The Big Question: Three Big Meals or Five Small Meals A Day?

• Most of us focus on three big meals a day
• Five small meals will help avoid unnecessary hunger pangs
• Eating smaller, more frequent meals will boost your fat burning capacity

Most of us focus on three big meals a day- breakfast, lunch and dinner - a set routine and so easy to follow! However, some may choose to opt for five small meals spread out through the day. This means that no one meal is really big and heavy. Some say it is okay to eat three big meals a day as it allows your body enough time between meals to digest the food properly, thus avoiding health problems. On the other hand, it is said that five small meals will help avoid unnecessary hunger pangs and junk cravings. Lot has been said about both sides of the coin, but it isn't clear as to what really should be your call. Our experts reveal.

According to Neha Shetty, Senior Nutritionist, Reduce - Talwalkar's, "Yes, eating smaller, more frequent meals will boost your fat burning capacity and would aid in weight loss. It is very difficult to lose weight when your metabolism is slowing down due to long gaps. Frequent small meals can help increase your metabolism and decrease your body fat."

Also cravings happen simply because you let yourself get too hungry due to long gaps and end up eating high calorie food. Also eating frequently helps to keep blood sugar levels steady, so you' ll feel more energized. Moreover, you do not feel deprived psychologically because you are eating more often. If you looking to lose weight, eat five small meals rather than three heavy ones to keep your metabolism steady and easily lose weight.

According to Macrobiotic Health Coach, Shilpa Arora, "Five meals a day is more comforting, especially for people with diabetes and metabolic disorders in order to keep blood sugar level stable. Three big meals work only when healthy fats are added in the diet that provide satiety as well as provide constant energy. These meals should well -balanced so that sugar levels do not dip."

Six meals in a day here mean small portion sized meals. You can practically double the amount of caloric intake without knowing if portion size is not controlled in each meal. Smaller frequent meals do fire up your metabolism, burns more calories and provides frequent protein to prevent your body from dipping into a muscle wasting state. Every person has a different body that works differently and so one should choose their eating habits accordingly. Be it three big meals or six small meals a day, it is important that your metabolism works at a good pace. If you do not know what works best for your body and the eating habits that you need to inculcate, it is best to turn to your dietitian who will give you the right suggestions.