Sweet things have been a weakness for most of my life. The usual temptations like breakroom donuts and holiday cookies remain a stumbling block for me (speaking as a chronic over-indulger). While going gluten-free and dairy-free a few years ago has helped somewhat, the internal tug-of-war remains. Everyday I have to remind myself that my metabolism is not what it was in my twenties, and that God cares about what and how I eat.
If you also struggle in this area, I’m sure you’ve wondered what the Bible says about our relationship to food. Should we follow a strict diet of only bread? Or just vegetables? Or should we avoid red meat? The real answer isn’t that simple. Below, I’ll give you an overview of biblical principles regarding food and some ideas for how to live them out faithfully.
Are there foods Christians shouldn’t eat?
Let’s get the main issue out of the way: God does not restrict His people to any specific diet. All of us can decide what to eat based on our own individual needs and preferences. While there aren’t prescribed rules for how to eat biblically, that hasn’t always been the case.
In Genesis 9:2-3 (ESV), the Lord told Adam and Eve that “every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.” But later in the Old Testament, God instructed the nation of Israel to follow strict dietary laws to separate themselves from surrounding pagan nations and to avoid disease (See Leviticus 11). Animals like rock badgers, sand lizards, eagles, pigs, dogs, and certain fish and insects were strictly off-limits.
These restrictions were then removed in Mark 7:18-19 (ESV) after Jesus said “‘Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?’ (Thus he declared all foods clean.)”
The apostle Paul also affirmed this after writing to Timothy concerning false teachers. At the time, some were teaching believers to abstain from marriage and eating certain foods. Paul refuted them, saying, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5, ESV).
That means believers today are not bound to dietary rules regarding clean or unclean animals. But are there diets that the Bible recommends to us?
Scripture about food and diet
Looking at foods mentioned in the Bible, we see diets can vary from person to person across the Old and New Testament.
Take Daniel and his fellow captives for instance. Each of them thrived on an intake of only vegetables and water. They were even “better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food” (Daniel 1:15, ESV). Compare that to Ezekiel, who God assigned to eat only bread made from “wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and emmer” (Ezekiel 4:9, ESV). Or John the Baptist, who ate only locusts and wild honey during his ministry (Matthew 3:4).
Each of these diets were borne out of different circumstances, whether to avoid defilement (as in the case of Daniel), or as a prophetic warning (Ezekiel), or out of poverty (John the Baptist). The meals listed above aren’t inherently more sacred than others, and none of them would even pass for a modern-day lunch. But God still used those basic foods to bless the faithful believers who ate them.
For the Christian reading these verses and deciding that vegetarianism is the holiest diet plan, Paul has some guidance:
“One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him” (Romans 14:2-3, ESV).
In ancient Rome, the same animal sacrificed in a pagan temple was often the same one sold at a meat market later that day. Newly converted Roman Christians often struggled with the dilemma of eating meat offered to idols. Some chose a vegetarian diet so as not to disturb their conscience, while others did not. Paul declared that both choices were valid and neither should judge the other.
So that means we can eat anything we want, whenever we want, right? Well, not exactly.
What does the Bible say about eating healthy?
In the earlier examples are principles we can still follow today. By eating natural foods prepared simply, taking only what we need, and enjoying it with faith, all of us can live a healthy and God-honoring lifestyle.
The Lord designed food to be nutritious and tasty on its own. And the more we let its natural qualities shine, the better. Modern research even backs this up. Studies show that eating minimally processed foods may improve overall health and fight off disease.
That’s why junk food high in flavor and low in nutritional value should be eaten sparingly. God has ordained consequences for unhealthy habits, which is why too much sugar and over-processed snacks can have serious long term side effects. So if your food makes you feel like trash, then your body is trying to tell you something.
Beyond just the type of food, we also should be mindful of how we consume it, too. The Lord calls us to self-control and to eat and drink in a way that will glorify Him (1 Corinthians 10:31). If we seek comfort in food as a response to stress or sadness, we allow it to become an idol, replacing our dependence on God. As stewards, our bodies should be in a position to serve Him as best we can.
The foods we eat and the amount we eat, are an outward testimony to the Holy Spirit’s work in our life. Having thoughtful moderation in diet and lifestyle is one way to show that our joy rests not in temporary pleasure, but in the Lord himself.
Now ice-cream isn’t exactly healthy, and can be hard to turn down (especially for me), but that doesn’t mean we have to shun all empty calories. There are times to celebrate a birthday, a wedding, or a good report card with food that doesn’t do much besides tasting good (just be mindful about portions and second trips to the dessert table).
Healing scriptures for the body
Although God doesn’t bar us from specific foods, He does command us to live temperately and maintain the bodies given to us. Our eating and drinking should be an act of faith, reminding us that the Lord provides our daily bread, allowing it to nourish us. He cares about every aspect of our wellbeing and how we conduct ourselves. Below are helpful verses on self-control not just for food but all of life, too:
- “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV)
- “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV)
- “For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.” (Proverbs 23:21, ESV)
- “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, ESV)
How CHM enables healthy living
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) prioritizes both the physical and spiritual health of our members. Through resources like our Virtual Care Solution (VCS), powered by HealthTap, you can see primary care and urgent care doctors from the comfort of your home.
As you explore what diet works for you, members can also access nutritional help. Get same-day and same-week appointments for guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Or get a quick prescription filled if you’re feeling sick! Members also have access to a community of fellow Christians through CHM’s Member Portal. Log in to submit prayer requests and pray for the needs of other members.
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