I'm an incorrigible grazer--probably because I'm only 6 months out from quitting smoking. Basically, those times when I'd ordinarily go out for a smoke, I find myself opening the fridge. Luckily, I've avoided weight gain by exercising a lot more and making sure those snacks are mainly raw fruits and veggies.

twice

Between 4-5.

I always eat 3 main meals, sometimes have a snack at 11ish depending on how hungry I am and if I have access to something and I always have a snack after work (usually before a workout).

I voted 4 because I don't always feel like having an afternoon snack since most of the time I don't feel hungry for one before dinner even though on occasion it's 5.

It's definitely 5 for me. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, sometimes a snack. Also, tons of water. I have to because I do intense work outs and must keep the metabolism going.

Three times. Sometimes I snack on dark chocolate in the afternoon

Six: breakfast, midmorning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, and nighttime snack. I rarely deviate from this routine.

My diets vary everyday, I try very hard to stick by one.
Sometimes it's just brunch and dinner for me. Then some days I eat all 3 meals, usually, snacks vary everyday.

4-5 times a day. I usually eat 3 meals, then have a snack or two if I get hungry in between.

I did 5, if I don't eat every couple of hours my bloodsugar just plummets, regardless of how well balanced the meal before was.

I definitely have 3 meals and a snack in the afternoon. Working 6a-3p and then having dinner around 7p or 8p I need a little something in between lunch and dinner to help me last. :

Once or twice. I get busy and forget to eat until it's too close to bedtime. It's a bad habit to have gotten into, but I'm not sure what to do about it.

6 (or more).
Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, snack, dinner. Occasionally I'll throw in an extra snack in the afternoon or at night.

I am a grazer, but healthy snacks only. that way i stay far away from the donut trolls in my office

yeah i just snack at my desk all day

Wow....sometimes I'll have a cookie or an apple or something, but for the most part I only find time to eat three times a day! In between meals I guzzle coffee! I know you are supposed to eat smaller meals more frequently, but it would be really hard for me to find time to make healthy ones. I eat two meals a day out too...which I am sure is really bad! I start every day with a coffee and breakfast sandwich from dunkin donuts, have a hummus wrap or subway sub for lunch, and make a small dinner at home. Sometimes I'll have popcorn before I go to bed. I am too lazy to eat so often!

I don't actually think the small meal thing is necessary. I would probably overeat probably by a lot if I tried that myself.

jdeprima: Oh, I'm with you. Almost two months smoke free, except I wasn't as lucky as you in the weight part. :\ Oh well.

Anyway, I snack all the time, but I try to be healthy about it. But as a chocolate addict, it's damn hard.

My stomach gets full too fast. So I break it down by eating a snack every two hours.

I can only eat two times a day because I have work and can't take a break. I wish I could eat more but by the time I get home I eat, sit down and go to sleep!

see, im kinda weird. i can eat one meal and be good until the next day.

but I force myself to eat another meal later on just because i dont think it's all that healthy to just eat once a day and not even get hungry after.

I eat 5 times a day to keep my metabolism burning all day long. If you only eat once or twice, your body starts storing fat.

I actually have no idea how many times i eat a day, the amount of times i eat a day changes all the time

I have to eat 3 big meals because when I snack, I open my huge appetite and always eat way more then my usual calorie intake.

i'm bad - i usually only eat 2x per day. i try to remember to snack during work...but i never get a chance. i have veggies in baggies with me all the time, but i never eat them. it's the attempt, but lack of follow through on my part.

I usually eat 6 times: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack/dessert. I keep each meal & snack small though, to keep the calorie intake down. I like it cuz I can eat almost all day long!

Usually 4-5 times on weekdays. Weekends are different: I tend to eat more less frequently.

I'm a breakfest lunch and dinner girl.

3 meals with snacks - I feel better eating every 3-4 hours.

I started eating 5 times a day...between 250 and 300 calories each time. I've lost 10.6 pounds in 3 1/2 weeks!

I eat a bunch of smaller meals because I want to feel satiated, but I hate to feel "full" wierd,huh

Four to five times.

I eat something like 3-4 times a day....breakfast, late lunch/early dinner, and a couple of substantial snacks.

Between 5 and 6, based on the nutrition plan given to me by my personal trainer.

5 - 3 meals + 2 snacks

Its funny people who are commenting 2 x per day and saying it "is bad". That is great! Most meals are large, so we easily consume 1500 calories + in two meals. I think the grazing thing is aweful. Consider if you eat three SMALL meals (500 calories) and then two snacks (200 calories each) your total is 1900. Our primitive ancestors did not eat snacks and they also did not have weight problems. Snacks are usually unnecessary carbohydrates that quickly add to body mass.If you want to be thin eat more than two meals per day and one fruit snack (only fresh fruit)

nikpik...Studies have found that the fewer the meals are, the more likely people are to being obese. Your body goes into starvation mode when you don't eat regularly. Our ancestors ate whenever they had food.

I eat 5 times a day. I eat oatmeal for breakfast, a lean cuisine for lunch, and a healthy dinner. I eat fruit/nuts for my 2 snacks.

two times

twice...usually a 6in subway for lunch and a small vegetarian dinner. yay for a low fat no fun diet...haha.

I eat ALL DAY. I honestly must have the fastest metabolism in the world - if I don't have 6 small meals or more a day, I get dizzy and faint. Or else I must have worms. Haha.

Granted, I eat very healthy, tiny meals since I get fully quickly and do around 12 hours exercise a week. Plus my work is active. But still, its pretty abnormal..

I eat probably 5,6, or more times a day. I prefer to eat smaller portions more frequently and have no trouble staying within normal daily calorie allowance. And to say that "Our primitive ancestors did not eat snacks and they also did not have weight problems" is not a true correlation. Our primitive ancestors also did not have processed foods or cars. In the end it comes down to the total calories consumed and expended each day as well as the quality of foods and nutrients eaten. Whether it be 2 or 6 times a day that you eat as long as it works for you and you are eating healthy then you are probably fine.