus fruit as snacks throughout.. I am always amazed at people who are able to eat just one people each day.
coco — October 29, 2009 @ 9:50 pm
I’m a 3 big meals type of person because I don’t have a sweet teeth so I enjoy more a savory meal than sweet snacks!
But as you say, we learn what works best for us with time! 
Kel — October 29, 2009 @ 10:02 pm
I eat 6-8 mini meals through out the day. Breakfast is my highest calorie meal at around 400-450 (depending on how much peanut/almond/sunflower butter ends up in my oatmeal!) My lunch and dinner are around 300 calories each, and then I enjoy snacks around 150-200 calories (depending on whether I worked out that day or not). It takes planning to pack it all, but I do it!
Where are you able to find that pineapple Chobhani! It looks great!
Sarah — October 29, 2009 @ 10:19 pm
I think it is awesome that you are changing things up to accomodate your new schedule and to eat awesome foods at home. Most of the time, I have three meals a day plus snacks between breakfast-lunch and lunch-dinner. But if a meal I have is larger or more filling, I won’t need a snack between that and my next meal. It really depends on the food
Tammy — October 29, 2009 @ 10:31 pm
Yay!! Did I really win?? I never win anything! Awesome — thanks!
Britt — October 29, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
3 meals with 1-3 snacks depending on the day and the size of the meal. Also depends on how much tea I drink, that definitely helps keep me full.
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) — October 29, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
I saw that “Carrots N’ Cake” received a shout-out on in the latest issue of Health Magazine under “Inspiring Weight Loss Blogs.” Congrats!
As for what I usually eat, 3 meals+2 small snacks+ dessert. I’m very active and need to eat constantly to stay satisfied and keep my energy levels up. Spacing my eating out over the course of the day has been the best way for me to prevent mindless gorging in my pantry.
Tasha — October 29, 2009 @ 10:35 pm
I’m a three-squares too, and I’ve met quite a few people who think I’m nuts for it. I find that mini meals make me graze all day or want to skip a mini meal because I’m not hungry yet. My job also plays a part in mini meals not working. However, they work for many other people, so I wish you luck and hope this is a solution for you!
BroccoliHut — October 29, 2009 @ 11:10 pm
Although I experimented with mini meals for a while (6 per day), I found it to be quite inconvenient for my lifestyle–always having to pack something to go anywhere got annoying. I really like my current schedule: 3 meals, 1 small pre-workout snack, another mid size snack during the day, and an evening smoothie.
Mimi (Damn the Freshman 15) — October 29, 2009 @ 11:57 pm
I used to religiously stick to 5 meals a day. It helped me lose weight…but that’s not my goal anymore, and I do not think it’s metabolically superior. So nowadays I have 3 squares, one afternoon snack (usually), and a midnight munchie.
Rachael (La Dolce Vita) — October 30, 2009 @ 12:13 am
I used to snack all day long but now that I’m a mum I eat like this (because it’s all I have time for!):
-a hearty breakfast (oats pretty much every day)
-a light lunch
-a medium sized dinner
-dessert with a cup of tea after Baby Girl goes to bed
Like clockwork, everyday!
*Andrea* — October 30, 2009 @ 12:21 am
i prefer 3 square meals with 1 snack = either in the afternoon or a big dessert
unless im running a hugeee distance than i need calories before a run
Jacqueline — October 30, 2009 @ 12:47 am
I don’t count calories but I do prefer 4-5 small meals/snacks a day instead of 3 larger ones. I find if I eat a large meal, I seem to have digestive issues.
Since I started running 3ish miles 3-4 times a week, I figured I’d be hungrier, but to my surprise I’m not. Does anyone else experience this? Thanks!
Emily Eats and Exercises — October 30, 2009 @ 7:37 am
I have tried the mini-meals approach, but it definitely does NOT work for me – even if I have technically consumed the same number of calories, I still want to sit down for a big meal. I usually have a good size breakfast pretty big lunch (ocassionally a small 100 calorie-ish) snack at 5:30ish and then a small late dinner.
I can’t snack at work (teaching violin lessons) and I don’t feel very snack-y in the morning when I could snack.
Melissa — October 30, 2009 @ 8:10 am
I’m a mini-meals girl. When I get hungry, I get a headache, so I find that keeping things small and steady works for me.
I love your new office mug and I can’t believe you got it at the Dollar Store!
christie @ honoring health — October 30, 2009 @ 8:14 am
I eat when I am hungry and don’t count calories. I eat what I am hungry for, though that can be hard with packing sometimes. Sometimes, this parlays into mini meals and sometimes I eat three square meals and that’s it. I just honor my hunger.
Whitney — October 30, 2009 @ 9:09 am
Oh eating. I HATE packing lunches and eating away from home. I always eat breakfast at my place and because I am a college student most of the time I am home for lunch as well as dinner. I usually eat lunch when I’m feeling hungry not really a specific time and dinner is the same. On day’s I am on campus until 330 or 4 I bring snacks to eat throughout the day and then when I get home I will have another snack to hold me off until dinner. There is something about sitting down at home to relax and your food that makes it so much better.
Lara — October 30, 2009 @ 9:17 am
3:30 is my “witching hour” as well for hunger. I typically eat 3 main meals with 1 afternoon snack in between lunch and dinner since I workout after work. I eat the bulk of my calories during the day, prior to dinner and have a lighter dinner.
Tina — October 30, 2009 @ 9:37 am
Ugh, I need to find the pineapple Chobani!
The way I eat always changes. During the summer, I’m good with 3 meals and usually some dessert. I don’t really get hungry between. During the school year though, I NEED a snack. Especially now that I’m on a huge campus and walking, I think that just revs up my metabolism. Now I eat 3 meals and probably 2 snacks..and some little dessert
But then on the weekends again, I don’t snack. It’s kind of odd!
FoodCents — October 30, 2009 @ 10:25 am
I usually eat three meals a day. I find that my meals seem to hold me better when put more of a emphasis on veggies and lean protein , rather then lots of carbs (both whole grain and fruit). They seem to hold me longer and keep my energy level more stabalized.
I think eating two mini-meals in the afternoon is a fine idea, as long as they are indeed mini meals.
Kristen — October 30, 2009 @ 11:20 am
I have the same problem with the 3 o’clock hunger. My coworkers and I made up a snack drawer at work filled with healthy snacks like nuts and dried fruit. It makes it much easier to make healthy choices that way.