The optimal number of meals one should have per day totally depends on the individual. Some do well with lots of little ones. Others prefer larger meals, less often. The two meal a day diet has gained popularity over the years amongst those trying to lose weight. Not only can you save money by eating less often, you can also drop fat and eliminate mindless snacking. Two meals a day won’t appeal to everyone but there are some serious advantages. Read below to learn more and whether this regime could work for you.
Can Be Great For Fat Loss
It is undisputed that in order to lose fat, you must consume less calories than you burn. Eating less frequently can help you manage your calorie intake by eliminating mindless snacking. The timing of your meals is totally up to you. Some prefer a big breakfast and lunch. Others prefer to be busy in the morning and just eat lunch and dinner. The flexibility of two meals a day is what makes it easy to follow. Shortening your eating window is not a sure fire way to lose weight. You still need to be aware of your calorie intake however it can definitely help. Studies show that for fat loss, meal frequency doesn’t matter much. In fact, those who eat less often actually feel less hungry compared to study participants who ate lots of little meals. So if you want to drop some weight and don’t mind eliminating a meal, maybe give this regime a go. The best diet for fat loss is the one that feels the least restrictive.
Easier To Plan
Making decisions is exhausting. Your brain accounts for 2% of your body weight but it uses around 20% of the calories you eat every day. This means an entire fifth of your energy intake gets burned up by your thoughts. Those who have less decisions to make will therefore retain more energy for other tasks. If you stress about what to make for dinner or get overwhelmed by meal prep, the two meal a day diet could be a huge weight off your shoulders. Instead of planning what to make for dinner, you will have the time and energy to focus on other things. Less time thinking about meal prep means more time to smash out gym sessions and spend time with family.
Could Save You Money
Eating less often means you won’t be getting fatter, but your wallet will. Saving money on food is one of the main benefits of eating twice a day. We all want to reduce our grocery bill and this is an easy way to do it. Provided you aren’t spending more on the food you do eat, eliminating one meal from your daily rotation is a great way to save some cash. Especially considering the price of food these days. It’s not frugal to be mindlessly munching every hour. Just as it’s not cheap to drive a car that needs filling up every couple of days. Try removing one meal from your current daily routine and save your money for the big ticket items you really want.
Great If You Like Big Portions
For some people, there is nothing worse than a small meal that barely touches the sides. A lot of us like to feel satisfied after a meal and enjoy decent sized portions. Eating bigger meals won’t result in fat gain unless you consume more calories than your body needs. Let’s say you require 2000 calories per day. You could have four 500 calorie meals or two 1000 calorie meals. The choice is entirely yours. If you prefer to graze then that’s fine. Keep doing it. However if you’d prefer a hearty portion that makes you feel satisfied, go for bigger meals less often.
Potentially Less Hunger
You’d think eating less often would make you feel hungrier. Research shows that the opposite is true. This study tested the effect of meal frequency on appetite. It found that the group who ate less meals per day experienced less hunger than the group eating 14 times per day. Scientists suspect this could be because of blood sugar levels. Eating frequently means your blood glucose is constantly going up and down like a roller coaster. Eating less often means you’ll experience less spikes and potentially a more stable mood. Additionally, your body will learn that hunger is not an emergency and missing out on a 3pm snack won’t kill you. If you’re constantly ravenous and feel like you need to munch every hour, give the two meals a day a go and see how you go. You might actually find your appetite goes down rather than up.
Disadvantages
There are obviously some disadvantages to two meals a day. Less frequent meals are not recommended for those who don’t have weight to lose. Someone looking to put on size should be concerned with sneaking more calories into their diet rather than less. Shortening your eating window could also result in you missing out on getting all the nutrients you need. It is important to ensure the meals you do eat are nutrient dense or else you risk deficiency. Finally those prone to binge eating or have psychological issues pertaining to food should be careful before they adhere to any restrictive eating regime. It’s always best to consult with a nutritionist first or have someone with expertise guide you through the process.
Conclusion
There is no perfect number of meals to have every day. What is right for you will depend on your goals and lifestyle. If you’re currently doing the generic three meals plus snacks every day but not seeing the fat loss you desire, maybe try switching it up. Getting accustomed to two larger meals instead of many little ones could do wonders for your waistline, bank balance and mental energy. Not only will you eliminate mindless snacking but you might even have less of an appetite. As they say, sometimes less is more.