Why are what I eats in a day so few calories, is everyone eating like that?

[oldiching]

I was watching some what I eat in a day videos just to see what people eat. It is difficult as people who post these are usually very slim or trying to lose weight or focused on muscle gains.

It looks like a ton of what people eat in these videos is lots of protein shakes, protein bars, chicken, rice, eggs, broccoli or spinach. Nothing wrong with any of that but the calories seem low to me and

I feel like I eat a huge amount in comparison to these videos so breakfast is things like porridge and banana, fruit and yogurt, fruit smoothie, eggs, toast with avocado or humous or tomato or banana.

Lunch is leftovers from dinner, soup and bread with butter, pitta with humous, salad, avocado and falafel, Cheese salad sandwich, baked potato (white or sweet) with homemade slaw and salad, or home made chilli or beans.

Dinner is stuff like: Veggie Risottos, Pasta dishes with a bit of garlic bread, Curries, Noodles, Bean stews, Veggie Chickpea Shawarmas, quiche with potatoes and vegetables, salads with feta or halloumi, all of it home made, well I don't make the cheese!

Snacks are thinks like oatcakes and cheese, olives, nuts, fruit, malt loaf, apple and almond butter, a bit of chocolate or some homemade cakes or a shop bought biccy. I don't eat all of this everyday but I will have a few snacks each day for sure.

I drink tons of tea herbal but also tea with milk and 1 sugar and I drink at least 2 litres of water a day.

Extra at the weekend I'll have a scoop of ice cream with fruit and I'll have some crisps or salted pistachios and a San Pellegrino drink (full sugar) while I relax, I don't drink alcohol and I don't eat meat.

I am 40 and eat on average 1800 - 2000 calories a day sometimes more but rarely less. I walk about 8000 steps a day and I do exercise cardio, yoga and some strength training.

I include the detail on my food to give you an idea of the kind of volume and things I eat i.e. plenty of carbs and no meat.

Is this pretty normal outside of social media land or am I eating loads compared to other people?

I've seen a few "What I eat in a day as a fat girl who isn't trying to lose weight" they get loads of hate and if they do eat something healthy comments they are lying. You can see why only very confident people would do them.

Social Media isn't real. Just keep repeating that every time you're on it. You are just there to make someone money. Your clicks / views / interaction is their income.

@Haveanaiceday yeah I saw some of them as well and they seemed to eat a more mixed diet which I guess is pretty normal. I guess I was hoping for some just normal ones like people who eat a balanced diet of any kind at the recommended calorie range. But perhaps that is just a bit boring i.e. not aspirational or inspiring the morbid curiosity of mukbangs.

I don’t really understand what the issue is? You are happy with what you eat and happy with your weight. Try not to compare yourself to others, maybe give up social media if you think it’s affecting you?

Others may eat more or less, but it doesn’t affect you so there is no point in judging them.

@Blisterly I was looking for some food inspiration of normal everyday food real people eat. So for example a lot of recipe's in books are quite high fat and salt for example lots of things by Jamie Oliver are not things you could eat every day as they are high is saturated fats. But lots of what I eats in a day are a combination of meat replacements and low calorie, often low veggie meals.

I just hoped to see some actual normal meals (home cooked) that would give me a bit of inspiration for some different lunches and dinners.

There's probably not as much market for what I eat in a day posts that list loads of pizza chips and fizzy drinks because everyone would think so what?
Ot even, just a large amount of average healthy food.

My daily food is probably like you've seen online but I'm most definitely not an influencer and don't even have Instagram!

Breakfast - Nothing
Lunch - tuna, salmon, cottage cheese, tomatoes, grapes, protein yoghurt
Dinner - chicken, rice, broccoli / beef, potatoes, veg / fish curry
Snacks - protein shake, nuts

Comes in at around 1500 a day which leaves me some extra calories for a few drinks at the weekend.

Just google 'home cooked meal inspiration'. You don't need to use social media.

I work out an hour a day usually. And get approx 12,000-18,000 steps daily.
Example day
Breakfast - porridge and fruit
Lunch - bagels x2, with ham or banana and butter.
Snack - protein yogurt
Tea - spuds, veg and meat/pie
Or pesto pasta/veg, chicken curry/rice.

Treat - crunchie or maltesers.

I know not the healthiest but i maintain so happy with that.

@mummyof2boys30 Thanks that is interesting, I don't really eat bagels so I could try them and I kind of forgot about pies, perhaps its not too summery but I'll look into a veggie pie for the autumn!

I only really like dark chocolate so I did like the dark Maltesers, I haven't seen them for ages though.

It's probably because you're an actual person with a regular life and diet, not an influencer, OP.

If their nutritional needs are met on a good nutrient dense diet then they won't feel hungry. Low protein makes you hungry.

@S0livagant perhaps but they are barely eating more than a handful of veg a day and a very limited range spinach, blueberries, sweet potato's and broccoli in small portions day in day out. The current advice is to eat 30 different veg or fruits a a week and ideally 10 different veg / fruit a day.

I have no issue what they chose to do but for me I want to eat a lot of different veggies and some fruit each day, that is what really satisfies me.

You do you. Your diet is good and if you can stay at a healthy weight eating it, what is the issue?

I am 52 and somewhere in menopause. Having been someone that could eat exactly what I wanted all my adult life, and stay at 120 pounds at 5'7.5, I now have to restrict my calories to about 1000 a day. And I am now heavier - 130 pounds but really active. I have to eat low carb/high protein otherwise I pork out so easily.

If they are fitness influencers they probably eat so much protein to maintain/build muscle mass. If you are in a calorie deficit that doesn’t leave many calories to spend on fruit and veg.

I agree, I would pile weight on at 1800 calories per day, or have to really up my workout.

My TDEE is a crazy 1900 cals per day. I'd be fat in no time if I ate that much. I need to be almost 1000 calories under!

Honestly, my diet is pretty poor. I am overweight although did try to have a good diet throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. DS is now 13 months and only having a couple of feeds a day and I've really slipped back into old habits tbh.

Yesterday I had a toasted cheese and ham croissant for like a brunch. Then I was at a music festival for the evening and I had a mozzarella, pesto and pepper toastie. And then when I got home late I had like a potato, cheese and sage bun thing. Basically carbs all day!

Today I've had 2 crumpets and butter for breakfast and then for tea I've had toad in the hole, new potatoes, green beans and corn on the cob.

I need to start eating 3 normal sized meals a day, up the veg and protein and reduce the carbs

There's are loads of influences that post very calorie dense what I eat in a days, and plenty that post relatively normal

But yes fitness influences who's job it is to post their idyllic healthy lifestyle tend to post low calories very healthy WIEIADs. I don't think its necessarily lying but they will definitely pick their healthiest days