Live to Eat or Eat to Live

Today is Monday, January 6^th

The topic or question of the day is:

 Were humans meant to Eat to live’ or ‘Live to eat?’

 Actually, my answer is both.  Surprised?  Food has been given to us from God for pleasure and sustenance.  We ought to enjoy our food in one sense and eat only what we need for sustenance in another sense.  Not to take either to the extreme.  Food, Fellowship and Feasts are what makes much of life so enjoyable and we look forward to the holiday feasts.  They are gifts from God.  But, we are not supposed to feast all the time.  This is where ‘eat to live’ comes in.  His principles show us how to eat and tell us how He provides food for our health.  The phrase ‘eating to live’ reminds us that certain foods, amounts and times foods are eaten are important for our health.  This year we will be looking at foods that sustain us and also foods for special holidays and feasts.   Tomorrow we will begin learning how to begin eating intelligently.

Deuteronomy 14:26 – “and spend the money for whatever you desire – oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves, and you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household.” (Pleasure) (Before the Lord meaningGod knows everything, how we eat and drink, our motives, and how we spend His money.  We can’t hide from God)

 Psalm 147:8, 14b – “He covers the heavens with clouds; He prepares rain for the earth; He makes grass grow on the hills” “He fills you with the finest of the wheat” (Sustenance)

 Acts 14:17 – “Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons satisfying your hearts with food and gladness” (Sustenance and pleasure).

 Eating to live and living to eat:  The healthy balance

Problems with health today:

1. Eating too much.
2. Eating too fast (Processed foods that do not require much chewing.  They are too easy to eat and are usually combinations of sugar-fat-salt.)
3. Overeating foods containing enriched white or wheat flour (Read labels).
4. Drinking liquid sugars (Beverages containing added sugar such as soda, sweet tea)

 Sarah Hale said in 1830, “Our bodily health and the consequences thereof along with our happiness and usefulness in domestic and social life depend on:

1. The proper quantity of food we eat.
2. The speed in which it is taken.
3. The circumstances in which it is taken”

 Tip or quote of the day:

 “Food that does not digest cannot nourish, but rather weakens our bodies”

                                                                        – Sara Josepha Buell Hale

 Take action today by:

Eating 20% less of what you normally eat. (Leave food on your plate)

Slow down and chew your food until it is like applesauce in your mouth.

Try eating with your less dominant hand.

Consider your motives for eating.  Are you tired, bored, upset, lonely, truly hungry?

* If you have diabetes, and/or low blood pressure, you must check your levels to see how your blood sugar or blood pressure is affected by eating this way.

Stay tuned tomorrow to start answering the question:  How then shall we eat?