Here's a simple formula to play with: pick a protein (tuna, chicken, turkey, lean beef, tofu, falafels), choose a mix of veggies, and complete with a healthy spread (think salsa, hummus, cottage or cream cheese, mustard, relish, pesto or chutneys).
Lunch should be about four to five hours after breakfast. For example, if you ate breakfast at 7 am, eat lunch between 11 am and noon. If it is not possible for you to eat lunch until 2 pm on a particular day, then plan a snack in between those two meals.
Overall, the takeaway here is this: while it's highly individualized, some general guidelines suggest that eating breakfast by 9 a.m., lunch between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., and dinner at least four hours before bed can set your body up for optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients.
What's the best time to stop eating before bed? It's best to stop eating about three hours before going to bed. That allows plenty of time for your body to digest the last food you ate so it won't disrupt your sleep, but leaves a small enough window before sleep that you won't go to bed feeling hungry.
Your meal should take about 20 to 30 minutes. If you're gobbling up your food in 5 to 10 minutes, you're likely to experience indigestion and risk overeating. While you don't need to chew each bite 50 times, try taking a breath or putting down your utensil between bites to help slow your eating down even more.
Lunches, like any other meals, should be nutritionally balanced and enjoyable. An easy way to help build a balanced lunch is to include foods from at least 3 food groups (vegetables, fruits, grains, protein and dairy/calcium-rich foods).
How can you lose belly fat? The most effective and easy way to lose weight around your abdominal area is by gradually controlling your food portion and not by drastically stopping consumption of food altogether. You need to count your calorie intake and feed your stomach with nutrient filled foods.
Going to bed without a last meal means your body has less energy to rejuvenate and repair itself. Plus, with less energy, the body holds onto existing fat for energy, making it harder to lose weight and easier for weight gain to occur.
The best time to have your breakfast is within two hours of waking up. Having breakfast after waking up is good for your metabolism, say experts. If you are a gym-goer and prefer exercising in the morning, have something light like a banana or an avocado toast, at least half an hour before working out.
After the first meal of the day, depending on what was had and how balanced it was, most people find that they need to eat again every 3-4 hours or so. Including a protein-rich food, high-fibre starches, veg/fruits and fats in your meals will likely result in feeling full and satisfied for longer.
Featuring energy-boosting foods like eggs, pears, chickpeas and beans, these meals can help keep you fueled and motivated to take on the rest of your day. Recipes like our Chickpea Tuna Salad and our Best Egg Salad Recipe for Sandwiches are ideal choices to pack for lunch any day of the week.
