Snacks - is this normal or obsessive

[thedendrochronologist]

I have a difficult relationship with food and over eating and I am trying to lose weight.

I appreciate this is a weird question.

Would you take a snack and a drink if you were going on a longish overnight trip. Away from home for 24 plus hours. Dinner breakfast and lunch provided? Or would you just get something if needed?

I'm going away for work tomorrow. I leave at 4pm on the train and have arranged to see a friend for dinner at 7.30pm.

Next day is hotel breakfast and lunch at the course and then trip home. Can either get something for the train or wait til I get home at 7.30.

FWIW I'm first class on the train so should be a complimentary snack service but it's not guaranteed.

I would normal take a drink and a small snack, maybe just even an apple!

I would. Because I have to do long train journeys several times a year and on average, about 50% of those have a delay of between 2-4 hours with no trolley service due to overcrowding/understaffing/trolley not feeling it today.

I have been stuck, so thirsty and hungry too many times. I always bring water, a big Pret coffee and a few snacks with me. If you are worried about overeating - take very healthy snacks you don't like that much, so you are not craving them, but if you do have to eat them, they are good for you.

I would have one or two unperishable things in my bag but would probably buy a tea & cake or biscuit/chocolate for the journey. Each leg of it.

I'd probably buy some crisps incase I was hungry once back in the hotel too. Emergency crisps.

If I am driving anywhere I always pack a car picnic.

You never know how you could get held up so its always worth having back up supplies.

The snack judgers on this thread are frankly hilarious. Maybe you’d all be more fun if you had a bag of crisps and a can of Coke.

Ps I’d take an emergency apple and would be open to the possibility of a little M&S trip.

I would. More in case I got hungry or thirsty in the night and didn't have anything in the room. I normally grab some drinks, nuts, crisps for the train journey just in case but don't touch them and have them left over for the over night stay.
Better to have and not need then need and not have

I hate competitive undereaters (looking at you DH), but I genuinely don’t understand the culture of snacking. Why would you need to bring something to eat when you are not missing a meal, if you were I completely understand. Obviously lots of people agree that snacking is a normal thing though so I’m clearly one of the strange ones.

As well as taking my sensible steps regarding snack provisions for the journey and overnight stay, I would also not hesitate to purchase a Burger King or Cornish pastry and a large coffee before getting on the train

I'd probably take a banana and a museli bar- because I get bored and hungry and feel at least that's an ok(ish) snack if I do.

I snack because I can't be bothered to make proper meals for myself sometimes. If all those meals are sorted, then no, I wouldn't need any snacks.

when travelling I do t think it’s a “snack” really. It’s being prepared for having to miss a meal - or a meal not being substantial enough.

Ive Had plenty of work do’s where dinner consists of a teeny tiny meal and then lots of booze after, so by 11pm you’re ravenous. Or you get stuck on a train for hours with nowt to eat and end up feeling sick,

You state you’re overeating and trying to lose weight.

So it seems odd to me you’ve taken against those who have advised against snacking when you’ve asked for advice.

Snack away, but you can’t expect to lose weight if you’re overeating.

Unless you were just looking for validation?
In which case, yes, eating additional junk food and drinks alongside your regular meals will see you drop the pounds in days.

Snacks aren’t always junk food. A stick of celery is a snack, as is a Mars bar. Snacking also doesn’t automatically mean you’re overeating, if you’re within your normal calorie intake, be that in a deficit or not.

I would chuck a cereal bar and some water in my bag. Plus wouldn’t rely on a conference lunch being substantial, sometimes it’s a few wrinkly sandwiches served at midday, and you might not be able to eat much if you’re busy chatting.

I'd be taking a couple of snacks. As somebody on a diet who prefers to graze rather then have big meals I'd rather know I had healthy options available (Also vegan so it saves faffing about working out what to eat!).

A drink 100% especially as the weather is super hot right now

A snack i always find a good idea incase of things like , a delay / Breakdown

But it doesnt have to be something unhealthy, it could be a banana, a Alpen bar, things like that

I would definitely take a refillable water bottle. I would probably take a snack just in case of delays - something that can go back in the cupboard if uneaten. But I'm another who will also have tissues, plasters, painkillers etc.

I never go anywhere without snacks

If staying overnight I have at least three things: dried fruit, probably hard boiled eggs/cottage cheese and some fruit probably

Same, always one for an emergency plus my refillable water bottle.

I would if you are trying to lose weight.
If you get too hungry you might end up binge eating crap. Better to be prepared with some low calories high protein snacks so that you don't end up getting too hungry.

Classic MN - People love to assert things as facts that they can’t possibly know are true or not. I hope you gave a good trip. I really would try and cut the Coke Zero habit though. I used to drink loads of it when I was younger (and had a very unhealthy relationship with food) but I never touch the stuff now (I’m also slimmer than I was then snd more importantly much healthier).

I'd put money on the 'competitive under eaters' and non snackers on this thread being the ones who are a healthy weight.

I snack too much but would definitely take a snack in this instance as I wouldn't want to pay the overpriced cost of buying something on the train or in the station.

I take snacks wherever I go. I’m always hungry.

I’m not overweight either btw. As others have said snacks don’t have to be unhealthy, and it’s far better to take snacks of your choice than end up having to buy something expensive and potentially less healthy. If you take an apple from home it’s about 20p. You buy one when out it’s about £1. Plain crackers or rice/oat cakes are an easy snack to carry around everywhere.

I always have a few nuts in my bag, only because I occasionally go a bit dizzy if I don't eat for a long time

I was thinking the other way round myself.

Lots of people snack a lot and don’t have any weight issues or issues with food. Being so strict makes me
think they’re trying to loose weight.