It’s nice to have a routine – whether it’s a morning regimen, a no-cellphone window, or an evening stretch you do nightly, doing the same thing every day can be fulfilling. But what about with food?
Celebrities like the Beckhams eat the same meals daily, but so do many people. Starting the day with oatmeal or eating the same salad for dinner every night is easy when you're rushing out the door in the morning or are running out of time.
But are there health benefits – or detriments – to eating the same thing every day?
Pros of Eating the Same Thing Every Day
Meal Planning is Easy
By eating the same meal every day, you don't have to exhaust yourself thinking about what you will eat for the week. You'll know exactly what you need from the grocery store and save time on decision-making.
It also makes it far easier to bulk cook or prepare meals in advance. Get all your cooking and prepping done on a single day, and you can simply grab and go throughout the week.
Avoid Meal Panic and Fast-Food Impulses
We've all been there – it's the end of a long day at work, and the last thing you want to do is make another decision about what to make for dinner, hope you have the ingredients, and then spend time cooking. So, the default becomes take-out.
With accessible apps to order in, it's easier than ever to give in to those impulses. But if you already have something prepped and ready or know what ingredients you have on hand, you save yourself a calorie-laden take-out meal.
Be Aware of Calories
If you want to maintain your weight or lose weight, it’s all about calories in, calories out. But counting calories on every meal you eat is a lot of math. If you’re consistently eating the same things in the same portions, you don’t have to constantly look up the calories of unfamiliar food.
This can help you gain healthy control over your diet and make losing weight feel less like a guessing game and more like a concrete plan.
Cons of Eating the Same Thing Every Day
Boredom
Of course, boredom is the most apparent drawback of eating the same thing every day. Especially if you love to experiment and play around with cooking, eating the same thing all the time can be a nightmare.
If your meals feel more like a chore, sticking to your meal plan is more challenging, so it's a good idea to switch things up now and then.
Missing Out on Nutrients
You can eat the healthiest meals daily and still not get every nutrient you need. Mixing up your vegetables, meats, and grains can help fill the food pyramid. Different coloured veggies aren't just appealing to the eye but are better for your health.
Sticking to the same menu for too long can disrupt the flora in your gut, cause deficiencies, and make you stray from healthy eating habits.
Bottom Line
Eating the same meals all the time isn't the healthiest choice for a diet. But creating a rotation of several meals that mix up veggies, proteins, grains, and carbs can be a great guide to developing a fulfilling diet you'll actually want to follow.
At P2 Eat Smart, we offer a variety of foods that are rich in protein and easy to prepare. Our products are easy to add to your diet – swap out your starchy pasta or white bread with our high protein options for an easy boost to your diet. Shop our store to find delicious food for your meal plan.
