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here seem to be two types of eaters, those those that graze and those that eat three square meals. If you fall into the latter category, you may want to entertain the health benefits found in mini-meals.
This way of eating is far removed from the “all you can eat” buffet idea. Stuffing yourself at three meals during the day so you have no appetite in between is not only gluttonous, but it smacks at diabetes control.
The most thoughtful diet is one that keeps insulin levels from spiking with minimal impact on blood sugars. Mini meals are capable of performing such a feat. Keep in mind- even those without diabetes can suffer from low blood sugar effects with infrequent eating habits.
As diabetes diagnoses are soaring to unparalleled numbers care providers and dieticians are scrambling to make big changes. The health community is rallying behind the idea of five to six smaller meals spread throughout the day. Use caution if you are prone to overeating- keep in mind the more times a person comes into contact with food there is opportunity for overdoing it. Engaging in conscious eating is so important.
What is a mini-meal?
As I was researching mini-meals I came across McDonald’s idea of a mini-meal. I must admit I had a few healthier visions for their mini-meals and what I saw was a bit disturbing. There is nothing “mini” about these options unless you are comparing them to a super-sized version.
Processed food giants have jumped on the bandwagon as well. I’m sure you’ve seen the 100 calorie packaged items, expect to see this concept expand in 2013. Many people like to use these as snack items for kids with type 1 diabetes because they tend to be low in carbohydrate levels as well.
How many calories should I consume in a day?
Use this Calories Burned Calculator to help you estimate your daily activity level and its relationship to what you eat.
Use this Calories per day calculator to quickly discover what your total daily intake should be to maintain your current weight.
Whether you are eating 3 or 6 meals a day, your total calorie count has a max limit. It may not always be the same, but your activity level will have it variances as well.
“Eliminating food waste, more mini-meals and continued interest in gluten-free products will be top health trends in 2013, according to the Values Institute at DGWB, a social science research group based in Santa Ana… More than ever, health is the new prestige barometer — meaning that most Americans would rather be called healthy than wealthy.”