You need to eat small, frequent meals for optimal health

Many people increase their metabolism and lose weight by eating small, frequent meals throughout the day. "Meal frequency does not affect metabolic rate and thus has no direct effect on weight loss", said Carla Wolper, a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant at the Columbia Doctors Executive

But if you're in good health, it doesn't matter how often you eat as long as you're getting the energy you need. In fact, according to some studies, having even fewer meals, like two, could be the ideal for calorie management: In one research, people who skipped breakfast had around 400 fewer calories throughout the day than those who had breakfast. However, eating more often may be advantageous for those who have specific medical disorders, such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as well as women who are pregnant.