Is it plausible to eat just one meal a day?
Asked by tydude187 on Mar 08, 2009
in Weight Maintenance
In terms of just maintaining weight, I'd like to know if getting the majority of my daily calories in one meal would be a problem. I usually have a small breakfast (around 300 calories) but then I do not have a chance to eat again until very late (10 PM), and so I'll have an 1700-1800 calorie meal around that time. Will this cause any problems?
Answer
The health consequences of eating one large meal vs. three or more are far from established. In a recent study comparing eaters of one vs. three meals a day, one-mealers lost a bit more weight and fat, but they sustained unhealthy elevations in their blood sugars. Still, the Dalai Lama and many leaders of the Islam nation traditionally eat only one meal a day. As long as calorie intake does not exceed output, a young person can be healthy on one well-planned meal; however, it may be difficult to comfortably eat enough food at one sitting to be well-nourished, and it is equally uncomfortable to stave off hunger all day long or to sleep well on a full stomach.
What type of food should not be eaten?
Calorie Count does not prescribe a particular diet or tell people to avoid particular foods. We only ask that you eat a balanced diet... Read more