"All should learn what to eat and how to cook it. Men, as well as women, need to understand the simple, healthful preparation of food. Their business often calls them where they cannot obtain wholesome food; then, if they have a knowledge of cookery, they can use it to good purpose. MH 323.1"
"She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens."
This verse highlights the importance of providing food for the household, which connects to the passage's emphasis on learning about food preparation.
"Carefully consider your diet. Study from cause to effect. Cultivate self-control. Keep appetite under the control of reason. Never abuse the stomach by overeating, but do not deprive yourself of the wholesome, palatable food that health demands. MH 323.2"
"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."
This verse speaks to the principle of self-control and not being brought under the power of anything, which aligns with controlling appetite and not overeating.
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
This verse emphasizes doing all things to the glory of God, which can be applied to carefully considering one's diet and cultivating self-control for health.
"And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite."
This verse advises putting a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite, which is a strong warning against overeating and aligns with the idea of keeping appetite under control.
"The narrow ideas of some would-be health reformers have been a great injury to the cause of hygiene. Hygienists should remember that dietetic reform will be judged, to a great degree, by the provision they make for their tables; and instead of taking a course that will bring discredit upon it, they should so exemplify its principles as to commend them to candid minds. There is a large class who will oppose any reform movement, however reasonable, if it places a restriction on the appetite. They consult taste instead of reason or the laws of health. By this class, all who leave the beaten track of custom and advocate reform will be accounted radical, no matter how consistent their course. That these persons may have no ground for criticism, hygienists should not try to see how different they can be from others, but should come as near to them as possible without the sacrifice of principle. MH 323.3"
"Let not then your good be evil spoken of:"
This verse warns against causing good things to be spoken of as evil, which aligns with the idea that extreme health reforms can discredit the cause of hygiene.
"But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak."
This verse warns against using liberty as a stumbling block, which relates to how extreme health practices can cause others to reject reform altogether.