Should You Eat Before You Sing?

I got a question in last week's comments about eating before singing. The short answer: Yes, and No. The longer answer:

Yes, you can eat before singing...

• if you haven't eaten enough. You need to eat an easy-to-digest but nutrient-packed meal or snack, or you will not have the breath support or energy you need for performance.
• if you eat early enough so that the food has shifted lower in your system and will not tend to make you feel stuffed, interfering with breathing.
• if you note in your own personal experience how eating before singing affects you, and you are confident it won't be a problem.
  

No...

• if you eat too much or eat things that are hard to digest, diverting energy to your belly instead of your singing.
• if eating makes you sleepy. Again, this has a lot to do with what you've chosen to eat.
• if you tend to hunch over after eating because you have eaten too much. This will affect your breath.
• if you eat foods that bring on acid reflux, or mucous.
• if what you eat catches in your throat (for some people, foods like peanuts, popcorn and chips can present problems.)

What are your experiences with eating before singing? I find it's a very individual thing, but also very important to know.