The Buddha was a strong advocate for controlled eating.  He ate only one meal a day, a lunch provided by his lay followers.  Some days, the Buddha was invited by his supporters to visit their houses for lunch while other days he took his bowl and went for alms.  He strictly followed this one-meal-a-day policy, taking only herbal drinks later in the day.

The Buddha did not recommend the same policy for his lay followers but encouraged them to be aware of “the right measure of eating.”  For the training of his ordained disciples, however, The Buddha recommended once-a-day eating.

Expressing the benefits of taking one meal a day, the  Buddha once spoke the following words to a group o his ordained male disciples:

“I eat only one meal a day.  When I eat just one meal a day, I am aware that I have a very few ailments, a very few diseases, much lightness, strength, and comfort.  You, too, monks, may depend on just a single meal a day.  You, too, will have the benefits that I have already acquired.”

After the Buddha spoke thus, Bhikkhu Bhaddali, one monk in the group, disagreed.  “I cannot eat this way, sir,” he said.  “When I eat just a single meal a day, I have doubts [about my ability to follow the training], and I get confused.”

“Well, then, Bhaddali . . ,” Buddha resumed. “You may divide your normal meal into two portions, eat one part in the morning session, and keep the other part for the evening session.  By eating like this, you will be able to keep yourself going.”