History Main / MissedMealAesop

Most of the time, this is just a standard Aesop--the character is only skipping meals because [[LateForSchool they're in a hurry]], or they want to do something else, or [[ForgetsToEat they forgot]], or [[DoesNotLikeSpam they dislike the food being served]] (perhaps because it is a StockYuck or they're a PickyEater). However, occasionally, this can be a [[PlayedForDrama more serious]] moral where the character is skipping meals due to WeightWoe, sometimes even an eating disorder such as anorexia. If this is the case, it's often a VerySpecialEpisode, and if the show does not usually explore such serious topics, it's an UnexpectedlyDarkEpisode as well. If the meal in question is breakfast, there might also be the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, although there is debate over whether that's strictly true.

* Episode 4 of ''Anime/SailorMoon'', titled "So You Want to Be a Superstar", has Usagi worried that she's gaining weight, so [[DietEpisode she goes on a diet]] by skipping meals. The villains, meanwhile, start an "exercise program" that really involves [[GenderRestrictedAbility draining energy from women]] who want to lose weight. Usagi falls victim to this herself and even faints at one point, leaving one of her friends to tell her she needs to eat more. The original English dub took this further and added a "[[AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle Sailor Moon Says]]" segment [[DontTryThisAtHome warning viewers against skipping meals like Usagi]].

Most of the time, this is just a standard Aesop--the character is only skipping meals because they're in a hurry, or they want to do something else, or [[ForgetsToEat they forgot]], or [[DoesNotLikeSpam they dislike the food being served]] (perhaps because it is a StockYuck or they're a PickyEater). However, occasionally, this can be a [[PlayedForDrama more serious]] moral where the character is skipping meals due to WeightWoe, sometimes even an eating disorder such as anorexia. If this is the case, it's often a VerySpecialEpisode, and if the show does not usually explore such serious topics, it's an UnexpectedlyDarkEpisode as well. If the meal in question is breakfast, there might also be the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, although there is debate over whether that's strictly true.

Most of the time, this is just a standard Aesop--the character is only skipping meals because they want to do something else, or [[ForgetsToEat they forgot]], or [[DoesNotLikeSpam they dislike the food being served]] (perhaps because it is a StockYuck or they're a PickyEater). However, occasionally, this can be a [[PlayedForDrama more serious]] moral where the character is skipping meals due to WeightWoe, sometimes even an eating disorder such as anorexia. If this is the case, it's often a VerySpecialEpisode, and if the show does not usually explore such serious topics, it's an UnexpectedlyDarkEpisode as well. If the meal in question is breakfast, there might also be the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, although there is debate over whether that's strictly true.

Compare SleepAesop, DiseasePreventionAesop, and AWeightyAesop for other health-related Aesops. Also compare DietEpisode and VegetarianForADay. If it's related to losing weight and they ''do'' lose weight, it might cause a TemporaryBulkChange. If it doesn't, their loss of weight is an InformedAttribute and, if they're meant to be emaciated, an InformedDeformity. It can also overlap with PlotTime and ArtisticLicenseBiology if they lose weight unrealistically fast. If they forget to eat during an ObsessiveHobbyEpisode, this might lead to a story with two morals: this moral, and one about moderation. Is one of the least likely "abstaining from something" tropes to lead to the ColdTurkeysAreEverywhere gag, but it can happen. Can overlap with LetsMeetTheMeat if AnthropomorphicFood wants [[DeathSeeker to be eaten]] or [[ImAHumanitarian wants people to eat its kind]], or AdjacentToThisCompleteBreakfast if an ad talks about the importance of breakfast. May overlap with PowerUpFood or, if an ad, CerealInducedSuperpowers.

* Downplayed for the ''Website/ItsMyLife'' [[http://54.221.220.162/itsmylife/body/eatingdisorders/index.html article on eating disorders]]. It tells you not to skip meals as that can lead to eating disorders, but also tells you that eating too much can also lead to eating disorders.

* ''Website/KidsHealth'':

* ''Website/Poetry4Kids'' has a poem called "[[https://www.poetry4kids.com/poetry/scrawny-tawny-skinner/ Scrawny Tawny Skinner]]", about a girl named Tawny Skinner who never eats her dinner and so grows so thin she disappears. It's mainly played for BlackComedy, but it also [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou warns the viewer]] that [[SpaceWhaleAesop it could happen to them if they skip dinner]].

* In an episode of ''Series/LizzieMcGuire'' Miranda assumes that she's overweight while shooting a music video after Gordo makes a remark about her eating habits and decides to get in shape, so she purposely refusing to eat other than french fries and yogurt, as a result Miranda passes out while rehearsing dance moves. Lizzie intervenes with which leads to Miranda revealing that the reason she's been missing meals is she's has been preoccupied with school and grades, among other things and realizes that she has taking her habit too far.

* In an episode of ''Series/LizzieMcGuire'' Miranda assumes that she's overweight while shooting a music video after Gordo makes a remark about her eating habits and decides to get in shape, so she purposely refusing to eat other than french fries and yogurt, as a result Miranda passes out while rehearsing dance moves. Lizzie intervenes with whivch leads to Miranda revealing that the reason she's been missing meals is she's has been preoccupied with school and grades, among other things and realizes that she has taking her habit too far.

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'': In the "[[AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle Sonic Says]]" segment at the end of the episode, "[[Recap/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehogS01E61FastAndEasy Fast and Easy]]", Sonic skips breakfast and as a result, he doesn't have enough energy to dodge [[ThoseTwoBadGuys Scratch and Grounder]] when they pounce at him. Fortunately for Sonic, Tails moves him out of the way [[BigDamnHeroes just in time]], causing the two {{robot}}s to fall off a cliff. After Sonic and Tails have breakfast together, Sonic explains [[BreakingTheFourthWall to the viewers]] that their bodies need food like a car needs fuel, and advises them to eat a good breakfast every morning.

->''Did I hear you say you don't want any breakfast?! Don't you know breakfast is the most important meal of the day?!''

The character skipping the meals will usually become very hungry and [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny distracted]], which might badly impact what they were trying to do (for instance, lead to a bad grade) that could end up with a WorfHadTheFlu situation if a conflict is involved. Sometimes, they might also become lethargic or fall asleep, even though they're not hypoglycemic or anything, just to [[ScareEmStraight further make the idea of skipping meals seem even worse]] and because [[LiesToChildren young children might not understand the real effects of skipping meals]]. They could also skip a meal, then later [[GoneHorriblyRight overcompensate]] and end up feeling sick (either with indigestion from eating too fast or cramps from eating too much) and/or [[FoodComa groggy]]. If they have powers, especially in a children's work, skipping a meal might make them be BroughtDownToNormal (see WeaksauceWeakness). They might also [[MeatOVision start seeing other people as food]]. If it's the more serious, wanting-to-lose-weight variety, they may even [[{{Fainting}} pass out]]. ''[[CantGetAwayWithNuthin Something]]'' bad will happen to them, anyway. On a lighter note, they may also have a DeliciousDaydream.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Horseland}}'', Pepper gains weight to the point where the saddle doesn't fit her anymore. As a result, she becomes determined lose weight by stopping to eat and constantly practicing, but overtime she really starts to feel weaker, which affects her performance during a competition. After this experience, she stops neglecting her need of eating.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Horseland}}'', Pepper gained weight to the point where the saddle doesn't fit her anymore. As a result, she becomes determined lose weight by stopping to eat and constantly practicing, but overtime she really starts to feel weaker, which affects her performance during a competition. After this experience, she stops neglecting her need of eating.

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheLittleKoala'' had an episode like this. Walter and his brothers [[YouAreFat tell Pamie that she looks like her balloon]], so she begins exercising and refusing to eat in order to slim down. Naturally, she passes out, and has to be educated on how crash dieting is incredibly unhealthy.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleKoala'' had an episode like this. Walter and his brothers [[YouAreFat tell Pamie that she looks like her balloon]], so she begins exercising and refusing to eat in order to slim down. Naturally, she passes out, and has to be educated on how crash dieting is incredibly unhealthy.

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''Series/SesameStreet'' has done this many times, with breakfast being the one they talk about most:
** In the song "The Most Important Meal of the Day" ([[EitherOrTitle also known]] as "[[TheSomethingSong The Breakfast Song]]"), a chef sings to a little boy who wants to skip breakfast, telling him not to because breakfast is the most important meal and everyone needs it.
** In another song, "The Breakfast Club" (which doesn't have anything to do with [[Film/TheBreakfastClub the movie]] apart from the title), a group of people sing that you should eat breakfast every morning as it's healthy for you.
** In one skit, Super Grover loses his SuperStrength (and becomes too weak to even lift a briefcase) because he skipped breakfast, and the Super Foods (AnthropomorphicFood in super suits) give him some food, which restores his powers.
** Downplayed for the "Breakfast is the Best Meal of the Day" song that [[CloudCuckoolander Ernie]] sings. While he does sing about how breakfast gives him energy in the morning, and that supposedly makes it the best, the song is mainly played for comedy, due to the [[SurrealHumour surreality]] of him singing it at night.

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* ''Series/FullHouse'': It's a few days before Kimmy's swimming pool [[BirthdayEpisode birthday party]] and DJ feels insecure to put on a swimsuit because of her chunky figure. Wanting to lose weight, DJ skips meals and starves herself, even making Stephanie "pinky-swear" to keep quiet. It all comes down bad on DJ when she's at the gym where she gets a dizzy spell and collapses. Afterwards Stephanie tells the guys about how she's starving herself, they all talk to DJ and tell her about the dangers of fasting; how it can lead to eating disorders. Danny even tells DJ to love herself for who she is.

** In one skit, Super Grover loses his SuperStrength (and becomes too weak to even lift a briefcase) because he skipped breakfast, and the Super Foods (AnthropomorphicFood in super suits) give him some food, gaining him his powers back.

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