140
Counsels on Diet and Foods
Let the students have the third meal, prepared without vegetables, but
with simple, wholesome food, such as fruit and bread.—
Letter 141,
1899
[
For Ministers Two Meals More Conducive to Physical and Spiri-
tual Health—227
]
[
Two-meal plan followed by E. G. White—Appendix 1:4, 5, 20,
22, 23
]
[
Mrs. White’s Table Set Twice A Day—27
]
[179]
Part 2—Eating Between Meals
The Importance of Regularity
281. After the regular meal is eaten, the stomach should be allowed
to rest for five hours. Not a particle of food should be introduced into
the stomach till the next meal. In this interval the stomach will perform
its work, and will then be in a condition to receive more food.
In no case should the meals be irregular. If dinner is eaten an
hour or two before the usual time, the stomach is unprepared for
the new burden; for it has not yet disposed of the food eaten at the
previous meal, and has not vital force for new work. Thus the system
is overtaxed.
Neither should the meals be delayed one or two hours, to suit
circumstances, or in order that a certain amount of work may be ac-
complished. The stomach calls for food at the time it is accustomed to
receive it. If that time is delayed, the vitality of the system decreases,
and finally reaches so low an ebb that the appetite is entirely gone. If
food is then taken, the stomach is unable to properly care for it. The
food cannot be converted into good blood.
If all would eat at regular periods, not tasting anything between
meals, they would be ready for their meals, and would find a pleasure
in eating that would repay them for their effort.—
Manuscript 1, 1876
282. Regularity in eating is of vital importance. There should be a
specified time for each meal. At this time, let every one eat what the
system requires, and then take nothing more until the next meal. There
are many who eat when the system needs no food, at irregular intervals,
and between meals, because they have not sufficient strength of will
to resist inclination. When traveling, some are constantly nibbling
if anything eatable is within their reach. This is very injurious. If