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5 Ways Benjamin Franklin’s 250-Year-Old Advice: ‘Eats Twice As Much As Nature Requires’ Is A 2024 Warning

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Benjamin Franklin’s observation that "In general, mankind, since the improvement of cookery, eats twice as much as nature requires" is not just a historical curiosity; it is a profound and urgent warning for the modern world. This statement, penned centuries ago, perfectly encapsulates the global crises of health, sustainability, and excess that define life in late 2024.

Today, with a global food system driven by convenience and supersized portions, Franklin’s critique of "the improvement of cookery" has never been more relevant. The very forces that make food delicious and accessible—from advanced food science to restaurant economics—are the same forces that push us far beyond the limits of biological necessity, creating a dangerous gap between what we *want* and what our *nature requires*.

Benjamin Franklin: The Architect of American Moderation

To understand the depth of Franklin’s quote, one must first look at the man himself. Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was an American polymath, a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. He is one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and is celebrated for his pragmatic philosophy and pursuit of self-improvement.

Biography and Profile

  • Full Name: Benjamin Franklin
  • Born: January 17, 1706, Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony (now USA)
  • Died: April 17, 1790, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 84)
  • Occupation: Printer, Publisher, Author, Inventor, Scientist, Diplomat, Statesman
  • Key Inventions: Bifocal glasses, the Franklin stove, the lightning rod
  • Philosophical Contribution: The 13 Virtues, a lifelong project of moral perfection and self-discipline.
  • Key Quote on Moderation: "Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation." (The Virtue of Temperance)

Franklin’s philosophy of life was centered on his famous list of 13 virtues, which he attempted to master sequentially. The very first virtue on his list was Temperance. His rule for Temperance was clear and direct: "Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation." This was his personal guardrail against the very overindulgence he later criticized in society. He believed that moderation in eating and drinking was the foundation for all other virtues, as physical excess clouds the mind and weakens the will.

The ‘Improvement of Cookery’ and the Portion Size Epidemic

Franklin’s phrase, "since the improvement of cookery," is the key to his critique. He wasn't just talking about hunger; he was talking about *appetite*—the desire for food enhanced by flavor, presentation, and variety. In the 18th century, "improved cookery" meant richer, more complex dishes that stimulated the palate long after true hunger was satisfied. In 2024, this concept has exploded.

The modern "improvement of cookery" is defined by industrial-scale food production, hyper-palatable processed foods, and the relentless upscaling of portion sizes. This has created a phenomenon where the psychological desire for value and flavor far outweighs the body's caloric needs.

Consider the data on portion creep:

  • Supersizing Culture: Studies have shown that restaurant portion sizes have increased dramatically over the last few decades, often containing two to three times the recommended serving size in a single plate.
  • Consumer Acknowledgment: A recent Georgetown study revealed that a significant number of consumers—51%—are actively practicing some form of portion management and desire smaller, more reasonable portion sizes from the industry. This demonstrates a societal awareness that we are being pushed to eat more than we need.
  • The Economic Shift: The USDA reported that food-away-from-home expenditures reached a high of 58.9% of total food expenditures in 2024, indicating that more meals are consumed in environments where portion control is dictated by restaurant profitability, not nature’s requirements.

This systematic overfeeding is a direct consequence of an "improved cookery" designed for profit, making Franklin’s 250-year-old observation a perfect diagnosis of the modern obesity and chronic disease crisis.

The Environmental Cost of Eating Twice as Much (2024 Data)

While Franklin was primarily focused on personal virtue and health, his quote takes on a devastating new meaning when applied to the global environment. Eating twice as much as nature requires doesn't just impact our waistlines; it drives massive resource depletion and climate change through global food waste.

The latest statistics from 2024 reveal a shocking reality:

  • Global Waste Footprint: According to the UN Environment Programme’s 2024 report, the world wastes approximately 1.05 billion tons of food annually. This colossal waste is food produced, transported, and prepared but never consumed.
  • Climate Impact: Food loss and waste are responsible for generating 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To put that in perspective, this is nearly five times the total annual emissions of the global aviation sector.
  • U.S. Overproduction: In the United States alone, the system is so geared toward excess that 29% of the total food supply goes unsold or uneaten in 2024. This is a direct measure of how far our consumption habits exceed "nature’s requirements."

The resources wasted in producing this surplus—water, land, energy, and labor—are staggering. Franklin’s simple observation about personal gluttony has become a macro-economic and ecological indictment. We are not just consuming twice what we need; we are wasting the planet's finite resources at the same exponential rate.

The Stoic Remedy: Embracing Mindful Consumption

Franklin’s philosophy aligns closely with ancient Stoicism, a school of thought that emphasizes self-control and living in accordance with nature. The modern application of his quote is a call to action for mindful consumption, moving away from a life of excess toward a life of sufficiency.

The Stoic principle of voluntary discomfort is the perfect antidote to the "twice as much" problem. By intentionally practicing moderation, we can reset our internal baseline and rediscover what "nature requires."

Practical Steps to Reclaim Your 'Nature's Requirement'

To apply Franklin's wisdom in the 21st century, the focus must shift from dieting to a fundamental change in mindset:

  1. The 80% Rule (Hara Hachi Bu): Adopt the Okinawan practice of eating until you are 80% full, leaving a small gap between satisfaction and "dullness."
  2. Deconstruct the Meal: Before eating, mentally separate the food required for *sustenance* from the food desired for *pleasure*. This practice helps distinguish true hunger from appetite stimulated by "improved cookery."
  3. Embrace Simplicity: Franklin himself experimented with a vegetarian diet, finding that simple, unadorned food was both healthier and more economical. Prioritize whole, less-processed foods, which naturally reduce the hyper-palatability that encourages overeating.
  4. Mindful Portioning: When eating out, immediately ask for a to-go box and pack half the meal before you begin eating. This preemptively corrects the restaurant's supersized portion to something closer to a single serving.
  5. Connect Consumption to Consequence: Every time you reach for a second helping, pause and consider the 8–10% of global emissions generated by food waste. Linking personal consumption to global consequences provides a powerful ethical motivation for temperance.

In conclusion, Benjamin Franklin was a man ahead of his time. His quote is a timeless piece of wisdom that serves as a powerful mirror for the modern consumer. The challenge of 2024 is not just to eat less, but to redefine our relationship with food, moving from a culture of reckless excess to one of conscious, sustainable moderation. By choosing to eat only what nature requires, we honor our health, our finances, and the planet itself.

5 Ways Benjamin Franklin’s 250-Year-Old Advice: ‘Eats Twice as Much as Nature Requires’ Is a 2024 Warning
eats twice as much as nature requires
eats twice as much as nature requires

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