What is the best time to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

Jeff Croswell , NASM Elite Trainer

Fitness

Really there is no best time to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your meal planning will all depend on your schedule. Basically, you want to eat every 2-3 hours. So, for example, you might have breakfast at 6am, snack at 9am, lunch at 12pm, snack at 3pm, dinner at 6pm and maybe a snack at 9pm, depending on your schedule. You want to fuel your body based on your activity level throughout the day. If you are feeling sluggish or tired during the day, you may not be providing enough food for your body and may need to eat more to get your enegy levels up.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Dieting For Weight Loss

Losing weight quickly is OK as long as you do it safely, not through a crash diet. You can lose three or more pounds a week by burning more calories than you eat. If you burn an extra 500 calories per day through eating less and increasing your physical activity, you can lose about one to two pounds of fat per week. Dietitians recommend a daily minimum of 1,200 calories per day (a 200-pound person might need 1,400 calories). Anything less makes you lose muscle as well as fat, which slows your metabolism. Instead, minimize your intake of starches, added sugars like high fructose corn syrup and animal fat from dairy and meats. Focus on eating fruits and vegetables, soy products, egg whites, skinless poultry breasts, shellfish and fish, nonfat dairy foods and meat that is 95 percent lean. Drink lots of water, don't skip meals, and eat only from a plate while seated at a table.

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What is the best time to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

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