Chapter 9—Regularity in Eating
Part 1—Number of Meals
Rest Needed by the Stomach
267. The stomach must have careful attention. It must not be kept
in continual operation. Give this misused and much-abused organ
some peace and quiet and rest. After the stomach has done its work for
one meal, do not crowd more work upon it before it has had a chance
to rest and before a sufficient supply of gastric juice is provided by
nature to care for more food. Five hours at least should elapse between
each meal, and always bear in mind that if you would give it a trial,
you would find that two meals are better than three.—
Letter 73a, 1896
Eat a Substantial Breakfast
268. It is the custom and order of society to take a slight breakfast.
But this is not the best way to treat the stomach. At breakfast time the
stomach is in a better condition to take care of more food than at the
second or third meal of the day. The habit of eating a sparing breakfast
and a large dinner is wrong. Make your breakfast correspond more
nearly to the heartiest meal of the day.—
Letter 3, 1884
Late Suppers
269. For persons of sedentary habits, late suppers are particularly
harmful. With them the disturbance created is often the beginning of
disease that ends in death.
In many cases the faintness that leads to a desire for food is felt
because the digestive organs have been too severely taxed during the
day. After disposing of one meal, the digestive organs need rest. At
least five or six hours should intervene between the meals; and most
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persons who give the plan a trial, will find that two meals a day are
better than three.—
The Ministry of Healing, 304, 1905
270. Many indulge in the pernicious habit of eating just before
sleeping hours. They may have taken three regular meals; yet because
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