How bad are my eating habits?

[BovrilLavigne]

I do know I don't have the healthiest of diets, but I'm wondering if I could have some Mumsnet wisdom on the extent to which it is bad.

The way I eat currently makes me happy, so if it's only a bit bad, then I'll carry on with it, but if it's really shockingly awful, then I'll regrettably have to make some changes. So that's why I'm asking!

I don't really have a concept of how many calories I'm eating a day, although I do know that it's more than recommended amount of sugar.

I've attached screenshots of everything what I've had to eat or drink each day for the past 6 days.

This is AIBU after all, so AIBU to eat like this?

It depends on what your goals are. Weight loss/maintain weight/health scare etc.

Yes, I would say there’s too much sugar - especially in your drinks. The main thing that stands out to me is your actual meals look healthy, but not enough of them. Is it because you’re not hungry (filled up on drinks and snacks earlier on) or do you need to fill up on snacks and drinks because the meals aren’t enough? Also not enough fruit and veg.

Obviously you know it’s not an ideal diet, but I think if you cut down one or two sugary items (drink or snacks) a day and added in fruit/veg then it wouldn’t be too bad.

I'd you compare it to the most perfect, ideal, nutritious diet possible. It's not ideal.

But if you compare it to the way the average person eats, it's fine.

Bit too much sugar.
Bit too little protein.
Could probably do with more veg.

But it's not an unusually bad diet.

IF you compare it... Bloody autocorrect.

Agree with the sugary drinks. Maybe have more substantial meals instead but obviously can’t see quantities on there.

Can I be cheeky and ask what you’re using to keep track of it please? I need to get back to keeping a food diary as I find it a PITA on paper/notes, but myfitnesspal and similar are too in depth for me.

Yes, your eating habits are bad.

Way too much peanut butter and chocolate, but now we have told you perhaps you will think about making changes.

As voiced by others - try and cut back on the sugary drinks/snacks and try and up your protein. You will feel fuller for longer!

@singtothesky - MFP is a faff - I used fat secret. Works similarly but there are more UK foods on there and you can just scan things and it tells you whats in it! It's free too.

Are you drinking water or just hot drinks?
To me what stood out is all the drinks and not clear but lots of premade foods. The cereal bars etc you can easily make healthy versions of at home. Some days are very light on fresh foods
But of your happy and healthy doesn’t matter what strangers on the internet think

I'd say you are more into snacks than meals. Your actual meals don't look to be enough to satisfy hunger. Maybe more substantial meals with veg and fewer sugary snacks might be a better idea.

You should add more fresh fruit and veg, and swap those lattes for something like herbal tea - that'd improve it a lot.

There is not enough fruit and veg for sure.

Pps are right. It's loads of sugar. Imho not enough veg from what I see. But then, I like veg and stuff some into basically everything.
What is in "salad"? I swapped lettuce for dark leaves like spinach, rocket and cress and it makes it so much better. Mix in different veggies, sometimes some beans, seeds and so on.

You could log this on Myfitnesspal and it would tell you precisely how much sugar etc you're consuming.

It does look like a lot of empty calories to me, and way too little fibre/vegetables, but wouldn't take a lot of work to make it significantly better.
Like others have said I would reduce the sugary, nutrient poor drinks and replace with proper food.

You must be somewhere warmer than the UK to be having so many iced drinks!

@SingToTheSky agreed - My Fitness Pal was too in-depth for me! This is the app Notion

Depends how tall, how big and how active you are

What’s your bmi? What’s your daily calorie burn?

It depends why your asking really

If your happy with your weight, feel generally healthy and are happy then its fine

Generally I would say too much sugar, in particular sugary drinks. And not enough actual meals with veg and protein. But its your body and oue diet and its really up to you, you dont have to eat the absolute healthiest diet in the world.

Im not sure why someone said too much peanut butter when ypu had peanut butter once! And peanut butters pretty good for you.

@CupcakesK weight maintenance pretty much yes.
As for the interesting 'filled up on snacks so not hungry' vs 'need the snacks because small meals' question, I think it's the first one. I've tried in the past making myself have three substantial meals a day to see if that will cut down on the snacks - but I end up eating all the snacks anyway (because they're delicious!). So it makes more sense for me from a weight perspective to not force myself to eat bigger meals in the hope that I'll snack less, because the past has shown I'll snack just as much!
You've brought up some really interesting points though, thank you - much to mull over

@Pikachubaby I've just looked up my BMI and it's 21. I'm 5 ft 3.
No idea about my daily calorie burn - probably on my feet quite a bit, but nothing huge

It is a lot of sugary snacks, reducing those would definitely make it healthier.

On another note, you can get cinnamon twirls? Is that the Cadbury chocolate twirl or a cinnamon danish?

@DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon happy with my weight and feeling generally fine, yes.
But definitely mindful of not being as healthy as I could be - potentially cutting down on the sugar I suppose ☹️
And I had wondered if I didn't eat enough protein, but not really sure how to increase it, especially as I don't eat much meat.
Your message is really useful, thank you

Do you buy all your food in Pret or similar? Most of this is very processed. Maybe try to eat a few pieces of fruit a day at least?

If you are happy with your weight and just do it for health, throw in some proper veg instead of something sugary. Even swap for fruit is fine tbh. Nice full fat live cultures yogurt makes for good snack. And would add your protein.

There’s probably a fair amount of protein in all of your milky drinks. Maybe just cut down on the ones with extra sugar (vanilla lattes etc.)

My go to snacks, to avoid sugary food, are:
Pitta and hummus
Cheese on crackers
Peanut butter (from the jar! Or on apple slices)

But if you’re happy, carry on. No one has a perfect diet!

@SchrodingersImmigrant "salad" this week has been a mix of a spinach, kale, carrot, cabbage lettuce (the three salad bags attached - without the mayonnaise!) and cucumber and spring onions

@FatGirlShrinking oo I just googled it and I meant a cinnamon danish! Thought they were called twirls haha

In an ideal world is probably not the best diet but in reality it's not bad. Plenty worse. Odd breakfast choices and maybe not enough proper meals and fruit/non salad veg it if you're happy and healthy I'd not worry too much

It’s a shit-show if I’m honest and I’d say needs to be addressed. Namely the sugar intake.