A Day of Grazing
If you’re a frequent visitor of the Broccoli Hut, you’ll know that I am a three-squares-a-day kind of girl. While I eat snacks, they are usually few in number and consumed according to a relatively regular schedule. In contrast, my sister Katie is a grazing kind of gal—she prefers to eat a piece of turkey here, a banana there, and maybe a few gummie snacks in between.
Today was a rare instance in which I adopted Katie’s eating style in that I ate a series of snacks rather than three well-balanced meals. I’ve tried structuring my diet into mini-meals before, with not-so-successful results; I often ended up in situations in which mini-meals were not possible, and my tummy did not appreciate the dearth of food. Nonetheless, a day of grazing isn’t an unwelcome change of pace on occasion. I felt like I was eating more intuitively as a result of being “freed” from the boundaries of meals.
Which eating style do you prefer—three squares or mini-meals?
In accordance with aforementioned grazing, my photos for the day are a bit more scattered than usual:
Before heading to the gym I snacked on some multigrain Puffins. FYI these are gluten-free!
Afterward, I killed some time in the campus student center, where smoothies are available. They seemed particularly appealing this morning, so I decided to treat myself to a strawberry-yogurt concoction. I can’t even remember the last time I had a smoothie that wasn’t homemade!
My tummy started grumbling a few hours later, so I raided Seth’s refrigerator for a snack.
After a matinee showing of Despicable Me, my persistent appetite kicked in again…
I finally had a real meal at about 7PM when we stopped at Green Tango. In the past, I’ve complained about customized salad places like this one because they chop up all the ingredients—highly unappealing for a food blogger like myself. Accordingly, I Seth requested for my salad to remain un-chopped, for your viewing pleasure. Don’t say I never did nothin’ for you:)
Alright, it’s time to continue my day of relaxation. Good night!
Filed under: Meals
Hello and welcome! I have created this blog for people who love food, especially healthful, vegetarian food.
I have just graduated from Duke University with degrees in English and psychology. I plan to pursue a master's degree in nutrition starting in Fall 2010. Ideally, I would like to combine my love of food and the written word someday as a health writer.
I am 100% a three squares girl, and always will be. I like to have an afternoon snack lots of the time, but on the whole, grazing is not a habit that I enjoy (or even one that comes easily to me). I really enjoy big portions, and I love the care and satisfaction that comes from preparing a large, filling meal. I also find that snacking all day (rather than eating 3 squares) leaves me constantly hungry! Naturally this is psychological — if caloric density is the same, then it’s the same — but psychology is an important part of eating
I am 100% a three squares girl, and always will be. I like to have an afternoon snack lots of the time, but on the whole, grazing is not a habit that I enjoy (or even one that comes naturally to me). I really enjoy big portions, and I love the care and satisfaction that comes from preparing a large, filling meal. I also find that snacking all day (rather than eating 3 squares) leaves me constantly hungry! Naturally this is psychological — if caloric density is the same, then it’s the same — but psychology is an important part of eating
I am a square meal kinda guy
How did you like Despicable Me?! And I’m definitely a 5-6 mini-meal type of gal!
I’m a “three square” gal, through and through…I’ve never been much of a snacker, so I don’t think the grazing thing would work for me. I prefer 3 equal sized meals with 2-3 small snacks interspersed throughout.
I graze AND have 3 square meals… I can never choose which I prefer so I just go with both.
Mini-meals! I eat an average of 7-8 times a day, but I’m also hypoglycemic.
Mini-meals! I eat an average of 7-8 times a day, I have a wicked fast metabolism and I’m hypoglycemic.
Yum that salad looks like it’s about to spill over
I think I’m a mix of both. Gotta have my three meals a day, otherwise something just feels missing, out of place. But in between meals I also need a little pick-me-up, usually in the form of fruit or a LaraBar. By now my stomach can pretty much tell time, so I know when I gotta feed it!
I bought 2 boxes of Puffins last week! A local independent grocery store had them as 2/$3 and I had a $1 off coupon. So I got them for $1 each! And because you’re American you will apreciate that was $1 CANADIAN each box. So like 90 cents USD!
Were you at our beloved alma mater?
I remember getting a Freshens smoothie during graduation weekend—so weird!
It’s certainly weird to see a grazing post from you! This is more my style….3 meals? what?
The Green Tango salad looks awesome, yum! I like to have 3 meals and 2 snacks per day – I like to eat every 3-4 hours to stay full and energized.
My sister is just the same! Her eating-pattern actually consists out of constant snacking. But just like you, I’m more of the 3 meals a day. And I don’t feel very comfortable – probably still because of my ED – about eating in between.
♥
i love green tango! i often have to go back and forth between lenox baker (the outpatient children’s hosp on erwin) and duke and one day i am going to make that a lovely lunch stop.
if you’re around and want to do loyo this weekend i am pretty free in the afternoons! or: i’m planning a longish run sunday if you want to join (~9:00/mi pace, or therabouts?)
I’m usually a 3 main meal, 3 light snack kind of girl. But I love the idea of eating intuitively like that, at least for a day to “experiment.”
I’m like you- I like 3 square meals/day (with snacks)! And those are the only flavor of puffins I haven’t tried…must change that.
Love the new pic of you with the strawberries
A month or so ago I would have said I was a three meals, few snacks kind of person..but now I’m transforming into a mini meal gal. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are still the main “staple” meals..but calories wise my breakfast, morning snack, lunch, two afternoon snacks, dinner, and desserts are all around the same calorie/protein wise.
I eat 6-7 times a day and I prefer it..plus I have gotten the best leaning results that way
Thanks for your comment, guh
Made me feel all special inside, haha. Of course, I will always be reading your blog. Where else will I steal my meal ideas and trust I am adequately nourishing myself with a well-rounded plate?
I like to eat mini meals, usually anywhere from 5 to 7 a day. I enjoy having tastes of everything throughout the day! Each mini meal feels like a treat.
And if I go too long without a snack, I tend to feel fatigued, so this helps me feel steady in energy/mood.
I am a grazer! I eat all day long, but I prefer lighter meals so it is perfect. However, when I get hungry you better step back! I need to try puffins. I haven’t gotten any yet.
grazer..your dinner looks great
I go through phases but i find when i do the whole three sqaure meals thing..i get hungry quicker! How odd!xx