You'll spoil your appetite

"Don't eat now. You'll spoil your appetite for dinner." Do you remember these words, perhaps from childhood? What does it mean to spoil your appetite?

I did a little web research, and other than a grandmotherly thing to say, the phrase has no real meaning.

But what does it mean to grandma or mom? Almost always said by the cook, or someone whose best interest is to defend the cook, spoiling your appetite seems to be mainly about allowing yourself to remain ravenously hungry so that the amount you eat of the cook's meal will be satisfying to him or her. The cook must feel complimented!

Is it good to get so ravenously hungry? No, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. In fact, they advise the opposite: "Spoil your appetite. Having a snack or appetizer before a meal can dull your hunger and help you eat less at the meal."

Now let's examine the phrase from the point of view of sheer logic and reason. Is it a good idea to eat a Snicker's bar or pecan pie twenty minutes before a sumptuous dinner? No, of course not. Consuming a lot of sugary calories really will fill you up on foods that are less preferable, when you would have been just as happy or more so to have a balanced dinner.

Then what does the Harvard School of Public Health mean? As you probably know, you sometimes get a little too hungry, which can make it difficult to eat with control, especially if you're new at normal eating.

Why beat yourself up over this tendency? Instead, have a little piece of cheese or something with protein, just to take the edge off the hunger a bit, but don't eat so much that you won't enjoy your meal. Remember that hunger heightens your sense of taste, and meals are meant to be enjoyed to the fullest. Just take the edge off the starvation first.

It's a balancing act, then. So you had an early lunch at work, and now you have to wait until 7:30 for a big dinner date? Why make yourself miserable? You don't have to eat a whole meal in-between, and you don't have to starve yourself, either. Have a hard boiled egg. You'd be amazed at how well it satisfies, and holds you for a few more hours. Then, by the time 7:30 rolls around, you'll be plenty hungry, and will enjoy your meal to the fullest.

But don't forget to enjoy the company, too.

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