How Often Should You Eat?
3 easy tips for a healthy food intake that stabilizes your energy and sugar levels.
I get asked this question a lot, and to be honest, there really is no magic answer.
I mean, everyone will eat at one time or another, and it can be assumed that this happens more than once in a day, but there are no hard and fast things you need to do.
Because there are no set rules on when you should eat during the day, there is no “to do” list for you to takeaway to resolve your hunger concerns. What I do have for you today, are a few little things you can keep in the back of your mind for when you think you need to regulate your eating.
1. Always Eat Breakfast
Eat the first meal of the day, preferably within the first hour of waking. This stabilizes your blood sugar levels, setting you up for the day ahead. Best not to skip it!
2. Listen To Hunger Cues
The best approach is to listen to what your body wants. Everyone will be different, but try to eat when you begin to feel hungry; eat slowly and then stop eating before you feel too full.
Think of your hunger levels on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 being ‘starving, weak and dizzy’ and 10 being ‘so full you feel sick’, with the middle being ‘satisfied’. Eating when you hit the 4 mark (between starving and satisfied) is a good cue to listen out for as is stopping at about 7.
3. Stay Hydrated
Whether that be with water, coffee, tea, juices, smoothies or with whole fruits, stay hydrated throughout the day to ward off false hunger pangs.
These “snack attacks” can be brought on by dehydration and can lead you to believe you are hungry, when you are not. Keeping up the fluid intake means you are less likely to snack on things you don’t need.
It is helpful to be aware of this when you are trying to work out how often you need to eat.
“A healthy food intake that serves your energy levels well is an awesome way to take care of yourself anytime of the year!”
After a few days of thinking before you eat and eating when your body needs it, you’ll find that your appetite responds quickly.
You won’t be ravenous, you won’t be too full; you'll find a healthy rhythm that is perfect for you and your daily activities.
