What is a Food Tightwad? (part 1)

Let’s start to make the connection between managing money and managing food.

Recently, I wrote about developing self-control while managing money as a tightwad.  After defining a money tightwad as someone who cheerfully and systematically chooses when to spend or not to spend money in order to meet a financial goal, I made note of some Biblical wisdom and motivation for handling money.  So let’s define what it is to be a Food Tightwad, then look in the Bible for God’s perspective on food.

I want to start by clearly defining what it means to be a Food Tightwad.  A Food Tightwad is someone who cheerfully and systematically chooses when to eat or not to eat food in order to meet a physical goal.

Please note that the definition addresses the attitude (cheerfully), the planning (systematically), the ability to choose, and a focus (a physical goal).  Just like managing money, we should set short- and long-term goals, apply wisdom to the decision-making process, and practice self-control with a good attitude.  When any of these aspects get out-of-balance, we physically suffer the consequences of starvation, obesity and illness.

I desire to be a Food Tightwad.  Before making plans and setting goals, I study God’s Word, the Bible, for His perspective on food since He is the creator of all life.  Here are a few of my favorite Biblical principles about food:

• God designed our bodies to be fueled by food (Genesis 1:29, Ecclesiastes 2:24, Matthew 6:31-33)
• Eat to glorify God (Daniel 1:8, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:31)
• Work for food (Genesis 2:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12)
• Food can be a ministry to serve others (Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 25:34-40, James 2:15-16)
• Godly fasting and feasting have purpose (Exodus 34:27-28, Esther 4:16, Matthew 6:16-18, Nehemiah 8:9-12, Philippians 4:11-13)
• Food can be an area of temptation and sin (Exodus 32:1-6, Proverbs 23:20-21, Isaiah 22:12-13, Matthew 6:25, Romans 14:20-21, 1 Corinthians 6:12-13)

I am motivated to be a good and godly food manager because God gave us lots of practical wisdom in the Bible about it.  God, the Creator of heaven and earth, gave people the responsibility to be good stewards of what He has given us.  My family enjoys feasting to celebrate with others and delights to serve others by delivering meals and food to those in need.  We also try to model wise food management to our children to show them the way they should go, too.

A Food Tightwad is someone who cheerfully and systematically chooses when to eat or not to eat food in order to meet a physical goal.

 

In part 2 of What is a Food Tightwad, I will share three practical tips to becoming a Food Tightwad.  Then I hope you will see the connection between self-control with money and self-control with food.  Do you see a connection yet?