56. TWO MEAL PLAN

My granddaughter, Savana, asked me this question:

Dear Grandma Donna:

After your recent visit, I have to say that I am puzzled how you can survive on two meals a day—breakfast and a late lunch—while everybody else eats three meals. How do you practice such self-control when you see all that good food on the table for the third meal? Love, Savana

Dear Savana:

To answer your question, I must first remind you that I am now a senior citizen of several years. Since it is common knowledge that older people should eat less, I made a decision quite a long time ago to eat only two meals daily with no snacking between. I was motivated because of my health, and I can assure you that it has been one of the wisest steps I have ever taken, which makes it easy to do. My sense of well-being is so enhanced that it takes almost no self-control.   

I eat breakfast about 8:30 and lunch about 2:30. From the day I made the change, I determined to eat balanced meals which would provide recommended calories. My normal weight is about 120, so I need 1200 calories daily to maintain and 300 extra for activity, making a total of 1500 calories each day.

I have no difficulty in placing my needed calories in two meals instead of three. Eating has become much more pleasurable because of my improved appetite. There is usually a seventeen-hour rest for my digestive organs from my 2:30 meal until my breakfast meal. That time primes my appetite for breakfast, making the flavors and textures of the food taste delicious to my hungry body.

I believe the two-meal plan has slowed the aging process for me. I have tremendous energy, which I attribute to consuming my needed calories earlier in the day—I seldom eat after 4:00 p.m. Digestion is the most difficult work the body performs, so less time for this labor gives me energy for other tasks.

One of the major causes of weight gain is eating in the evening, then going to bed with no activity to burn the meal’s calories. Since my food is consumed early in the afternoon, this plan helps keep my weight normal.

Morning is the most active part of my day, which requires plenty of fuel to make this body function. My first meal of the day usually consists of hot cereal, fruit and nuts. One of my favorites is millet pudding with granola served with fresh fruit.  

MILLET PUDDING:
Boil 1 c millet in 4 c water for one hour. Makes 4 cups.
Blend:
1 c cooked millet
1 c canned pineapple with juice
1 T unsweetened coconut
1 t vanilla
1/4 t salt
GRANOLA:
7 c rolled oats
1 1/2 c wheat germ
1 1/2 c unsweetened coconut
1/2 c brown sugar
2 t vanilla
2/3 c water
1/2 c olive oil
1 c pecans chopped
1 t salt
1/4 c flaxseed ground
Mix dry ingredients. Mix water, vanilla and oil. Add
liquid to dry and mix thoroughly. Spread thinly on
2 cookie sheets. Bake for 8 hours on lowest oven
temperature or at 275 for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every
half hour. Serve the millet pudding over the granola.
Add sliced bananas and strawberries.           

After my morning activities, I am again famished for my second meal, which is usually a big salad with soup or sandwiches. Today I chose zucchini salad and yamburgers.

ZUCCHINI SALAD
1 1/2 lbs zucchini, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 c green onion chopped
1/2 c celery, thinly sliced
1 c drained garbanzos
1/4 c sunflower seeds
1/4 c fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic minced
Mix all ingredients together. Chill and serve.

YAMBURGERS
2 medium sweet potatoes baked
1/3 c finely chopped celery
8 oz dry lentils rinsed
2 T maple syrup
1/2 c finely chopped carrots
2 slices ww bread broken
3/4 c finely chopped onion
1 T olive oil
Bake sweet potatoes at 350 for 45 minutes. Cool.
Bring 4-5 c water to boil and add lentils, carrot,
onion, and celery, and simmer 30-45 minutes.
Drain. Peel and mash sweet potatoes. Add syrup
and mix well. Add drained lentil mixture, bread
pieces and salt to taste. Mix well. Form into patties.
Heat oil in a large skillet. Cook patties until browned,
two minutes per side. Serve on a whole wheat bun.           

Sadly, you will now know I don’t have strong will power. MY TWO-MEAL A DAY PLAN IS SIMPLY A WAY OF LIFE, AND I LOVE IT! Love, Grandma Donna