Eating the right amount

I momentarily marveled this morning at our son’s ability to stop eating when he’s had enough food. He’s always been able to say no to over eating. He can have a whole plate of food before him, take a few bites and say, “I’m full,” put his fork down, and be perfectly content until the next meal. He will not nibble, take a little more to pass the time, or eat the food anyway. He’ll stop. That’s it. No more. He’s done, and happily so.

My wife and I struggled in the early years of raising our children with how to educate our two kids about eating. We both had been raised in the mantra of “Eat everything on your plate,” but we both had struggled in times past with eating too much food and didn’t want our kids to struggle with the same nonsense. So, after much prayer and discussion, we adopted the habit of giving them small portions at mealtime, and then letting them ask for more if they desired. As time evolved, they rarely ask for seconds, and learned through experience to eat modestly and happily so. And their plates were generally clean when finished.

As I rejoiced over our son’s self-knowledge of knowing when enough is enough, I thought about ways people are mentally influenced to step over the bounds of reason unthinkingly and then act out the role of victim when it comes to eating.

It’s a common excuse for overeaters to utter complaints such as “I couldn’t help it. I didn’t realize I was eating so much” and so on. But in truth, we can help it, and we can stop, but mortal mind has so educated us to believe we can’t think for ourselves and act according to what we know is right, that we believe it and act out the helplessness.

The dictum of “Eat everything on your plate,” should be banished into the cauldron of “never again” forever.

What if someone gives you too much food? What if you unthinkingly took too much food and soon realized your error? What if you’re at a restaurant that serves enough helping to one person to fill three? Should you still have to eat it? Definitely not. We should eat what is appropriate, not what mortal mind is whispering into thought we should do.

The one Mind thinks for itself and is not swayed by popular belief, mom’s opinion, cultural customs, past habits, restaurant practice, the eyes, the stomach, mindlessness or gluttony. As children of God, we are in possession of the one Mind that thinks for itself and makes wise sound decisions. When we sit down to a meal, we are not governed by what is put before us. We are governed by God, and God will lead us aright if we listen and faithfully follow.

We can say “Enough is enough,” put our fork down, walk away and be perfectly content until the next meal.