FOOD HABITS WISE AND OTHERWISE 89 



of pottage Jacob had prepared for himself. Jacob, 

 greatly coveting his older brother's right to the father's 

 blessing and property, saw a chance to drive a shrewd 

 bargain. So he offered his pottage in exchange for the 

 birthright, and Esau quickly accepted. 



The birthright of almost every child is a healthy 

 body, not for a few years but for a lifetime. Who 

 has not felt pity for Esau because he allowed his 

 greed for pottage to lose him a commanding position 

 and valuable estates? Are we sure we are not giving 

 up our birthright for a mess of pottage? A healthy, 

 vigorous body is a far more valuable possession than 

 the great estate Esau was to receive. Candy and 

 rich desserts are the pottage most likely to lure away 

 our precious inheritance. Let us hope that no readers 

 of this book will be so unwise as Esau. 



Another harmful habit is eating between meals. 

 Healthy digestive organs are ready to take care of 

 a reasonable amount of building material furnished 

 them at the three ordinary meals. Like other parts 

 of the body, they cannot work their best all of the 

 time without rest. If compelled to work overtime, 

 they naturally lose tone and vigor. The result is the 

 loss of appetite at regular meals, and a general 

 derangement of health. 



If the body really needs nourishment, bread and 

 milk, a sandwich, or even a glass of milk will sup- 

 ply the required strength in a form easy to digest, 

 and will satisfy hunger as well. But we are often 



