The Buddha is known to have died by over-eating pork. At other times, he ate little or nothing. This seems to show a magical view of food. In a similar view, one might eat a few delicacies (chocolate or pudding, perhaps), instead of meat and potatoes. But what are the dangers of this view? For one thing, it might sometimes lead to a less healthy diet. But, on the other hand, because of the ‘magical diet’ mentality, it might lead to less food consumed overall. The answer is to have enjoyable alternatives to plain fruit and nuts and milk, while also continuing not to over-consume. When it becomes obvious that over consuming chocolate is not a good idea, a small amount of exercise and some exotic fruits might compensate for the chocolate that was consumed. Fruits like sweetened cranberries (‘Craisins’) can supplement for candy. Chocolate milk can be used to replace soft drinks. A diet high in carbohydrates can help cut back on sugar and meat consumption. The magical diet involves two primary aspects: eating only special foods, and not eating a large amount of them. Then add a third part, which is being more discerning about your diet.
