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People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

theatlantic.com

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Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#61

Post by jimhefferon »

koolba wrote: post #38
jimhefferon wrote: post #35

One of the enjoyable things about surfing is when you find there are other people like you. Almost every day since the mid-80's, I have what I call a Tarnower lunch: half a can of pineapple chunks, half a can of mandarin oranges, a dollop of cottage cheese and a few walnut pieces, along with a small bran muffin. Tastes fine, not too bad nutritionally, and no congnitive overhead.

Is there something surfing specific to that meal choice or otherwise nutritionally useful for the activity? Or just the pleasantness of random taste profile aligning with someone else’s? And what do you do with the other half of the can of pineapples?

I meant that surfing the interwebs sometimes turns up things that are pleasant.

And, finding that other people do something that my wife regards as a bit odd.

As to the other half can, I eat iton the next day.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#62

Post by jimhefferon »

saas_sam wrote: post #42
jimhefferon wrote: post #35

One of the enjoyable things about surfing is when you find there are other people like you. Almost every day since the mid-80's, I have what I call a Tarnower lunch: half a can of pineapple chunks, half a can of mandarin oranges, a dollop of cottage cheese and a few walnut pieces, along with a small bran muffin. Tastes fine, not too bad nutritionally, and no congnitive overhead.

Sounds like a ton of sugar and carbs to me with barely any protein...

I couldn't say what the numbers are, although the fruit cans say "is in its own juice" and I think cottage cheese has protien, for what that is worth. But I enjoy it, which is important too.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#63

Post by koolba »

jimhefferon wrote: post #61
koolba wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there something surfing specific to that meal choice or otherwise nutritionally useful for the activity? Or just the pleasantness of random taste profile aligning with someone else’s? And what do you do with the other half of the can of pineapples?

I meant that surfing the interwebs sometimes turns up things that are pleasant. And, finding that other people do something that my wife regards as a bit odd. As to the other half can, I eat iton the next day.

Ha! When I read your comment I imagined a wonderful life that involved surfing (on the beach) every day for the past thirty years and eventually meeting a friendly community of fellow surfers that liked canned pipeapple.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#64

Post by CM30 »

I could probably be included in the list of people who eat the same thing every day (at least for breakfast and lunch), and from what I've seen, it seems many of my coworkers are the same.

As for why? Well personally, it's probably a mix of the following:

1. It's easy to not have to worry about what you're going to eat and what it'll taste like.

2. Choices of places to eat are limited in many areas. This isn't so much the case now, but it certainly was for some roles in the past, where the office was pretty much nowhere near a major shopping area/main street.

In that case, it was 'eat the one thing you find palatable in the canteen or get a train/bus/drive/cycle to a place with shops'.

3. My personal tastes are very plain and somewhat picky, to the point of disliking pretty much anything with extra sauce, relish, mayonnaise, spices, etc.

Either way, all of these things are likely reasons for many others too. Many people on the autistic spectrum for instance are rather picky in terms of favoured foods, and will generally stick to the same meals as much as possible. Many people are based in locations where choice is limited/a hassle in general.

And there are other reasons too:

1. Some people like having a routine (as mentioned in other comments) 2. Some like to know exactly how healthy their diet is, which is easier with a limited choice (also mentioned in other comments) 3. Quite a few people probably prefer eating at their desk while browsing Hacker News/Reddit/YouTube/the internet in general, which precludes going far for shopping. 4. If you're a workaholic, it's easier to stick with one type of meal rather than having to prepare different ones/go shopping.

There are many reasons really.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#65

Post by stronglikedan »

skilled wrote: post #12

Once you start investing in healthy eating, you quickly realize that there are 3 types of food: healthy, sugary, and sluggish. You always get to choose which one you want, but it's exactly that: a choice!

Everything that gives you calories for fuel is healthy in moderation.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#66

Post by basch »

skilled wrote: post #12

Once you start investing in healthy eating, you quickly realize that there are 3 types of food: healthy, sugary, and sluggish. You always get to choose which one you want, but it's exactly that: a choice!

food is healthful, people who eat healthful food are healthy.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#67

Post by ksec »

codingdave wrote: post #10
Mirioron wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you know that you're getting enough of all the different micronutrients? Humans can eat a deficient diet for a long time and not notice serious side effects, so I'm wondering if you have some kind of good way of figuring out whether the different micronutrient quotas are fulfilled properly.

You are 100% correct. I did get vitamin deficient a few years ago, and worked with doctors to identify the deficiencies and resolve them, and have continued testing to make sure I'm doing OK. This routine is a result of that experience more than anything else. That is also one reason I go out to eat every few days - to get some variety into the mix.

>This routine is a result of that experience more than anything else

And I would just like to add everyone's body is a little different. People may have different level / type of deficiencies, and for me that is Vitamin B. So I guess you cant really have meal that works for you and works for everyone else. It is important for everyone trying this to do it themselves and test it out with your body. Not to mention you get to think about how to cook your favourite food.

I personally did something similar for 6 months, but due to different circumstances I can no longer do meal prep. During that time I had an idea about making a web app that help you select your meal prep. You input foods that you like and loath, input regional location so that we know what you can get and and not, and price range, how much it would cost per meal ( Not everyone is rich and well off ) It will hopefully have a List of Meal prep that you may like, along with instructions and where to buy those ingredients.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#68

Post by cosmic_shame »

sureaboutthis wrote: post #49
codingdave wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't have it posted, but it isn't that complex, so I can give a quick rundown here: Breakfast - 2 eggs, scrambled with generous amounts of mushrooms and spinach, and a little cheese tossed in. Lunch - Veggie mix that I chop up all together every few days - green peppers, pasilla peppers, green onion, yellow onions, eggplant, jicama, cauliflower, and whatever other root veggies looked good at the store - turnips, r…

I'm not sure about the fish sauce or coconut milk but you need some fat in there to allow the nutrients from all the plants to be carried into the body. You might consider throwing an ounce or two of chicken in there. Otherwise most of it goes to waste.

Coconut milk is extremely fatty.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#69

Post by leesec »

Mirioron wrote: post #8
codingdave wrote: post #2

I eat the same 3 meals a day, 5-6 days a week. I spent a couple years refining what meals give me the nutrition I need, with enough energy to code, and help me keep weight off. When I stop this routine, I put on weight fast, so I try to keep jobs that let me work from home and keep my routine. I will meal-prep 4 days at a time, consume those 4 days worth of meals, then have a day where I take my wife out to lunch, bu…

How do you know that you're getting enough of all the different micronutrients? Humans can eat a deficient diet for a long time and not notice serious side effects, so I'm wondering if you have some kind of good way of figuring out whether the different micronutrient quotas are fulfilled properly.

How does anyone? I have plenty of coworkers who eat fast food for every lunch and not much better or more diverse for dinner. Certainly they are not getting all the different micronutrients?

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#70

Post by inertiatic »

blue4 wrote: post #29
ozzyman700 wrote: post #25

I have 5 bottles of soylent a day, I absolutely love it and don't see myself stopping. I dislike preparing, eating, and cleaning up so I just avoid it. Every month I get a shipment of soylent and that is all my food related chores done for the month once I bring the boxes up to my room.

Sounds like some of my own work, I hypothesized that the body doesn’t need food itself, merely the chemicals and elements it contains. So, what if I consumed only the raw ingredients the body uses for energy? Soylent was the obvious choice because our bodies do not need food.

I don't think I've read a more absurd thing in my life. I chuckled.
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