Hi there,

Normally I have 2 egg whites at 6:30am, an IP pack at 9-9:30, IP packet and veggies around 1230-1pm, IP snack at 4, dinner at 8-ish. Well, today I forgot my 3rd packet, so I went down to the hospital cafeteria to make myself a lettuce and WF salad to tide me over, but the salad bar was closed. I found a 4oz grilled chicken breast with lettuce and tomato salad and ate that (not the tomatoes)...for my 4pm snack.

Should I cut my dinner protein in half to account for the 4 oz of chicken I ate? Should I treat that 4 oz of chicken as my snack even though it wasn't an IP and have my normal 8oz of protein for dinner tonight?

Thanks!!

I would just have 4 oz of meat at dinner. You can split your protein up. But then Have the IP packet later. You should always get in all of your protein. But not more than what you need.

But....I had an IP packet for lunch...so if I have 4 oz of chicken tonight and another IP packet, it would be 4 packets for the day? I am so confuzzled?!

I feel like I should have 8 oz of protein tonight and nothing else, not another packet. Ugh.

Oh, yes, I missed that. I would have the 4 oz of protein, but an extra 4 oz probably would not hurt you. It's the carbs we worry about.

The way I read what you did today, you haven't had 3 packs. You only split your dinner protein, right?
We're supposed to have 3 packs AND 8 oz of dinner protein. If you split it, you still need to have 3 packs.
You could have a snack later...

Some people split the dinner protein lunch/dinner but one of those meals, they also have a pack, or they add a snack.

If you had your IP packet around 9, and a packet with lunch, but forgot your 3rd packet, how would you be having 4 packets? You can't think of the 4oz of chicken on the salad as a packet, they are made up of more than just protein. You should make sure to have 3 packets today, and about 8 oz of protein. That may mean a smaller portion of protein at supper, then maybe save the packet for a nighttime snack (no later than 1 hr before bed). Just make sure it isn't a restricted and you should be fine.

I would treat the 4oz of chicken you ate around 4pm (in lieu of your usual 3rd IP packet) as 1/2 of your 8 oz of 'real' protein you would normally eat at dinner ....so for dinner tonight eat the other 4 oz of 'real' protein. And then have what will be your 3rd IP packet for the day later tonight as a before bed snack. That way your total protein intake for the day will work out as it should. By the time you go to bed, you'll have had your early am egg whites, 3 IP protein packs, and 8 oz of 'real' protein.

Ok, so I will do 4oz of protein and another packet before bed. So, total 3 packets, 8oz of protein. Wow, that was confusing to me!

Thanks everyone!!