How Many Meals A Day?

People want to know…

• How many meals a day should I eat?
• What should I eat at my meal?
• Does it matter if I eat at a certain time?
• Is overeating okay to do?
• Should I fast?
• What about children?
• What about eating between meals?

BIBLE: 

Proverbs 26:2 – “...the curse causeless shall not come.”

Job 29:16 – “...the cause which I knew not I searched out.”

Isaiah 55:2 – “...eat ye THAT WHICH IS GOOD...”

3 John 2 - “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

SOP:

“…Education should be given on proper diet…” (CD 406.4)

Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, PROPER DIET, the use of water, trust in divine power-- these are the true remedies.”  {MH 127.2}

“The richness of food and complicated mixtures of food are health destroying.”  {CD 113.4} 

WHO CHOSE OUR DIET?
“Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing. They impart a strength, a power of endurance, and a vigor of intellect, that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet…” (CD 310.2)

“…The grains, with fruits, nuts, and vegetables, contain all the nutritive properties necessary to make good blood.” {CD 313.3}

“The Lord intends to bring His people back to live upon simple fruits, vegetables, and grains.” {CD 322.5}

HOW MANY MEALS PER DAY SHOULD WE EAT?

It is plain that two meals a day are better than three…” {MM 284.4} 

“Those who are changing from three meals a day to two, will at first be troubled more or less with faintness, especially about the time they have been in the habit of eating the third meal. But if they persevere for a short time, this faintness will disappear.”  --H. to L., Chap. 1, p. 56.  {HL 196.3}

“It is quite a common custom with people of the world to eat three times a day, besides eating at irregular intervals between meals; and the last meal is generally the most hearty, and is often taken just before retiring. This is reversing the natural order; a hearty meal should never be taken so late in the day. Should these persons change their practice, and eat but two meals a day, and nothing between meals, not even an apple, a nut, or any kind of fruit, the result would be seen in a good appetite and greatly improved health.--R.H., July 29, 1884.  {MM 282.1}

And IT HAS BEEN PROVED that two meals are better than three for the health of the system. [SEE COUNSELS ON DIET AND FOODS, “NUMBER OF MEALS,” PP. 173-178.]  {2MCP 391.3}

“The stomach must have careful attention. . . . After it 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. Five hours at least should be given between each meal, and always bear in mind that if you would give it a trial, you would find two meals better than three.”  -- U. T., Aug. 30, 1896.  {HL 83.6}

“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.”  {CD 173.1}

“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 persons who give the plan a trial will find that two meals a day are better than three.”  {CCh 224.2}

“The practice of eating but two meals a day is generally found a benefit to health; yet under some circumstances persons may require a third meal. This should, however, if taken at all, be very light, and of food most easily digested.”  Crackers--the English biscuit--or zwieback, and fruit, or cereal coffee, are the foods best suited for the evening meal.”  {CD 176.2} 

“Our preachers are not particular enough in regard to their habits of eating. They partake of too large quantities of food, and of too great a variety at one meal. Some are reformers only in name. They have no rules by which to regulate their diet, but indulge in eating fruit or nuts between their meals, and thus impose too heavy burdens upon the digestive organs. Some eat three meals a day, when two would be more conducive to physical and spiritual health…”  {CD 140.4}

“In most cases, two meals a day are preferable to three…”  {CD 176.1}

“Most people enjoy better health while eating two meals a day than three; others, under their existing circumstances, may require something to eat at suppertime; but this meal should be very light…”  {CD 176.3}

“You should not eat more than two meals a day. If you feel that you must eat at night, take a drink of cold water, and in the morning you will feel much better for not having eaten.”  {CD 177.1}

“With regard to the diet question….it should be shown that to eat two meals is far better for the health than to eat three…”  {CD 177.2}

“I eat only two meals a day. But I do not think that the number of meals should be made a test. If there are those who are better in health when eating three meals, it is their privilege to have three. I choose two meals. For thirty-five years I have practiced the two-meal system.”  {CD 178.2}

“The fact that some, teachers and students, have the privilege of eating in their rooms, is not creating a healthful influence. There must be harmonious action in the conducting of meals. If those who only eat two meals have the idea that they must eat enough at the second meal to answer for the third meal also, they will injure their digestive organs. Let the students have the third meal, prepared without vegetables, but with simple, wholesome food, such as fruit and bread.”  {CD 178.4}

I have not changed my course a particle since I adopted the health reform. I have not taken one step back since the light from heaven upon this subject first shone upon my pathway. I broke away from everything at once, --from meat and butter, and from three meals,--and that while engaged in exhaustive brain labor, writing from early morning till sundown. I came down to two meals a day without changing my labor.  {CD 483.2} 

“For more than forty years I have eaten but two meals a day. And if I have a specially important work to do, I limit the quantity of food that I take. I regard it as my duty to refuse to place in my stomach any food that I have reason to believe will create disorder. My mind must be sanctified to God, and I must guard carefully against any habit that would tend to lessen my powers of intellect.  {CD 492.4}

In most cases two meals a day are preferable to three…” {Ed 205.3}

“Five hours at least should be given between each meal, and always bear in mind that if you would give it a trial, you would find that two meals would be better than three.”  --U. T., Aug. 30, 1896. {HL 164.6}

“I eat but two meals a day, and still follow the light given me thirty-five years ago…” {CD 351.1} Letter 45, 1903

THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULARITY IN MEALS

Regularity in Eating.--Irregularities in eating destroy the healthful tone of the digestive organs, to the detriment of health and cheerfulness.  {CG 387.3} 

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 the new work. Thus the system is overtaxed.”  {CG 387.4} 

“Neither should the meals be delayed one or two hours, to suit circumstances, or in order that a certain amount of work may be accomplished. 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.” {CG 387.5}

“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.”  {CD 179.1} 

“It is quite a common custom with people of the world to eat three times a day, beside eating at irregular intervals between meals; and the last meal is generally the most hearty, and is often taken just before retiring. This is reversing the natural order; a hearty meal should never be taken so late in the day. Should these persons change their practice, and eat but two meals a day, and nothing between meals, not even an apple, a nut, or any kind of fruit, the result would be seen in a good appetite and greatly improved health.  {CD 181.4}

“The importance of regularity in the time for eating and sleeping should not be overlooked. Since the work of building up the body takes place during the hours of rest, it is essential, especially in youth, that sleep should be regular and abundant.”   {Ed 205.4} 

HOW MUCH VARIETY PER MEAL?

“Do not have too great a variety at a meal; three or four dishes are a plenty. At the next meal you can have a  change. The cook should tax her inventive powers to vary the dishes she prepares for the table, and the stomach should not be compelled to take the same kinds of food meal after meal.”  {CD 109.5}

“It would be much better to eat only two or three different kinds of food at a meal than to load the stomach with many varieties.”  {CD 110.2}

“Mixed and complicated dishes are injurious to the health of human beings.”  --U. T., Nov. 5, 1896.  {HL 82.4} 

“It is not well to take a great variety of food at one meal. When a variety of foods that do not agree are crowded into the stomach at one meal, what can we expect but that a disturbance will be created?” 

--U. T., Jan. 11, 1897.  {HL 82.5} 

“If we would preserve the best health, we should avoid eating vegetables and fruit at the same meal. If the stomach is feeble, there will be distress, and the brain will be confused, and unable to put forth mental effort. Have fruit at one meal and vegetables at the next.”  -- Y. I., May 31, 1894.  {HL 83.1} 

“Eat at regular periods. By wrong habits of eating, you are preparing yourself for future suffering. It is not always safe to comply with invitations to meals, even though given by your brethren and friends, who wish to lavish upon you many kinds of food. You know that you can eat two or three kinds of food at a meal without injury to your digestive organs. When you are invited out to a meal, shun the many varieties of food that those who have invited you set before you. This you must do if you would be a faithful sentinel. When food is placed before us, which, if eaten, would cause the digestive organs hours of hard work, we must not, if we eat this food, blame those who set it before us for the result. God expects us to decide for ourselves to eat that food only which will not cause suffering to the digestive organs.”   {CD 169.1}

“…At each meal take only two or three kinds of simple food, and eat no more than is required to satisfy hunger…”   -- Ministry of Healing, pp. 308-310. (1905.)  {CW 104.1}

“There should not be a GREAT VARIETY at any one meal, for this encourages overeating, and causes indigestion.”  {CD 112.2} 

NEVER EAT FRUIT & VEGETABLES AT THE SAME MEAL – “If we would preserve the best health, we should avoid eating vegetables and fruit at the same meal. Have fruit at one meal, and vegetables at the next.” (CD 394-395)

WHY NOT? “Fruit and vegetables taken at one meal produce acidity of the stomach; then impurity of the blood results, AND THE MIND IS NOT CLEAR because the digestion is imperfect.” (CD 112-113)

“Vegetables and fruit should not be eaten at the same meal. At ONE MEAL use BREAD AND FRUIT, at the next BREAD AND VEGETABLES. Thus we may have all the variety that we need to desire, and if we must have puddings and custards, let bread and these articles form the meal.” ST September 30, 1897, par. 6

WHEN MIXING FRUIT WITH VEGETABLES, THE FOLLOWING HAPPENS WITHIN THE BODY:

• Blood made impure (CD 110)
• Fermentation (CD 110)
• Imperfect digestion (CD 113)
• Stomach acidity (CD 113)
• Stomach distressed by (CD 395)
• The brain confused by (CD 395)

OVEREATING

Overeating – A Common, but Serious Sin

“Overtaxing the stomach is a common sin, and when too much food is used, the entire system is burdened. Life and vitality, instead of being increased, are decreased. This is as Satan plans to have it. Man uses up his vital forces in unnecessary labor in taking care of an excess of food.”  {CD 131.1}

“Overeating, no matter what the quality of the food, clogs the living machine, and thus hinders it in its work.”  {CD 131.4}

“Overeating is the sin of this age.”  {CD 133.1} 

“And what influence does overeating have upon the stomach? It becomes debilitated, the digestive organs are weakened, and disease, with all its train of evils, is brought on as the result. If persons were diseased before, they thus increase the difficulties upon them, and lessen their vitality every day they live. They call their vital powers into unnecessary action to take care of the food that they place in their stomachs. What a terrible condition is this to be in!”  {CD 135.3} 

“Overeating befogs the brain.” {CG 532.1} 

“Overeating, no matter what the quality of the food, clogs the living machine, and thus hinders it in its work.”  {CTBH 51.1}

“The Lord has instructed me that as a general rule, we place too much food in the stomach. Many make themselves uncomfortable by overeating, and sickness is often the result. The Lord did not bring this punishment on them. They brought it on themselves; and God desires them to realize that pain is the result of transgression.”  {CD 136.2} 

“Never abuse the stomach by overeating, but do not deprive yourself of the wholesome, palatable food that health demands.” {CCh 225.8}

“The brain nerve energy is benumbed and almost paralyzed by OVEREATING.” {CD 63.2}

“Often this intemperance is felt at once in the form of headache, indigestion, and colic. A load has been placed upon the stomach that it cannot care for, and a feeling of oppression comes. The head is confused, the stomach is in rebellion. But these results do not always follow overeating. In some cases the stomach is paralyzed. No sensation of pain is felt, but the digestive organs lose their vital force. The foundation of the human machinery is gradually undermined, and life is rendered very unpleasant.” {CD 101.3}

“OVEREATING, even of the simplest food, benumbs the sensitive nerves of the brain, and weakens its vitality. Overeating has a worse effect upon the system than overworking; the energies of the soul are more effectually prostrated by intemperate eating than by intemperate working.”  {CD 102.3}

“The habit of OVEREATING, or of eating too many kinds of food at one meal, frequently causes dyspepsia. Serious injury is thus done to the delicate digestive organs. In vain the stomach protests, and appeals to the brain to reason from cause to effect. The excessive amount of food eaten, or the improper combination, does its injurious work. In vain do disagreeable premonitions give warning. Suffering is the consequence. Disease takes the place of health.”  {CD 110.7}

WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN?

The first education children should receive from the mother in infancy should be in regard to their physical health. They should be allowed only plain food, of that quality that would preserve to them the best condition of health, and that should be partaken of only at regular periods, not oftener than three times a day, and two meals would be better than three. If children are disciplined aright, they will soon learn that they can receive nothing by crying or fretting. A judicious mother will act in training her children, not merely in regard to her own present comfort, but for their future good. And to this end she will teach her children the important lesson of controlling the appetite, and of self-denial, that they should eat, drink, and dress in reference to health.  {CD 228.4} 

Your children should not be allowed to eat candies, fruit, nuts, or anything in the line of food, between their meals. Two meals a day are better for them than three. If the parents set the example, and move from principle, the children will soon fall into line. Irregularities in eating destroy the healthy tone of the digestive organs, and when your children come to the table, they do not relish wholesome food; their appetites crave that which is the most hurtful for them. Many times your children have suffered from fever and ague brought on by improper eating, when their parents were accountable for their sickness. It is the duty of parents to see that their children form habits conducive to health, thereby saving much distress.  {CD 229.1} 

“Children are also fed too frequently, which produces feverishness and suffering in various ways. The stomach should not be kept constantly at work, but should have its periods of rest. Without it children will be peevish and irritable and frequently sick.” {CD 229.2}

FASTING:

“Intemperate eating is often the cause of sickness, and what nature most needs is to be relieved of the undue burden that has been placed upon her. In many cases of sickness, the very best remedy is for the patient to FAST FOR A MEAL OR TWO, that the overworked organs of digestion may have an opportunity to rest. A fruit diet for a few days has often brought great relief to brain workers. Many times a short period of entire abstinence from food, followed by simple, moderate eating, has led to recovery through nature's own recuperative effort. An abstemious diet for a month or two would convince many sufferers that the path of self-denial is the path to health.”  {CD 189.3}

“Many times a short period of entire abstinence from food, followed by simple, moderate eating, has led to recovery through nature's own recuperative effort.” {MH 235.2} 

“FAST FOR A MEAL OR TWO...”  (MH 235.2)

“There are some who would be benefited more by abstinence from food for a day or two every week than by any amount of treatment or medical advice. To fast one day a week would be of incalculable benefit to them.” {CD 189.4}

WHAT ABOUT EATING BETWEEN MEALS?

Never Eat Between Meals.--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. . . .  {CG 389.1} 

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.  {CG 389.2} 

“No eating should be allowed between our meals. I have eaten two meals each day for the last twenty-five years….”  {3SM 294.3}

“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 to provide a sufficient supply of gastric juice for the next meal. Five hours at least should be given between each meal, and always bear in mind that if you would give it a trial, you would find that two meals would be better than three.” {TSDF 122.6}

WHAT ABOUT A THIRD MEAL?

“…Have the THIRD MEAL, prepared without vegetables, but with simple, wholesome food, such as fruit and bread...” (CD 178.4)

“When students combine physical and mental taxation the objection to the third meal is to a great extent removed. Let the students have the third meal, prepared without vegetables, but with simple, wholesome food, such as fruit and bread.”  {CCh 224.4}

LATE SUPPERS

“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.”  {CD 173.3} 

“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 persons who give the plan a trial, will find that two meals a day are better than three.”  {CD 173.4} 

“…eating just before sleeping hours… If a third meal be eaten at all, it should be light, and several hours before going to bed.”  {CD 174.1} 

“In regard to the third meal, do not make eating but two meals compulsory. Some do best healthwise when eating three light meals, and when they are restricted to two, they feel the change severely.”  {CD 178.1}

“Most people enjoy better health while eating two meals a day than three; others, under their existing circumstances, may require something to eat at suppertime; but this meal should be very light. Let no one think himself a criterion for all--that everyone must do exactly as he does.”  {CH 156.1}

“It is quite a common custom with people of the world to eat three times a day, beside eating at irregular intervals between meals; and the last meal is generally the most hearty, and is often taken just before retiring. This is reversing the natural order; a hearty meal should never be taken so late in the day. Should these persons change their practice, and eat but two meals a day, and NOTHING BETWEEN MEALS, not even an apple, a nut, or any kind of fruit, the result would be seen in a good appetite and greatly improved health.  R. and H., 1884, No. 31.  {HL 84.2}  

VICTORY THROUGH CHRIST

“Christ fought the battle upon the point of appetite, and came off victorious; and we also can conquer through strength derived from Him. Who will enter in through the gates into the city?--Not those who declare that they cannot break the force of appetite. Christ has resisted the power of him who would hold us in bondage; though weakened by His long fast of forty days, He withstood temptation, and proved by this act that our cases are not hopeless. I know that we cannot obtain the victory alone; and how thankful we should be that we have a living Saviour, who is ready and willing to aid us!”  {CD 169.2} 

A pure and noble life, a life of victory over appetite and lust, is possible to every one who will unite his weak, wavering human will to the omnipotent, unwavering will of God.  {CD 170.1}

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