Junk food has given snacking a bad name.

"Snacking in itself isn't a bad thing," says Elaine Magee, PhD, RD, author of numerous nutrition books, including The Recipe Doctor Cookbook: Light and Healthy Versions of America's Favorite Dishes.

Magee firmly believes in eating several small meals during the day -- "and that includes quality, healthy snacks," she tells WebMD.

Her philosophy: Eat when you're hungry, stop when you're comfortable. "There's a difference between stuffed and comfortable," she says. "If you truly follow that concept, you should be hungry every two or three hours."