Although you may know about the Daniel fast, the typical Biblical diet of people living in Judea during the time of Jesus (6-4 BC to 33 AD) most resembles the modern Mediterranean Diet. It was full of fish, lentils, bread and olive oil. Among several other lessons, the Bible teaches us a lot about following a healthy diet.
Mealtimes
Ancient Israelites ate two regular meals each day—one light meal in the morning, and one heavier meal in the evening. In Exodus 16:2, The LORD tells Moses and the Israelites, “…’At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread…’”.
Wives of noble character got up early in the morning and prepared the morning meal for their households (Proverb 31:15). Working men took this meal on-the-go and ate it later in the morning as a break from work (like a modern-day coffee break, maybe around 10 AM). If there was time, bread, fish, fruit, olive oil, vinegar, onions and garlic could be expected at this meal. But, for a quick, filling breakfast, it might just be bread and fish. There’s a story in John 21:10-13 where Jesus shares a breakfast of bread and fish with his disciples by the seashore.
The second meal of the day was served in the evening “at twilight”, which is just after sunset when there’s a soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon. Thus, they likely ate this second meal anywhere between 4:30 PM and 8 PM, depending on the season. This meal usually consisted of some sort of stew and bread.
Sample Menus
Typical Morning Meal
- Bread (made from barley flour or wheat flour)
- Fish
- Olive Oil or Vinegar
- Garlic or Roasted Onions
- Figs (or other fruits that were in-season)
- Water
Typical Evening Meal
- Lentil Stew or Meat Stew (goat meat usually)
- Parched (Roasted) Grain or Bread
- Peas and Beans
- Honey and Butter
- Cheese
- Water or Wine
I created these sample menus based on references in the Bible to breakfast (John 21:12 and Ruth 2:14) and to dinner (2 Samuel 17:28, Genesis 25:29-34, and Ezekiel 24:4-5).
Biblical Eating Practices in Modern Times
The LORD knows what we need, including how we should eat for health. Before modern-day health influencers recommended that we follow a one-or-two-meal-a-day diet, that we practice intermittent fasting, and that we limit snacking, The Lord instructed the Israelites through His word. Many scientific findings about nutrition align with what is recommended in the Bible.
Should We Eat As People in the Bible Did?
In short, yes! This diet is high in antioxidants, in healthy fats, and in fiber. As a caveat though, the diet of people living during these Biblical times is rich in bread and grains. Carbohydrates are known to elevate the body’s insulin levels, which is the hormone that, among other things, instructs our fat cells to store fat. There is good evidence that a diet low in carbohydrates (less than 20-30% of calories coming from carbs) is a strategy for weight loss and prevention of Type II Diabetes1.
Do I recommend that we base our diets heavily on bread and grains?—from the research, no. However, these historical people were eating homemade bread with no added sugar—bread that has a low glycemic index, meaning that it causes a controlled release of insulin, limiting the uncontrolled storage of fat. They weren’t having any sugar-rich foods, apart from the occasional fruit if it was in-season, or cake for celebrations.
All-in-all, the diet in Biblical times during the earthly life of Jesus is practical and healthy to adopt during our times today. This diet achieves the many benefits of intermittent fasting, low-glycemic food intake, and fiber intake. Whenever considering a new lifestyle change, I try to pray and consult the word of The LORD in the Bible to make sure it is a sound decision. Consider doing the same for yourselves. If it’s right for you, adopt some of these eating habits into your life today!
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537084/ ↩︎