How does a family’s discretionary income impact their eating habits? – Families that have discretionary income have more money to spend on going out to eat therefore they eat out more and go through fast food more.

While the HMR trend could cut down on preparation and clean up time in the kitchen, it’s not entirely positive because they usually contain more calories and preservatives and very few nutrients than food that is cooked with fresh ingredients.

home meal replacement — noun a cooked meal purchased at a food outlet which needs only to be reheated before serving.

Those nutrition bars and replacement drinks can quickly empty the pocketbook. Other meal alternatives that are just as easy include portable fruit (apples, bananas), 100% fruit juice, low-fat cheese, crackers, bagels, yogurts, peanut butter, nuts, dry cereal, graham crackers, cereal, or granola bars.

Meal replacement shakes are easy to drink on-the-go and a significantly healthier alternative to fast foods. Bottom Line: Meal replacement shakes are convenient. They’re also a healthier alternative to fast foods.

“People really struggle to get protein at lunch, so drinking a shake that’s rich in that nutrient with a small salad can be ideal,” says Mass. Just make sure that your shake clocks in at around 200 calories while your salad contains about 200 to 300 max, so you don’t go over your calorie budget for that day, she says.

Meal replacement shakes should not completely replace healthful, balanced diets. This is because it is difficult to get every nutrient from a single food source. Furthermore, a body that does not receive enough nutrients may experience problems with metabolism. This may slow or disrupt a weight loss plan..

How long can you stay on this eating plan? Nonas says many people use the beverages for the bulk of their meals for about three months, then maintain their weight loss for years by substituting a meal replacement shake for one meal on most days.

A SlimFast diet plan consists of replacing any two meals with shakes, bars or cookies, eating one portion-controlled healthy meal of choice, and consuming three 100-calorie snacks in between. Drinking SlimFast shakes three times a day is not recommended.

Safety and precautions. Both Ensure and Boost shakes may cause side effects, such as constipation, nausea, and flatulence. However, user reports indicate that most of them go away when consumed consistently. Other reported side effects include muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breath.

Protein Shakes May Increase Metabolism One study gave obese participants shakes with either 200 or 0 grams of extra protein per week. Those given the protein gained 2.8 lbs (1.3 kg) more mass following a 13-week training program ( 18 ).

The short answer is yes, you can have more than one protein shake per day. If you have a protein-heavy diet and you’re not undertaking much exercise, you probably don’t need to add lots of shakes into your daily routine.

Since protein contains calories, consuming too much can actually make losing weight more difficult — especially if you drink protein shakes in addition to your usual diet, and you’re not exercising. The average adult needs 46 to 56 grams of protein a day, depending on weight and overall health.

Protein supplements either with meals or as meal replacements are often recommended for ingestion to promote weight loss. Consuming protein supplements between meals may decrease compensatory eating behaviors, thereby increasing energy intakes and body weight.

Drinking shake slow or fast doesn’t really matter until you are in that window. Yes it does. Consuming protein within 30 mins after working out is very important for muscle recovery. Go for a protein shake that is easily digestable.

Drinking a protein shake for breakfast can be a quick and convenient way to squeeze more nutrients into your diet and increase your protein intake. Protein shakes can also be an effective tool to support weight loss and enhance muscle growth.

You should cover no more than a third of your protein intake with shakes! If you need 120g of protein, then you may drink two shakes each with 20g protein content per day.

Whey protein When you ingest too much protein all at once, your stomach has a hard time digesting. When you use whey, you’ll likely just get stressed out and gassy, emitting a stench that blends the smell of your farts with a hint of artificial powder.

Protein. Eating an excessive amount of protein (say, while on a high-protein diet) can lead to bad breath, thanks to the body producing ammonia while breaking it down during the digestive process. The odor ends up escaping through your mouth, and is often said to smell similar to cat pee.

When to Drink Protein Shakes for Weight Loss You can help your metabolism to work more quickly by consuming a morning meal packed with protein. Drinking a shake first thing in the morning will up your protein intake without adding too many calories.

Many people use protein powders to build muscle, but they can also benefit your weight loss goals. Whey, casein and egg proteins, as well as plant-based sources such as soy and pea, all make excellent choices for people looking to lose weight.

Whey protein supplements promote weight loss, enhance muscle growth and reduce hunger in both men and women. A 23-week study of overweight adults found that adding 56 grams of whey protein per day led to 5 pounds (2.3kg) greater fat loss than the same amount of soy protein or carbs ( 1 ).

The best time to consume protein for optimal muscle growth is a controversial topic. Fitness enthusiasts often recommend taking a protein supplement 15–60 minutes after exercise. This time frame is known as the “anabolic window” and said to be the perfect time for getting the most out of nutrients like protein ( 16 ).

This hormone boosts muscle growth and decreases fat. Studies have shown that if you consume an ample amount of protein right before bed, you’ll take full advantage of this spike in growth hormone and maximize muscle gains. This happens because you’re providing the amino acids that are needed for repair and growth.

As a matter of personal choice, many people prefer to drink whey protein shakes on an empty stomach. Having a protein shake before you perform a workout can give you a good source of energy without the discomfort of an overfull or bloated stomach.

These great ideas of the best pre-workout foods will give you plenty of energy for your training session:

• Fruit smoothies.
• Yogurt parfaits with granola and fruit.
• Bananas.
• Oats.
• Whole grain bread with a couple of slices of lean meat.
• Chicken with rice and vegetables.
• Apples with peanut butter and raisins.
• Greek yogurt.

When you exercise on an empty stomach, you may burn valuable energy sources and have less stamina. Low blood sugar levels may also leave you feeling lightheaded, nauseous, or shaky. Another possibility is that your body will adjust to continually using fat reserves for energy, and start to store more fat than usual.

Bananas are rich in nutrients like carbs and potassium, both of which are important for exercise performance and muscle growth. They’re also easy to digest and can slow the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream, making bananas a great snack option before your next workout.

But if skipping a post-workout nosh becomes a habit, you risk sabotaging your fitness goals. “Some people will just feel fatigue, and some people can get disoriented from low blood sugar,” Jennifer Beck, M.D., sports medicine specialist and paediatric orthopaedist at UCLA, tells SELF.

Post-workout foods

• crackers.
• fruit (berries, apple, bananas, etc.)
• oatmeal.
• quinoa.
• rice cakes.
• sweet potatoes.
• whole grain bread.
• whole grain cereal.