My Food

Eating Habits FAQ

When is the best time to exercise? I've heard you burn more calories if you exercise first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Is this true?
The best time to work out is the time of day that most conveniently fits into your schedule. Don't force yourself to get up at the crack of dawn to fit in a workout if you are not a morning person. If you want to be fit you have to be consistent and you will most likely stay with your workout routine if you plan it in when you most enjoy it, and when it fits best into your overall schedule. Plan to work out most days of the week and you will burn plenty of calories and promote a fit and healthy body.

Is it true I shouldn't eat after 8 or 9pm? Sometimes I stay up until 2am studying and I get really hungry.
It is not true that you need to stop eating after a certain hour in the evening. Clinical studies have consistently shown that it is how much you eat, not when you eat, that determines whether you lose, gain, or hold your own with your weight. If you stay up late each night you probably need a light snack by 10 or 11pm, especially if dinner was at 6pm. Just keep it light. If you need 2400 calories a day and your 300 calorie snack is a part of those 2000 calories you won't gain weight - even if you eat the snack at 1am.

Isn't taking amino acids, protein powders and/or bars important if I'm trying to get stronger?
No scientific evidence indicates that individual amino acids have a bodybuilding effect. Real food provides the proper balance of all the amino acids, and costs less than protein supplements. In theory, if you want to gain one pound (0.5 kg) of muscle per week, you need only 14 extra grams of protein per day, the amount in two ounces of meat - a mere forkful (Bernadot, 2000).

Doesn't the food guide pyramid recommend 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables?
The newly revised Food Guide Pyramid recommends 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, including 5 - 1/2 c. servings of vegetables and 4 - 1/2 c. servings of fruits (or 4 - 1/2 c. of produce).

Quick suggestions to add more fruits and vegetables into your diet:
Peanut butter or cream cheese with celery
Individual applesauce or 'Fruit to Go' cups
Yogurt with blackberries or blueberries
V-8 juice, tomato juice, or Splash
Peanut butter and banana on whole wheat bread
Chopped vegetables added to soups, and casseroles
Sliced vegetables from the salad bar for stir fry dishes
A glass of orange juice