What was Sai Baba's overall philosophy regarding food and fasting, and what was his reasoning?

Sai Baba's philosophy was that one should not fast. As Chapter 32 explains, he himself never fasted and would not allow his devotees to do so either. His reasoning was that the mind of a person who is fasting is not peaceful, which negates any potential spiritual benefit. He taught that God cannot be attained on an empty stomach and that one must first "satisfy the soul of the self" by eating. According to the text, this is because all the senses require strength from food to properly engage in devotion to God, and they become weak and incapable without it.