TWO MEALS A DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12067, 24 July 1917, Page 2

TWO MEALS A DAY.

BY ONE WHO FINDS THEM SUFFICIENT. "Eat less bread" and "One slice jess" are the injunctions placarded all over the country. "Eat no wlr'te bread" and "Take two meals a. day onlv" is what the placards ought, to say. I tell my friends, and they hold up their hands in amazed incredulity. '•lmpossible." they say. "It can't be done." Ah ! During these past three years we have learned that many things which we formerly considered impossible are not only ouite possible but? even beneficial. For over two years I have, taken only two meals a day, and T am not only still alive but in bettdr, health than when I took what was then considered a very modest three meals. " And how do you take your meals?" ask my friends. "The first one about one o'clock and the second about six," T tell them. "'What! Dont' you take any breakfast?" thev exclaim. "No, I have nor- had a breakfast for over two years" T tel! them. "But we couldn't do it!" they protest. "Wewould have a headache.," or "We, couldn't do our work," or "Besides, it's very dangerous to go out in the chili morning air with an empty stomach."

All nonsense! How hard these old superstitions die' T have not had a headache for tho past two years, and T used to be a martyr to them. At> to work. I can do mv work much better and with less fatigue, and as for "the chill morning air!" Why, I have been breathing "the, chill morning air " all night, for my bedroom windows (and the door too") stand wide open.

Durinc these two years I have, felt no ill effects, and would strongly recommend all those engaged in sedentary occupations to overcome preconceived ideas and prejudices and give the two meals a day plan a fair trial, at least for the duration of the war. Although engaged in a sedentary occupation T am a fairly active man. T Usually get up about, six o'clock- in the morning, have a cold bath and a good rub down, go through some exercises, and then have an hour's work in the garden. After that T walk a couple of miles to my office, and. after putting in a good forenoons work, walk home for mv first meal.

There is no doubt whatever that a groat many of the ills from which humanity suffers are caused hy overrating, and there is much mo ;. 0 liUoMbood of a person suffering from overeating than from under-eating. The majority of health authorities* tell us that three meals for a man who works with his muscle, and iuo for a man who works with hi* mind, are ampte. More, women than formerly now work with their muscle, but tho great majority of them cannot be considered as hard workers in the ?ens 0 in which we are dealing. Woman's work mav he long honrod and tiresome, hut merely being on one's feet all dav does not utilise a, great amount of muscular energy. The woman in the kitchen, the clerk in the office, the person behind the counter is a. light worker compared with the. labourer usin.ee pick and in the open air. All those housewives, clerks, office workers, school teachers, etc., would benefit ercnlly in health hy omitting one of the 'usual three, meals a day, and what a Paving there, would bo not only in foodstuff* hut in energy, time and human vitality. And afte r all this is no now idea. In the palmy days of Rome two meals a day was the recognised custom, and what athletes.these old Romans were!

One word of warning. If you arc in tho habit of taking a- hearty breakfast, do not suddenly adopt the no breakfast plan. Begin by reducing tho amount, you and on a 1 tenia to momiivrs take, fruit only, either raw or .stewed, then take fruit only for a morning or t'vo, and finally nothing «u all. For x day or two at first vou will feel pretty empty by dinner-time, but that feeling soon wears off. and in a very, short time yo'a will havo not the slightest desiro for anything before midday.