Top of the day to you and a very Happy Memorial Day

For years we have promoted having your Protein Meal at the latter part of the day and your Starch Meal around the Noontime. This is all shown very clearly in "The Perfect Diet MINI Program". However I would like to suggest that since there are so many folks who read this weekly message who are in the corporate world and eat out at the noontime most of the time, to eat the Protein Meal at this time.

We have found it to be healthier to eat the Protein Meal at the Noontime because it's a real challenge to get any quality starches when we eat out. I can't even imagine getting quality pasta or rice or the way they prepare the baked potatoes out would turn anyone's nose up. There are some real horror stories about that.

A lot of my clients and inner circle members are asking me about this a lot and this seems to work much better to have the Protein Meal at the Noontime if you have to eat out. Now eating home is a completely difference story as you are in total charge there. It's more of a quality issue than anything else here.

And of course watch your combinations of food. There are 3 Commandments of Eating and 7 Proper Food Combining Rules so you can ELIMINATE INDIGESTION entirely, which are also found in "The Perfect Diet MINI Program"

We are all commemorating this day to the ones who served in the military and gave the supreme sacrifice of their lives for their country. I am a veteran myself and I am so glad we honor those who served. I would also like to honor those who are living right now who are making a positive difference.

One of my clients sent me this the other day and I thought it was so strong that I wanted to close this week's message with it…check it out!
It's called "The Wooden Bowl"
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.

"We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.

Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life" and that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. And that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness resides within you.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. Sometimes all people really need is a little something to make them smile.

People will forget what you said ... people would forget what you did...but people will NEVER forget how you made them feel. Best to you and thanks for always reading my weekly messages. It helps me to know that I am making a difference with them. Thanks a million and again, Happy Memorial Day!

Wayne "The Mango Man" Pickering = The Ambassador for Health

Copyright © 2003 Center for Nutrition, Inc