126 PROPER AMOUNT OF FOOD. 



6. Some Rest should be taken before Eating. When 

 the mind or body is greatly tired, the digestive organs 

 will not act properly. A man engaged in any laborious 

 business should therefore take his dinner after he has 

 finished his day's work, and had at least half an hour's 

 rest. If he come straight from his office to the table, 

 and return there directly after eating, he will, in the 

 long-run, injure his health. 



The day's work of a child should finish early, and be 

 followed, after an hour's recreation, by dinner. If there 

 is an afternoon session at school, the work should be of 

 a kind calling for little mental effort; for example, writ- 

 ing or drawing. 



7. Food should be Eaten Slowly. This ensures its 

 proper mastication and thorough mixture with the 

 saliva (p. 106). Thus the work of the stomach and other 

 digestive organs is lightened. 



Moreover, rapid eating is very apt to lead to over- 

 eating. Too much food is swallowed before enough 

 has been absorbed to lead to diminution of the sensa- 

 tion of hunger. 



8. The Proper Amount of Food varies with age, work, 

 and climate. A person who has done growing, needs 

 only enough to make good his daily waste, while a 

 child should have something over, to supply materials 

 for growth. In warm weather, less food is required than 

 in cold, because less material has to be oxidized in the 



6. Why is it unwise to eat when very tired? When should a man 

 whose business is fatiguing dine? Why? What is said concerning 

 the day's work of a child? Of afternoon session at school? 



7. Why should we eat slowly ? How is it that rapid eating may 

 lead to over-eating ? 



8. Conditions affecting proper amount of food ? Need of an adult ? 

 Of a child ? Influence of weather? What is a safe guide ? What is 



