Vtrim Community Blog » eating routine http://www.vtrimblog.org An online approach to weight loss from the University of Vermont Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:38:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 en hourly 1 The Benefits of Scheduled Eating http://www.vtrimblog.org/weight-management-blog/the-benefits-of-scheduled-eating/ http://www.vtrimblog.org/weight-management-blog/the-benefits-of-scheduled-eating/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:11:42 +0000 Heather Leonard http://www.vtrimblog.org/?p=246 Do you tend to eat on a regular schedule each day or do you find yourself grazing your way through the day, eating at different times each day? A research study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared the effects of a normal eating schedule with a random, grazing style of eating. The women in the study who ate at fixed, routine times each day burned more calories after each meal than women who ate unscheduled meals randomly throughout the day. Additionally, the women who ate regularly had lower peaks in insulin levels after meals, suggesting the possibility of better insulin control when eating regularly.

While it was a small study, it raises some thoughts about the benefits of an eating routine or schedule. Random eating times and grazing can set you up to consume more calories through mindless eating. Having a routine makes it easier to plan ahead and be prepared with healthier options to eat.

Need another reason to implement an eating schedule or routine? Having a plan in place for eating behaviors helps facilitate greater weight management success. Afterall, healthy habits don’t just happen–they take effort and planning.

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