Three squares versus what?

Some people seem to be munching all day, some can barely handle the classic three squares. Who's getting it right? According to a summary of recent data by Evelyn Tribole, R.D., eating three meals a day is good, but eating between five and six is even better. Not, of course, five meals of 2,500 calories each! Best break up your total intake into portions, using up, say, 700 calories at breakfast and 500 each at lunch and dinner. The body does not like a sudden overload of calories. Furthermore, there appear to be positive health advantages (lower cholesterol and blood sugar) when the calories per meal are reduced. And here's good news for dieters: provided you watch your overall daily calorie intake, you can and should leave room for between-meal snacks.

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