What does everyone snack on during the day?

I haven't ever really been all that active until I started cycling and now that I've been doing it more often I've noticed I am hungry a lot more than I used to be! I'll eat a pretty hefty meal (such as wheat pasta, a salad and veggies somestimes fish) which used to be more than enough and about 2 hrs later or so I'll be hungry again :eek: My stomach is turning into a black hole!

I've never had to actually feed myself so much food before and my BF just keeps telling me to snack all day...snack on what?! Obviously snacking on french fries isn't the best idea, but I'm just not sure what things are good snacks that will help with cylcing. I could munch on carrots all day, but would those aid on rides. I just don't know :confused:

So I guess my question is what does everyone else snack on during the day and what are good things to eat which will help fill me up and avoid what feels like near constant hunger? What foods have you all found that provides energy for you on rides? I know everyone is different and eating habits need personal tweakings, but a starting point would be helpful.

To work I take things like pretzels, string cheese, pretzels stuffed with peanut butter, fruit, or iced animal crackers. I need to lose weight so I try to limit my snacking.

I am on a weight loss plan (weight Watchers), so fruit (usually grapes) and these little WW Cakes after lunch. I also like dry cereal or pretzels. I try to drink lots of water, it curbs hunger. :D

I'm hungry all the time too. I try to watch what I snack on or I'd pack on weight for sure. I like to snack on different things throughout the day. I'll eat nuts, beef jerky, slices of rolled up turkey, watermelon, oatmill (yes, I use it as a snack), bananas and I love apples. I also have a protein drink two hours after my breakfast.

Like Aggie_Ama I also drink lots of water. I've actually seen my performance on rides dramatically improve since I've increased my water intake. I think I must had been dehydrated prior to the watching my water intake.

I usually take a mix of pretzels and dried fruit to work for a mid-morning snack and I always take fresh fruit such as apple or banana for an afternoon snack. And I drink lots and lots of water and some juice. And I keep a box of granola bars at work for when I get really hungry in the afternoon.

Everyone has different needs nutritionally, since a lot of it is based on genetics.

For myself, i know i am getting super out of balance hunger when i don't eat enough protein. My body tends to need more protein than the "recommended daily" and that's normal. The recommendations are rough, and its hard to make a nutritional plan for entire countries of mixed genetics.

To give an example, hubby can eat a bowl of oatmeal and last all day. I can eat that oatmeal and i am starving in an hour. So i try to add in protein at every meal including snacks

A lot of time snacking on single foods (like pretzels or an apple) can throw blood sugar off, so it is a good idea to think of snacks as mini meals - e.g. apple with cheese and some crackers. ie fat, protein carbohydrate. that tends to keep things more stable.

For rides i will bring bananas and fig newtons or granola bars. I DO NOT eat granola bars on anything BUT rides.

For everyday, yogurt with nuts and some berries, piece of toast with sliced meat and cheese....because of my job i rarely have a time when i can eat a full meal until dinner, so i have to eat small meals through out the day.

I always start the day with a bowl of fruit, cereal (measured out), milk and sometimes an egg (i try not to eat more than 4 eggs per week).

If i do get a lunch - salad with crumbled tofu, yogurt and salsa is one of my favorites.

Good luck!

hannah

Almonds, a piece of fruit, yogurt, hummus and red bell paper slices or grape tomatoes, string cheese, pretzels. I try not to snack too much at work, but I almost always eat something before I head out for my weekday training rides. I drink a recovery drink--usually 16 ounces of chocolate milk--right after a ride, too. That takes the edge off my hunger.

I, too, have experienced a marked increase in my appetite because of cycling, and I have to eat a bit more these days to keep from losing much weight. However, I would note that hunger is often confused with thirst. Be sure you're adequately hydrating, too.

I've never been much of a snacker, but when I just have to have something, it's usually a hunk of cheese. ("hanker for a hunk a, a slab, a slice, or chunka, hanker for a hunk a cheese!") Lately I've been mixing up raisins and walnuts and whatever little nut I have around, not too much, just an ounce, and that satisfies me for a long time.

Karen

I'm always hungry :o I'm the only one that has a cooler at work ;) I bring fruit, yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, etc. I don't like salty snacks but I do love sugar (I try to stay away though, gives me headache) I drink a ton of water too....

Speaking of eating, it's time for my snack :D

i eat pretzels, nuts mostly for snacking at work. At home I tend to eat more fruits. I try to limit my chocolate to right after lunch (or i'd eat it all day)

I plan for snacks...but for me, they are mini meals and must include some protien. If I don't plan them, I tend to pick at the stuff that has little nutritional value and then find myself hungry all day anyway (and eating more).

typical snacks:
yogurt w/ protien powder and granola
rolled up lunch meat eaten with fresh fruit of some sort
light cheddar cheese with an apple
cold chicken and fresh fruit
1/2 a protien bar
carrot sticks, raw green beans and a small handful of almonds
1/2 a protien smoothie
ff ricotta with apple butter and chopped walnuts
powerbutter on wheat crackers

Chips and salsa are one of my default snacks. I look for low-ish sodium baked chips. Pretty much any mild salsa (except they call it medium or hot in the midwest... how strange) will do. If I'm a starvling, I'll add cheese.

Another common snack for me is to grab a cup of soup, usually homemade.

Super high end dark chocolate.

:cool:

I can so relate to being hungry all the time. When I first started riding I found it nearly impossible to convince everyone at work that I wasn't pregnant with my eating habits.
I can say that it has gotten better, but if I do a ride over 50 miles I feel like I am hungry for days!! I find that I do the best if I eat the majority of my calories early in the day. So, I take lots of early day snacks to work. I bring fresh fruit, berries now that they are in season, yogurt, and almonds. Bananas are really the perfect bike food. I eat two every day. I find that if I pack everything in early I ride much better and really don't snack at all at night. I usually crave bad snacks at night and this really doesn't happen if I eat well all day. My only downfall is Fruit Snacks. I eat them or Jelly Belly Sport Bean while I ride. I really need the sugar then, or I just die!:(

Thanks for all your responses and sharing what your snacking habits. I've a better idea now what is helpful and the things I should steer myself towards.

I do generally drink a lot of water, but maybe not enough. I'll have to start being more conscious of drinking more and see how it works out for me.

Again, thank you! :D

I actually rarely snack, but try to eat food during my meals that satisfies me so I don't get too hungry between meals. For me, that is a low carb/high protein diet, but that is also because I am a type 1.5 diabetic with impaired glucose tolerance. If you mean what do I eat for snacks on the bike, I find beef jerkey, hard boiled eggs, and almonds work. If I am really hungry I do allow myself a snack, but then something protein rich like a hard boiled egg or lean chicken sausage usually does the trick. I noticed you are getting hungry after a pasta lunch. How would you feel if you ate a grilled chicken salad or veggie rich stir fry instead? I do eat a ton of non-starchy veggies along with my leans meats.

to answer the original question....

i don't snack on anything. i eat 3 square meals a day. i actually tried the whole 5-6 meals a day thing and it ended up really messing with my brain. i'm not kidding. it gave me anxiety, made me always hungry or full, and it TOTALLY messed with my sleeping and digestion. it was really weird so i stopped doing that and went to just breakfast - lunch - and dinner. no problems since then.

so no snacks for me! i eat breakfast before work at 6:15am. lunch at 12pm. dinner any time between 6 - 10pm. that's it for me and i've found over the past 2 years that it's also what works the best for my body. i tried a few different things and all they did was mess me up.

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Originally Posted by nicole309

Bananas are really the perfect bike food. I eat two every day.

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How do you carry these with you?? I commute and although I love bananas, by the time I get to work, that thing is banana soup inside.

I second (third? fourth?) the comment about being hungry all the time after starting to bicycle. I've slowly been ramping up my miles, and I end up starving all the time. For my snacks:

Milk and a vitamin before my morning commute
1/2 C. oatmeal, fresh berries, and yogurt all combined for breakfast
String cheese
1/2 a cookie or something small but sweet (I can't resist sweet foods)
Small spinach salad with feta, cranberries, and walnuts for lunch
Banana or apple
1/2 a cookie

I usually don't eat much in the evenings, and I find that nibbling more through the day keeps me going better than having large meals.

I add fruit and vegetables. Sometimes 2 extra servings each between breakfast and lunch, and then again between lunch and dinner (a bit of protein in the afternoon). Sometimes if I'm hungry in the evening, I'll eat a bowl of oatmeal with skim milk and fruit. Sugary stuff makes me hungrier, as does white stuff, so I eat whole wheat as much as possible. I will also sometimes make healthy muffins or banana bread (lower sugar and use whole wheat flour) and have some in the afternoons.

Without knowing your routine, at first glance it looks like you're really short on the protein intake. I find that if I have alot of protein, particularly at breakfast, it really curbs my hunger. Also, right after a ride, if I don't get protein mixed with my carbs, I can't stop eating everything in sight. If I get the protein, I'm fine - normal hunger, even after a really long ride.

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Originally Posted by kfergos

How do you carry these with you?? I commute and although I love bananas, by the time I get to work, that thing is banana soup inside.

I second (third? fourth?) the comment about being hungry all the time after starting to bicycle. I've slowly been ramping up my miles, and I end up starving all the time. For my snacks:

Milk and a vitamin before my morning commute
1/2 C. oatmeal, fresh berries, and yogurt all combined for breakfast
String cheese
1/2 a cookie or something small but sweet (I can't resist sweet foods)
Small spinach salad with feta, cranberries, and walnuts for lunch
Banana or apple
1/2 a cookie

I usually don't eat much in the evenings, and I find that nibbling more through the day keeps me going better than having large meals.

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I've been having a LOT of trouble with breakfast, I just do not feel hungry in the mornings....this may change as I start morning rides.

Anywho, my standing snacks are fruit, yogurt or Ryvita crackers w/almond butter.

Today:
B: Sausage biscuit:rolleyes:
S: Peach
L: Whole wheat Turkey sandwich, handful of chips & pickle spear
S: Light strawberry yogurt
D: Asian pork lettuce wraps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kfergos

How do you carry these with you?? I commute and although I love bananas, by the time I get to work, that thing is banana soup inside.

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It's time to post the link to the obscene looking Banana Guard! :D

luna or clifbars, chips w/ spinach or humus dip. chocolate if im having a bad day:o

I don't know about the banana guard. :o On a bike, I tend to take green banana so it doesn't get too squishy brown.

I tend to snack on seasonal fruit. Right now its mango peach, nectarine, plutos, cantelope. Then there are my extra cookies leftover from my part-time business. cranberry white chocolate oatmeal, orange everything oatmeal, russian snowball... and the ubiquitous dark chocolate. hmmm chocolate hmmm...

If I want to be good I try for carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumber raddishes. AT my office, you will see me grazing on good stuff and yogurt.

At home, tortilla chips and muy caliente salsa :eek: Can't live without'em.

oh and on my bike its luna bar, banana, fig newton, PB&J sandwich squished cookies my housemate thinks I'm crazy for deliverately squishing my bread flat. I kind a like it that way sometimes...

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

It's time to post the link to the obscene looking Banana Guard! :D

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Surely this can't be for real... As an added bonus, they're "Now capable of custom printing possibilities for company names or logos to replace 'Banana Guard' on larger orders." Imagine getting one of THESE free from a vendor!

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Originally Posted by kfergos

Surely this can't be for real...

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Oh, they're for real. I don't personally own one (bananas upset my stomach so I generally do not eat them) but I know some gals on here do. :p

SmilingCat - What's muy caliente salsa??? I love salsa - always looking for new ones to try.

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Originally Posted by surgtech1956

What's muy caliente salsa???

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muy caliente = very spicy

I don't know if there's an actual brand by that name, there might be. :)

I've been having trouble with lunch. I eat breakfast about 7am - usually oatmeal and don't eat lunch till 1:30p - I think I need more morning snacks - I usually eat a banana or yogurt with granola around 10:30, but by the time I go to lunch I am starving and end up eating too much for lunch. Maybe I need to eat a protein snack or eat a bigger breakfast?

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Originally Posted by smilingcat

my housemate thinks I'm crazy for deliverately squishing my bread flat. I kind a like it that way sometimes...

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Here's one for you. These sound gross...and people either love 'em, or hate 'em. But, LOTS of people love 'em.

In honor of my dad, who died this year, and who never felt more loved than when presented with a plate of homemade asparagus sandwiches:

Asparagus Sandwich Recipe:

1 Loaf Processed White Wonder Break (as processed/white as it gets)
1 Large Can Asparagus (yes, canned asparagus)
Real Mayonnaise
Salt & Pepper

Upend the loaf of bread so it stands like a tower on the cutting board. With an electric carving knife, run the knife down each side of the tower, shaving off all crusts.

Spread the pieces of white bread out on a counter or cutting board, all adjacent & touching. With a rolling pin, flatted all the pieces of bread completely.

With a large spreader, spread mayonnaise on all pieces & sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Lay one large asparagus spear on each piece of break, the diagonal way (corner to corner).

Roll the bread up (other corner to other corner) to make a round little finger sandwich. If not eaten immediately, keep cold and moist by storing in fridge with a fairly damp tea towel over the top, covered by saran wrap.

Feed to your favorite old B-17 pilot. :p

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Originally Posted by Starfish

In honor of my dad, who died this year, and who never felt more loved than when presented with a plate of homemade asparagus sandwiches:

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With all due respect to your dad, and so very sorry for your loss, these sound absolutely heinous! :eek:

...and I actually like asparagus (but not out of a can).

Emily

I like to snack on candy corn and Peeps with the occasional Circus Peanut to make sure things are well rounded (like my hips) :p

Did an experiment with a loaf of wonder bread once -- left it on the kitchen counter for about six months.

No mold, still soft and squishy as the day it was baked!

That scares me!

Karen in Boise

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

these sound absolutely heinous! :eek:
Emily

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I know, I know...LOL...that is the weird thing. You really can't compare them to anything having to do with normal asparagus. It is more like, all combined together, these ingredients just turn into something else.

It is pretty weird. They're kinda addictive, though...LOL

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Originally Posted by Starfish

I know, I know...LOL...that is the weird thing. You really can't compare them to anything having to do with normal asparagus. It is more like, all combined together, these ingredients just turn into something else.

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Kind of like Frankenstein

Hee hee... I went to this thread hoping to find ideas since I'm dieting and getting bored (though it's working -- have lost 3 lbs in 2 weeks and seem to be continuing to lose. I'm using the software from Calorieking.com and it really works for me).

But Starfish, I TOTALLY see how those sandwiches would be yummy, I'm tempted to try. Even though when I cook asparagus (which I love), I usually plunge it into boiling water for like, 30 seconds, with the goal that it should be crisp and bright green when served, and I like it with herb butter (dill or italian parsley, or even basil are equally good). And I don't think I've ever once bought Wonder Bread in my entire life. But I get the gestalt. As long as it doesn't involve Miracle Whip. That's one thing I just can't stomach. :D :D :D

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

It's time to post the link to the obscene looking Banana Guard! :D

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OMG! I LOVE the way one of the FAQs is "is there a battery attachment?" I read and re-read that and didn't understand. Battery attachment? For what?

THEN I read the response "No. The Banana Guard was designed for its intended purpose only as a device to prevent banana trauma during transport."

Ah. I see.:eek: