Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper...We prefer to say: A large breakfast, a substantial lunch and lighter supper. June Parker ACupuncturist and ChengHsin Teacher

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE HAS A USEFUL EXPLANATION FOR THIS OLD BRITISH ADAGE ABOUT HOW TO EAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY. IN THIS SYSTEM THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ORGANS OF THE BODY WAXES AND WANES OVER THE 24 HOURS. THE STOMACH (MAIN ORGAN OF DIGESTION) WORKS MOST STRONGLY BETWEEN 7.00 AND 9.00 IN THE MORNINGS. JUST AFTER THIS,BETWEEN 9.00 AND 11.00 THE SPLEEN (REGARDED AS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABSORPTION OF NUTRIENTS AND THE TRANSPORTATION OF THESE AROUND THE BODY) HAS ITS BEST PERIOD. AFTER THIS THERE IS A DECLINE IN EFFECTIVENESS REACHING A LOW POINT 12 HOURS LATER.THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING MEALS. THE FIRST IS NUTRITIONAL CONTENT: FOOD SHOULD BE HIGH QUALITY AND A WIDE RANGE OF DIFFERENT FOODS SHOULD BE EATEN. THE SECOND IS TO PROTECT THE STOMACH AND SPLEEN FROM DAMAGE BY NOT OVERLOADING THEM.THUS, BREAKFAST WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL AND VARIED MEAL, EATEN WHEN THE SYSTEM IS AT ITS STRONGEST. LUNCH WOULD STILL CONTAIN A WIDE RANGE OF NUTRIENTS BUT THE EVENING MEAL WOULD BE EASY TO DIGEST AND CONSIST OF A FEW SIMPLE INGREDIENTS.