I usually skip breakfast. As opposed to those who at least drink a glass of milk to start off the day, I drink nothing but a glass of water - or juice if there is any - as I usually wake up thirsty than hungry. I relatively have a small stomach, or so Cy keeps on telling me, and am more inclined to eating smaller servings albeit more frequently. I eat 5x a day I think. Two meals and 3 snacks as in-betweeners. I think Cy has caught on to my eating habits as he fills his place less and usually don’t go for seconds like he used to. No, my eating habits do not reflect a dire need to slim down, they are more (if anything) out of a natural inclination than a weight stock prevention. Besides, my metabolism and genes inhibit me to gain weight and I’m physically active so stocking up is not the least of my concerns.
When my brother stayed for months at my flat two years ago, he observed that I usually become incapacitated after I overeat. Incapacitated in this context entails me to just lie down in bed silent and unmoving for a few minutes. This weirdly painted in his mind a picture of a beached whale. Distressed and horribly unable to do anything otherwise. He and Cy had a few laughs over that. I say he just watched too many marine episodes of the Discovery Channel.
Though Papa and Mama constantly remind me to eat more, or worse, tell Cy to tell me to eat more on their monthly visits I just nod and give them their needed affirmation. Needless to say I never do as I always stop eating the moment my body tells me that it had had its fill. Even if people tell me that I barely touched my food. Of course they exaggerate as I usually eat at least half of whatever I put on my plate. Some people consider it a sin not to finish eating one’s food. Too many starving people in the world they say. Of course, these are the same people who believe their religion and consider Gluttony to be one of the Capital Vices - more commonly popularized as the 7 Deadly Sins. It is 2nd on the list, just after Lust if you care to refresh yourself (assuming of course, that you are Catholic). Although Gluttony was originally defined to be the overindulgence of food and drink, its meaning has long since stretched to unreasonable or unnecessary excess of consumption. Religion, at least Roman Catholicism as I am not well-versed in the custom and beliefs of other religions, condemns me it seems to sin either way. Eat beyond my fill and I am a glutton. Stop eating and I am apathetic to the misfortune of others. Such are the moral and spiritual quandaries I face. And over such a trifle and prosaic thing such as food and eating it!
Of course not everyone furrow their brows at my lack of appetite. Back in college, Warrick or Momo eagerly awaited my scruples whenever we had lunch and dinner. In all other occasions involving the consumption of food, I never failed to share. It was a perfect, almost rehearsed occurrence that benefited both parties. In Science, they call it a mutual relationship. I call it sensible. I even called it friendship.
Given my intrinsic lack of appetite and my refusal to eat beyond my limit, I never turn down dessert. Especially if it is flan, cake, salad or buko pandan. In which case I dally at the table, wait 10 mins or so for my stomach to make room and eat my favorite part of the meal.
