Help! Stressed about when to eat certain meals (not IF)
Hey everyone. Young teen here. I’ve been working hard to eat enough (used to restrict), and now the challenge isn’t appetite — it’s overplanning.
I stress so much about timing: Should I have this high-carb meal at lunch when I’m active? Or save it for dinner when I can enjoy it slowly with family? Is protein better now or later? What if I prep food and never use it? Should this go in breakfast or be saved for a snack?
Everything feels like a strategic decision. Even simple things like oats or leftovers turn into full debates in my head. And sometimes… nothing gets eaten because the “perfect” time never comes.
Or like with my breakfasts, everyday different grams of whey and casein depending on how full I want to feel or what I think I’ll do the next day or if I’ll move more or less. I can’t always cook meals for lunch too. I just don’t let myself knowing I can have it for dinner instead!! I’m just trying to be normal teen here. (What is even normal tho? All the kids in my school either don’t eat anything or just a packet of chips here and there and just snacks. Only normal person is me bring a sando which also feels very isolating) I don’t even know how kids aren’t underweight at school…it’s so so confusing.
I want to actually enjoy food again without feeling guilty if timing isn't "optimal." Does anyone else struggle with this kind of rigidity around meal timing + purpose instead of hunger? Any tips on how to just… go with the flow? But still want balance.
Thanks :)
Posted Mar 5, 2026, 2:37 AM UTC · locked