Gratitude for Food: A Healthy Philosophy

“Gracious Lord, make us truly thankful for the food we are about to receive.”

For many believers, this is a familiar prayer recited before a meal. But what does it truly mean to be thankful for the food on our plates?

When I was growing up, my parents always told my siblings and me to finish everything on our plates because so many people around the world were starving. Years later, I learned that many of my friends had heard the same advice from their parents.

As a child, however, I struggled to understand. How could eating the food on my plate possibly help someone who was hungry somewhere else? It was a typical question from a young mind.

Over time, with experience and years of practicing medicine, my understanding changed. I came to know people who had plenty of food and the financial means to buy it, yet were unable to eat. Some had lost their appetite because of illness. Others could tolerate only a few bites at a time. Still others could no longer swallow food or even liquids.

One patient has stayed in my heart over the years. She underwent successful treatment for throat cancer. Although the surgery saved her life, it permanently took away her ability to swallow. She relied on a feeding tube for liquid nutrition. She would never again taste, feel, or simply enjoy the pleasure of sharing a meal with family and friends. Then there are those who desperately want food but simply do not have enough.

Today, an estimated 47.9 million Americans experience food insecurity, including more than 14 million children and nearly 14 million adults ages 60 and older. Around the world, approximately 670 million people live with chronic hunger.

Perhaps my parents and so many others of their generation did not know these statistics. But they may have experienced hunger themselves, known someone whose illness made eating impossible, or simply possessed the wisdom to recognize that food is one of God’s everyday blessings.

Having a warm, nourishing meal—and the ability to enjoy it—is a gift that should never be taken for granted. The next time we bow our heads before a meal, perhaps this familiar prayer will carry a deeper meaning:

“Gracious Lord, make us truly thankful for the food we are about to receive, for the nourishment of our bodies, for Christ’s sake. Amen.”

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