You mentioned the benefits of scheduling a "cheat meal" into your eating program at least once per week. Is there a best time to eat a cheat meal?

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Michael Collins: Yes.

A cheat meal will of course have a higher number of calories from fat and carbohydrate, so we may as well use this to our advantage.

Post workout is by far the best time to eat your cheat meal.  Specifically within the hour after a heavy workout, because EPOC is highest at this time. 

EPOC stands for Post Exercise Oxygen Consumption.

Basically this means your metabolic furnace is firing on all cylinders at this time. The more intense your workout is, the higher your EPOC will be. 

In fact, I always schedule my cheat meals right after my heavy leg workout, or a sprinting session, depending on what phase of training I'm in at that time. No better time to eat a large meal this this.

Not only will eating the cheat meal at this time reduce any damage of a large meal, but it will actually benefit the body in recovery and hypertrophy.

The glycogen will be replenished and protein synthesis will be kicked into over drive.  The muscles are like a sponge for nutrients at this time.

By the way, I suggest you read The Green Apple Mini Project for a sweet tip on blunting the damage of a cheat meal

If you are strength training or trying to build mass and you are supplementing with creatine, you may want to capitalize on this windfall and take a few extra grams with this meal.