Charlemagne, Basically Godzilla With a Crown
"Charles was temperate in eating, and particularly so in drinking, for he abominated drunkenness in anybody, much more in himself and those of his household; but he could not easily abstain from food, and often complained that fasts injured his health. He very rarely gave entertainments, only on great feast-days, and then to large numbers of people. His meals ordinarily consisted of four courses, not counting the roast, which his huntsmen used to bring in on the spit; he was more fond of this than of any other dish. While at table, he listened to reading or music. The subjects of the readings were the stories and deeds of olden time: he was fond, too, of St. Augustine’s books, and especially of the one entitled “The City of God."
He was so moderate in the use of wine and all sorts of drink that he rarely allowed himself more than three cups in the course of a meal. In summer after the midday meal, he would eat some fruit, drain a single cup, put off his clothes and shoes, just as he did for the night, and rest for two or three hours."
- Einhard’s Life of Charlemagne, c.830 CE
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/stgall-charlemagne.asp
I think there’s a lot to learn from Charlemagne.
You can be temperate in your eating without ever abstaining from food.
The ordinary meal of a temperate man should consist of four courses.
Not counting the roast. Because temperance.
Show moderation when drinking. Limit yourself to 3 cups of wine. For those of you counting in Germanic barbarian Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire units of measure, that’s this many…
In the middle of the day, you should have a light snack, chug a cup of wine, get naked and take a nap.
There you have it. Life lessons from an abstemious man, a hero, a saint, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, savior of western European unity, scourge of heathen peoples, and protector of the Papacy and Holy Mother Church.
The people of his time should be thankful for his dietary restraint. Imagine if he had cut loose?
dededos
germansingergirl
turnnoffyourmind
prguitarman
annaxmalina
theartofmadeline
tangentwithtanner
ellievsbear
