Think of life in the age of hunter-gatherers. They wake up in the morning and immediately go out to search for animals to hunt and various plants to gather. For them, the world they live in is the place where they find food for survival. But all these things are not for sale, nor ready for service. Like those hunter-gatherers, other creatures like animals and plants are also striving for survival. So it’s not easy for them to get a good amount of food immediately, except for some “finger foods” they can pick up from trees and the like.
For almost the entire day, those hunter-gatherers needed to roam around for their search. Some archaeologists or anthropologists say the life of hunter-gatherers could be more “relaxed” compared to people’s lives after the agricultural revolution, where they became more “tied” to stressful labor, especially in the “civilized” societies where strict and unfair social stratification took hold.
In relatively simple tribal hunter-gatherer societies, people used to share food among themselves, and the sense of possession was not as strong. The “whole” world was a place for food in general, not specific fields they possessed or cultivated. As a result, there were no territorial disputes like those in agricultural societies and civilizations, which became a fundamental cause of warfare throughout human history in the post-hunter-gatherer era.
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However, some archaeologists argue that even in hunter-gatherer tribal societies, warfare was a constant reality. The cause of death in many archaeological findings appears to be murder, evidenced by cracked skulls and similar injuries.
In any case, the fact remains that, most likely, those hunter-gatherers spent almost the entire day roaming the wilderness in search of animals, fruits, seeds, and roots. In other words, daytime was for hunting and gathering. During this period, they didn’t have any major meals.
While they might have consumed some finger foods, like a sack lunch or fruits and veggies they found along the way, these were not substantial meals. These would be more like energy snacks or drinks for runners during a marathon or ultramarathon. In short:
They didn’t eat during the day but had dinner only.
After spending the whole day hunting and gathering, they returned to their tribe in the evening with what they had hunted or gathered. It was a great gift for the entire tribe, and they were so happy to share and eat together. That could be their only major meal of the day, apart from the small snacks during the day.
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In this way, hunter-gatherers lived under constant scarcity. Even though they were surrounded by rich flora and fauna, that didn’t necessarily mean their lives were abundant with food. It was only after the 19th-century Industrial Revolution and the modernization of the post-war 20th century that humans finally achieved an abundant food supply.
Cheap food is now everywhere, even reaching the “poverty-stricken” areas of the Global South. In this sense, modern or postmodern poverty is very different from the scarcity experienced by tribal societies. People in contemporary poverty do not lack food but are bombarded and commercially manipulated with plenty of cheap, low-quality products like highly processed, sugar-laden, and preservative-filled foods.
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Fast food restaurants are now everywhere in the world, just like soft drink companies. Even in the most remote areas of the Global South, it’s hard to miss bottles of soft drinks. Fast food restaurants are the same. There are very few towns—urban, suburban, or rural—without at least one.
These establishments use global economic resources to create cozy, attractive spaces that draw people in, especially children. With their colorful, playful designs, they feel like dreamlands, similar to Disneyland. Children grow up associating these places with joy and celebration.
During childhood, many are exposed to the tastes and smells of fast food, embedding these sensory experiences in their memories. The flavors of fast food become nostalgic and comforting, creating lifelong loyal customers. Isn’t this almost criminal?
Sugar, in particular, acts as a subtle but highly impactful “legal” drug. It creates addiction across generations, even worse than alcohol or smoking, which at least have age restrictions. With sugar, children are the primary victims, and it stays with them into adulthood.
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Our bodies and minds are “designed,” “fine-tuned,” or even “evolved” to function in conditions of constant scarcity. For instance, we have many hormones that help us stay active and alert during low-energy conditions, enabling hunter-gatherers to keep walking and running all day without major meals.
On the other hand, there is only one hormone, insulin, to regulate high energy intake by lowering blood sugar levels. This single mechanism is easily damaged by overeating cheap, unhealthy foods, leading to diabetes—a common modern ailment.
Let me be clear: I am not saying that hunter-gatherers were healthier than contemporary people. In many ways, we are much healthier today, thanks to sufficient nutrition, proper hygiene, advanced medical care, and technology. We’ve overcome countless diseases throughout history, and we should not overlook these achievements or romanticize the lives of hunter-gatherers.
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We need the scarcity of the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. This doesn’t mean deprivation but embracing a mindset of activity and minimal intake during the day, with one rewarding meal at night. This resembles practices like intermittent fasting or OMAD (one meal a day).
Fasting, in general, reminds us of the value of scarcity, which is why nearly all religious traditions incorporate fasting as a spiritual practice. Take Ramadan, for instance. During this holy period, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. At night, they eat and feel a deep sense of gratitude.
This practice mirrors the life of hunter-gatherers, reminding us that food is not to be taken for granted but received with thankfulness. Hunter-gatherers likely shared this sentiment throughout their lives, understanding that food was a gift, not a given.
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Fasting is not just a diet but a spiritual exercise. When you fast, even a single banana can feel like a blessing. It becomes tastier and more fulfilling. The same applies to everything and everyone around you. Fasting helps restore the “eye of the spirit,” enabling us to see life’s blessings in a new light.
This is the beauty of scarcity. Why not practice it, whether through Ramadan or other traditional fasting practices? You don’t need to belong to any particular religion. Simply reflect on the life of hunter-gatherers.
During the day, stay active and eat minimally, imagining yourself on a tribal hunt or gathering. At night, reward yourself with a single meal, feeling a sense of warmth and community. This meal will taste better, and you’ll feel gratitude for the day’s blessings.
Image by Ahmed Sabry
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