A young woman walks down Union Street at 12:30 a.m. with a slice of GoodFella's in her hand. She lifts it to her mouth and it topples from her hand onto the pavement.
Five-second rule
her friend says.
The two girls are among hundreds who cluster around restaurants late at night, eating a fourth meal. Eating late is OK if it fits into your daily calorie intake, but if it is extra, the calories can really add up, said David Holben, a professor in the School of Human and Consumer Sciences.
I think the problem that college students run into is if they have already eaten their food allotment during the day the fourth meal could add extra calories that they really don't need
Holben said.
The concept of a fourth meal, as advertised by Taco Bell, is one that adds Fourthmeal between dinner and breakfast.
Nick Hart, a senior studying history, said he eats a meal after 10 p.m. twice a week.
It's usually like a third or fourth meal. I love to eat Taco Bell at night
or Big Mamma's
or Burrito Buggy is good too
he said.
Regan Miller, a freshman who has not decided on a major, said she also eats late at night, normally three times a week. Although she skips breakfast every day, making it a third meal, Miller said she still feels guilty.
I feel fat eating now because it is late at night
she said. It is bad for you.
Holben said it isn't necessarily that bad.
I don't think when you eat really makes a difference. What you want to do is balance what you are eating with your needs based upon your basal metabolism plus the energy that you expend through physical activity
he said.
Differences of metabolisms and calorie intake needs mean that certain people, especially those who are still growing, need to eat more than three meals while others don't.
For students who want to eat another meal at night but don't have many calories left, Holben suggests making smarter food choices.
A slice of pizza
especially if you have it made with whole-grain flour
and several places in town do that
