Eleanor learns the hard way how to slow down. After all, life isn't a race.

Eleanor Grace, Stop Stuffing Your Face!

Eating is necessary whether we like it or not.


part 1

A small child eating a small meat pie / A large boy eating a large meat pie

part 2

But most kids eat sensibly; they don’t slurp or snort, except for Eleanor Grace (or Ellie, for short).


part 3

Eleanor starting to choke on her food out in the school yard while school children watch

Like a food vacuum cleaner, she wolfed down and scoffed, hardly stopping, until she gagged and she coughed.


part 4

“You ought to slow down,” said a wise Mr. Noke, "surely no rush is worthwhile if you choke?"


part 5

Eleanor eating and walking near a playground

Ellie insisted, “I know what I’m doing” and went straight back to gobbling and chewing. She eagerly wanted to go out and play and hurried to get her food out of the way.


part 6

Eleanor struggling to breathe, clutching her throat outside near a playground

When the recess bell rang and the students dispersed, things for young Ellie took a turn for the worse:
She got up too fast and gagged on some cheese which got lodged in her throat and she started to wheeze!


part 7

Luckily, Mr. Noke wasn’t too far away. He came up beside her, “Now, what did I say?” 


part 8

Eleanor struggling to breathe near a playground

“I know what I’m doing,” she stubbornly heaved, but it’s clear that she didn’t for she could hardly breathe.


part 9

Eleanor holding her ankles, cheese rolling out with dribble / outdoors near playground

Mr. Noke quickly jumped into action, flipping Ellie around in a split-second fraction.  Holding her ankles, he gave her a jiggle and out rolled the cheese with a whole lot of dribble.


part 10

Eleanor in the playground looking bashful and sorry

When Eleanor Grace was put back on her feet, she promised, “next time I’ll slow down when I eat”.


part 11

A dining table set with plates, utensils, and a vase of flowers / Eleanor smiling / Eleanor happy

And the lesson to learn here from Eleanor Grace is there's no good to come from stuffing your face. Food must be eaten at a calm, steady pace; there's no need to hurry and no need to race. Even if what you're eating is delicious and yummy, rushing will only upset your tummy. But worse, if your meal isn't properly chewed, you might just, like Ellie, choke on your food.
