I tend to go with the flow and not ground to a specific meal time. What helps you stick to a schedule?

Maria P.
This only tends to be an issue on busy days at work. I have blocked the time in calendar for meals and breaks every workday. While I don’t always comply 100% with the time block, it increases my awareness that I need to eat and take breaks at regular intervals.
Elisa Y.
Study/work schedule. The fact that I go to studies and to work at the same time every day made me eat at specific times to make sure I don't lose energy and good mood due to feeling hungry. And on weekends my body naturally wants to eat at those same times. So basically try working out what your commitments are and work out the best times to eat round them and stick to them. It might take a few attempts to stick and some time to find those right times but keep on – you can do it! All the best
Noelle E.
At first, before I had a good schedule for my meals, I’d wake up in the morning and only rarely ever be that hungry. But once I made breakfast the very first part of my morning routine—it’s pretty much the first thing I do once I get out of bed in the morning, save for brushing my teeth while half-asleep—I started getting hungry right as I would wake up. So long as I get up at the same time, I get hungry at the same time. Making it really stick, though, also required me to get up a little earlier, to make sure I had time to make a good breakfast (and one that I’d want to eat). And whether that’s some eggs, a smoothie, or just an apple and some peanut butter, so long as I’ve given myself the time to make it and enjoy it, it’s something I really want to do, not just feel the need to do.
Balbino B.
Sticking to a schedule helps in several ways:
– my digestion is better
– I feel better and I’m in a better mood
– I tend to eat healthier at meals and snack less in between
– I don’t have to think about when to take a break to eat; I just do it
– my family (especially for my kids) stick to the same schedule
Jean Q.
Set a timer for an hour or hour and a half (however long it takes you to make a meal) and get stated in it early and you will be all ready to eat when its time. Doing stuff ahead is great. You can also set the table for breakfast night before. Do whatever you can beforehand for anything if possible and practical.
Lee O.
Eating breakfast right when I get up, and ensuring I plan for lunch at a specific time. If I plan those two meals, I am much better at not snacking or eating “on the go.” Also invest in a good water bottle and carry it with you ALL THE TIME. When you’re ready to snack, drink a lot of water and then decide if you’re still hungry.
Priscilla O.
I don't do a schedule. I'm now a firm believer in intuitive eating and listening to your body and what it wants, which isn't generally a fixed schedule!
Timeo Q.
For breakfast and lunch, I usually have a set schedule. Dinner is more up in the air. With 3 kids and many evening commitments, it's nearly impossible to stick to a rigid schedule.
Sara W.
It depends on your activity. I don't always have a meal schedule and forget time so I try to cut the day into blocks of 3 hrs tasking. This is were a timer helps or any other notification.

1 hour = 50 mins task + 10 mins break, after 3 hrs = meal time

Randy N.
It is important to be flexible but it is more important to develop a schedule that works well for your goals. Then when you need to be flexible, your sense of habit will still accomplish your daily goals.
Nicoline G.
I stay committed and make sure I get up and have my meal for breakfast lunch and dinner. If you miss a meal then you can go off track that’s why it’s good to stay consistent.
Tracy U.
Make it a habit. It will be rough the first few times around because you’re not used to it and would rather to go the easy way/the way you’ve known, and that’s okay. Set yourself small goals. Let yourself stick to a schedule in three consecutive days, then five, and so on. Try to develop a habit of eating within 30minutes of waking up, right after brushing your teeth perhaps. It will take a lot of willpower to stick to this at first, but before you know it this schedule will become your morning flow. I don’t believe there’s a “hack” in things in life, it’s only a matter of simply doing. But I guess it’s easier said than done, but it’s also easier to get it done than to leave it to tomorrow.
Ga Tan O.
I don’t like to stick to a schedule either, because I know if something unexpected happens I won’t follow through. Instead, I create a routine of habits that form a sequence. For example, if I know I need to take vitamins when I get home and feed my dogs, I’ll create a paper tracker that reminds me to do all of those habits whenever I do happen to get home.
Jesus T.
It is best to make it part of your routine, regardless of the time. I usually have my breakfast right after I drop my kids to school.
Jimmie F.
Why not just go with the flow. As long as you don't eat more than you need and stick to balanced, healthy macros and micros it shouldn't matter
Nanna C.
Necessity!! Lol! We eat breakfast at 7am so we can leave for school. (I’m a teacher). Lunch depends on the school bell. And Dinner is at 6pm so we can get everyone fed and clean up before my oldest has swim team practice at 7pm.
Irene C.
For me, it helps to plan the week beforehand. If I know what I’ll eat, then I’ll know how long I need to prepare the meal. Since I am quite busy most weekdays I have to stick to that schedule or else won’t I have time to make and eat the food. When I don’t have much to do I’ll plan something fun to do at home (take a bath, watch a movie, do a puzzle with friends etc.) and that en schedule the meals so I’ll have enough time for both. This way I have to stick to my schedule. It also helps to plan my favourite meal on days which are particularly hard to keep to the schedule, since I’ll be particularly keen on making and eating the food. But this is mostly concerning dinner. For breakfast it helps to prepare some of the meal the day before or, since I pack a lunch for the day, prepare the lunch and then have time for the breakfast. Since I have to get up early in the morning on weekdays I don’t have much time to delay breakfast, but in the weekend I would say the same as for dinner. Prepare something fun for the day and know that you’ll have to eat before that.
Bryan J.
Changing up the pattern or the way I do things or even the order in which I do habits helps me keep a better grasp on them every day
Friedhelm X.
Starting small.

Start with trying to stick to one meal with a schedule window. For me it was breakfast. I always make sure I have three eggs in my fridge. It's the easiest to make in the morning and fills me up. Before it used to be oats and banana but I realized eggs are way better

And then do this enough until it becomes a habit. Then try other meals

Rafael E.
I tend to eat the same thing every day. Usually, that means an egg white omelet with veggies, salsa, some type of fruit (usually melons or fruits), coffee with soy milk. I'll also often add either roasted potatoes covered in herbs or whole wheat toast with whipped cream cheese and a light drizzle of honey. This meal sustains me for several hours, so it works well for me. Keeping to roughly the same breakfast every day also reduces decision anxiety, which means my day doesn't start with an act of willpower or extra anxiety.
Aymeric P.
I have a few different models that I go by for chunks in my day, a rolling to do list, an appointment list. The night before I make a rough finalized plan for the next day. I keep a protein bar in my bag. I have extra alerts on my phone: one set that never change and another that I turn off and on according to what chunks I’m using the next day.
Ernest J.
Although sometime not possible to take meal on fix or specific time. Specially at dinner I try to take between 7 to 8 PM.

So, after dinner I have much time to digest before sleep and I sleep well. Other thing I can manage to go outside for walk with family or shopping. If, I not specific time for meal its hard to manage or things and sleep also.

Late in dinner make late sleep which take to sleep less and its not good for health.

Erwan E.
I totally don't know the benefits. For me, if I know enough benefits and have a goal in life, I start changing my life in that direction
Felix P.
I don't think it's necessary to stick to time meals. Outside of breakfast, eat only when you want to, eat healthy, eat little and often.
Norma E.
Sticking to a schedule and habits work very similarly. It's all about routine. Going with the flow is flexible, but risky. You have to spend energy on making decisions that could be made automatically by following a routine.

The best way to build a habit is to have a steady daily routine that you follow automatically. This way it is easier to add new habits to that routine.

So take meals for example, if you're eating lunch every day at the same time, it becomes a habit. You no longer need to remember to eat lunch, instead it all happens automatically.

However, if this routine gets interrupted, all the habits are also in danger of falling apart. Which is often what happens with new year resolutions. You create a routine that only works when you have a lot of free time, but when it is time to return to work, your routine changes and the habits get left behind.

So my suggestion would be to create a routine that is easy to follow, be realistic. If you're a night owl, don't try to force a routine where you will eat breakfast at seven and lunch at noon. Because that is doomed to fail.

It is also a good idea to plan ahead and maybe make a few alternative routines in case something unexpected happens.

Say you're going for a trip abroad. Pretty much everyone's routine is gonna change completely. So plan ahead and create a schedule for your meal times during this trip.

Simon C.
Making it a part of a routine that has a specific trigger, like waking up and eating or getting home from work and starting dinner.
Isobel F.
Sheduling the following day in the evening is very useful as you can see your next day from from the side. But it’s nothing without reminders and willpower, of course
Mary E.
I will just make it one of the first things I do. When I decided to start eating breakfast daily, and I set my alarm a little earlier, to make sure I had time, and give me a little time just to be more awake.
Beth P.
Using this app or some other type of scheduled reminder has been helping. It's also good to know why you need to make a habit stick. Eating isn't only to resolve hunger. Remember it's also about replenishing your body's fuel tank for doing other things you love.
Alexander P.
The necessities of the day must be fundamentally ingrained into a pattern until it emerges as a habit. A strict schedule until it becomes a part of my personality is the only way
Nora E.
Waking up at the same time every day helps with breakfast schedule, for lunch eat with someone so you have to do it at a certain hour and help yourself watching the news while having diner
Miranda F.
Not sure that a truly fixed breakfast time is that important. I would say that it's more important to rise/wake at stable time and eat within 30 minutes of that
Senta E.
Something I do to help me eat breakfast (at least) at the same time every day is working out before I eat. If I wake up, work out, then eat as my morning routine, it makes it a lot easier to eat, rather than just going 'eh, I'm not hungry now.'
Kunigunda E.
Planning ahead of time what I’m going to eat, and gauging when the best time to eat will be. If I already have an idea of what I want, it makes it easier when it comes time to eat.
Inessa Z.
My only consistent meal is breakfast, I tend to eat right after I workout, before I shower, that way when I shower, I can relax with the thought I am halfway through getting ready. For lunch I like to pack protein bars, easy to grab fruits like bananas, oranges, and apples, or microwave meals. That way I don’t have to spend a lot of time preparing for it and I can just snack throughout the day, if I end up being more hungry I’ll grab a Togo meal from a restaurant. Dinner is the most flexible. Depending on the evening, I have a nice homemade meal with my husband, just have a snack while I work, or maybe eat a bowl of ramen while I watch a movie, sometimes I even skip it if I never start to feel hungry, other days I have two dinners. My biggest focus at night is drinking a lot of water so I am hydrated for my workout the next day, then I have a healthy breakfast again!
Sophie S.
For me I had to force myself to stop to eat. I know it seems silly, but if you are like me then you are on the go. I made my lunches and breakfast the night before and made them pretty. I found that if I only packed what I liked, only my favorite foods, in quick easy to eat and go type stuff, I was more apt to eat. Oh and did I mention the jealous comments I got from those at work who ran and got a burger and fries while I’m eating a colorful lettuce taco wrap?
Mathilde T.
Well it's really important to decide what you're going to eat as breakfast the night before, and if that needs cooking or preparing ,do it at night because in the morning we're most likely too lazy to prepare something.also motivate yourself by considering the benefits of early breakfast.
Candice C.
The sense of responsibility. Knowing that if I don't do what must be done at that time, the rest of the schedule or even the day will be scrambled. But even I sometimes go with the flow of the day, you can call that flow a schedule in itself! Just not losing yourself in it would be great! Getting done what you set for that day is enough, whether going with the flow or rigorously following an schedule.
Kenzo C.
Truthfully, I don’t have a specific meal time either. Only for breakfast, I try to eat something right away to start the day, even if it’s grabbing a banana on my way out the door really quickly. I generally go with the flow too. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful!
Storm C.
Planning ahead and having healthy food on hand to grab when I don't feel like prepping or don't have time. Also setting an alarm (i like to use a song I like so its not so "alarming" and has Happy thoughts to it) to remind me.
Myrtle F.
My stomach tells me! I wake up hungry and when lunch rolls around I seem to be hungry again. My biggest problem is eating too much at dinner. I have a hard time sleeping so if I overeat I am miserable. I guess that’s why I wake up hungry!
Arlene Z.
Having a specific meal time means that it’s easier to stick to a schedule. Unless you just aren’t hungry but if you space meal times properly and don’t snack throughout the day you should be fairly hungry.
Marcus W.
I am usually hungry for breakfast when I wake up so I have a big healthy breakfast. Lunch and dinner can have a larger window of when I’m hungry. If I’m not very hungry for lunch I will have a healthy snack. Depending on my day Diner is between 6-8.
M Lina E.
I eat too much so I need structure rift now.
Currently 'trying' Intermittent fasting(IF) 16/8. I have a Book to record everything. **As suggested from Fabulous IF challenge**. Also 3meals no snacking. Right side: Food intake, exercise, symptom, other- including time. Left side I use as a journal.
One week at a time to figure out what works for me. I realize when I don't have specific times that I have previously marked as Bkfst. Lunch. Dinner. I snack too much.
No Snacking !!!
Floyd P.
I make sure that I eat a great breakfast as soon as I wake up. For the other meals, they depend on my daily plans. I start planning my day every morning and then adjust my eating time for lunch and dinner.
Waln Ria Q.
Hi, truthfully, I don't! I eat my breakfast around 10 AM, I may have an apple and a peanut & Jam sandwich with 1 piece of 12 grain bread.
Lunch can be anytime in the before 2:30 PM.
I have health issues which severely limits my food intake, so I choose to eat when I feel a little hungry.
BECAUSE protein is limited to 5 oz. Per DAY, I choose to have a "normal" dinner with my husband with a nice salad with no dressing, a small meat, fish, chicken, and sometimes I have a small amount of cooked veggies, plus a glass of wine……I cheat at times. But I have been dealing with this for over 10 years, now. My lab tests a very good so, this routine is working, so far.
Fabulous has helped me to eat something 3 times a day, which I don't remember when I ate breakfast, even when I was a child. What I do is really not following their rules. Perhaps you should ask them to ask another person. Meanwhile, be well, be happy and enjoy life with lots of laughter.
Frida W.
Put your breakfast in a pleasant routine and eat what you like and makes you feel good. If you find it difficult, using applications like Lifesum can be a great help.
Anthony Y.
I tend to do things in the same order every morning. I have a pretty tight time frame to get everything done in the morning before I walk out the door, so having a timed routine helps me. I know the time at which I need to have each step completed by-including eating breakfast-so it helps me get everything in. That’s not to say that I never ever deviate (wake up tired some mornings so I’m moving extra slow) or a wrench doesn’t get thrown in there (I have a 5 year old whose mission in life is to throw me off), but trying to have a schedule helps.
Linda C.
1) Not putting off tasks and doing them as I think of them rather than pushing it to a later time.
2) Having the motivation and ingredients needed to make a meal.
Rosa C.
Having a daily/weekly/whatever routine that is the same 99% of the time (obviously there are always exceptions!), planning AND prepping in advance, and utilizing/updating the phone apps I use for productivity and my paper planner daily are all things that help keep me on track and moving forward in life!
James E.
I try to think about my health, and I know that ifI get very hungry I will most likely choose less healthy food. So when I get home from work dinner is on my mind and schedule. I also plan all my dinners for the week on sundays and make sure I have all the ingredients I need. That makes it easier to stick to a schedule. I might mix it up and have something I did not plan for but even so I always have a go-to option if Im not sure.