Wansink says mini meals appeal to busy professionals and singles who don't cook every day. Mini meals should be eaten sitting down with silverware, not standing up.ĭr.
Leidy says.īrian Wansink, a Cornell University behavioral economist and author of books including "Mindless Eating" and "Slim by Design," says while a healthy snack might be a bag of almonds, a healthy mini meal involves more than two food groups. On the other hand, she notes, eating fewer than three by skipping meal times is a known cause of weight gain.Įven so, individuals are likely to find their own experiences vary. Heather Leidy, assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Missouri, in Columbia, published a 2010 review of eating-frequency studies in the Journal of Nutrition and says they show consumption of fewer large meals may be slightly more beneficial for weight loss and satiety. Raynor says, adding that in other research she has found normal-weight individuals tend to eat more often each day than overweight individuals. "We cannot say one or the other was better," Dr. But the group eating six smaller meals reported feeling less hungry, says Hollie Raynor, associate professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville who conducted the research. People in both groups lost similar amounts of weight. They were divided into two groups, one eating three meals a day and the other eating six. A 2011 study published in the journal Obesity followed 50 people who were asked to exercise at least 200 minutes a week and to eat from 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day. Researchers say there is conflicting scientific evidence as to whether eating frequent small meals has any specific weight-loss benefits. Shor says, but it makes him feel healthy. It "took a little legs" to get used to the routine, Mr. Shor says he will spend a couple of hours on a Sunday preparing chili or meatloaf, dividing it up and freezing it sometimes, he'll make enough for two weeks. "It's a procession of eating throughout the day."Įating this way is labor-intensive.
#Six meals a day plan full#
Eating a variety of foods prepared in a hot dish keeps her feeling full through the day, she says. She prepares and freezes most of her meals ahead of time and brings them to work. In the course of a recent day, Eli Penberthy, 30, who works in marketing for a Seattle organic grocery-store chain, feasted on yogurt parfait, a vegetable frittata, eggplant Parmesan, curry and rice, an apple with almond butter and salmon with quinoa and kale. "It's almost like having a buffet in your home," he says. ) who lives in Santa Monica, Calif., says eating six mini meals appeals to the sense of adventure many young people discover when they leave home and try cooking and tasting new foods.
Mini meals appear to be especially attractive to young adults and teens, including the group marketers call "millennials." Phil Lempert, a food industry expert (and spokesman for
#Six meals a day plan plus#
She recommends three meals plus a snack for her weight-loss clients. "When you're eating constantly, it's really easy to overdo it at each meal," says Karen Ansel, a nutritionist based in Laurel Hollow, N.Y., and a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, which represents nutrition professionals. Dietitians emphasize the importance of controlling calories. Popular weight-loss advice often promotes eating mini meals as a way to regulate appetite, increase the sense of satiety and even help keep metabolism revved up. He says he lost 30 pounds and has kept it off ever since. Shor followed the fitness plan for a while but soon came up with his own version, where he doesn't count calories but limits sodium and sugar.
#Six meals a day plan tv#
Shor and his wife, Linda, began eating this way about five years ago, after watching a fitness infomercial on TV discussing the benefits of frequent small meals. Others want to battle hunger during long work hours or avoid sodium and additives found in many packaged foods. Some fans think eating a little bit throughout the day will promote weight loss.