Do people really need 3 meals a day?

Question

Most people think that 3 meals a day is what everyone needs. I for one, am only hungry for about 2. I don't starve myself, it's just that I'm not hungry. Does anyone agree with me that sometimes 3 meals is just too many?

Answer 1

You shouldn't wait until you are hungry to eat. The point is to prevent hunger. Three meals is actually two meals less than you should be eating. You should eat about five meals a day. Now, I am not talking about a full plate of spaghetti or something, but small meals every few hours. Doing this will keep your metablic rate up and you won't feel drained or crabby by the end of the day. PS Make it something wholesome and you won't gain weight. Doing this wil also help prevent diabetes when you are older...and make sure you eat breakfast!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Hi. I'm not a nutrition pro, but, actually six meals a day is the advisable. Of course, this can vary from person to person. The key point to answer your question is a new question:how well do you eat? Sometimes it's not in quantity of times you eat, but, more often, and more importantly, in what kind of food you take. What works for most people is eat six light meals a day. You should eat less as the night approaches, and you should have a good break fast. Of course, one can live with three meals a day, but you should try to have milk and derivates, some cereal, a little bit of sweets and various kinds of meat. If you have that and feel more comfortable with three meals a day, that's perfect 'cause, on the whole, you're eating better than a lot of people.
Hope this helps :)

Answer 4

I agree that 3 meals is not always a must. I think it has become more of a habit for most people than actual need. I myself usually eat just 2 meals a day. When I go to work, I eat
breakfast and no lunch. Then I usually eat a good supper early around (5 PM) then a snack before bed. On weekends, no breakfast, but lunch and a late supper usually. I think it just depends on your body and if you are hungry or not. I don't think people should eat if they are not hungry. My daughter says she is hungry all the time, and eats alot of small meals. She is very active though so burns it up. Too sum it up eat when you want to.

Answer 5

3 meals are not too many. Actually eating smaller amounts, but eating more frequently than three times a day is good. It is often easier to keep down a small amount of food, and your digestion will work better if you do this (try eating eight or nine small meals a day, rather than two large ones.

If you wait until you are hungry, your body is already starving and may eat more. Actually, our body takes about 10 mins after the meal to realise whether we are more hungry or not. But when we are starving we just continue to eat until we are full. In that way we eat more than our requirement.

And last, but not least - make sure you finish off your last meals at least two hours before going to bed.

Answer 6

I believe that you should eat when you are hungary, no more or less. This is different for everyone so there is no set answer to your question. If two meals satifies you and you are not sufferiing any of the effects of malnutrition that should be fine for you, although it may not be fine for someone else. Please be sure to ask this question to your doctor the next time you get a general check-up. He will take this in to account when evaluating your condition, taking into account things like your age, excercise level, height and weight etc. He may suggest that you change your diet if he finds that you do not have the proper bone mass, muscle tone, etc. He should also check your blood to see if you are anemic, etc. There are many people who do not go to a doctor unless and until they feel ill. This is a big mistake. Everyone should see a doctor at least once a year for a general check-up so he can advise you and perhaps ward off trouble BEFORE it begins. Most time, it not how much people eat, but what they eat and when. Everyone knows that eating too many sugary things and eating anything within an hour before going to bed is bad for you. I see people who eat otherwise healthy diets and then put four teaspoons of sugar in their coffee!...Also, some people appetite is suppressed by smoking. Just plain old dumb! Smoking is much worse for you on so many levels than being a little overweight. Don't smoke, eat smart, get ample sleep, excercise and have lots of good sex.

Answer 7

I think it depends on your metabolism, age, size, and the amount of exercise you get. Children need at least 3 healthy meals and maybe a snack. Adults could get by on 2 big meals. But it's actually healthier to get 6 small meals a day. You don't eat as much and your metabolism speeds up helping you lose weight or keep weight off. And you don't get hungry. People tend to overeat at a meal when they are hungry because it takes half an hour for your stomach to feel full. By the time you reconize that your full you've eaten more than what you need.

Answer 8

You should never skip meals because doing that it slows down your metabolism causing weight gain. Now the best way I think is if you don't like to eat alot or your not hungry alot. Instead of having a great big breakfast eat some fruit in the morning because it's loaded with good calories. Then for lunch eat like soup or a salad and Then for dinner eat something filling and you have your three meals. But never skip a meal and never snack plus when you eat don't eat until your full just eat enough and when you feel like you are starting to get full stop eating that can help you too.

Answer 9

Short answer to your question is no, but the issue is more complex than simply needing a smaller amount of food per day implied in your feeling like you only need 2. It may not be that 3 is too many as much as they come "at the wrong time". Western society is built around 3 meals a day, breakfast, lunch and supper, which represent, respectively, the beginning of the workday, the middle of the workday and the end of the workday. There are at least 3 things wrong with this orientation. 1) It is actually better for your digestive system and your energy levels to "graze" - eat a little bit at several smaller meals over the course of the whole day. 2) Your typical breakfast (when you're gearing up to start your workday) is something small and light like cereal and toast or eggs and bacon or something similar, while your typical supper (at the end of the workday when you're shutting down and relaxing) is meat and potatoes and veggies and dessert or something similar. All of this is precisely backwards. There is an old adage that says you should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and supper like a pauper. 3) Consuming all your food groups at one sitting in one big "glom" is not actually sensible from a biochemical/biophysical standpoint. Your body uses different enzyymes to breakdown proteins than it uses for carbohydrates and it uses and stores them differently. Ideally, the two should be eaten separately, about a half-hour apart.

Answer 10

I eat usually one meal a day maybe a snack a bit before bed. I saved eating big for special occasions when I could splurge and have goodies. I just don't make that a habit. Multiple smaller meals are highly acclaimed as better for digestion,bowels,mind. You should make sure you are getting fluids,fresh fruits and veggies and a well balanced diet. Check with a dietitian they have great information, more reliable than here. I am trying to change to the several small meals route, one meal is not enough my body is just used to that poor pattern. There are exceptions to the rule as always, So no I don't think its too many, maybe too much food at one meal. Maybe spread over 4-6 meals. Really depends on age too. See a specialist in this area.

Answer 11

Well, there is also the age-old saying that "you should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper." This means that all 3 meals don't have to be big, belly-loading ones.

Eating only when you are hungry is the best way to truly listen to your body. Still, I would suggest something for the 3rd meal, even if it's only a snack.

Plus, since you are only eating two meals, make sure those meals have all the proper dietary components like fruits and vegetables, protein, etc. You amy also want to consider a vitamin and/or mineral supplement.

Ask about this next time you see your doctor just to be on the safe side.