Breakfast for Dinner and Vice Versa

We have so many food rules, don’t we? Nothing white, nothing with carbs, cheat days on weekends only. This leads us to restrict foods that we enjoy and restricting food intake directly leads to overindulging in these foods at another point in time. As a dietitian, I neither negate or support having specific food rules, as long as they are serving you in a positive way. This means that if you are following certain food rules, but still achieving good health overall, you’re likely achieving overall balance in your health behaviours.

However, if food behaviours are taking their toll on you, and living by rules around food is more of a stressor than a stepping stone toward success, then maybe it is time to give yourself a new chance at happiness and joyful eating.

Tonight, I was exhausted, I had a long week, and a long weekend ahead; food was not really on my mind this evening. Many of us turn to eating a bag of chips, or a bag of cookies during times like this. Having the awareness that we make choices based on factors not related to hunger is so valuable in keeping us on the path to health. So, I was aware that I could just make a visit to the pantry.

Instead, once dinner came around, and I knew I should eat something, rather than wait until it turned 9pm, and I was faced with a ravenous appetite, I made a simple oatmeal bake in the oven with shredded carrots (recipe from Minimalist Baker). I ate that for dinner, while the rest of my family enjoyed spinach salad, with baked chicken, and cheese quesadillas. The kids asked: “You’re eating oatmeal for dinner, that’s for breakfast!”

Breakfast for dinner, you say?

Yes, absolutely. It’s better to eat what you feel like eating that trying to have food rules about when to eat what. And tonight, I felt like eating breakfast for dinner. Tomorrow, maybe I will eat kebab for breakfast with a good helping of rice and Greek salad. Or, maybe I will have clam chowder, or baked beans, or whatever meal I crave. As long as we get the meals that provide us with the nutrition we need to stay healthy, feel satisfied, and energetic enough to face another busy day, we’re on the right track.