Shortly after lunch the other day, one of my daycare kids spied the blueberry muffins that were on a cooling rack.
Girl: Can I have one of those?
Me: You just ate, honey.
Girl: But I am hungry.
Me: You can’t be hungry. You ate quite a lot.
Girl: My tummy isn’t hungry. My mouth is.
Ah, yes. I knew just what she meant. I have decided that I experience three kinds of hunger: of the mouth, of the stomach, and of the body.
The body: I crave something good for me, like a salad or a big juicy steak.
The stomach: I am simply hungry and anything will do to make the gnawing sensation go away, whether a handful of grapes or a few crackers.
The mouth: The body and stomach are sated but the mouth is not; it wants just a smackeral of something tasty, often what the stomach does not need and the body cannot use. Cake, cookies, candy, and chips fall into this too broad category.
Right eating is when all three hungers come together and are satisfied in perfect unison. But how often am I only feeding two? Or one?
This has been a problem of late, and I have realized it is because I have slipped in my menu planning. When I fly-by-the-seat-of-my-schedule, I overlook one of the hungers and it comes back later to bite me. Oh, when will I ever learn?!
Broad is the path that leads to destruction. So back I go, happily, to the narrow road which is menu-planning, where freedom lies and peace reigns. Let it be so!
Great insight, it is amazing what we can learn from the little ones who bless our lives.
Comment by Kellie — March 23, 2007 @ 9:34 am
That is such a great way to look at hunger! I would never have thought of it with such clarity, but you are exactly right. Thanks for the insight.
Caroline
Comment by Caroline — March 23, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
Ooooh! Blueberry muffins! That does sound good!
What a neat little lesson!
Comment by Bethany — March 23, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
Beautiful!!
Comment by Katherine — March 25, 2007 @ 11:25 am