[Tonia]

to eat during church! Okay, here's the thing. I have discovered this past week that my 'hungry feeling' is pretty much gone. I am staying in my calorie allotment and I don't find myself hungry at all - a very good thing to help stay focused.

Today during church I was hungry. Really hungry. Honestly, I usually am but I didn't seriously start until last Wednesday. I think Satan uses this weakness against me - and has for years. It is hard to concentrate on the service if you are thinking about what is for lunch, ya know?

So, what do you do so that you don't eat too much when you get home (or eat out?)? I am okay with drinking my water during church or between bible study and church but eating? Is that crossing a line?

[CountingDown]

I'm sorry I'm laughing, because I know this is a serious question and you deserve a reverent answer. At my church we have food everywhere. Potlucks, coffee and cookies before Sunday School, in between services, before meetings - you name it - we serve food whenever people gather.

Seriously, keep a granola bar or other easy to eat food in your purse or pocket. I don't see anything wrong with eating in between church and bible study. Staying focuses is what is important. Many people have blood sugar issues and need to eat regularly. So my vote is to eat.

[sodredge]

My church has taken this to the forefront, on Sundays they have a spread out before and after service with morning yummies. basically nothing that I can eat and talk about here, though occasionally they do some fruit. They offer coffee and tea as well. As for munching while service is going on, that would just seem a bit off. I would not want to be the one caught munching in service. You have hours before a service and hours after. If you are diabetic that can be different though it is just common to a degree I suppose.

[jtammy]

Our longest service (Sunday school then the service) only lasts about 2 hours, so it's never been an issue. I eat breakfast before I go and we eat lunch pretty soon after getting home. At different points in the past, we have offered snacks between the two, but we (the church) aren't doing that now. I suppose if I had to, I could eat a little bite before going into the sanctuary, but I've never felt that it's necessary. I would feel inappropriate eating in the sanctuary. Maybe at another church, I wouldn't feel that way. Our church is slightly more formal that some that I've been in.

Any services we have at night usually only last an hour to an hour and a half, so it's not really an issue there.

Mind you we have lots of potlucks after Sunday morning service, and we feed the youth and children during their programs on Sunday nights. The youth also eat at their Wednesday night service. It seems like the youth eat everytime they get together, but their teenagers, so what do you expect.

[Tonia]

Thanks for the input!

We have plenty of potlucks and sometimes there are snacks available between services (for special occasions).

I am used to eating early - before 7 - so lasting until 12:30 is difficult. I am not diabetic, just hungry . I will put some granola bar or something in my purse and just eat when the opportunity presents itself.

Oh, btw, It didn't occur to me to mention that there are ALWAYS snack in Sunday School...donuts, etc. and it is never easy to resist when I am hungry!

[amyyy]

I always carry sugar free gum in my purse. Just in case my stomach starts rumbling. It seems to do the trick most of the time.

Amy

[emmyroo]

Maybe a piece of fruit, like an orange or apple, right before you go to church would help? It would be good for you because it would help with vitamins without having a lot of calories. And I find that a piece of fruit is the perfect snack to tide me over until my next meal. You could even eat it in the car on the way!