Based on the writings of Ellen G. White, here is a comprehensive guide to her counsel on health and diet. ### The Foundation of a Healthful Diet Ellen White emphasizes that our physical health is intrinsically linked to our spiritual and mental well-being. The ideal diet, she states, was chosen for us by our Creator. * **The Original Diet:** "Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing. They impart a strength, a power of endurance, and a vigor of intellect that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet." (MH 296.1) * **Simplicity is Key:** "Fruits, grains, and vegetables, prepared in a simple way, free from spice and grease of all kinds, make, with milk and cream, the most healthful diet." (HL 78.6) ### The Connection Between Diet and Spirituality The choices we make in our diet are presented as having a direct impact on our moral and spiritual lives. * "Our habits of eating and drinking show whether we are of the world or among the number whom the Lord by His mighty cleaver of truth has separated from the world." (6T 372) * "The diet has much to do with the disposition to enter into temptation and commit sin." (CD 52.2) * "The diet affects both physical and moral health." (HL 76.3) ### Key Principles of Healthy Eating Several practical principles are consistently advised to maintain good health. 1. **Temperance and Moderation:** Overeating, even of healthful food, is strongly discouraged. "As a people, with all our profession of health reform, we eat too much. Indulgence of appetite is the greatest cause of physical and mental debility, and lies at the foundation of feebleness which is apparent everywhere." (HR August 1, 1875, par. 6) 2. **Regularity of Meals:** Maintaining a consistent schedule for meals is crucial. She advised against irregular eating habits and eating between meals. For some, she suggested that two meals a day would be more beneficial than three. (T29 164.1) 3. **Careful Preparation:** Food should be made both nourishing and appealing. A lack of care in preparation can bring reproach on the principles of health reform. * "Much tact and discretion should be employed in preparing nourishing food to take the place of that which has formerly constituted the diet of those who are learning to be health reformers." (9T 161.3) * It is a mistake to adopt an "impoverished diet." She warns, "Food is so poorly prepared, that the stomach loathes it, and such have told me that the health reform did not agree with them." (T15 51.2) 4. **Adapting to Circumstances:** Diet should be suited to individual needs based on various factors. "Our diet should be suited to the season, to the climate in which we live, and to the occupation we follow." (MH 296.2) She also counseled that when presenting health principles to the poor, one should "tell them to eat that food which is most nourishing" and not yet "prescribe the strictest diet." (9T 163.1) ### Counsel on Specific Foods * **Flesh Foods (Meat):** While the original diet did not include meat, Ellen White provided nuanced counsel. She stated, "A meat diet is not the most wholesome of diets," but acknowledged that "Those who have feeble digestive organs can often use meat, when they cannot eat vegetables, fruit, or porridge." (YI May 31, 1894, par. 7) Her general counsel was to move away from a meat-based diet, as it "strengthens animalism" and can "diminish intellectual activity." (SpM 81.6) * **Fruits and Vegetables:** She advised eating fruits and vegetables at separate meals for those with weak digestion: "If we would preserve the best health, we should avoid eating vegetables and fruit at the same meal. If the stomach is feeble, there will be distress, the brain will be confused, and unable to put forth mental effort. Have fruit at one meal and vegetables at the next." (YI May 31, 1894, par. 7) In summary, the guidance provided emphasizes a simple, plant-based diet, temperance in all things, and a thoughtful approach to food preparation, all while considering individual circumstances. The ultimate goal is to care for the body as a divine trust, which in turn strengthens the mind and spirit.