Do you snack?

[RainyDaze4]

Just that really - on a daily basis I.e work days, do you snack in between meals?

I had got into bad habits during lockdown and whilst WFH. I’ve realised that it’s probably a lot better to have three satisfying meals of what I want (within reason) rather than restrict and end up snacking on ‘healthy’ things that probably make me hungrier. You can easily end up adding an extra 500 calories a day through snacks that aren’t really needed.

I haven’t really snacked at all for the last month and I think it’s made a real difference (as well as making sure I’m moving enough every single day!!) - when I start feeling peckish I have a drink and just make sure I have a nice meal to satisfy myself.

AIBU to think that the culture of ‘healthy snacks’ isn’t actually that great for most people (unless recovering from ED, other physical conditions etc!)

Interested to see whether most people do in fact snack every day and what these snacks are.

I think healthy snacks are fine if there is a corresponding reduction in the size of meals - so three smaller meals and a couple of snacks per day is fine. I think the problem is that most people (including me!) eat normal sized meals and snacks on top of it, and that’s far from ideal. I think we have really normalised snacking to the point where it’s unusual now not to eat outside of mealtimes, and I don’t think that’s very healthy.

@LavenderSatin

I think healthy snacks are fine if there is a corresponding reduction in the size of meals - so three smaller meals and a couple of snacks per day is fine. I think the problem is that most people (including me!) eat normal sized meals and snacks on top of it, and that’s far from ideal. I think we have really normalised snacking to the point where it’s unusual now not to eat outside of mealtimes, and I don’t think that’s very healthy.

This is it - I feel we’ve been conditioned to have mid morning and mid afternoon snacks when we probably aren’t even hungry or we get hungry/snacky just because it’s what our bodies are used to!

I know personally I really enjoy having a proper meal of something I love (like pasta etc) and would rather that and just have no snacks in the lead up than have a tiny meal and snack all afternoon!

Portion sizes too!!!

Yes I'm a terrible snacked and it's my downfall. I managed to kick the elevenses snack habit a couple of years ago but I'm a terrible 3-5pm snacker. Also post dinner. Mine are always "healthy" (low calories rather than healthy) eg small packet of popcorn or low fat crisps, yoghurt, few squares of dark chocolate etc but they all add up.

I used to graze all day long but the last couple of months I have only been eating meals and I feel so much better for it. I enjoy my food so much more as I’m hungry at meal times and I’ve lost weight.
It’s made me realise that snacks are completely unnecessary..... in fact the last thread we had on this, somebody recommended watching “back in time for the 50s” on bbc iPlayer and it was eye opening.
Snacks are completely unnecessary and I reckon why we are getting fatter as a nation- most snacks are carb or sugar based and provide little nutrition.

@C4tintherug

I used to graze all day long but the last couple of months I have only been eating meals and I feel so much better for it. I enjoy my food so much more as I’m hungry at meal times and I’ve lost weight. It’s made me realise that snacks are completely unnecessary..... in fact the last thread we had on this, somebody recommended watching “back in time for the 50s” on bbc iPlayer and it was eye opening. Snacks are completely unnecessary and I reckon why we are getting fatter as a nation- most snacks are carb or sugar based and provide little nutrition.

Yes exactly this! People didn’t graze in the 50s. I too enjoy my meals so much more!!

I also know that if I’m feeling peckish, yes I could have a chocolate bar or a packet of popcorn (‘healthy’!) but I would probably end up feeling more hungry and more likely to continue eating rubbish - then still eat dinner!

Snacks are so English. I lived abroad for many years and coming back to this country was a bit of culture shock. Households have snack boxes, mums are constantly handing around snacks. Wanna snack??! A nation of snackers!

When you think about it, if you eat fully at meal times there is no need to snack between. If you're hungry less than 3 hours after your meal it's because you aren't eating enough filling calories (IMHO). I see loads of people eating the lightest of lunches. A sandwich does not a lunch make for example, even if you pair it with a packet of crisps.

I meal between snacks. 😋🤤

No grazing. I have timed snacks like meals. So yes, I snack 😁 And I love it. Can't really have a yogurt and fruit as a main meal.

no, i eat 5 small meals a day!

Snacks are so English.

Depends what kind of snacking do you mean. We never had what you describe (snack boxes, constant offerings) but where I grew up we did have 2 snacks a day as a standard.
Breakfast
Snack
Lunch
Snack
Dinner

Yes I am a terrible snacker.

I eat yoghurt and berries and seeds for breakfast and snack on fruit mid morning.

I eat a sandwich for lunch and snack on baked crisps or bread sticks mid afternoon.

I have 2 handfuls of peanuts about 5pm as a snack, and consider my nightly glass or 2 of wine a snack. Eat dinner about 8, but don't snack after.

I count all calories, and am not overweight but I know if I ate 3 x 500 calorie meals instead of snacking so much it would be better for me. Just habit I guess.

Yes - well, I more have five small meals a day as I just can't manage lots of food in one go. I have a couple of snacks a day.

If your snacks are fruit or veggies with healthy dips or something, and your meals are healthy, you'll be fine. It all depends on what you're snacking on, surely?

I've read the word snack so much in this thread it doesn't make sense as a word anymore 🤣

I’ve really cut down on snacking in an attempt to lose weight. We would usually snack in the evening after dinner. Cutting it down drastically has really helped me lose weight. I like feeling hungry for a nice meal. Snacking afterwards became habit.

Every time I feel tempted I remind myself that it’s not healthy and “just don’t buy it”...it’s really helped. I feel like we’re conditioned in the uk to feel that it’s normal and when you hear people from other countries talk about food habits you realise it isn’t.

If I'm hungry between meals I'll have fruit or small handful of raw nuts not bags of crisps or chocolate.

Yea I'm the same. I've got much better in the morning I don't snack but that sweet spot after work but before dinner I'm chomping at the bit. Cheese and crackers are my downfall. I purposely didn't buy nice cheese this week to try and curb it a bit.

I’m a snacker... have been for years but if I snack I don’t eat meals as well.
I prefer snacking to eating a big main meal. I probably only eat a ‘proper’ tea once a week or if out for a meal.

No, never.
And I only eat 1 meal a day, at lunchtime.
Should I feel the need for something in the evening I might have an apple or a carrot.
I do ensure that I drink my "regulation" 2l of water a day and I will have 1 mug of proper coffee with hot milk (no foam) for breakfast.

If people who habitually snack between meals were aware of the negative effect on their metabolism (attempts at weightloss) and general health by constantly spiking insulin and blood sugar levels, they really wouldn't do it.

I'm terrible about 7/8pm I feel like I have to have something sweet which is normally chocolate, cake or half a pack of biscuits

I have always snacked since I became responsible for feeding myself. I cannot get fussed as I’ve remained a healthy weight for the 20+ years involved. I’m trying to teach DC to eat when hungry but both are at the bottom end of a healthy weight so again, as long as they eat a range of healthy food I’m not fussed when they’re hungry.

YANBU, snacking is not good for us. I rarely snack between meals and it was hard to begin with but you get used to it, and I feel better and mental acuity much better.

I like my snacks but always keep my meals smaller. That's how I was raised I guess. I have breakfast quite early, maybe a mid morning snack, lunch, a snack if it looks like dinner will be late, then dinner AND supper. I will never give up my supper, although that's probably because that's my only sweet treat I have and the rest of the snacks are quite healthy (fruit, nuts, yoghurt protein bars etc).

I find that if I go too long between meals I get heartburn and my blood sugar is all over the place. But then my ex colleague swore by having one single meal a day and zero snacks and he loved it and felt brilliant. Guess we're all different.

I'm the heaviest I've ever been at just over 12st because of my snacking. They're not small snacks either; full tubes of pringles, full tubs of Magnum ice-cream and 200g sharing bags of maltesers all to myself, sometimes in one day, are not going to go my waistline or my heart. Yes, I am cutting back on it.

Since lockdown, I've reverted to three decent meals a day. Bigger than I was eating but enough to ensure I'm properly hungry and really looking forward to the next meal. I've found I actually like being hungry, whereas before I would be almost scared if I didn't have snacks available!