What Would Jesus Eat? (The Jesus Diet)
What Would Jesus Eat?: The Ultimate Program for Eating Well, Feeling Great, and Living Longer, written by Don Colbert M.D., explores the life of Jesus and takes a comprehensive look at foods mentioned in the Bible.
Colbert says “If you truly want to follow Jesus in every area of your life, you cannot ignore your eating habits”. He outlines a program based on natural foods and Jewish dietary traditions that will not only improve your health but will also help you to examine the spiritual aspects of your diet.
The basic concept of the diet is that we shouldn’t consume foods that were not a part of the diet that Jesus would have eaten.
Jesus Diet Basics
Colbert explains that Jesus ate a Mediterranean-style diet based on wholesome, unprocessed foods in accordance with ancient Jewish dietary laws.
Based on his research he concluded that the diet of Jesus would have included fish, whole wheat bread, olives, figs, dates and red wine. Fish was widely available and was probably eaten on a daily basis, while red meat would have been consumed only occasionally, perhaps once a month.
Foods that are forbidden in the Bible, such as pork, are to be avoided, as are all processed foods including refined white flour and sugar.
What Would Jesus Eat is not a diet in the traditional sense but rather involves making a change in the way you approach your eating habits. In addition to adjusting your dietary pattern you are also encouraged to tune into the reasons behind your usual food choices.
If you don’t think you are ready to implement the entire diet plan Colbert recommends that you start by changing just one thing at a time. For example, replace soda with water, or start cooking with extra-virgin olive oil instead of butter.
Jesus’ Foods
Fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, olives, figs, dates, red wine, olive oil.
Sample Diet Plan
| Breakfast 4 oz fresh-squeezed fruit juice or a small piece of fruit |
| Lunch Tuna salad |
| Dinner Lentil soup |
Did Jesus Exercise?
Jesus spent a large part of his days walking and this is the recommended form of exercise. Dieters are encouraged to engage in walking every day.
Costs and Expenses
What Would Jesus Eat?: The Ultimate Program for Eating Well, Feeling Great, and Living Longer retails at $14.99.
Pros
- Will appeal to dieters who find strength and motivation in spirituality.
- Mediterranean diets are well supported in the scientific research as being health-promoting.
- Looks at diet from the unique perspective of ancient Jewish laws and customs.
- Allows intake of wine in moderation.
- No special foods required.
Cons
- Not specifically targeted towards weight loss.
- Will probably not appeal to readers who do not follow the Christian faith.
- Some readers may be offended by some of the assumptions in the book due to different interpretations of the Bible.
A Back to Basics Diet
What Would Jesus Eat will appeal to dieters who are able to find inspiration to change their lifestyle by connecting to their faith. In particular the use of prayer before eating a meal can help to increase awareness of food choices and reduce the likelihood of overindulgence.
Although the exact composition of the diet of Jesus is debatable, The Jesus Diet offers dieters a ‘back to basics’ approach that is nutritionally balanced and demonstrated in the scientific literature to support successful weight management as well as to promote general good health.
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there is a wide difference between life and death, so also is a wide difference between life food and dead food. if we want to live healthier for longer we need raw food as our life food not cooked food the dead food. we need to go back to the garden, our source.
Just a friendly reminder…Judas Iscariot also ate the “Jesus Diet.”
Americans cant walk, they’re too busy driving through fast food restaurants. As for the Author of this book and marketing it to “fat America” who will buy anything with the word Jesus on it…”way to go”! hope your making tons of $$ and can sleep with a clear conscience! “what a joke”
I’m assuming you’re not American, but I am and I live in New York. I walk every single day and I do not have a car. I also jog for an hour 5 times a week and I eat a mediterranean diet and so does my family. My family is of Italian and Irish descent. No, that does not mean we eat pizza after pizza. We eat salmon twice a week, lentils, salads, fresh juice from a juicer, etc. Don’t judge all americans. Many Americans care about their health, it’s not fair to portray them in such a bad light.
If you want to see true ignorance, ask people to talk about two things: nutrition and the Bible.
The diet focuses on what Jesus ATE. On what exactly the Bible says specifically about what he put directly in His mouth. It is not referring to Old Testament laws, as many of the OT laws were solved and resolved by the birth of Christ.
Jesus DID eat fish, so yes, something died in His diet. It is said, after referring to John the Baptist NOT eating and drinking wine (specifically), that “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking” (Luke 7:34) so we are led to assume that Jesus did drink wine. NOT beer, vodka, etc. There are other references to red wine in the Bible, stating that it is good for your heart. So we can assume that Jesus drank, specifically, red wine. No other alcohol is covered.
Aside from the other completely incorrect comments, the bottom line is this: A lot of the food we have today, in fact, a LARGE amount of the food we have today, is heavily processed, stripped of its nutrients, and is hardly even “real” food by the time it’s said and done. In addition to that, I think it’s safe to assume that Jesus wouldn’t have eaten anything that would be considered unhealthy, because since the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, to purposely and knowingly harm the body with food that’s unhealthy must be technically considered a sin. Therefore, the purpose of this diet is to follow the things that Jesus specifically ate. With that being said, the mention of cheese in this diet is incorrect. Though cheese may or may not have been available in the areas He was in during that time in history, there is no record or even mention of Him even being near cheese. At least, not to my knowledge.
In addition to that, to eat truly as Jesus ate, you would need to ensure that the meats and animal products you consume (and in addition to the vegetables and fruits) are FREE of hormones, anti-biotics, and are grown completely natural and are NOT genetically modified. Not sure if that’s mentioned in this book, but because those processes were nonexistent in Jesus’ time, you would still not be eating as Jesus if you’re out buying Tyson chicken or Kraft cheese, as they are among some of the furthest from being hormone/anti-biotic free.
But that’s just my piece on the matter.
I have followed the Jesus diet on and off throughout the past few years. When I was on it I have experienced increase in energy, weight loss, and it really stabilized the digestive process. To me this is the best way for me and for optimal health.
Jesus ate many things. After fasting 40 days and nights he refused to self serve Himself when tempted. Replied.to satan saying He lives off every words of Lord Gd. Ate nothing when by the well with the Samaritan woman and was questioned by his disciples telling them He has meat they don’t know about. What else..oh yes He also said it doesn’t matter what goes in because it goes to the toilett but more important what comes out of the mouth because it comes from the heart. Uhmmm thinking..yeah after He was resurrected He said give me SOMETHING to eat..anything, to prove He is alive. And we are warned by the apostles to not to refuse anything give thanks to our food and stay away from those who teach that we are not to taste or touch certain things. The Word of Gd warns us against gluttony, eating blood and animals not properly slaughtered. Gd bless all of you.
For our food*
Yes I like this process, I think this is a great way to purify your body.
i think i will try it and i am going to buy the book
Dont waste money on it. Read the Bible, pray and exercise self control.
Thx. For the diet.We all need to follow Christ.
Yeshua (Jesus) ATE MEAT FULL STOP. Luke 24 , 42
40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Then if you read the Laws of Passover they must Eat Lamb or Goat ,with any falt and must be a first born . So in that Proves Yeshua ate Lamb . He would not Eat Rabbit for its unclean .
I do believe I will try this diet, too. In response to some of the above comments: God Himself performed the first animal sacrifice when He clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins. He outlines the “meats” we are to eat. And we are not to eat them raw, as He said we are not to eat the blood of animals because life is in the blood (thus the reason He said without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin – it took blood (life) to take away sin (death). As far as wine, I don’t drink it myself, but Jesus did turn water to wine and He even drank it. Before His crucifixion He said He wouldn’t drink it again until we are united with Him. But the Bible does say that specific ones in ministry are not to drink it. The wine in Jesus’ day was 100% natural, no added alcohol, perhaps naturally fermented, but only slightly – because Proverbs says we are not to drink it once it begins to rise (fermenting). Blessings to all!!
(Colossians 2:16,17(NLT) – “So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.”) (Not a pass for gluttony, partying and drinking. We are still required to be holy.)
This looks really spot on. One other thing is to follow The Word of Wisdom, a doctrine given to The Prophet Joseph Smith, that required members to not drink alcohol, nor smoke, nor drink coffee, nor black tea.
Jesus ate Bread with fish, He also drank wine at partys and dinner.
Sorry but you are wrong about what Jesus ate.
Nothing dies in his diet.
Raw foods only..and those in season.
Read the Gospel of Peace and Gospel of the Holy Twelve and no fish or meat ever
Ah, I think the Bible is pretty clear that Jesus ate fish cooked on a fire… just saying Blake
I doubt Christ advocated alcohol. Thou shall not kill means animals and fish as well. Let the leaves on the trees be the salvation of Man. Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Mankind’s salvation is Yashuah (Jesus), whose name is not to be used in vain. He is also a male has no womb thus did not have fruits of the womb. He in fact almost rebuked the woman who tried to distract His work by saying blessed is the womb that carried Jesus. She tried to take the focus of Him and place it on a human.
lol… “Blessed be the fruit of thy womb, Jesus” is part of the Hail Mary and it means that Jesus is blessed because he came from her womb.
I have read lots of diets. This is the easiest philosophy to follow AND the most sustainable. just ask yourself ” would this have been around when jesus was on the earth and would he have eaten it? And your choices have become clear, easy, and much more raw and healthy. Then walk the 3-4 miles a day they did in ancient times. It is a win win, and proof that jesus still is the answer…even to health. Not too surprising to us who believe!
I HAVE FOUND SO FAR THAT THIS IS THE ONLY DIET WITH ALCOHOL SO I AM GOING FOR IT
So far this is the only comment with some sense on here. Great humor too.
THANK YOU.
Well, I can’t afford the book right now so I’m trying to get it at my local library. It’s the night before Easter and I watched “The Passion of the Christ” earlier today and I decided that I wanted to follow in Jesus’ footsteps all the way because I do want to please God here on Earth. I wasn’t sure if I should go Kosher or not, but I pray that this book will bring me closer with God via his Son Jesus Christ.
Don’t waste your money dear brother. Read your Bible and make notes. That is what the author of this book did.
this diet is a little strange….and im agreeing with girlfriend77 i love cheeseburgers
Lol good critical thinking!
Cute article. But will ya still be as psyched about this fig diet when you are lookin at a bacon double cheezeburger and you’re droolin so bad you just wanna take a bite ahahaha good luck, bon chance and god speed.
Lol!
Everything sounds good but cooking with Olive oil is not good cause when it is cook it becomes rancid and toxic. Research this.
Olive oil is safe and healthy unless it is being heated over 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
I believe following this diet will be the answer that I have been looking for!
Need we say more?
I am getting the book, want to eat like Jesus. I am presently morbidly obese and contaminated with the products of Agribusiness and mass marketing. Praise for this information. It could save mankind if heeded.
Sounds good to me. I believe if we all ate this diet there would be food left over for the starving world. The horribly cruel cafos would have to shut down and any animals raised would be out in the open and breathing in fresh air. Of course, the grain we would grow could be shared with the world and our carbon footprint would be “tiny.” A win-win situation. 400,000 people die each year from a poor unhealthy diet according to the two heart doctors Rachel Ray had on her program today. They said you could have a cheeseburger once in awhile, but daily cheeseburgers are very bad for the heart, the liver, and causes stomach fat. She cooked a healthy Portuguese stew which I as a vegan would love to make because she used kale – a very healthy food. Of course I would substitute tofurky for the chiriso. But the stew also contained celery, garlic, chick peas, canned tomatoes and bottled red pepper.
great for quitting addictions.thanx
This sounds amazing! I was already exploring a Mediterranean diet so this was a welcome addition!
I am very interested. I think this is a awesome plan and spiritual devotion. Looking forward to the journey a life change