Forget to Eat? Here's How to Get All the Nutrients You Need

We've all been there – so busy, focused or stressed – that we forget to eat. But when you skip a meal, you also skip out on essential nutrients your body needs, which affects how you function during the day, not to mention your overall health.

Here, we spoke to Leslie Langevin, RD, author of ?​The Anti-Inflammatory Kitchen Cookbook​ and co-owner of Whole Health Nutrition, to learn how to fill your nutrient cup when you've missed mealtime, plus tips to help you stay on a consistent eating schedule.

While skipping a meal once in a while is probably not cause for concern, if you're in the habit of forgetting to eat, it can have negative effects on your body. Here are a few:

Carbs are like fuel for your body's engine. Specifically, complex carbohydrates — which are digested slowly — supply sustained energy throughout the day, Langevin says. They also have B vitamins, which help your body release energy from food and support brain health (think: better focus and concentration), according to the USDA.

So, it goes without saying: When you don't fill your tank (with complex carbs), you'll be running on empty.

In fact, if you don't get enough food and nutrients to fire up your body's engine, a process called catabolism occurs, where your body uses up its own stores of energy (and can even include muscle breakdown), Langevin says.

Fiber — found in foods with complex carbs such as peas, beans, whole grains and vegetables — helps to keep you satiated and your blood sugar levels steady, Langevin says. That's because it slows your body's absorption of sugar. Without enough fiber, your blood sugar will spike and dip, causing cravings and hunger pangs.

Put another way, when you forego fiber earlier in the day, your appetite will likely be bigger at your next meal, Langevin says. And this ravenous hunger can lead to overeating, she adds.

"Overnight, our body has been in a fasting state, running on our energy stores," Langevin says. When we "break fast," our bodies stop dipping into storage and start using food for energy. And eating enough protein plays a pivotal role in this process.

"We need to supply a good source of protein to provide the necessary amino acids and building blocks for continued operation and repair of our body," Langevin says.

But when you skip a meal — and deprive your body of protein — your muscles can't properly repair, rebuild and recover, Langevin says.

What's worse, catabolism can take place, and your body may break down muscle for energy, she adds.

"To make up for one missed meal, it comes down to making sure you are having a balanced meal at least twice per day" along with accompanying nutrient-dense snacks, which Langevin calls "mini" meals.

Here, Langevin explains how to build a balanced meal.

These nutrients will compensate for what you lacked by skipping your last meal.

• ​Good options for lean protein​:
  • Eggs
  • Beans
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Tofu
  • Yogurt
  • Nuts and seeds
    
    
• ​Good options for fiber-rich complex carbs​:
  • Brown rice
  • Quinoa
  • Oats
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Whole-grain pasta
  • Beans

"Making up for protein is harder because the body only absorbs a certain amount each eating window to use for muscle recovery (the rest is used for energy)," Langevin says. Aim for 20 to 30 grams of protein per meal to compensate for what you missed earlier in the day.

This is a good opportunity to get a little bit more protein as well as your fruits and veggies (read: essential vitamins and minerals), Langevin says.

While it's possible to compensate for a missed meal by filling your others with protein, complex carbs and fiber, Langevin says you should try to avoid skipping meals altogether: "It is better to spread your nutrients out over the whole day for your optimal functioning versus cramming them all into a few meals."

Here's how to build the habit of eating regularly scheduled meals.

If you tend to forget breakfast or lunch, setting a reminder on your phone is an easy way to prompt you to take a break to eat, Langevin says.

"If you 'don't have time' for breakfast in the morning, prep easy-to-grab breakfasts to eat while running out the door," Langevin says. "Something small is better than nothing." And always pack a few extra snacks in your bag for the middle of the day. Together, they can serve as a mini midday meal.

And always pack a few extra snacks in your bag for the middle of the day. Together, they can serve as a mini midday meal.

If you're prone to forgetting or skipping meals, you should consider meal prepping breakfast, lunch or dinner the day ahead, Langevin says.

"Planning is a habit that takes time to build, but it can really change how you feed your body during the day and improve your energy," she says. And, like most skills, the more you do it, the more successful you will be at it, she adds.