To ask what you eat?

[Sunshinegirls]

For those of you that maintain a healthy weight, what does a typical day/week of eating look like for you?

Snacking and portion control are the things I think. I was at an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet the other day, paid £14 and probably ate about £5

I have never been overweight, in my 30s now. Typical day would be porridge with lots of toppings (some fruit, seeds, nuts) then lunch something like a sandwich and small soup if I am working or a bagel and peanut butter with some cut up veggies. Dinner would be whatever we have as a family, so bean curry, chicken and veggie wraps, pasta or maybe a veggie noodle dish.
I try not to snack but if I did would prob be fruit or cut of veggies. I don't eat after dinner often and drink water, tea and coffee throughout the day.
I am tall, nearly 5'10 so still eat quite a lot but mostly healthy and veggie based. I do have an occasional blow out but maybe once every 2-3 weeks. I rarely drink x

Breakfast (08:00): Coffee with ss milk and sweetener (if no weight training). Porridge with ss milk and peanut butter (if weight training).

Mid morning: Coffee with ss milk and sweetener.

Typical lunches (12:30):
3 rye Ryvitas topped with cottage cheese, tomatoes and red peppers, carrot sticks on side.
Itsu veggie noodle cup thingy.
"Healthy" ready meal tub thing from Sainsbury's that has SUPERGRAINS and bollocks like that. Good protein content.
-plus-
Some kind of fruit for after.

Mid afternoon:
Greek yogurt and whey protein
-or-
Half a protein bar
-plus-
Banana (if running).

Typical dinner (usually 20:30):
Global variations on beans/peppers/onions/mushrooms/etc in some kind of tomato-based sauce with brown rice/quinoa/wholewheat pasta. If I can feasibly work an egg into it, great, If not, a small portion of cheese (whatever fits the style).

Late snack:
Rare, but maybe a small bag of lentil crisps.

Things I don't eat:
Much, if any, bread. Potatoes in pure form (although I may cook potatoes into things). White rice/pasta/cous cous i.e. any carb source that doesn't maximise protein content. Cream-based sauces.

Sometimes if I feel like it I have about 6 crisps

You actually open a bag of crisps and count out 6? Really?

I'm 5ft6 and try to stay around 8.5 to 9 stone. I get hungry every 3 hours, and "hangry" if I don't eat something!

7am: pint of water (apparently it's good first thing on an empty stomach to flush out toxins)
On commute to work, might have small banana/handful nuts
8.30/9: porridge (2 scoops) with l/f milk
11am: fruit (apple or pear)
12.30pm: large salad with chicken, lots of veg, lower fat cheese like feta or cottage
5pm: before leaving the office, 2 ryvita & cottage cheese or l/f hummus
8pm: dinner- whatever the DH is making, but a much smaller portion (chicken/fish/ meat), will replace some of the carbs with extra veg, and will always have brown version (pasta/rice etc)

Nothing else in the evenings. I don't keep any sweets/treats in the house. I drink about 2 litres of water a day.

I don't deny myself meals out with friends ever, but would try to choose the healthiest option, and don't really eat desserts. I drink a fair bit, but generally a spirit with sparkling water. I try not to eat bread at all as it bloats me a lot.

I try to have as close to the above at weekends, but it doesn't always work out.

I walk 10,000 steps a day (which is really just commuting to work, so don't really have a choice). I try to go to the gym when I can.

Wow, reading back on that it really sounds like a lot of hard work, but it's all about habit, and to be honest I hate how I feel when I put on weight (I used to be 3 stone heavier about 10 years ago), so it's worth it to feel good, and it doesn't stop me going out and enjoying myself so it's not that restrictive.

Breakfast: Toast
Brunch (an hour or so after breakfast): Smoothie (banana, blueberries, spinach and 15-20g protein powder)
Or
2-3 pieces of Fruit +/or Granola
Lunch: Crackers + smoked salmon + DF cheese or chicken and salad wrap. or a homemade soup. + usually some crisps
Afternoon / evening snacks: Toast, pancakes, sweets, granola.
Dinner: Pasta/brown rice + Chicken + Veggies or Breaded fish + Roasted veggies or diy pizza + Salad

Fairly small portions if i'm honest, I can't eat a lot in one go.
And I don't count calories but it must be around 1500-1600 as my weight is pretty stable, albeit slightly underweight.

reading back on that it really sounds like a lot of hard work, but it's all about habit
I agree. When I see people sneering commenting on food threads about "Oh, I can't be bothered to control eating like that" or worse "This smacks of an eating disorder", I am baffled, It's just familiarity with what works for your current needs and habit.

Often no breakfast as intermittent fasting helps me feel good (or just cocao).

Lunch today was salmon with a lot of veg - big Waitrose pack - bright pan stir fry with corn, beans , peppers etc, 4 bananas after lunch (I don't recommend 4 bananas for anyone trying to lose weight however!). I am going to an event at the place I used to work in the early evening so there will be probably be a lot of rather nice free stuff canapes etc

Would normally have something else later but my lunch is my main meal usually and I always feel better like that.

This is all so inspiring and educational, and making me realise where I'm going wrong.

My breakfast is standard every day - scrambled eggs with some chives chopped in and a few cherry tomatoes.

Lunch is pretty similar every day. A really basic salad with ham or egg or tuna. work from home and it's just whatever is there for me to stop feeling hungry.

I meal plan for evening meals and my meals this week are as below. All homemade but pretty simple:
Steak with salad
Lamb koftas with feta and olive salad
Paprika chicken with potato salad
Salmon with toasted pumpkin seeds and homemade guacamole
Roast chicken with avacado salad

Weekends are a bit more free and easy but along the same lines but I shop on the day when I have more time to think about what I fancy. My husband sometimes has a sweet potato or a baguette with the meals above to bulk them out a bit for him as he's very active.

Thanks maidofstars , exactly!

This thread is a very interesting read, and seems to be a lot of commonalities among us in what (and how) we all eat. It shows that it really does work, and seems to be very healthy in terms of lean meat, veg etc, rather than any kinds of crazy fad diets.

I guess sunshine you can take parts of each and see what works for you, and the main thing being that it fits in with your lifestyle, and keeps you feeling full and satisfied, and something you can maintain in the long term. Best of luck.

Not a major slim Jim, size 14 and don't want to be any smaller otherwise face will completely collapse. Lost a bit of weight following breakup (was size 18-20), and now eat something like this:-

Breakfast: bowl of fruit & fiber cereal with unsweetened soya milk, cup of tea with one brown sugar.

Snack: apple

Lunch: 2 slices multi grain bread toast with butter & cheese (cheddar, feta, phil), glass of water

Dinner: baked potato, cauliflower, green beans, small slice of quiche

Pud: sometimes chocolate, sometimes an orange.

Saturday breakfast: scone, butter & jam

Weekend treat bag of crisps.

I don't drink alcohol. I'm not tee-total, but it just never happens.

I walk for exercise and am on my feet for much of the day. I think I should be slimmer for the amount that I eat, but thems the breaks!

I'm pregnant, but my eating habits haven't varied a huge amount since pre-preg.

Breakfast: coffee with skimmed milk and one sugar, small bowl of granola w/skimmed milk or fried egg on sourdough.
Lunch: enormous salad of lettuce, toms, cucumber - basically as much as I can eat - sometimes with tuna or halloumi thrown in.
Supper: usually not hungry but will have a yoghurt. If hungry will have a small bowl of pasta or soup and bread.

I'll snack on an apple, cherries, mandarins or strawberries - don't count how many. And at least once a day I'll have one/two biscuits, a frozen Twix finger (current craving) or a small amount (about a fistful) of crisps.

At least once a week I'll eat a "proper" junk food meal - like a burger, chips and Coke - but tend to find I'm not hungry again for the next meal.

I'm normally 67 kgs, up to 73kgs at 28 weeks pregnant.

Thanks withcheese.

I think the main things that stand out are:
3 meals - no snacks (or healthy snacks)
Portion control
Lots of veg
Lots of water
Barely any processed food
Treats are ok occasionally
Keep active
Don't eat too late

Glad it's been useful OP. My only complaint is that it's all been far too civilised for AIBU

On a normal day:

Breakfast: porridge with skimmed milk and fruit (normally blueberries or raspberries), with a milky coffee.
Lunch: Soup with a ciabatta roll, plus either a banana/apple.
Snack: Piece of fruit or some grapes, sometimes a nak'd bar.
Dinner: vegetable pasta, stir-fry, tuna/chicken salad.

I have about 3-4 mugs of milky tea/coffee at work during the day as well.

Twice a week or so I'll have a freezer dinner - nuggets and chips or pizza, or maybe chippy tea once a month or so.

But I don't deny myself what I fancy. I have chocolate or crisps 3-4 times a week after dinner, or if someone brings cake or biscuits into work I'll have a slice or two.

I'm 10st.4, and a size 10. I'm on my feet all day at work and I try and get out walking or cycling on my days off as well. I think that helps me maintain as I do like my junk snacks in front of the TV especially today when I have the period from hell

No breakfast.
Sandwich on brown (egg mayo/ham/tuna/chicken) with a piece of fruit, maybe a yogurt.
Jacket potato/spag bol/chicken wraps/burgers/pizza and salad etc.

Walk quite a lot, lift weights when I feel motivated (rarely). Drink enough water and too much coffee!

5'4", 115lbs, 36.

Cup tea/coffee.
Greggs wrap thingy-400 cals.
Cup tea.
Rice cake.
Satsuma.
Couple pieces toast with marmite.
Pot yoghurt or similar.

I'm counting calories. Size 12 (old style).

Used to be an old style 10. .

I'm 50 and have maintain a 9 st figure since I was 18. I am veggie, have been my whole life, thanks to hippy parents.

I eat 3 big meals a day, I often eat more than my less slim friends in volume and often have pudding when no one else is. I've never dieted and don't exclude anything from my diet except meat and fish. I generally eat whole foods, made from scratch, pasta, eggs, vegetable curries and stir fries.

I think of food as fuel. I don't really snack except the odd piece of cake at work sometimes but I do drink red wine. I don't do excercise but I have an active life style, I walk a lot, commuting and dog walking, and I play tennis every week.

It isn't fashionable on mn but I genuinely think some people, like me, have fast metabolisms and by inference, some have slow.

I think of food as fuel
I think this can be an incredibly important difference in attitude when it comes to weight. I do too. I can, hand on heart, say I have zero relationship with food. Being a slightly rubbish cook helps with that, I'm sure . But I just eat because, you know, I have too. If it tastes nice and I enjoy it, that's a bonus. I don't feel I need food to make me happy, or comfort me, or even that I'm entitled to eat lovely things.

Admittedly, this can lead to random combinations sometimes Puy lentils stirred with cottage cheese are grim

Maintained healthy weight for ages (although dipped a little recently) eating habits not always v healthy (long unrestrained pizza sprees) but when I'm on it I eat five or six teams a day, aiming for a portion of carbs (preferably whole grain) based around lots of veg or fruit each time and make sure each day (not each meal) includes nuts, chickpeas/beans and or eggs fish meat. Try not to eat out too much. Anything goes at weekends!

Activity (physical) is important but usually overlooked or dismissed with some unfounded percentages (it's 80% diet etc etc) but I think role of exercise in weight loss goes way beyond calorie expenditure and boosts mood and general wellbeing leading maybe less directly to changes in cravings etc?

TIMES

But can be greedy enough to eat a rowing team sometimes

**I think of food as fuel

I think of good as friend, one that I obsessively think about.