I had the pleasure of suggesting this topic for the LBC weekly posts. I distinctly remember the occasion as I was having my breakfast when I was preparing a list and I simply included this for the heck of it. It has come now to pressurise me to write something of interest to my readers.
My habit of eating quantities of food as depicted in the style of the right side image here started at a very young age during my school days when I had to leave home early in the mornings and return only in the evenings after sports and games. I had to carry a lunch box lovingly packed with nourishing food packed by my mother and which I used to share with my friends who would also bring their lunches. Since perforce the lunchbox had to be small to fit into a satchel, the quantity would be less than a regular meal and so before I left home, my mother would see to it that I had a full meal so that the quantity would sustain me till my return and the evening meal. The evening meal would in turn be somewhat the same in quantity as the afternoon meal, and not as large as the morning’s one.
Later on in life, I learned that both the Indian and Allopathic systems of medicine also favoured such a discipline for the quantities of food to be taken during a day.
This habit was reinforced when I started to work as a salesman when I would not know if where I landed up during lunch time would enable me to have a meal at all with proper / hygienic restaurants or whether I would have to settle for some biscuits and tea at some wayside teahouse. Much later in life as I had to entertain people for dinner, I would still eat smaller portions than most people do, having already had my preferred quantities in the morning and afternoon meals.
I gave up cooked meals for the evening meal some years ago and have restricted the evening intake to just fruits and sometimes fruits and nuts. I do make exceptions on occasion for social obligation purposes, but those are rare as most of my friends and family know that I do not eat cooked food in the evenings and I am rarely called for such occasions.
Despite this supposedly very healthy way of consuming one’s quota of daily meals, I wish that I could attest to looking like the person on the right of the first image. Sadly, foolishness of the past has ensured that I look more like the Michelin man shown on the left here!
My GP friend tells me that if I want to look like the person on the right side of the top image, I will have to balance the discipline of the quantity with some serious exercise as well! Pshaw!
I knew a man once in colorado who only ate a piece or two of fruit for his evening meal too. and he was exceedingly healthy!
since fruit moves through the system so quickly… I can see that it would be restful for the stomach and for a good night’s rest.
thanks for the reminder.
your post brings that old phrase to mind…
eat like a king at breakfast. a prince at lunch. a pauper at dinner.
actually lunch is my largest meal of the day. i’m never hungry at breakfast. unless on a trip! and I find that odd.
I must do some adjustments to my routine maybe.
and… pshaw! LOLOL! it is what it is.
By and large, I am healthy too Tammy. It is just that with my replaced and revised hip joints it is difficult for me to reduce my weight any further though it would improve matters. The food intake route is slower but is gradually working for me.
The multipleXs in front of the L on my frame attest to the fact that in my case the relationship between food intake and calories burned during exercise has been seriously misaligned for decades. Not ripped like the Michelin Man, I more resemble the Sta Puft Marshmallow Man in Ghostbusters – although I do think I dress a bit better
shackman recently posted..Breakfast – LBC topic
In any case, welcome to the club!
Gosh, the last time we shared breakfast was back in September 2009. I was learning to stand without crutches, though not quite ready to walk unaided. Elly made a video of me preparing breakfast… and she filled in my post op memory gaps . Cannot remember your original take on the topic.
Grannymar recently posted..Work for today
I went looking for a blog but I suspect that it must have been a IM chat. I too remember that but I doubt very much that my take then would have been any different then to what is here. I have followed this routine for almost all my life with some exceptions.
I think “Pshaw!” can be translated into “enjoy life while you can.” I’m for that. When hungry early, a big breakfast is scheduled. When not, not. Same for lunch and dinner. Hasn’t kept me from the Michelin mode, but it is enjoyable.
Gabbygeezer recently posted..We’re Being Bowled Over
I agree totally as far as the enjoyment part is concerned but would just like that to be accompanied by some good health too.
I love it! 😀
Cheerful Monk recently posted..New Plans
Thank you.
Synchronicity: Here’s an article on a similar subject: Can changing your mealtimes make you healthier?
Cheerful Monk recently posted..New Plans
Makes eminent sense to me! Thanks for the link.
Sadly, I think your friend is right. So, it’s off to the gym soon?
Still the Lucky Few recently posted..A Senior Remembers: A Parcel From Eaton’s
Not in the immediate future but perhaps from March when my current preoccupations would have been resolved.
My food intake is more like the figure on the left, yet I’m still a very healthy weight for my height. I think portion size is as important as when and how much you eat.
nick recently posted..Grooming fever
I agree about the portion size and that too is part of my discipline. I think that we should listen to our individual metabolic preferences and choose our eating styles. In my case, there has been some childhood and later practical reasons that have conditioned me to my preferences.