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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand the point of 'snacking'

172 replies

Phillipaaa · 31/05/2017 16:55

I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have never aten between or after meals. The reason for this is because I wasn't brought up with it.

I'm not hungry inbetween meals but then I do have decent sized portions for each meal.

I'd never be someone to sit down after evening meal with a packet of crisps.

Is this really unusual? when I go to my friends houses they seem to be constantly eating.

OP posts:
FakePlasticTeaLeaves · 31/05/2017 18:14

Oh the dailymail.
Must be true.

Wotrewelookinat · 31/05/2017 18:17

Just because you snack doesn't man you're unhealthy or obese. I have quite severe PCOS which affects my insulin levels and blood sugar. I cannot eat large meals, ever. I also can't go to bed on a full stomach.I can't understand how anyone can eat a 3 course meal. But I do snack, midmorning, mid afternoon, we eat at 6 pm and I have a snack about 8.30pm. My husband doesn't get snacking either. Hopefully after reading the replies on this post OP you will generalise less and understand more that people are different.

Giddyaunt18 · 31/05/2017 18:18

No MissBix you stated it as fact when it is your opinion.
As for the Daily Fail, they are merely reporting the work, obvs!

Nancy91 · 31/05/2017 18:19

GiddyAunt is actually correct. The daily mail isn't the best source but still Grin

MissBax · 31/05/2017 18:19

wotrewe - pcos here too! When I started the small regular meals I couldn't believe how much it helped :) makes me laugh when people say "I don't agree". It's a fact!

Birdsbeesandtrees · 31/05/2017 18:20

I snack often. Reason being I get hungry and need I eat small amounts fairly often.

I have a BMI of about 17 so it's probably to do with my metabolism.

Giddyaunt18 · 31/05/2017 18:21

Tim Spector is a professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London and author of The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat.
FYI

Aeroflotgirl · 31/05/2017 18:22

Good for you, we are all different, some people are hungry between meals. I get hungry when I am stressed for some reason.

Birdsbeesandtrees · 31/05/2017 18:22

I also can't eat big meals and never ever have 3 courses. I can occasionally manage 2 !

bigmac4me · 31/05/2017 18:23

I have been told recently by several different medical professionals that is it is MUCH healthier to have 5 or 6 spaced out largish snacks a day, than 2 or 3 larger meals.

WorraLiberty · 31/05/2017 18:25

I think one person's 'big meal' is another person's 'normal portion' though.

I think that's just another part of the obesity jigsaw puzzle really. Even dinner plates tend to be bigger now than they were in the 70s.

tiba · 31/05/2017 18:26

I dont think I would get my 5 a day without snacking on fruit in the bowl throughout the day.

Nancy91 · 31/05/2017 18:27

MisBax it's not a fact, it is outdated and debunked.

When I started intermittent fasting I was barely ever hungry and finally lost the last bit of fat to get my six pack. The eating little and often thing is from the old and incorrect school of thought that said "breakfast kick starts your metabolism" etc. All nonsense.

MissBax · 31/05/2017 18:27

All that article proves is that skipping breakfast is fine. It doesn't state that 5 small meals increase blood sugar more than 3 big meals.

Silencio · 31/05/2017 18:28

Everyone has different habits. So what if people have snacks, they just do.

LorLorr2 · 31/05/2017 18:28

I like eating little & often, it makes me feel better for some reason!

AyUpMiDuck · 31/05/2017 18:29

I bet you cut back when your jeans are tight don't you? No, wait ,that would never happen because you only eat sensible portions at meal-times, never snack and have never let yourself go.

I wasn't brought up on snacks either. No-one was in the sixties. We didn't eat in the street, the car or at our desk. We didn't have 24 hour supermarkets. We didn't have microwaves and proper freezers. We didn't have so much international food and lets not start on the selection of chocolate and sweets....we certainly Never asked our children what they wanted to eat. The choice was Take it or Leave it. But, the way we eat has changed and not necessarily for the better.
I am not proud of the fact that I wander to the kitchen every couple of hours for a little something- a piece of fruit (or worse). I am not proud of the fact that I am carrying a few extra pounds. But I couldn't be friends with someone who doesn't really really enjoy the pure pleasure of eating something delicious even if they have already had their tea. How can you eat at 5.30pm and then have Nothing All Evening? Some of us love to eat, others just see it as a bit of fuel. Functional. Necessary. Not exciting. We are almost different species!
I'm all for food shopping, recipe books, food shows on TV, planning a special dinner, yes, I may be obsessed. I love a Hearty appetite.

It makes me wonder whether you ration sex in the same way 'DH we've done it once, that's it now until tomorrow.

HarrietKettle spot on.

Gooseygoosey12345 · 31/05/2017 18:30

Tbh it's not the healthiest way to eat. Eating 6 smaller meals is better for your metabolism. People who don't really eat enough never understand why they don't lose weight and it's because your body doesn't burn it off efficiently because it's too long between eating

MissBax · 31/05/2017 18:30

Huh? I'm not debating intermittent fasting. I am fully aware of the health benefits.
All I said was that FOR SOME PEOPLE it helps their blood sugar levels and prevents sickness - as said by me and others who have the same issues.

AntagonyAunt · 31/05/2017 18:30

Guess I'm the only one who eats crisps then. Ah well, more for me.

Silencio · 31/05/2017 18:31

PS The Daily Mail reports fake Science. Better read the Lancet

OnlyRose · 31/05/2017 18:34

I would tell you what I think about snacking, but I'm too busy eating cheese before my dinner.

Nancy91 · 31/05/2017 18:37

Fasting is basically the opposite of eating all the time that's why I mentioned it. I just cringed when I saw you spouting nonsense and calling it fact. Snacking raises insulin levels, subsequently your body more readily stores fat, so it's bad for you. I'm not saying I never snack but when I do, I know it's not doing my body any good.

NoMoreAngstPls · 31/05/2017 18:38

Love the complete lack of understanding that people may have quite long days, and not be able to eat at dead on 8, 1 and 5.

I have my breakfast at 6, lunch at whenever I have the chance at work, and dinner at 7.30 (after I have got home from work at 6, delivered DCs to our from hobbies, and had time to cook).

Sometimes I just need an emergency biscuit at 5pm, so shoot me!

WorraLiberty · 31/05/2017 18:38

But I couldn't be friends with someone who doesn't really really enjoy the pure pleasure of eating something delicious even if they have already had their tea.

Seriously? Blimey, I find that strange. There are so many other things you might have in common with that person other than a bit of food that is/isn't eaten after tea.

How can you eat at 5.30pm and then have Nothing All Evening?

Well I'm not the OP but I eat tea at 5.30pm, very rarely snack and I don't go to bed before 1am most nights. However, I've never not been friends with someone because they do things differently...that has just never occurred to me.

It makes me wonder whether you ration sex in the same way 'DH we've done it once, that's it now until tomorrow.

Ridiculous ^^ but very funny Grin Grin

It's just different strokes etc.