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
The arrival of humanely raised veal
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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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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