Rules for Proper Eating (Part 2)
Avoid drinking during meals, eat smaller and more frequent meals, and don't skip raw vegetables.
We discussed in the previous section the existence of eating rules. Just as every electrical device has instructions, the way humans eat also has rules to follow. This time, I want to add a few more rules to help us get the most out of our food:
Small and more frequent meals: Last week we wrote that you should leave the table feeling slightly hungry, not completely full. Some might ask: if we leave the table hungry, won't we want to eat again in two hours? The answer is that it's not true. There are situations where it's advisable to eat every two and a half hours, such as for those with diabetes or people who sometimes experience sudden drops in blood sugar and feel weak and dizzy. These individuals must eat more frequently to maintain a stable blood sugar level. Moreover, even those wanting to lose weight should eat small, frequent meals. Otherwise, they might encounter hunger pangs, leading them to consume poor-quality foods like junk food and sweets, resulting in a loss.
Drinking during meals: Avoid drinking during meals. Liquids dilute the digestive juices, disrupting the digestion process. At most, you can sip a little water to moisten the lips and mouth. If there is a strong need to drink, it usually suggests that the food consumed is excessively seasoned with salt or sugar. Hence, it is advisable to avoid over-seasoning the food. We should get accustomed to the natural taste of food, which will also reduce the need to drink.
Raw vegetables: Usually, when I ask people whether they eat vegetables, I receive various responses, such as: "Of course, I eat a lot of salads..." Upon investigation, it turns out they eat cooked salads with a large amount of seasoning like salt, mayonnaise, etc. Moreover, some claim they add the salad as a side to the main dish. The correct approach is to start the meal with a serving of raw vegetables. Opening the meal with such a dish has several benefits: firstly, you get a lot of dietary fiber that aids the digestion process. Secondly, you get a supply of nutrients like various vitamins and minerals. Thirdly, if the meal begins with a vegetable salad, the so-called 'main' course is generally smaller and more balanced, and thus you consume fewer heavy and fattening foods.
