Weight Loss & Diet Plans

The Truth About 6 Meals a Day for Weight Loss

What Should You Eat? continued...

If you want to lose weight eating several times a day, you must control your portions. Be careful of foods that are easy to overeat, like cheese, pasta, nuts and any of your favorite foods.  WebMD’s Portion Size Plate tool can show you what correct serving sizes look like. 

Eating six mini-meals a day can be a challenge when you're away from home or otherwise not preparing your own meals. When eating out, opt for simply prepared foods without sauces. To keep portions in check, take home part of your food for another meal, or simply order a salad and an appetizer.

6 Meals a Day: The Bottom Line

Eating smaller meals more often provides an excellent opportunity to eat a healthier diet.  Shifting your focus from high-calorie snacks to balanced mini-meals could be exactly what you need to help you whittle your waistline. 

But eating three squares is also a perfectly healthy way to eat and lose weight. So choose the meal plan that works best for your lifestyle.  As long as your meals are well-distributed through the day, and you never go more than 4-5 hours without food, you can reach your weight loss goals with three, four, five, or six meals a day.

Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, is director of nutrition for WebMD. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.