Breakfast: eating healthy

[007traveler]

This may be a dumb question, but is eating at noon or 1pm considered "breakfast" if you don't get up until 11 or noon?

Now don't start calling me stupid quite yet, but what about people who work until 2 or 3 in the morning? Do we fool our body into thinking it is breakfast and then continue on with our lunch and dinner at later hours in the day or does our body realize the actual time, especially if the times we eat our first meal at noon or later is only 1 or 2 days a week?

I try and eat 3 healthy meals a day. A smaller breakfast on days I'm up at 9am or 10, a good sized lunch, and then dinner. But on days that I wake up later in the afternoon, I usually just combine my breakfast and lunch together and just eat a bigger portion, and then dinner.

Is this good for me or ok to do? With school and work my schedule gets thrown around so its not constant. Everyone says breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and i get that, its where you get a lot of your energy and nutrients from, but what is your take on this? Am I doing the right eating method or should I start eating differently?

 

[gingentleman]

As a diabetic, I have learned that it is best to eat several small meals throughout the day. This is straight from my nutritionist. It is as important for non diabetics, especially having breakfast and providing fuel for the day. By eating 4-5 small meals throughout the day, blood sugar levels are maintained and metabolic function is optimal...you will burn calories all day long. If you eat larger, fewer meals, you force your body to produce more insulin than is optimal and it overtaxes other organs as well, to say nothing of the peak and valley problems with blood sugar levels. You tend to crash after eating a large heavy meal and want to sleep, right? Eating meal replacement bars as a couple of the small meals is perfectly acceptable, likewise protein smoothies. Just remember to eat a balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat. Also, remember to drink lots of water!

 

[Corny]

I usually eat something about an hour after I got up. Then ~4 hours later, and again ~4 hours later. Sometimes a fruit or a yogurt in between. At something light about 3 hours before bedtime.

 

[GBirdie]

Hmm.... I'm not really a professional nutritionist or anything, but IF you work late shifts All the time, like say, sleeping at 2, and waking at 11, to eat your so-called 'breakfast' at 12, then you should have your 'lunch at around 4pm, and 'dinner' at 9pm..... or something like that.

Since if you're used to that kind of lifestyle every single day, your body clock would automatically change. But what I suggested just applies to an everyday routine.


If your schedules aren't fixed, like you sleep and wake at different times each day, I suggest doing something like this:

Breakfast right after waking up,
After 3 hours, take your second meal,
Split each meal by approximately 3 hours or more.
Your Meals should be in smaller servings though, compared to your "big brunch" kind.....

You should end up with around 5 or 6 meals a day, but if this eating schedule doesn't fit your working time, you can go back to the usual 3 meals a day style, 5 hours between meals instead of 3.....


Btw, are you on a diet, or trying to lose weight or anything specific? or you just wanna know whether it's okay?

 

[007traveler]

Thanks everyone.

GBirdie - Ya my schedule isn't fixed, so that's why I'm a little confused about how I should eat on the late start days. As for if i'm on a diet: I'm not really on a diet, just kind of watching what I eat now. I just want to make sure that my eating habit isn't cramming in too much food, and not burning a good majority of it off for that day. I could always be on a diet, or want to lose a little weight around the stomach area.

Noelie - I haven't gotten into organic yet, but I have cut out most sweets. Rarely eat candy or chocolate. I think my problem is more with me being lazy, and I slip up every now and then.

Thanks again, I'll keep ya'll updated if I find out any other information to help.

 

[GBirdie]

Hmm, if that's the case, I'd suggest you eat small meals every approximately 3 hours. Since you said you're not burning much calories a day.... it'll be better for you to try this method.

Eating more frequently conditions your body to increase its metabolic rate, so you'll breakdown food substances and burn fats a little faster. The drawback to this, however, is that after you're tuned to this schedule, you'll get hungry VERY easily.... and you'll have to find time to eat, haha.

But most importantly, make sure you eat an adequate breakfast. That's the most important meal.

 

[nsguy2]

I have no idea what eating pattern is best for others but to answer the original question, breakfast is just that - break fast.

So, most people - sleep eaters aside - fast while they sleep so breakfast is usually the meal you eat anytime after waking.

I think

 

[Luka]

I agree with nsguy2, when u wake up its time for a healthy breakfast...

my fav.... shredded wheat with frozen blueberries, filling and healthy!!

but when im in a hurry i have a lean pocket breakfast sandwich, 110 calories and with egg and cheese there some protein, it gets me goin