All in Good Time: Eating Throughout the Day

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Hello Real Moms,
I’ve heard that it’s good to eat small amounts of food throughout the day, starting with breakfast. But my mornings are so packed that I end up leaving the house without eating a thing. I’ve gotten used to not eating until afternoon, and I guess my question is, does it really matter when or how often I eat? –Amy, online

Well hello, Amy! The short answer is: yes.

Of course all our bodies are different and can adapt to various regiments over time. But the healthiest thing for our digestive systems is to eat small portions throughout the day, versus loading up at meal times.

It might help to think back to the caveman days. Those guys never knew when they could expect their next meal, plus storing food was problematic (obviously). They’d wander around looking for nuts and berries—and eating them—all day long. And we inherited the same digestive system they used to process that behavior.

So I always say, snack at least five times a day. Carry easy snacks with you. Eat a quick breakfast rich in fiber, and let it be fun and easy while you’re at it. There’s no need to punish yourself for being health, so why not go for a toaster waffle every once in a while? Because when you’re not undereating throughout the day, you’re not suddenly overeating right before bedtime.

Want more ideas? Check out the tips I recently shared on Sacramento and Co. news.