This will sound like a silly question.

What do you guys eat? Hehe. Random and strange question, but I don't eat enough food throughout the day (usually, I'll have about 700-850 calories a day). It's not even intentional. I just don't have too much time to eat (during the school day, mostly. I wake up just in time to be ready to leave at 6:30 in the morning for school and I have no lunch period cause I work at the library). So..yeah. I was just curious as to what a normal, healthy person eats on a daily basis. Even when I am trying to be healthy and eat during the day, it's still only about 1000 calories [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Thanks in advance.

Hi Karyn,

I try to eat fruit for breakfast with cereal without the milk because I am always on the go. I usually pack it in sandwich or snack zip loc bags because it makes it easier. For lunch I usually try to bring left overs from my dinner but I know being in Highschool that is difficult. You could make a simple healthy sandwich for lunch with whatever you like and have that with some crackers or something. That's what I try to do because it is easier to just grab and when I am working and I can eat that quickly. I am not that great with dinner though if I have time to cook I usually make a pasta dish or something with rice and veggies on the side or mixed in. I try to keep it simple and I only drink water through out the day. Hope this helps.

on a good day [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
breakfast - protein (eggs) & fruit or fiber cereal or fiber one bar
snack - yogurt, applesauce, etc.
lunch - sandwich on whole wheat, tuna or chicken salad (i make w/a little lite mayo), or a salad
snack - raw almonds, raisins, craisins, mini carrots, etc.
dinner - protein & veggies

since you're always on the go the key is to prepare your meals in advance & just carry food/snacks w/you.

Hollis wrote:Hi Karyn,

I try to eat fruit for breakfast with cereal without the milk because I am always on the go. I usually pack it in sandwich or snack zip loc bags because it makes it easier. For lunch I usually try to bring left overs from my dinner but I know being in Highschool that is difficult. You could make a simple healthy sandwich for lunch with whatever you like and have that with some crackers or something. That's what I try to do because it is easier to just grab and when I am working and I can eat that quickly. I am not that great with dinner though if I have time to cook I usually make a pasta dish or something with rice and veggies on the side or mixed in. I try to keep it simple and I only drink water through out the day. Hope this helps.

I used to do the cereal sans milk in a bag thing, but I stopped. I ate Kix, but the serving size is HUGE, so I ate it throughout the day. Cheerios are good too right? They taste AWFUL in soy milk, so I've been eating them dry. My g-ma always suggested to eat a fruit on my way to school, but I take public transportation and I think it's weird to just be eating a banana on the 3 train [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] If I were to make a sandwich, do you think a pb&j would suffice? Or maybe a cheddar cheese w/ mustard? I dunno. I'm a vegetarian, so no lunch meat for me. I pretty much do the same for dinner (if I feel like cooking, which hasn't been too often lately). I usually make a Boca Chik'n (or veggie burger) patty with broccoli and something else on the side. I usually only drink water, but I haven't really been drinking anything lately [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] This did help though. Thank you :]

mrsrenaissance wrote:on a good day [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
breakfast - protein (eggs) & fruit or fiber cereal or fiber one bar
snack - yogurt, applesauce, etc.
lunch - sandwich on whole wheat, tuna or chicken salad (i make w/a little lite mayo), or a salad
snack - raw almonds, raisins, craisins, mini carrots, etc.
dinner - protein & veggies

since you're always on the go the key is to prepare your meals in advance & just carry food/snacks w/you.

Which Fiber One bars do you usually get? Since I've never had one, I'll probably just pick up the one you like the most and hope for the best haha. I can't be trusted with applesauce hahaha. I binge on it like CRAZY. I will seriously eat all six cups that come in a pack in like...an hour [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] I don't eat yogurt though cause it has gelatin in it. I miss it though hah. Do you think these are healthy? When I used them on sandwiches, I'd just use one slice, otherwise I'd just be having salt on bread pretty much. Umm...why haven't I thought to use lite mayo instead of mustard? I am so smart. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] I don't even like mustard like that hahaha. Usually when I eat baby carrots, I dip them in some Italian salad dressing. Is that okay, or is it too fatty? Thanks for the help!

I'm a vegetarain too! I try to switch up between soy and rice milk when I do use it but I never really liked milk to begin with. Maybe you could pack some grapes, raisins or something simple like that to eat on the train. I would say you could pack some cut up cantelope too but just keep some hand sanitizer or something to clean your hands with (I hate smelling the food on my fingers or feeling the slightest bit sticky) lol. For lunch sometimes I just eat a couple of slices of avocado on some whole wheat bread with a little mayo or earth balance vegan buttery spread. The only thing with that is you kind of have to cut the avocado fresh so that become annoying. I do bring peanut butter and jelly when I don't have time for anything else or when I am in a hurry. It can get boring if you eat it everyday though. I also like to slice up some onions and peppers thin with some lettuce and maybe tomato and sometimes I add sprouts and I use mayo or mustard with some vinegar and eat that in a pita and I enjoy that also. I also make my own hummus and sometimes I eat that with bread as a sandwich and you can add whatever you like to that. It is a good source of protein and the recipe is simple let me know if you would like me to post it. I got it from the Betty Crocker everyday vegetarian cook book. A book I would recommend is the Vegan Lunch Box by Jennifer McCann. If I think of anything else I will let you know!

Hollis wrote:I'm a vegetarain too! I try to switch up between soy and rice milk when I do use it but I never really liked milk to begin with. Maybe you could pack some grapes, raisins or something simple like that to eat on the train. I would say you could pack some cut up cantelope too but just keep some hand sanitizer or something to clean your hands with (I hate smelling the food on my fingers or feeling the slightest bit sticky) lol. For lunch sometimes I just eat a couple of slices of avocado on some whole wheat bread with a little mayo or earth balance vegan buttery spread. The only thing with that is you kind of have to cut the avocado fresh so that become annoying. I do bring peanut butter and jelly when I don't have time for anything else or when I am in a hurry. It can get boring if you eat it everyday though. I also like to slice up some onions and peppers thin with some lettuce and maybe tomato and sometimes I add sprouts and I use mayo or mustard with some vinegar and eat that in a pita and I enjoy that also. I also make my own hummus and sometimes I eat that with bread as a sandwich and you can add whatever you like to that. It is a good source of protein and the recipe is simple let me know if you would like me to post it. I got it from the Betty Crocker everyday vegetarian cook book. A book I would recommend is the Vegan Lunch Box by Jennifer McCann. If I think of anything else I will let you know!

I don't really like milk either, but I do like vanilla soy milk in cereal/oatmeal. I have been trying to slowly cut down on eating too much soy though because I heard it can cause breast cancer [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] (it raises estrogen levels or something). I think I may be allergic to avocado, sadly. When I had some vegetable sushi rolls a while back, my throat started to itch really bad and avocado was the only thing in it that I don't eat on a regular basis. I'm still scared to try it, but I do miss my vegetable rolls. I've always wanted to try hummus, since I love curried chick peas (it probably isn't at all the same though lol). Can you post your recipe? [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Ooh, I'll have to check my school library for those books (I have no money to go buy any more books lol). Thanks for all your help! I feel like such a newbie at being a vegetarian even though I've been one for three years [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] haha

Hi Karyn, Sorry I took so long to put this recipe up. This is my favorite Hummus recipe so far. I prefer to use chik peas rather than the great northern beans. It is a very simple recipe.

Roasted-Garlic Hummus

1 bulb garlic, unpeeled
2 teaspoons olive or vegetable oil
1 can (15.5 ounces) Chick Peas or great northern beans, drained and 2 tablespoons liquid reserved
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chopped fresh parsley
Pita bread wedges, crackers or raw vegetables, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Cut 1/2-inch slice off top of garlic bulb. Drizzle oil over garlic bulb. Wrap garlic in foil. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until garlic is soft when pierced with a knife; cool slightly.
2. Squeeze garlic into food processor. Add beans, reserved bean liquid, lemon juice and salt. Cover and process until uniform consistency.
3. Spoon dip into serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with pita bread wedges. (I usually just eat it as a sandwich on whole wheat or whole grain bread.

Karyn wrote:What do you guys eat? Hehe. Random and strange question, but I don't eat enough food throughout the day (usually, I'll have about 700-850 calories a day). It's not even intentional. I just don't have too much time to eat (during the school day, mostly. I wake up just in time to be ready to leave at 6:30 in the morning for school and I have no lunch period cause I work at the library). So..yeah. I was just curious as to what a normal, healthy person eats on a daily basis. Even when I am trying to be healthy and eat during the day, it's still only about 1000 calories [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Thanks in advance.

Hi Karyn!!

Sounds like you've got very busy day, but you've got to take in more calories. A woman shouldn't eat any less than 1500 calories a day at the very minimum. Some people may need more depending on their height, weight, age, and physical activity levels. Fruits, veggies, whole grains and nuts, lean meats and low fat dairy is the way to go (unless you have a vegan or vegetarian preference). Typically, a person should eat a breakfast, snack, lunch, snack , dinner, and a final snack. You've got to start eating breakfast and trying to sneak in at least a light lunch. Too few calories can be just as dangerous for the body as too many calories. If you're in a rush in the morning, try grabbing a piece of fruit or a granola bar, something to give your body and brain energy to start your day.

Hollis wrote:Hi Karyn, Sorry I took so long to put this recipe up. This is my favorite Hummus recipe so far. I prefer to use chik peas rather than the great northern beans. It is a very simple recipe.

Roasted-Garlic Hummus

1 bulb garlic, unpeeled
2 teaspoons olive or vegetable oil
1 can (15.5 ounces) Chick Peas or great northern beans, drained and 2 tablespoons liquid reserved
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chopped fresh parsley
Pita bread wedges, crackers or raw vegetables, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Cut 1/2-inch slice off top of garlic bulb. Drizzle oil over garlic bulb. Wrap garlic in foil. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until garlic is soft when pierced with a knife; cool slightly.
2. Squeeze garlic into food processor. Add beans, reserved bean liquid, lemon juice and salt. Cover and process until uniform consistency.
3. Spoon dip into serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with pita bread wedges. (I usually just eat it as a sandwich on whole wheat or whole grain bread.

Thanks! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

KinkySheaPT wrote:

Hi Karyn!!

Sounds like you've got very busy day, but you've got to take in more calories. A woman shouldn't eat any less than 1500 calories a day at the very minimum. Some people may need more depending on their height, weight, age, and physical activity levels. Fruits, veggies, whole grains and nuts, lean meats and low fat dairy is the way to go (unless you have a vegan or vegetarian preference). Typically, a person should eat a breakfast, snack, lunch, snack , dinner, and a final snack. You've got to start eating breakfast and trying to sneak in at least a light lunch. Too few calories can be just as dangerous for the body as too many calories. If you're in a rush in the morning, try grabbing a piece of fruit or a granola bar, something to give your body and brain energy to start your day.

Thanks for replying This past week I think I experienced the dangers (well kinda haha) of too few calories (and too little sleep). I was super super fatigued and slept pretty much all through Tuesday and Wednesday, completely missing school [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] I really need to do better. What type of things do you typically snack on? I find that I can only snack on certain things when I'm trying to eat healthy or else I'll binge like CRAZY (eating a whole pack of something [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]). It's bad haha.

I love food!!!

Sometimes for breakfast I will have fruit. Someday's a honey bun. If I remember to go to the store - oatmeal. That is around 9:30/10:00.

By 11:00 I am snacking on either cookies or more fruit. Because of work I have a late lunch around 1:30 which usually consists of a sandwich and something on the side. If I am having a bad day I get a number 7 from Wendy's with a Mello-Yellow.

Dinner is always a HUGE salad on Mondays. The other days of the week it's something really southern unless I have the taste for some pasta.

I've never added up the calories I consumer but I would guess somewhere between 2,000-3,500 a day. I have a high metabolism and it keeps me hungry - I am constantly snacking. Since working out my appetite has grown. I need to do better in the "healthy eating" department.

Karyn wrote:

Hollis wrote:Hi Karyn, Sorry I took so long to put this recipe up. This is my favorite Hummus recipe so far. I prefer to use chik peas rather than the great northern beans. It is a very simple recipe.

Roasted-Garlic Hummus

1 bulb garlic, unpeeled
2 teaspoons olive or vegetable oil
1 can (15.5 ounces) Chick Peas or great northern beans, drained and 2 tablespoons liquid reserved
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chopped fresh parsley
Pita bread wedges, crackers or raw vegetables, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Cut 1/2-inch slice off top of garlic bulb. Drizzle oil over garlic bulb. Wrap garlic in foil. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until garlic is soft when pierced with a knife; cool slightly.
2. Squeeze garlic into food processor. Add beans, reserved bean liquid, lemon juice and salt. Cover and process until uniform consistency.
3. Spoon dip into serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with pita bread wedges. (I usually just eat it as a sandwich on whole wheat or whole grain bread.

Thanks! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

KinkySheaPT wrote:

Hi Karyn!!

Sounds like you've got very busy day, but you've got to take in more calories. A woman shouldn't eat any less than 1500 calories a day at the very minimum. Some people may need more depending on their height, weight, age, and physical activity levels. Fruits, veggies, whole grains and nuts, lean meats and low fat dairy is the way to go (unless you have a vegan or vegetarian preference). Typically, a person should eat a breakfast, snack, lunch, snack , dinner, and a final snack. You've got to start eating breakfast and trying to sneak in at least a light lunch. Too few calories can be just as dangerous for the body as too many calories. If you're in a rush in the morning, try grabbing a piece of fruit or a granola bar, something to give your body and brain energy to start your day.

Thanks for replying This past week I think I experienced the dangers (well kinda haha) of too few calories (and too little sleep). I was super super fatigued and slept pretty much all through Tuesday and Wednesday, completely missing school [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] I really need to do better. What type of things do you typically snack on? I find that I can only snack on certain things when I'm trying to eat healthy or else I'll binge like CRAZY (eating a whole pack of something [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]). It's bad haha.

Oh goodness, that's not good at all! You've got to be more careful. Fatigue is one of the many side effects of too few calories. To answer your question, to be honest, it kind of depends on what I'm in the mood for. I keep a variety of snacks in my kitchen. I always keep fresh finger foods like baby carrots, grape tomatoes, broccoli, celery sticks (usually with either fat free ranch dipping or reduced fat peanut butter), and almonds. I also snack on non-fat yogurt, FiberOne granola bars (which I LOVE) or FiberOne cereals, fruit (bananas and any kind of citrus are my fav), 100 calorie bags of popcorn, low fat or fat free cheese and whole wheat crackers. Should my sweet tooth crave attention then I'll have Jell-O or Jello-O sugar free-fat free pudding, or my old faithful Special K Chocolate Delight (with skim or almond milk). Keep in mind that I don't eat all of these things every day, but I try to keep a good variety in my foods (even learning how to modify my favorite dishes to cut empty calories). It gives me a good rotation through out my week and enough options to keep me for reaching for the bad stuff. That's pretty much it.

Also, eating smaller meals and snacks throughout the day keeps you from binge and over eating, which could come from your body not getting enough calories. Your body is starved and it's trying to make up for the calories and nutrients it need. You've got to fuel your body in order for it to do what you need it to. So take care of yourself! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

hey karyn!!

girl i totally understand you being busy, and usually on the days that i know im gonna be super busy i keep stuff with me...im the queen of keeping things in my purse or at my desk. I eat the natures valley fruit and nut bars, fresh fruit ALL throughout the day i have the oranges and bananas at my desk, i drink green tea every morning and i may eat some wheat thins or popcorn for a snack as well...i have a very high metabolism so i have to eat throughout the day....hope this helps

You should try to eat 5-6 times a day, and since you are a vegetarian I would suggest adding whey protein shakes to the mix to make sure you're getting enough protein. You can get a good protein shake at GNC or Vitamin Shop. It's hard to fit in proper nutrition if you have a hectic schedule, but it will get easier with practice. I pack a mini cooler with all my food and keep portions at my desk in case work gets crazy. And don't worry about eating fruit on the bus! Just bring a zip lock bag with you to hold the peel or core until you can get to a trash can. I've noticed a huge change in my health once I started giving my body the fuel it needs to function. I always try to get no less than 1700 cals a day since I work out 4 times a week. My average meal plan looks like this:

8:30 banana (usually on my drive into work)
9:30 oat meal or cup egg whites on english muffin, green tea
11:30/12:00 ground turkey with veggie mix (1-2 cups), whole grain bread or a few whole grain crackers, fruit
2:30 cottage cheese (1%) with tbsp honey, cinnamon, a splash of vanilla extract
4:00 almonds and string cheese or fruit (can't get enough of my fruit!)
7:00 post workout protein shake in 8ox of skim milk
8:30 grilled chicken and veggies (as many will fit in the wrap) in a whole grain tortilla wrap
10:00 8oz protein shake before bed
* note: I also take a multivitamin and omega-3 supplement. Also, you can substitute the meat for beans and tofu!

Breakfast like a king,
Lunch like a prince,
Dine like a pauper!!!

Well I also don't stick to that but I guess it's the healthiest way..!

Thanks everyone! I am definitely taking notes. I should be going grocery shopping sometime this week, so hopefully I don't do too many impulse buys and just stick to the great suggestions you guys have given.

A friend of mine just walked by with a bag of cashews, chocolate covered raisins, and craisins....500 calories.

I will be at the grocery store TONIGHT! It looked so good.