Lately, I have been doing a lot of unstructured eating.
If my days were regularly scheduled, if I knew exactly where I might be or how the hours would be spent, that type of arrangement could make sense. As the reality is more unpredictable, I’ve found myself relaxing, eating meals in stages or as time permits. Truthfully, I’m finding that flexibility to be a welcome change.
I used to justify my perfectly balanced platters as a contingency plan: fulfilling each component helped ensure I ate enough, rather than overestimating, as was the old habit. I’ve been busy and in the mood for a simple salad, yet a piece of my brain reminds me that chopped vegetables, however abundant, do not constitute a meal. But if time doesn’t allow for the preparation of multiple plates, I’ve simply made the salad and eaten more as the day went on.
That freedom still feels new to me. Perhaps this method requires more intuition – trusting my cravings and my hunger cues to guide me, as opposed to a tried and true plan.
Of course, I’ve still been creating thoughtful dinner dishes and comforting bowls of oatmeal each morning. But inbetween, I have been balancing with easy, individual pieces. Avocado with a spoon, instead of avocado in a sandwich. A handful of nuts from my hand, rather than mixed in a dish. Yogurt and granola at noon, salad as an afternoon snack.
I’d guess that as the weeks pass, I’ll fluctuate between both styles, depending on the structure of my day. Allowing myself the freedom and flexibility to do whichever I choose – that is certainly the best part.
Which do you prefer? Balanced, planned meals or a series of snacks?
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Balanced planned meals if I can, my body is such a creature of habit it gets mad at me otherwise!
I am a structure person all the way… It’s what feels best for my body, but I’d definitely like to be a little more flexible!
I prefer planned meals, but then my days are usually to a schedule, where I have my dinner break at the same time and breakfast the same time, it’s just my evening meals and snacks which are sometimes spontaneous.
Call me a blog stalker..but I’ve been a huge reader of your blog for a while and HAD to comment finally. I love love your photography work and the way you cook. I totally agree with how you eat when you want instead of on a structured plan…I often plan out meals and ignore what I really want at the time. Salads for lunch, hot meals for dinner..ect. It often gets boring. I want to try one day just eating what I feel like at the time…like a pb&j sandwich for breakfast or cereal for dinner. Sounds fun :)
Maggie
Of course, I thrive off of balance and planning, but it is so inspiring and refreshing to hear that you can stray of the “perfect” planned day and still enjoy and be confident. Thanks for sharing!
I’m like you, I like having a little of both. But I’m not so good at the snacking all day thing. I like to eat a lot at one time, so it can be too much of a good thing with me.
Hunger cues and intuitive eating are so difficult to master! Sooo I’m one of those gals who plans everything out. but I hope to be more flexible asap so I can really go with the flow and just be ready for whatever. Love the photog by the way!
I go for planned meals during the weekdays. The weekend is more flexible though with snacks and eat out. Balance and flexibility (not just with eating) are two things I work on each day.
I am a control freak, so I like having everything planned. A random day of flexibility is nice occasionally, but I get too off-track if I don’t have structure.