Help with 5-6 small meals a day?

[peace-love-couture]

So, last year I tried many different things to change up my diet. The best diet change I EVER made was doing the 5-6 meals a day. Within about 3 weeks I had lost about 6 pounds, which is ridiculously awesome even though I'm not overweight. I noticed I didn't binge(which I'm currently having a problem with now), I had SO much more energy, workouts were easier and it was SO much easier when I would switch up my HIIT. Like, I wasn't sore anymore. Aside from the 5-6 meals a day, I made the decision to eat salmon at least 2 times a week, tuna once a week & sardines as a snack once a week. It was awesome. I really wanna go back to the 5-6 snacks.

I started classes today so I have my schedule figured out. I'm at school from 8:00 am to 3:10 on M, W & from 8:00 am to 12:15. I chose to do no gaps, although on M & W I have a 2 hr gap.

What are some simple, non-messy, hassle free small meals/snacks that I can eat while at school that are healthy yet filling?

[goflipaburger]

I'm slowly getting back to snaking instead of huge meals, because I genuinely don't have time for three meals this semester.

So far, I found a few small snack-meals that are easy to carry around and easy to eat in public lol

-whole wheat, healthy crackers with white cheddar (or any white cheese from a deli, because its probably 1000 times more healthy than packaged cheese. also cut it into squares), with sliced green and red peppers, and some sliced turkey (also from a deli and cut into squares. You can wrap each ingredient in different baggies or in plastic wrap and you can either munch on it all separately or put them together as you go. Just make sure to watch your portions. You can even pack tuna :)

- a prepared turkey (or tuna) sandwich with whole bread and some veggies, sliced into triangles. Go heavy on the turkey so you get lots of protein! If you love tomatoes (like I do) pack them separately, if you put them in the sandwich it will sog. Some veggies I love: spinach, lettuce, green peppers, some parsley or cilantro, red onions

- a cup of almonds and a banana. I don't know why but this combination is GREAT. If you eat it all at once it won't do you any good, but if you munch on almonds for a half hour and then eat a banana, you'll feel really full for a long time

- carrots are good, too but are high in sugars (its good glucose, but still lol).

- packed greek yogurt (like Chobani or Fage with honey) with a baggie of a pro-biotic fruit

- a cup of granola with almonds, a pro-biotic fruit and some greek yogurt

- turkey, chicken or salmon burritos on whole wheat burrito bread. Just have one and have something light on the side that is either high in protein, fiber or in good glucose/lactose, so carrots, yogurt, banana's and blueberries are good options.

[WeaponZero]

The rule for cheese is "white is right." Sounds racist but the truth is yellowish cheeses have been processed MUCH more and thus are like a hundred times worse for you. Cheese that comes white crumbled form (feta or goat cheese, for instance) is probably the best for you.

[goflipaburger]

yep :) I looovvve white cheddar haha

[goflipaburger]

thanks for ba! also, since you're going to college soon, here's a quick, easy and REALLY filling soup that I literally cannot stop eating link

You don't really need vegetable broth unless you're going light on the soy. you can also do it with udon noodles (which have fewer calories than almost any noodle).

[peace-love-couture]

Why thank you!

I love japanese soups and miso!

[Catie101]

i hope this answer doesn't make me seem lazy but I just read through this today and I thought the link would be helpful and I can't claim their ideas as my own but it seems to be perfectly suited for you and just what your asking for :) - link

[peace-love-couture]

No haha, not lazy. But the second pic looks delicious haha

[Catie101]

:)

[WeaponZero]

only the second? lol, most of them look awesome.

[WeaponZero]

A few companies make oatmeal based protein bars (as opposed to the whey or soy most use). Because oatmeal is naturally very low calories, these are lower in fat and calories than most traditional protein bars while containing a high amount of fiber as well (which is normally absent in bars). Detour makes one, GNC makes one under their Pro Performance line, etc...

They're roughly 400 calories each and very filling. You could cut them in half and eat half now and half later with a piece of fruit such as an apple (which has practically no calories at all).

Another bar option is: link

only 260 calories a pop, the chocolate ones taste pretty good (the marshmallow ones, not so much), lots of protein and good carbs, and no mass gainer/bodybuilding additives like you'll find in any mother bars. It's the ideal snack protein bar for someone who is looking to lose weight rather than gain muscle.

[WeaponZero]

If you want something you can carry around with you in your backpack all day that doesn't need to be refrigated OR warmed up/cooked, then bars (along with the whole grain crackers people mentioned elsewhere in the thread) are really your only options. Everything else I can think of either needs to be stored cold or heated up.

[goflipaburger]

but you can always store a chilled water bottle next to items that don't spoil on instant-- like certain cheeses :) and for other things, I typically take a used plastic bottle, fill it a third of the way and freeze it so the next day I can fill it with water and put it directly under my lunch :) keeps it at 40ish degrees for 2-3 hours, which is perfect for lunch snacks.

But beware of the condensation :P pack it all in plastic!

[peace-love-couture]

Speaking of protein, how much do you think I should be consuming on a daily basis?

I'm trying to increase my protein intake, mostly through oily fish such as salmon and tuna but I know I'm not getting nearly enough.

[WeaponZero]

80g a day or so

[MikeyBGeek]

Whole grain gold fish crackers.

Between 3 small meals a day not 5-6.

The trick is to eat just enough to have something in your stomach, not to fill. then have a good hour work out before your 2nd meal (my advice, interval running 2 mile cardio, followed by weights).

Fish is a good idea for protein. But keep snacking once in a while on something lite, like the gold fish I mentioned. Then have your 3rd meal, but like I said NOT TO FILL. Small plate, and fill the rest of your belly with water. All before preferably 8pm. Shoot for a MAX of 1500 cal per day, no sugar.

[kheserthorpe]

Fruits, vegetables, nuts. If you don't care about breath impact, you can get mini portions of tuna that are seasoned to eat with a few crackers ;).

The hard part is finding high protein low fat things that don't need refrigeration.

If you're willing to carry stuff with a cold back, a bit of cooked chicken or turkey, greek yogurt etc. ...

[Shinygirl]

Citrus fruits, apples, grapes as well as carrot and celery sticks. Small, quick and healthy. They work because they have enough solid matter to make you feel full, yet they are mostly liquid so you don't have the weight gain. Worked wonders for me :)

[raptor]

I really like bringing some homemade trail mix. Things I may put in include: granola, nuts, raisins or other dried fruits, maybe M&Ms, sunflower or pumpkin seeds at times.

I'll snack on them during classes.

[stark101]

i have recently tried metabolic typing and its, proving to be equally effective but to each their own

[MOZZY10]

6 ponds, sonds ridcules, I say eat less altogether, six meals is quite a lot . . .