Over the years, I’ve valued the wisdom of others in a variety of contexts, especially when it comes to living a healthy life. Some of it has come from personal friends, some from people in the public eye, some of it serious, some of it witty.
For example, Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician often referred to as the “father of medicine,” famously gave the advice, “Let food be thy medicine, and let food be thy medicine.”
Hippocrates also said, “If we could provide everyone with the right amounts of nourishment and exercise, neither too little nor too much, the safest path to health would be found.”
Professional baseball player and coach Yogi Berra said:
“You should cut the pizza into four pieces. I’m not hungry enough to eat six.”
My friends Roy and Marge imparted wisdom through the way they lived. They were decades older than me and full of energy and passion in every aspect of their lives. When I asked them for some insight on food and diet, Marge shared, “Our mother used to tell us, ‘Children, make sure you have two kinds of vegetables for your main meal – one that grows above ground and one that grows underground.'”
That’s very smart. Combinations like broccoli and carrots, tomatoes and onions, or green beans and yams provide a variety of health-promoting compounds that help prevent chronic disease.
Then Roy interjected, “Let’s gather around the table and enjoy a meal together.”
He was right: Research suggests that eating meals together in a relaxed environment can reduce stress and improve food digestion.
And remember, eating together isn’t just about nutrition, as my friend and fellow nutritionist Lisa reminded me: “It’s mostly about connection and love, listening and sharing.” Amen.
This old English proverb still rings true: “Enough is as good as a feast.”
The following quotes are worth pondering:
“Train your body to crave healthy foods.” – Author Unknown
“There’s nothing like a home-cooked meal to make people happy and feel loved.” – Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa Cookbook Author
“If you cannot feed 100, feed just one.” – Mother Teresa, Catholic nun and founder of Missionaries of Charity
“Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” – Adele Davis, American author and nutritionist
“Vegetables are a must in your diet. Carrot cake, zucchini bread, pumpkin pie are great choices.” – Jim Davis, Garfield cartoonist
Finally, Julia Child, the American chef and author of The Art of French Cooking, is known for this quote:
“I didn’t start cooking until I was 32; before that, I just ate.”
“You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated dishes, just make tasty food using fresh ingredients.”
“If you don’t like butter, use cream.”
She lived to be 91 years old.
Barbara Intermill is a registered dietitian and syndicated columnist. She is the author of Quinn-Essential Nutrition: The Uncomplicated Science of Eating. Email her at barbara@quinnessentialnutrition.com.
