Skip to Content

What Does God Say About Food And Eating? A Biblical Guide

Confused about what the Bible says about food and eating? Find clarity and guidance from scripture on nourishment, moderation, and honoring God’s provision.

There is so much in our society about diet. Eat this, not that. Have more carbs, eat less carbs, eat low fat, eat good fat, and it goes on.

I have researched and tried so many diets, so many approaches, and so many fads. 

I’ve cut out carbs. I’ve added tons of healthy fats. I’ve cut out most fats. I’ve gone sugar-free. I’ve just had shakes. I have only had packaged foods through diets like Jenny Craig, Optavia, and others. I went vegan and I went keto.

But the truth is, I was sick of listening to society dictate my food choices.

Are you sick of this too?

I don’t listen to society on how to be a Christian, I go to God. It is time to go to God to see what foods I should consume.

This decision led me down a winding road of prayer, Bible study, research, and more prayer.

In this article, you will read what God showed me through prayer, Bible reading and study about not just what foods to eat but also how to eat. 

I started this journey many years ago and will continue it for many years to come. 

Eating the way society told me to, I ended up at 349 pounds. 

Read on to see where I am today. 

Foods and Rules

A woman eating a bowl of Salad with a text overlay that reads as What Does God Say About Food And Eating A Biblical Guide.

What to eat, when to eat, and how much to eat. These are questions we’ve all pondered. But what if there’s more to it than just calorie counting and food groups? What if the answers to optimal health and well-being have been right in front of us all along?

What foods does God tell us to eat?

“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.

Genesis 1:29

This sets the tone that these natural foods are essential for health and well-being.

“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey”

Deuteronomy 8:7

God is providing His best for us and this includes grains, fruit, olive oil and honey

He shows us through this verse that some fats are healthy, and it is okay to want some sweets through honey, a natural sweetener.

We find that in Leviticus 11, there are many rules surrounding foods. These rules held importance during the Old Testament to promote health, hygiene and cultural identity. 

Following the rules showed that the people were devoted to God. 

The Bible and all its words are important, but it is also important to note that we do live in a time where food hygiene and preservation are very different from the old testament times. 

Leviticus spells out that the people could eat cows, deer, sheep, fish with fins and scales, and any bird not on the unclean list

“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,  “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat:  You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.”

Leviticus 11: 1-3

 “Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales”.

Leviticus 11: 9

 “‘These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,  the red kite, any kind of black kite,  any kind of raven,  the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,  the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,  the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,  the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.”

Leviticus 11: 13-19

Foods were considered clean or unclean. 

Clean and unclean referred to spiritual stature, but God was looking out for His people to keep them safe from foods that were too difficult to preserve in those days as well. 

Following these guidelines were a practical way that people could get close to God through obedience. 

When Jesus came to the Earth, He freed us to worship and grow through other means. 

What do I take from these food rules? 

I believe that God is a caring Father, who wants His children safe. He supplied His people with rules that would prevent disease and illness and a way to allow His children to gather near Him through obedience.

These verses, along with prayer showed me that God provided all these animals on this Earth for us to use for sustenance. As long as we could keep the meat safe to consume, we could consume it.

I have learned that God is okay with me eating any natural food that is hygienically safe for me to consume, whether that be meat, grains, vegetables, fruit, oils, and natural sweeteners. 

How should we eat?

The Bible shows us that it is not about rules and what to eat or not to eat, but about how we eat. 

“… But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.”

1 Corinthians 8: 8

“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 8:3

God wants us to consume His word like we consume brownies. 

He will provide for our physical needs. 

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day.”

Deuteronomy 8:10-14

Eating and being satisfied serve as a reminder to continually acknowledge God’s blessings and to remain faithful to Him

On the seventh day of each week, there is the Sabbath. On this day, we are to rest and worship God.

“‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.

Leviticus 23:3

How does this relate to food and how we should eat? 

The how is to focus on God.

For me, I have found that this verse emphasizes the need to meal prep on Saturdays, so that I am set to rest on the Sabbath with God and family. 

On Saturdays, I plan out my meals for the week and then I cook ahead my snacks and breakfasts. 

Through-out the week, I look at my plan, posted on the refrigerator and take out any needed meats the night before. 

I do not have to lend my thought process to figuring out what is for dinner, I can be present at work and at home. 

In this method, food becomes necessary for sustenance and does not take up all the mind space needed to constantly be thinking about what to eat and when and how to prepare it.

We can learn more from Genesis 41, the story of Joseph’s dream of famine and abundance. 

Joseph had a dream that was interpreted to mean that there was going to be 7 years of abundance followed by 7 years of famine. 

Pharaoh believed him and put him in charge of preparing for the 7 years of famine. 

Joseph stored foods to be ready so that after the abundance, there would remain food to feed the people through the 7 years of famine.

For me, this story emphasizes that God will always provide for me, and I don’t need to worry.

God gave Joseph this dream so that he could prepare and be ready. If God wants me to prepare, he’ll see to it that I know.

God wants me to rely on Him with everything regarding food. He has my back.

When my children were very young and we were on state assistance, there were times I would feed my children and have very little for myself. 

God introduced me to a woman in my church who led me to participate in a free community garden. He provided. He also knew I knew nothing about gardening, so He even went as far as putting people that could help me in my path. 

I’ll never forget planting carrots. Everyone said that carrots were very difficult to grow. I didn’t know, I had never even attempted them. 

I did what I could, weeding and watering a couple of times a week, when I could get to the garden. 

At harvest time, I pulled up a beautiful, long, straight carrot. I was amazed and, admittedly a little prideful at first. Look what I did. 

I came to find out that a gentleman in the next garden knew I could not get to the garden as often as I should and he was taking care of my garden as well as his. 

I always wondered why this gardening thing was so easy, or so it seemed. God provided him. He knew what I needed to sustain me and my family. 

God shows us, through His word, what foods we should consume and how we should undertake eating by preparing, being thankful, and most of all trusting Him.

Trust Jesus To Provide

Jesus is always there, providing for us. It is no different with our food.

“When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed Him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to me,” he said.  And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.  The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:13–21

We just need to trust, Jesus will provide for our physical needs. 

Also, we see in this verse that bread is an allowable food. 

“When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table. And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you.  For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.”

Luke 22: 14-20

Jesus had decided that He was going to eat to celebrate with His loved ones and then go to do what must be done. 

Through much prayer, I have found this story to reveal that no matter what I have that must be done, it is important for me to take time, sit at a table, and eat with my loved ones. 

To celebrate and focus on them and thank God for what He has provided, my family as well as the food. Then do what must be done.

I believe this also speaks to fasting. Fasting is okay if you undertake it as a worship of God and a way to grow closer to Him. 

If you feel you should fast, pray, ask God to lead you. 

For me, I have done very little fasting. I will wait for several hours after I wake to eat and stop several hours before I go to sleep, but I have not been led to fast for days as yet. 

 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,  so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 6: 16-18

Fasting is to worship and grow closer to God. The main purpose is not to lose weight. Losing weight may have been an effect of this, but that was not the focus.

Fasting is a way to thank God for all He has provided and to draw close to HIm.

A Heart of Gratitude

We have explored what food God has said is good to eat, any natural food that we can clean and keep healthy. 

We also explored Jesus as our provider for all things, including food. 

Once we understand the foods we can eat and rely on God to provide them, we then need to cultivate gratitude. 

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,  because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”

1 Timothy 4: 4-5

God is our provider; we recognize this, and it starts in our heart of gratitude.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Colossians 3: 17

Because we are discussing food, when can we give thanks? Before we eat the food He provided is a great time to give thanks.

I am in the habit of saying, thank you to God every time I eat. This provides for some interesting times. 

At 349 pounds my diet did not follow what we have learned in this article. 

Imagine how I felt sitting down and saying thank you to God for my bag of chips and my 3 candy bars at one time. God used this to convict me through the Holy Spirit that this was not what and how I was meant to eat.

Do I never eat chips or candy bars now? No

I have a treat when I plan it into my meal plan and I enjoy it and I thank God heartily for allowing me to be able to taste the goodness of a planned indulgence. 

It is so different than when I thanked Him for candy and chips that were consumed because I “needed” them. 

I now thank God for every food He provides and feel complete peace. 

I am not perfect, there are times I eat something I shouldn’t and the Holy Spirit whispers to me, “Should you eat this”

There are times I listen and stop and thank God for providing the Holy Spirit, but there are times I choose not to listen and eat it anyway and usually don’t feel so good, physically and emotionally, after. 

Once I learned to be thankful and have a heart of gratitude, it was then time to start sharing with others. 

I have not been blessed with the gift of hospitality. This does not mean that I cannot share with others. We all have our gifts, but if hospitality is not yours, you can still reach out and share.

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

Hebrews 13:2

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” 

Acts 2: 46-47

God wants us to come together to spread His word. I am sure you have heard that if you want people to come to any event, provide free food. God knows this. 

Provide God given food and join together with thanksgiving. It is not about the food, it is about God.

God tells us in Isaiah not to turn away the hungry and to share our food. 

“…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday”. 

Isaiah 58: 10

Honoring God

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”

Titus 2: 11-12

At times this seems impossible, self-control. But God gave us a spirit of self-control.

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1: 7

Through a God-given spirit, we need to prioritize health and nutrition.

We now know the foods God provided for us: natural whole grains, fruit, vegetables, oils, honey, fish, and meats

We now know how to eat, with thanksgiving in our hearts, following God’s guidance for our path to health.

What about all this other food we have in our world?

Did God create oreos? No

He did create us, and we did create Oreos. 

Is it a sin to eat an oreo? No, having something in moderation as part of an overall healthy lifestyle is okay. Gluttony is a sin.

“When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.” 

Proverbs 23: 1-3

Many times in my life, food has made promises. Promises to make my problems go away. Promises to make me feel good and whole. Food lies! 

I have learned that if I want an Oreo or a serving of chips, because I like the taste and it is part of my plan, that is okay. I am not relying on any food promises. I am thankful to God for providing the treat, and I am thankful to God for helping me to see it as nothing more than a treat.

God can break food addictions

Becky from So Very Blessed has written a great article on 5 Bible Verses on Healthy Eating, I recommend you read this for more information. 

A New Path to Wellness

Eating a healthy, balanced diet with an occasional planned treat is God’s plan for us. 

Thanking Him for all He provides and trusting Him to provide is just as important as the food we consume.

Is this easy? No.

I spent years attempting to follow God’s plan and falling short. It took lessons from Faithful Finish Lines to guide me on how to grow closer to God and how to include Him in all my lifestyle choices.

It also took prayer and listening to God as He led me down the path for my weight loss. 

Everyone has their own path. Pray and ask God what path is best for you.

Christ tells us not to judge each other’s weight loss journey. 

If you are fasting, doing a fad diet, following Weight Watchers, taking weight loss medications, or having weight loss surgery, you should not be judged, and you should not judge others.

Your path is not the same as everyone else’s. 

“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.  One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.  The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.  Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”

Romans 14: 1-4

My path was to have bariatric surgery and follow the Faithful Finish Lines guidelines. Once I listened to God and followed my path, my health improved. 

I went from 349 pounds to 203 and am still losing. I no longer have high blood pressure. I am no longer in the pre-diabetic category. I no longer have pain when walking. 

Before and after photo of Tammy omparison weight Loss.

Trust God, He will help you too.

Are you longing for a supportive community where you can share your heart and journey? Join us in our free Christian weight loss community for women. We’re here to listen, encourage, and walk alongside you.

A woman eating a bowl of Salad with a text overlay that reads as What Does God Say About Food And Eating A Biblical Guide.

Do You Long to Lose Weight and Honor God with Your Body?

The new and improved Faithful Finish Lines Membership is for you. Join the waitlist and receive an invitation to become a Founding Member.

Faithful Finish Lines Membership - Founding Members

Why Portion Control Is Important & How To Get It Right

How To Stop Feeling Guilty After Eating — 3 Ways in Christ

7 Healthy Grocery Shopping Tips for Weight Loss