You have probably given a lot of thought to what you eat — finding the right balance between fruits, veggies, proteins and carbs. But have you ever thought about when you eat?

Eating meals at the right time of day can provide many benefits. It can help you maintain a healthy weight, keep your energy up and perhaps even fight off disease. But how do you determine what the right time is?

At Forklift & Palate, we offer flexible options for eating on the go no matter what time it is. We’ve gathered some information to help you determine the best eating time schedule, plus a few tips for putting these eating tips into practice while balancing with an active lifestyle to achieve optimal health. Read on to benefit from these insights.

When Is the Best Time to Eat Breakfast?

You have probably heard many times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s true. Why? Because you set the pattern for your blood sugar for the rest of the day with your first meal.

You should eat within the first hour of waking to get your body primed for a successful day. Between 6 and 10 a.m. would be the ideal time to take this first meal, mainly so that you set yourself up for a second meal a few hours later.

What you eat at breakfast has a large impact on the rest of the day. You want to avoid any blood sugar spikes, which can set you up for a series of ups and downs for the rest of the day — so skip a big pastry or sugary coffee drink. Nosh on a combination of whole grains, protein and fat instead, such as whole-wheat toast with peanut butter and strawberries.

When Is the Best Time to Eat Lunch?

Your metabolism peaks each day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Aim to eat lunch between these hours to take advantage of stronger digestive function at this time.

Lunch should be a lighter meal than breakfast or dinner. You need to maintain your concentration during these hours, since you are most likely still at work or school. You also may not have the time to prepare something for yourself, so consider options such as a high-quality lunch served quickly from Forklift & Palate.

Our lunch menu includes tasty yet healthy favorites such as Blackened Southwest Chicken Wrap and Korean BBQ Glazed Salmon that give you needed protein without weighing you down with added oil. Plus, when you order ahead, you can get your meal quickly and get back to the office or classroom to take advantage of your heightened mid-day brain power.

When Is the Best Time to Eat Dinner?

You should eat dinner approximately four to five hours after eating lunch. If that falls in the 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. window, you hit the last hour of your body’s heightened metabolic rate before it starts to slow.

Keep in mind that the longer you give your body between your last meal and your bedtime, the better. Your body performs a lot of maintenance tasks overnight, such as resting and renewing. If it’s still busy digesting, those other tasks don’t get taken care of.

Tips for Maintaining an Optimal Eating Schedule

Balancing work or school, exercise and proper eating can be challenging. Follow these tips to help fit everything in:

• Plan ahead: Do as much meal prep in advance as possible so you can have your meals ready at optimal times. For instance, whip up a batch of chili and bake chicken on the weekends for easy weeknight reheats.
• Experiment: Try changing your eating times slightly each day, and when you hit the optimal mix, add in exercise to see how it impacts you. While you may have exercised at night your whole life, your body may respond better to mornings now that you eat differently.
• Kill two birds with one stone: You can multitask by heading to Spooky Nook Sports for a round of basketball or field hockey or to hit our climbing wall. When you’re done, dash over to Forklift & Palate for a well-balanced dinner.

Whatever schedule you come up with, be sure to emphasize whole foods and wholesome ingredients. You can’t go wrong when you eat fresh foods such as Forklift & Palate’s fare.

Learn More About Eating Schedules

• The Best Time to Eat Certain Foods
• What Can You Eat During Lent?