Advice on meal plan

[BarbPeeps]

Suggestions on meal plans, etc. with protein powders, etc.  I want to eventually start weights in the gym next month.  Right now I take a protein smoothie (27g protein) mixed with few strawberries, almond milk, ice in a blender for breakfast.  Then I will take a bcaa drink.  I do take a preworkout drink and will run, walk, do stairs, etc for an hour.  Not every day but I will do cardio for a half hour, perhaps every second day, focusing on legs, abs, arms, whatever each other day.  I try to eat something every 3 hours or so.  However, I am not strict on my meal plan.

[Dominique]

How much do you want/need to eat in average everyday? If you eat five times a day (e.g. 7am/10am/1pm/6pm/7pm), 1500 calories would be only 300 calories per "meal". For me, that would be closer to a snack than to a meal.  2000 calories would be 400 calories per meal. What is the caloric content of your protein smoothie?

Nutrient timing (e.g. several smaller meals every few hours, which is the typical approach favoured by bodybuilders vs. a single large meal once a day, or a couple of meals within an "eating window", which is what fans of intermittent fasting are doing) is largely a question of personal preferences. Both can work towards your goals, whether it’s losing weight, becoming fitter/stronger etc. Just mentioning this in case you think eating every three hours or so is a must when working out hard.