Tread Carefully with Grazing Diet

For weight loss, some people swear by grazing. Question is: Do mini-meals add up to success? It all depends, according to Lee Memorial Health System dietitian Carrie Bloemers.

“If we’re fueling ourselves throughout the day with smaller meals, smaller snacks, we’re also keeping a tight control on that appetite,” says Bloemers.

Spreading calories out in multiple small meals sounds good, but it takes discipline.

“We arrive home and we open up the pantry and we take a little bit of this and a little bit of that and a bite of that and suddenly, you know, we don't even realize we had a snack,” says Bloemers.

Many people mistake grazing with constantly munching. Those who do it properly point to studies that show an average of six small, low-calorie meals a day stabilizes metabolism and energy levels. The key is keeping it real, with a healthy eating plan.

“Really getting a grasp of what makes a portion and including those vegetables throughout the day as well,” says Bloemers.

Good grazers skip the chips and sweets, snacking on veggies, fruit, nuts and healthy nutrition bars. Traditional meal times should include lighter fare.

“We arrive at that meal, we’re ready to make those quality choices that are in line with our goals,” says Bloemers.

It works for many people who are always on-the-go and committed to doing it right. No surprise, the diet is in the details.

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.