"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth..." Psalm 104:14
Food is Important:
As we grow up and learn to care for ourselves, we learn to that eating the right kind of foods is important. Eating fast food, junk food, and processed foods, isn't really a benefit to our health and in fact, cause problems in us. I was recently talking with a friend, who not only lost a significant amount of weight because of diet changes but also was able to get rid of some chronic health problems! :D
God designed food. He created it. (Gen. 1:29, 9:13) He wrote a BIG book and teaches us about how to live our life right. He teaches us the straight and narrow way. (Matt. 7:14) He also wrote about some good foods (list below). Some foods were even used in the tabernacle and temple of God! (The benefits of those foods are incredible!) We consider the Bible to be the base for our spiritual walk and well-being, but how about our physical one? :D
Changing Habits:
How do you change from eating foods that hurt us to eating foods that benefit our bodies and help us grow right? S-L-O-W-L-Y. It takes time. It takes work.
I have been slowly improving the foods my family eats. I began by going whole wheat grains, then switching store-bought eggs for homegrown ones, afterwards using mainly coconut and olive oil for cooking and baking. I switch snacks, now using wheat crackers and hummus or almond/cashew nuts. I don't drink energy drinks or sodas, but water, juices (diluted), milk, or tea. These are just a few small examples to help you get started.
You can't switch an entire diet and get rid of all the bad foods in a month or even a year. Growing (in anything) takes time. As Christians, we live by faith. If you are doing the best you can with food, then keep trusting God to nourish you. My great-grandma, when she was a girl, would pick up crumbs and thank God for them. She would also scrap mold for old cheese and eat the rest. God careth for the birds of the field, he will care for you! (Matt. 6:25-34, 1 Peter 5:7)
Ideas & Tips:
Learn to keep trying new foods. The first time my daughter had cucumbers, she hated it; the second time, she ate a piece; the third time a slice with ranch... now she enjoys them with dips. (Your taste buds take time to adjust to new flavors.)
We have taught our girls to say "I will try" even when they would rather say "I don't like it". This advice is good for kids and adults. ;) (Maturity comes by being able to eat foods you don't naturally prefer... kinda like our spiritual walk, right?)
Do research about the benefits of a food. It's fun learning about new foods. I recently tried Persimmons for the first time and loved them! We enjoy a whole box of them this past summer. I also discovered that almonds have given me great energy even with a few pieces. The girls and I love dried dates!! So yummy! :)
Lastly, maybe there's a snack or treat you really love that you could make at home. My husband and I both love energy or protein bars and would buy boxes of them with little variety and added unnecessary ingredients, so I decided to make them homemade! We love them!!
I found this list online of all the foods found in the Bible and thought I'd share it with you. It's a great list with references and information. I loved discovering all the different kinds of foods God writes about it. :D Here is also two links about some "superfoods" in the Bible! (Link 1, Link 2)
God's Word really is the best..... for everything!!
Bible Foods List With References - (alphabetical order)
Almonds – Genesis 43:11; Numbers 17:8
Anise – Matthew 23:23
Antelope – (Pygarg)-Deuteronomy 14:5
Apples – (Quince tree fruit) – Song of Solomon 2:5; Joel 1:12
……………….
Barley – Deuteronomy 8:8; Ruth 2:23;
2 Samuel 17:28
Beans or Pulse – (also known as Legumes) –
2 Samuel 17:28
Beef – Deuteronomy 14:4
Bitter Herbs – Exodus 12:8
(dandelion greens, watercress, arugula, parsley, cilantro)
Bread(s) – Luke 22:19
- Barley Bread – 2 Kings 4:42
– Sourdough Bread – Leviticus 23:17; Amos 4:5
- Wheat bread – Exodus 29:2
- Unleavened Bread – (Tortillas, Flat Bread, Chapatis) – Genesis 19:3;Exodus 29:2
Butter – Isaiah 7:22
………………..
Calf – Genesis 18:7; Luke 15:23
Caperberry – Ecclesiastes 12:5
Carob - Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6 (Many scholars believe that John the Baptist lived on carob pods, locust bean is another name for carob bean pods)
Cheese – 1 Samuel 17:18; 2 Samuel 17:29; Job 10:10
Chicken – Matthew 23:37
Cinnamon – Exodus 30:23; Revelations 18:13
Coriander – Exodus 16:31; Numbers 11:7
Corn – Ruth 2:14; 1 Samuel 17:17; Genesis 27:37; 2 Kings 18:32
Cucumbers – Numbers 11:5; Isaiah 1:8
Cumin or Cummin (a variant spelling) – Isaiah 28:25
Curds (Cottage and Ricotta Cheese) – Isaiah 7:15; Genesis 18:8
…………………
Dates – 2 Samuel 6:19
Dill – Matthew 23:23
Dried Fruits – Genesis 3:2
………………….
Eggs – Job 6:6
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Figs – Nahum 3:12; Numbers 13:23; I Samuel 25:18; Jeremiah 5:17
Fish – (with Scales includes:)Anchovies, Bass, Cod, Flounder, Haddock, Halibut, Herring, Mackerel, Orange Roughy, Perch, Pike, Pollack, Salmon, Sardines, Tilapia, Trout, Tuna, Turbot, Whitefish & Whiting, among others
– Leviticus 11:9; Numbers 11:5 Deuteronomy 14:9; Nehemiah 13:6;Matthew 15:36; Mark 6:41; Luke 24:42; John 21:5; John 21:9,10,13
Flax Seed – Exodus 9:31
Flour (Whole Meal) – Ezekiel 16:19; Numbers 6:15
Fowl – 1 Kings 4:23
Fruits (general term – all) – Genesis 1:29
………………….
Garlic – Numbers 11:5
Gazelle – 1 Kings 4:23
Goat – Deuteronomy 14:4
Grapes – Deuteronomy 24:21
Grape Juice (New Wine) – Zechariah 9:17
Grasshoppers, Crickets & Locusts – Leviticus 11:22
………………….
Harts – (European male red deer) 1 Kings 4:23
Herbs (Leafy Plants and Vegetables) - Genesis 1:29; Proverbs 15:17
Herbs (Seasonings) – Proverbs 27:25; Matthew 13:32
Honey – Deuteronomy 8:8; Proverbs 24:13; 2 Kings 18:32; Proverbs 25:16;
Hyssop (Capers) – Psalms 51:7; John 19:29
– You Are Half Way Down The List of Healthy Foods –
Lamb & Sheep – Deuteronomy 14:4, 1 Kings 4:23
Leaven (Yeast) – Leviticus 23:17; Galatians 5:9
Leeks—Numbers 11:5
Lentils—Genesis 25:34
……………………
Marjoram(Hyssop) – Exodus 12:22
Meats – Deuteronomy 14; Leviticus 11
Melons – (general all) Numbers 11:5; Isaiah 1:8
Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelons
Milk – Isaiah 7:21-22
Millet – Ezekiel 4:9
Mint – Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42
Mulberry – 2 Samuel 5:24; 1 Corinthians 14:14
Mustard Seeds – Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19
……………………
Nuts (general term) – Song of Solomon 6:11
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Olives and Olive Oil – Leviticus 2:4; Deuteronomy 8:8;
2 Kings 18:32
Onions – Numbers 11:5
Oxen (also referred to as Calf) – Deuteronomy 14:26; 1 Kings 4:23;
1 Kings 19:21; Proverbs 15:17; Luke 15:23
…………………….
Peas – 2 Samuel 17:28
Pistachio Nuts – Genesis 43:11
Pomegranates – Numbers 13:23; Numbers 20:5; Deuteronomy 8:8; Song of Solomon 4:13;
Poultry – Chicken, Duck, Goose, Pheasant, Pigeons, Quail, Turkey –
Deuteronomy 14:11;
1 Kings 4:23
…………………….
Quail – Exodus 16:13
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Raisins – 2 Samuel 16:1
Rye – Isaiah 28:25
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Saffron – Song of Solomon 4:14
Salt – Leviticus 2:13; Luke 14:34
Spelt (an inferior wheat – also known as Fitches) – Ezekiel 4:9; Isaiah 28:25,27
Spices – 1 Kings 10:10
Squash (Gourds) – 2 Kings 4:39
Sweet Cane (Sucanat or Evaporated Cane Juice) – Isaiah 43:24;Jeremiah 6:20
Sycamore Fruit (variety of fig) – (Psalm 78:47; Amos 7:14)
……………………..
Venison – Deuteronomy 14:5
Vinegar – Ruth 2:14
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Water – Genesis 21:19; John 4:7
(Yes, water! It may not have nutrients like food, but you most definitely can’t live without water.)
Watermelon - Numbers 11:5; Isaiah 1:8
Wheat – Ruth 2:23; Psalm 81:16
……………………
Yogurt (Butter of Kine) – Deuteronomy 32:14
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