Hello! This is my first post. I've read the sticky posts and searched the forums but can't find a thread dedicated to this.

What breakfasts fill you up the most, and last the longest before you feel hungry for lunch?

With almost everything I've tried so far (and I'm only 2 weeks into it) I eat at 6:30am and find that I am hungry again by 9am. The only one thing that has worked has been an omelet packet+1 egg+2 whites+a handful of spinach. That kept me full until 1pm. With any of the fake carb options (maple oatmeal, pancakes, etc.) I get really hungry really quickly.

I'm only 2 weeks in, so I'm sure there is still plenty of stuff to try. Please share, what works for you?

(11 pounds lost so far. Need to figure out how to edit my signature to show that stuff)

Thanks!

The problem may be that your eating very early in the morning. I'm able to eat at my job so I eat around 9:00 am and I'm not starving by lunch time.

I eat breakfast around 9 am (I work evenings), and so far my most filling food is a Quest protein shake blended with 8 oz water, 4 oz ice, and 1 c. raw spinach. That keeps me satisfied for at least 3 hours.

OMG I typed a rather long response and it didn't post! Ugh
Let's try this again....

Hi Seattleite2016
I have a similar problem with breakfast.
My breakfast smoothie makes a LOT (more than my 22 oz Tervis tumbler) so I can have some for "now" and some mid-morning.

My smoothie is very similar to the one HereIStand posted.

1 Dark Chocolate Pudding packet (or scoop of chocolate Quest powder)
1 c. water or cold coffee
8 ice cubes (this will vary based on preferred thickness and ice cube size. I use cold coffee to make my ice cubes
1 big handful raw spinach.

I put everything in my Vitamix and blend.
If using a regular blender, you'll probably want to blend spinach and water first, then add packet, then add ice.
Sometimes I also use some peppermint oil for a chocolate-peppermint flavor.

Anyway, this really works for me. I fill the tumbler for "later" and drink the remainder with a side of hot coffee prior to leaving the house. My lunch bag is big enough for lunch and the tumbler (and two 1-liter bottles of water!). This sticks with me in a way that recipes for muffins & pancakes or a bar just don't do for me.

On another note: a lunch that works great for me is the omelet made with a bunch of veggies. It is really filling and I get the "savory" taste that my taste buds expect for a lunch. I'm not a fan of a sweet taste along with a salad (bars, shakes, puddings, etc). But that's just me!

Welcome, Seattleite2016

I have a spinach shake most mornings as well:
1 IP drink or pudding packet (usually chocolate or butterscotch, but others work too), 2 c cold water, sometimes I add instant decaf coffee powder, 2 c spinach,1 cup ice, WF syrup if needed, in the blender.
I'm usually up at 6-6:30, have a cup of coffee, then have half of the shake around 8:30 or 9, other half later in the morning.

If you find yourself getting hungry, an egg white omelet is practically free (some count whites, some don't)

I make a "breakfast bread" out of the oatmeal or crispy cereal (crushed) packets with shredded zucchini. You can even make it the night before and reheat in the morning if you're pressed for time.

1 zucchini shredded and drained - some people microwave for a minute, I usually just press between paper towels

1 packet oatmeal or crispy cereal
2 egg whites (a couple of these are a "freebie")
cinnamon or other spices to taste, optional

Mix those thoroughly then add 1 teaspoon baking powder. Mix in then let sit while you spray your pan - could use a pie plate, muffin tins, whatever you prefer.

Stir in the zucchini and put in your baking pan. Bake at 350-375 until done *

* I make this in a pie plate, and cooked at 375 for 20-30 minutes, usually more like 30 because I wanted to make sure it was cooked through and not soggy. Your oven temp may vary, and so would cooking time if you make muffins instead.

Recipe counts for 1 unrestricted, and 1 cup of veggies.

Great ideas here! I never eat the packet breakfasts alone, I always add veggies. The most filling breakfasts that I like are:

Pancakes with grated cauliflower or shredded zucchini (measured uncooked and steamed in the microwave first) added.

Oatmeal with cooked chayote (with lemon juice and cinnamon to taste like apples). I either chop them into the oatmeal or occasionally have made into an apple crisp like concoction. I haven't tried rhubarb but it should work like this too.

Omelets with peppers & mushrooms or spinach, or sometimes I cook it like a fritatta with broccoli & zucchini. Especially when I use 1 whole egg + 3 egg whites instead of the packet omelet, sometimes I can't even finish this in one sitting, it is so filling.

The only down side of the things I have mentioned is that you have less select veggies for the rest of the day. I tend to eat more salads when I have added veggies to my breakfast. The smoothie with spinach idea is great because you don't have to count the spinach

Lots of people had good ideas about what kinds of food are filling. When I first started IP and for several months afterwards, I would bring a bag of cucumber to eat between meals. I also think that 6:30a to 1pm is way too long to go before eating again. I wouldn't go more than 4 to 5 hours. I usually start the day off with coffee around 6:30a which dampens my appetite, and then eat breakfast at 8am and lunch at noon.

Aside from whatever you decide for breakfast, I also had mid-morning a cup of coffee and/or ice water with mangosteen packet. That would usually tide me over, and when it was really hot, ice water with a squeeze of lemon and ideal salt (in the winter I did the same thing hot).

I also took to eating lunch around 11:45am which in the past would have been really early but it worked for me, because then I had my snack mid afternoon, worked out after work, and then had dinner when I got home from working out.

I should have mentioned that I have a cup of coffee about an hour before my shake. I have to take a certain medication with NO food for an hour after, so I have the coffee and Rx, then wait about 60-90 minutes, then have my shake. I don't know if the coffee helps suppress my appetite?

I am 100% alt and this may not be 100% protocol but if I need a filling / keep me going breakfast I make a veggie scramble with 2 regular eggs, green pepper, spinach, mushroom, and green onions (usually sprinkled with cilantro). I usually only do this on the weekends though - weekdays, I have an RTD (premier protein) with a big cup of black coffee or 2 hard boiled eggs with salt- some days I make it to lunch, other days I have a couple celery sticks. The eggs hold me a lot longer.
If you are having to go 6:30 - noon or later, I would highly recommend taking a mid morning snack if you need it & if possible.

Hi Seatlleite,

I agree with the other posters that it seems like a long time between food.

I am a creature of habit and love my coffee with a bit of milk, and my chocolate RTD.

It keeps me pretty full, but if I get hungry, I eat some of my veggies that I take with me for the day. I like raw veggies, so I always have some combination cut up peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, celery, etc. I graze on those throughout the day.

I use alternative products and recently found an unrestricted protein bar I was hoping to eat for breakfasts. The only problem is that it isn't very filling and I get hungry way before lunch.

My solution was to eat egg whites for breakfast, and then eat my breakfast bar between breakfast and lunch. I know several coaches have told people on these boards that egg whites can be considered a freebie (within reason, I assume!), and I've been doing this to trick my body into thinking it's getting an extra snack to tide me over.

Last night, as an experiment, I had a Quest protein shake without spinach as my evening snack. My belly was rumbling two hours later. I really think the spinach is necessary to make it more filling.

Thanks for starting this thread. I have the same problem. I started back in February, and have pretty much been 100% compliant- I tend to put blinders on and follow things exactly as written. So, that being said, I have my packet for breakfast at 0530 ( I am up at 0430 and have a cup of black coffee), mid morning snack of cukes around 9, packet and 2 C of veggies at about 11, snack between 3 & 4 and then my 8 oz of protein and 2 c of veggies around 7. I then am asleep (albeit in a chair, lol) between 8 & 9. I haven't added spinach to a shake (and did I see someone post this as a freebie???) or done egg whites as a freebie. In fact, I hardly eat eggs at all- I thought I would eat them more frequently for supper, but no, hardly at all. I'm always so scared to mix things up. I mean seriously, I don't even chew gum because it might count against me.