Chapter 39—Simple Diet
The Facts of Faith 2:153-154
I have thought for years that I was dependent upon a meat diet for
strength. I have eaten three meals a day until within a few months. It
has been very difficult for me to go from one meal to another without
suffering from faintness at the stomach, and dizziness of the head.
Eating would remove these feelings. I seldom allowed myself to eat
anything between my regular meals, and have made it a practice to
often retire without supper. But I have suffered greatly for want of
food from breakfast to dinner, and have frequently fainted. Eating
meat removed for the time these faint feelings. I therefore decided that
meat was indispensable in my case.
But since the Lord presented before me, in June, 1863, the subject
of meat-eating in relation to health, I have left the use of meat. For a
while it was rather difficult to bring my appetite to bread, for which,
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formerly, I have had but little relish. But by persevering, I have been
able to do this. I have lived for nearly one year without meat. For
about six months most of the bread upon our table has been unleavened
cakes, made of unbolted wheat-meal and water, and a very little salt.
We use fruits and vegetables liberally. I have lived for eight months
upon two meals a day. I have applied myself to writing the most of the
time for above a year. For eight months have been confined closely
to writing. My brain has been constantly taxed, and I have had but
little exercise. Yet my health has never been better than for the past six
months. My former faint and dizzy feelings have left me. I have been
troubled every spring with loss of appetite. The last spring I had no
trouble in this respect. Our plain food, eaten twice a day, is enjoyed
with a keen relish. We have no meat, cake, or any rich food upon our
table. We use no lard but in its place, milk, cream, and some butter.
We have our food prepared with but little salt, and have dispensed with
spices of all kinds. We breakfast at seven, and take our dinner at one.
It is seldom I have a faint feeling. My appetite is satisfied. My food is
eaten with a greater relish than ever before.
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