to say that fasting has massively cut down our food bills?

[streth]

I know it's not for everyone but I’ve been doing intermittent fasting one meal a day for a while now and I’ve noticed a huge difference in our food shopping bills. I just eat once a day usually a good sized balanced meal in the evening and I’m genuinely less hungry the rest of the time. I don’t snack anymore and I’m not constantly thinking about food which has been surprisingly freeing.

My teens off their own backs have started eating just twice a day they say they feel fine and they're old enough to make those choices themselves. We still eat nutritious food but we’re just eating less often and wasting far less.

Food bills have gone down significantly and with prices being what they are right now it’s honestly been a relief I know this wouldn’t work for everyone and I’m definitely not saying it’s suitable for people with eating disorders or anyone with specific health needs. But for us it’s made a real difference both financially and in how we think about food.

AIBU to think this kind of fasting can be a practical option for some people in tough times?

You'd save even more if you didn't eat at all.

I think the silly comments are because you've asked a question that has a blatantly obvious answer.

Not everything has to be posted in aibu

I eat two meals, I always naturally did eat two meals until I inexplicably thought I was doing something wrong because everyone bangs on about breakfast so much. But I think the importance of breakfast is as your first meal of the day, no matter what time it as it, rather than some need to eat as soon as you wake up. I've reverted to my natural rhythm of eating and I'm getting on so much better for it. Exercise in the morning is ten times easier before eating.

I eat two main meals, one at lunchtime and one at dinner time, and have one smaller meal/snack either morning or in the evening depending on where I am in my cycle and how hungry I am.

Unfortunately my food bill is not decreased.

I get that it might sound extreme, especially if you’re used to eating three meals a day plus snacks. But for a growing number of people, eating once a day, when done mindfully and with proper nutrition, is just another way of structuring food intake. It’s not starving, it’s not about restriction for the sake of it, and it’s certainly not something I’d push on anyone else.

For me, it’s simply what works. I feel better, I’m not hungry all the time, and I eat a proper meal with a good balance of nutrients. If I felt unwell or depleted, I’d stop. But calling it extreme makes it sound harmful by default, when in reality it’s just a routine that some people genuinely thrive on.

Of course it’s not suitable for everyone, and I’ve been clear about that. But something being outside the norm doesn’t automatically make it extreme in a negative sense.

My teens are fine. Eating twice a day suits them, once a day suits me. They are old enough to decide for themselves.

Nothing constructive to say on the topic really, but I did want to share that I misread the title as ‘farting’ and had entirely different expectations of the thread...

How many calories do you eat per day one one meal?

Wow. We've really lost sight of what is a normal amount to eat. No wonder there's an obesity crisis. I last had a meal in 1997 and I'm not even slightly hungry

It's not a silly post IMO. The OP has discovered a side effect of something. Given that her motivation wasn't money saving it's not all that surprising she hadn't really thought about the financial aspect. And loads of people don't think about how all the little treats and snacks add up - that's why you get the takeaway coffee discourse!

I don’t fast, but the following massively cut my spend on food:
a) I was gifted a really nice coffee machine so make my own coffee
b) I started a job that gives free breakfast
c) I joined the ‘massive salad’ for lunch bandwagon and don’t need dinner or only need a very light dinner in the evening

The above probably saves me about $80-100 per week.

No reason to be a twat

I don't count calories. My BMI was in the overweight category and now it is in the healthy range.

As usual

first reply nails it 😂😂😂

I'm with you OP. Have lost weight since Feb doing IF and my food bills are down despite eating very well.

Wait, were you being serious??

I am glad it is working for you too. It saves time as well!

I agree.

A friend of mine was worrying about money recently then while we were chatting she added up the amount she spends weekly on daily take out coffees, snacks & buying lunch at work & realised she could actually start saving a considerable amount.

It sounds obvious but I think things like snacks, take out coffees etc have become so habitual that we forget we can save money by not having them.
Not sure if I could only eat once a day but I get that you could be surprised by how a change to your eating routine could affect your bank balance.

Well, I guess I’m silly because it’s never really occurred to me that if I fasted (which is something I’ve thought about quite a bit) my food bills would go down, probably because I’m lucky enough not to have to worry about them in the first place.

My only considerations re fasting have been how it would work for me, how good it might be for me, how much weight I might lose.

But realising it would also save money is a nice to know! Maybe if I had a goal of what to spend that saving on I might actually get on and try it!

There’s an ongoing thread about how much money can be saved by not buying lunch in Pret. Again, obvious but plenty of people are finding it a useful thread and are swapping lunch ideas.

The other side effect I find is that I am more productive. Some IFers find they are sharper on fasting days; I'm not sure if it's that in my case or simply less "Ooh, do I fancy a biscuit / a break / a banana / another coffee" etc. Eating is not an option so I focus on what is in front of me even if boring.

Snarky replies galore!
YANBU, OP.
During lockdown I was surprised that I had significantly more money left at the end of the month from not driving almost 50 miles a day. Seems blindingly obvious now.

The problem with fasting is that people use the word as an excuse for blatant eating disorders. A quick look at the 24+hr support fasting thread on here tells you that. People going days without eating, hiding behind the word fasting and thinking it good.

Now it's being used for people who are skint to make skipping meals seem more appealing. When it's simply can't afford to eat regularly.

Fasting is useful and an excellent thing to do occasionally. But it comes with its own risks.

Good for you. You've discovered that eating less makes you thinner and buying less saves you money. When do you receive your Nobel Prize?

Skipping meals isn't a good idea for people who aren't overweight. Suggesting that people skip meals 'in tough times' is essentially just saying 'No money? No problem. If you're poor, just don't feed yourself properly.'

I'd also like to see you try 'intermittent fasting' while doing a gruelling physical job. I could certainly skip a meal now, doing an office job, but I couldn't have done it back in the days when I was doing labouring jobs, or when I had hospitality and retail jobs that entailed doing 25,000 steps per shift.

You are right that fasting can be misused by some people, especially if it is masking disordered eating, and that is a serious issue that absolutely should not be dismissed. But that does not mean everyone who fasts is doing it for unhealthy reasons or to hide a problem.

Fasting has been practised healthily for centuries across many religions and cultures. Ramadan, Lent, Yom Kippur, Buddhist practices, just to name a few. For a lot of people, it is not extreme or harmful. It is structured, intentional, and part of a long standing tradition. When done properly, with enough nourishment and awareness, it can be safe and even beneficial.

Yes, food insecurity is a real problem, and no one should have to skip meals because they cannot afford to eat. But choosing to reduce how often you eat, in a way that works for your body, is not the same as being forced into hunger. I have always been clear that this will not suit everyone, and it should not be romanticised as a fix for poverty. But it is also not fair to label all fasting as dangerous or disordered just because some people misuse it. Like many things, context and intent matter.

During the height of my anorexia I didn't eat 5 days out of 7. Managed to put away loads of money towards my house deposit. Seriously. Ended up on the verge of inpatient at the eating disorder clinic, but it was a golden era in terms of my outgoings lol.

Around the height, I still wasn't eating 3/4 days a week for an extended period, only one meal a day for the remaining days, and so still saved loads.

Things got way more expensive during ED recovery. Should have agreed to inpatient to avoid the food costs.

I'm eating one microwave meal a day now - OMMAD lol - now, and it certainly helps cut down on food bills.

Hairs falling out so won't even need shampoo soon, even more savings!

Not saying this to be snarky (I can see some people are being snarky, I'm not intending to be). Supposed it's just I have to laugh and see the silver linings else I'll cry maybe.

Whenever anyone talks of IF or OMAD or mounjaro (which causes people to eat very little) I just have many complex feelings. Like it's OK for everyone else to do it but apparently not me and they made me regain weight , thanks doctors.

I fast five times a week and it makes me feel good and saves me money! Research shows that it's really good for you.