How many times do you eat per day? The answer may seem simple, but when you think about it, everyone's eating habits are very different. It is very likely that your household's eating habits are also different depending on individual preferences and appetites.
In which category do you belong?
- I eat 3 times a day: breakfast, lunch and supper (no snacks);
- I eat 3 times a day: snack, lunch and supper (no breakfast);
- I eat 4 times a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack;
- I eat 6 times a day: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, supper and snack;
- I eat all the time!
Is there a good answer in terms of weight gain/loss or energy level?
It would seem not. In fact, the golden rule is not the number of times you eat per day, but the number of calories you ingest and the quality of the food you put in your mouth.
I heard that eating smaller portions more often makes you lose weight?
It is true that eating smaller portions several times a day increases the metabolic rate caused by the digestion of meals. On the other hand, the golden rule still prevails in this case since the metabolic rate related to digestion will be different depending on the size of your meals. Of the studies have therefore made it possible to prove that consuming several small meals a day does not lead to weight loss.
I heard that skipping breakfast makes you lose/gain weight?
Here, we embark on a very controversial topic and the scientists have not yet managed to agree.
Our advice: do not rely on this tactic to gain and/or lose weight. Listen to your body, eat lunch when you feel the need, and put down your fork when you're satisfied.
I heard that it is essential to eat something before training and / or immediately after training?
Once again, the answer is not simple and Isabelle Morin, sports nutritionist, takes stock in this podcast.
The important thing is to have enough energy to complete your training/race, but some foods are better than others. In addition, excess will have the opposite effect: no one enjoys training while struggling with bloating...
For post-workout nutrition, we aim to fill the energy expenditure caused by training. Again, it depends on your goals. High-level athletes all know that they must respect a window of + or - 30 minutes after the end of their training to eat foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins in order to be able to recover well and face. the next workout.
Eating after a workout is definitely recommended for the same reasons as explained above, but again, we recommend that you primarily listen to your body and its hunger cues.
En conclusion
There is no magic data on how many times one should eat per day. Each individual is different and has different needs as well. Indeed, a person who does physical work will probably tend to eat more often than a person who does office work. At the risk of repeating ourselves, the important thing is to eat when the need arises and to listen to our signs of hunger or satiety. Moreover, to learn more about intuitive eating, it is here.
Cheers!
