All-Day Grazing or a Few Large Meals? What the Science Says About Healthy Snack and Meal Consumption

There is a lot of information out there today about how to eat healthily in the modern world. While the value and accuracy of that information may vary, there is no doubt that plenty of confusion exists due to the abundance of opinions that often contradict each other. 

One of the points that has been debated for years relates to when food should be consumed. Is it better to eat snacks regularly throughout the day or limit intake to a couple of larger meals? Looking closer at grazing vs. meals can help clarify which option might be the best to pursue.

No matter what type of eating plan your employees want to use in their own lives, you can support them in that journey by having as much variety available in your office as possible. Working with InReach to add a micro market, office pantry, or vending machine to your building will go a long way toward helping your employees stay on track—whatever their chosen track may be. Get in touch today to learn more. 

Looking at the All-Day Grazing Approach

There are a few fundamental ideas behind the approach to all-day grazing as an eating strategy. The first is controlling hunger. Without ever going too long between eating, it’s hard to get particularly hungry. Some people think this will lead to lower caloric intake overall compared to eating a lot of food all at once and taking in a large volume of calories. 

There is also the matter of blood sugar to consider. For some people, eating a large meal can bring along a significant spike in blood sugar and then an accompanying crash a short time later. If grazing rather than eating big meals can level out blood sugar and lead to more stability throughout the day, it’s certainly worth exploring. 

Finally, there is the practical side of this debate. For some individuals, it simply might be easier to eat a little bit at a time throughout the day, stopping by vending machines with healthy options to find what they need. Busy people who never feel like they have enough time to spend sitting down at the table for lunch or dinner might be better off with the grazing option. 

Fewer, Larger Meals Offer a Different Approach

Just as there are plenty of advantages to all-day grazing, there are also some arguments to be made for eating bigger meals less often. Interestingly, the first point in this perspective is the same as the first point in the last: managing hunger. Some people think that eating a big meal will do a better job of satiating them for much of the day compared to snacking consistently. It’s likely that this is something that varies from person to person, and everyone will have their own perspective of what makes them feel full and satisfied. 

So, what else is there to think about? There is also the argument that large meals are closely aligned with how humans have eaten throughout history. It’s likely that snacks were hard to come by for much of history, so humans may have eaten a lot of food in big meals only to go extended periods (days, perhaps) without eating anything. It’s possible that some people will feel this is just a more natural, almost instinctual way to consume their food. 

It could also be the case for some people that eating less often will lead to better digestion. The digestive system doesn’t get much of a break when it is constantly being asked to deal with food that is coming in, even if it is in small quantities throughout the day. For people with digestive problems or specific metabolic goals, the best move might be to simply abstain from food for longer periods and then eat more to meet their energy requirements. 

There Is No Scientific Consensus

One of the tricky things about this topic is that there is no accepted scientific consensus on the debate. Perhaps that is why the debate continues to this day—no one study can be pointed to as the definitive proof that one way of eating is better than the other for every person or situation.

In more recent years, the trend seems to be moving toward eating fewer but larger meals during the day. This has come along with the popularity of intermittent fasting. In intermittent fasting, people limit the times during the day when they can consume food—perhaps going something like 16 hours without any food and then having an eight-hour eating window (or something similar). The popularity of such approaches doesn’t mean there is conclusive scientific evidence on that side of the debate, but it is worth noting. 

The Answer Is Different for Everyone

So, is it healthier to graze or eat meals? Ultimately, the answer here seems to be the same as with so many other dietary matters: it depends. Some people may find success with a grazing approach, as it might help them maintain a healthy weight and manage digestion. Or it might just be that eating that way fits best into their lifestyle at the moment. On the other hand, different people will find that eating bigger meals—maybe just one or two such meals a day—is what they need to do to stay on track and feel great. 

It doesn’t really matter in the end what works for everyone else; it only matters what works for each individual person. Given how different humans are from one another, it’s likely that there isn’t one best way to eat, and trial and error is what will lead people to a successful path forward.

Put Dietary Goals InReach for Your People

There is so much to be said for providing a welcoming, inclusive, supportive work environment in your office. If you are going to get the best out of your people, and if they are going to stay for the long run, you need to make sure they have everything they need to thrive. 

Taking steps like adding quality vending machines with healthy office snacks—or, even better, creating a micro market or office pantry—will go a long way toward accomplishing those objectives. InReach would love to chat about your needs and ideas, so take a moment now to contact us. We can’t wait to get started!