Hungry around 5pm daily ...and breakfast advice

[MissDivergent]

I keep getting hungry every day at about 5pm and I know I shouldn't snack, so I need to figure something else out and hopefully you can help.

 

I eat breakfast everyday at around 6am. Today I had lunch at about 11:45-12. My times are pretty much non-negotiable. I leave for work at 6:30am every day and my lunch could be a different time every day depending on the day. I was starving today by 11:45 but that was the first opportunity I had.

 

I get home at about 4:30pm and by 5pm I am quite hungry. I have put it off today, but it's now 5:45 and I am seriously really hungry. We usually start dinner around 6ish and eat by 6:30-6:45, but around 4:30 I am starting to get hungry. I think on Day 2, I was really hungry and knew I wouldn't be able to cook unless I ate something so I just had a full avocado with some sea salt and pepper and that did the trick. But it has been like this pretty much every day.

 

My lunch today was definitely large and filling. I had a tangerine. A deviled egg salad with homemade mayo probably about 2-3 eggs worth. About 1/4lb or more of ground beef "taco meat" leftover from last night with 1.5 bell peppers as "taco shells" with homemade salsa. This is a huge lunch, am I right?

 

I don't understand why 4hrs later, I am super hungry again. I just try to drink water when I am feeling hungry but it's not working. I did read that this sometimes happens a lot in the early stages where you consistently feel hungry, but I am not sure what to do about it. It's not like I feel snacky, I actually have hunger pangs going on.

 

 

Separate issue, but potentially related: I have a really hard time eating breakfast. I am one of those people who doesn't like to eat first thing in the morning. I usually have a few cups of coffee and then a few hours after being awake, I will eat a large breakfast. Eating at 6am means I have been up for about 45mins. Yesterday and today, it was seriously hard for me to force down eggs. I know I am not eating enough breakfast because of this. Today I only ate 3eggs with some homemade salsa. Not enough, I know, which maybe? is related to the afternoon hunger? But what should I do? Start waking up at 4am is my only answer. What worked for you? Also, I am sick of eggs. What else do you eat?

 

Sorry for the super long post! TIA!

[Renee Lee]

Maybe eat a mini meal before you leave work, or in the car on the way home? Either of those are good options.  When do you eat dinner?

 

You're right about your breakfast not being large enough. The cup of coffee in the morning actually isn't doing you any favors because it's an appetite suppressant. Why not do a small meal when you first wake up, then something more when you get into work around 9?

[msssjenna]

My day sounds similar to yours.  I eat breakfast around 7ish, lunch around 1230ish, and dinner by 5:30-6.  Sometimes I have an afternoon snack - usually 2 hardboiled eggs, or a banana with sunflower seed butter.

 

You definitely need to make sure you have a large breakfast.  I prep all my breakfasts and lunches on Sunday, so I can just reheat my breakfast in the morning and eat without having to cook anything.  I've stepped away from eggs - this week it is turkey sausage patties, with a large side of green beans and roasted sweet potato.  I also make a sweet potato hash (spinach, mushroom, onions, chicken sausage, and sweet potato).

 

Try to get out of the mindset of 'breakfast' and more into Meal 1.

[Mom2A&M]

Chicken and veggie soup is great in the am, just reheat a bowl full and it has protein, fat and veggies in one easy step. I don't really eats eggs too often, only when I don't plan well and that's all I have left! Also like msssjenna, I will make ahead seasoned ground turkey (like sausage) and roast sweet potato to reheat in a skillet, then top with coconut milk and cinnamon.

I think Renee hit it spot on, split your M1 into two portions, each what you can early and save the rest for a "snack".

[pjena]

I got used to eating breakfast earlier.  When I first started this, I was used to eating when I got to work - about 2 hrs after I woke up.  Slowly, I got used to feeling hungry in the morning and eating within an hour.  Now, I rarely bring my breakfast to work.  While you are transitioning, do you have the option of bringing something to work to eat a little later?  Then, start splitting it - eat a little before you leave and the rest when you get there.  Over time, you may find yourself able to eat the whole thing before you leave.  My go to breakfast is massaged kale salad, hb eggs, a sweet potato with coconut butter.  I can make 5 portions on Sunday and have breakfast ready to grab all week.  It would be an easy meal to start on and then finish later, too.

 

Drinking kombucha gets me through the "witching hour" - that hour before dinner when everyone is starting to get hungry and the kids are going nuts and you need to get dinner on the table.  I think the fizz helps calm my hungry belly more than water.  Sparkling water might do the trick, too.  For the kids, I put out a bowl of veggies and they can go to town if they're hungry enough.