Diet

What was the original diet recommended for men and women? Fruits, grains, nuts, and legumes. It's in the Bible, Genesis 1:29 NIV. "Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."

Immediately after the flood, when little if any vegetation remained, what did God say about diet? It's in the Bible, Genesis 9:2-4, TLB. "All wild animals and birds and fish will be afraid of you, God told him; 'for I have placed them in your power, and they are yours to use for food, in addition to grain and vegetables. But never eat animals unless their life-blood has been drained off."

The people were to be careful about their food and make a distinction between what was good for them and what wasn't. It’s in the Bible, Leviticus 11:47, NIV. "You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten." (See Leviticus 11 for further details).

The distinction between the clean and unclean was not just a Jewish prohibition. It was in effect before Abraham, the first Jew. It's in the Bible, Genesis 7:1,2, NIV. "The Lord then said to Noah, 'Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a mate and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a mate and its mate…'"

This distinction between the clean and unclean will continue to the end of time. It's in the Bible, Isaiah 66:15,17 NIV. "See, the Lord is coming with fire, and His chariots are like a whirlwind; He will bring down His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire…Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following the one in the midst of those who eat the flesh of pigs and rats and other abominable things—they will meet their end together, declares the Lord."

What example did Daniel set in the importance of proper diet? It's in the Bible, Daniel 1:8, NIV. "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." What did he eat instead? It's in the Bible, Daniel 1:12, NIV. "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink."

Why should we exercise self-control in our dietary habits? It's in the Bible, I Corinthians 10:31, TLB. "It is because you must do everything for the glory of God, even your eating and drinking."