EXPERTS EXPLAIN HOW THE SIZE OF YOUR MEALS — AND THE TIME YOU EAT THEM — CAN AFFECT YOUR HEALTH.
The maxim has been around for decades: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” It’s not bad advice. Echoing similar thoughts. It’s probably best to avoid making dinner your largest meal.”
WHY MEAL SIZE AND TIMING MATTER:
Explaining how the body’s internal clock may be at least partly to blame. “In the morning, the body is primed to handle a big meal. It is ready to absorb nutrients and distribute them to cells to fuel the day’s activities. But gradually, as the day wears on, the organs that help metabolize nutrients, such as the liver and pancreas, start to respond more sluggishly.”
“Consuming large meals at night can increase the activity of certain metabolic pathways that lead to fat storage while you’re sleeping.” People who consume a greater percentage of calories in the evening tend to be at higher risk of obesity, and Type 2 diabetes.”
ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS:
- START BY PRIORITIZING A NOURISHING BREAKFAST THAT INCLUDES PROTEIN-RICH AND SATISFYING FOODS SUCH AS GREEK YOGURT, EGGS OR BEANS.
- MAKE TIME FOR A SUBSTANTIAL LUNCH AS WELL. BY THE TIME DINNER ARRIVES, YOU’LL BE LESS HUNGRY AND LESS LIKELY TO EAT A LARGER MEAL. YOU MAY ALSO BE LESS TEMPTED BY LATE-NIGHT SNACKS.
- PRIORITIZE EATING LOWER-CALORIE FOODS THAT WILL KEEP YOU FULL WITHOUT CAUSING A SPIKE IN BLOOD SUGAR, SUCH AS LEGUMES, GRILLED FISH, CHICKEN BREAST, VEGETABLES, FRUITS, AND WHOLE GRAINS.
