3 meals versus 5 to 6

I have been experimenting with eating more small meals a day as opposed to 3 large meals and so far, I really like it.  I feel like I have a lot more energy throughout the day.  It only becomes difficult on the 4 nights a week I work in a restaurant and do not have time to eat between 4 in the afternoon and 11 pm-midnight. 

I was trying to think of ways to overcome this huge gap and was just curious what times other people eating this way ate their meals?  Do you do 5 or 6 meals with equal calories or 3 larger meals with 2 to 3 snacks?  How do you space them out?

Thanks for input!

I eat anywhere from 5-8 meals a day! I have to, I get hungry every 3 hours whether I ate a 600 cal meal or a mere 200.......

I typically eat every 2.5-3 hours. I basically break it up into meals and snacks.....like breakfast will be a protein and carb (about 300-600 cals) and then I'll have the 'snack' which will be yogurt or a protein shake....then lunch will be a veggie, protein and carb (300-600 cals) and then a little bit later I'll either have more of what I just had or another snack like a rice cake w pb n j on it, cottage cheese or string cheese...then I have dinner which is a protein carb and veggie (300-600 again) and then my 'dessert' or second dinner or 'snack'...which will be sugar free pudding and some pb or a beef stick and string cheese. If I'm up later, I'll then have another snack or meal, depending on if I need more protein or calories that day!

For the gap you have, make some really high protein snacks (almonds, soemthing w pb, eggs, chicken, oatmeal) to help bridge that gap, and make sure you've had enough protein in the meal you have before you start your shift.

Thanks for your response!  I could probably toss some nuts in my purse to sneak every now and then!  Thanks!

I have also been eating 5-6 times a day for the past 3 weeks and I really like it. I have more energy, I never get hungry and I find it easier to eat more protein that way. Here is how I do it:

Meal 1: around 9:30 AM, when I get to work, I have a bowl of Kashi cereal (dry or with yogurt)

Meal 2: around 11:30 AM I have a protein drink with a fruit

Meal 3: around 2 PM (bigger meal) I have tuna with mayo on celery sticks, cheese, sometimes a bowl of soup

Meal 4: around 5 PM (smaller) I usually have almonds with some veggies

Meal 5: around 8 PM (bigger) Salmon with spinach salad or broccoli, sweet potato. This is the only meal I eat with my boyfriend, so we cook something good and fresh that we both like, with the occasional glass of wine

Meal 6: around 10 (smaller) Popcorn or a protein shake

Then around midnight I go to sleep happy because I managed to eat healthy and tasty foods and not feel hungry throughout the day! :)