Lala the panda was known in the bamboo forest for one thing—her bottomless appetite. Whether it was bamboo, berries, honey, or noodles, Lala loved food more than anything else. Everyone teased her kindly, calling her “Lala the Glutton,” and she didn’t mind one bit. She wore the title with pride!
One chilly afternoon, after a long nap, Lala woke up with her tummy rumbling louder than thunder. “I need something to eat—right now!” she mumbled, rubbing her round belly. She wandered around her den and suddenly remembered: she had dumplings in the kitchen!
She had prepared them earlier, but they still needed to be steamed. But in her sleepy and hungry state, Lala didn’t notice. She rushed in, opened the container, and saw the plump, doughy dumplings sitting there. Without thinking twice, she grabbed one and stuffed it into her mouth.
“Mmm… wait… hmm?” Her happy chewing stopped. Something didn’t feel right.
The dumpling was cold, gooey, and… raw.
Lala’s eyes widened. “Oh no! I forgot to cook them!”
Just then, her stomach gave a loud growl—not the hungry kind, but the warning kind. “Uh-oh,” she whispered, holding her belly. “This can’t be good.”
Within minutes, Lala was lying on a big leaf, groaning and moaning. “Why didn’t I wait? Why do I always eat in such a hurry?” she whimpered.
Her best friend, a wise old turtle named Toto, waddled over. “Lala,” he chuckled gently, “you’ve got to be patient. Good food takes time. Even gluttons need to slow down.”
From that day on, Lala made a new rule: Look before you eat! She even hung a sign in her kitchen: “Steam First. Then Chomp!”
Of course, Lala was still the forest’s most famous eater—but now, she made sure her dumplings were hot, delicious, and fully cooked before every bite!
