After performing miracles, it was essential for Jesus to stay nourished to keep his strength, and surprisingly, his diet wasn’t too different from those in the Middle East today! It’s funny how some things don’t change over 2000 years; here’s a look at 17 highlights from Jesus’ menu.
Bread
Who doesn’t love bread!? Jesus certainly did; it’s clear from the Bible that Jesus got plenty of carbohydrates way before the concept of a balanced diet. While the bread Jesus ate was likely different from what we eat in America, it was likely similar to those found in the Middle East today.
Fish
Bible Keeper tells us that Jesus ate a lot of fish with his bread, which was popular at the time. It makes us wonder if Jesus would have enjoyed a Filet-O-Fish from the McDonald’s menu if he had been around today. Probably! Although, there’s nothing in the bible about tartare sauce and French fries…
Olives and Olive Oil
Global warming has had a drastic impact on the quantity of olives and olive oil in the world, but back in biblical times, they were available in copious amounts! As such, Jesus was able to enjoy olives straight from the tree, which grew in prevalence in the Middle East.
Figs
Figs are a proud export of many Middle Eastern countries today, and they have been since the time of Jesus Christ. They’re also symbolically important in the Bible, as can be seen when Jesus cursed a barren fig tree. Thankfully, this does not mean that figs are cursed or sinful!
Wine
When Jesus enjoyed a meal with companions or at religious ceremonies, he would enjoy a glass of wine from time to time. Of course, indulgence in this was forbidden, but wine is very important for Christian symbolism, and it’s still drunk to this day as the blood of Christ.
Honey
In the Bible, honey is mentioned as a symbol of prosperity and abundance, consumed both for its rich sweetness and its medicinal properties. It’s a win-win kind of food! Sure, it’s not directly cited in the Bible as being eaten by Jesus, but it is highly likely due to its regional prevalence.
Pomegranates
Pomegranates are a key ingredient in salads and other dishes, so it’s no wonder they were in Jesus’ diet. However, there’s more to them than just the pleasant taste; pomegranates are a symbol of righteousness and are abundant in the Middle East, so it would have been impossible for Jesus to avoid them.
Garlic
The vast majority of people around the world use garlic in their cooking because of its flavor, but it’s also important for medicinal purposes. Whether or not they knew this in biblical times is hard to say, but Jesus would have certainly enjoyed some garlic in his dinners from time to time.
Lamb
According to The Tabernacle Man, lamb was the most important meat for religious meals in ancient Judaism, so Jesus would have enjoyed this during Passover. Many have speculated that lamb was also on the table during the Last Supper, so it could’ve been one of his final dinners!
Bitter Herbs
Another traditional part of the Passover meal is bitter herbs, and there’s a lot of symbolism behind them as well. Many believe that they symbolize the bitterness of slavery in Egypt. Either way, bitter herbs are a fantastic culinary addition to many dishes that would’ve most certainly been enjoyed by Jesus.
Lentils
Lentils were one of the staple protein sources for those in biblical times in the Middle East. They’re used in many dishes from the region to this day, and they reflect agricultural practices of the time, so it’s highly likely that Jesus ate lentils as a major part of his diet.
Almonds
Almonds are a type of nut mentioned several times in the Old Testament, which shows us how important they were to people at the time. So, it’s of little doubt that Jesus ate them, especially considering how healthy they were.
Mustard
Mustard was featured in one of Jesus’ parables in the Gospel of Matthew, so Jesus had to have been eating it if he talked about it like this! It was also a very common spice at the time, although it would have looked very different to the American mustard of today!
Walnuts
History of Yesterday discusses how nuts, like walnuts, were very accessible in Jesus’s time, so it’s likely that he indulged in them himself. They’re known for being highly nutritious and very accessible at the time, so it only makes sense that Jesus had a stash of walnuts in his pockets!
Dairy Products
Plant-based foods were more prevalent than dairy products at the time, but it’s still very likely that Jesus enjoyed cheese or a little milk from time to time. After all, he was born in a manger and grew up around cattle!
Eggs
Eggs weren’t quite as frequently mentioned in Biblical texts, but it’s still very likely that they were a part of people’s diet then, including Jesus. They were used in cooking or eaten alone as they are today and would have formed an essential source of protein to fuel all of Jesus’ hard work.
Vegetables
Finally, there’s no denying that Jesus loved vegetables! ChristianWebsite tells us that vegetables were a central part of Jesus’ diet, with onions, leeks, and cucumbers all likely featured in the dishes that he ate. There were tons of different types of vegetables available in the Middle East at the time, and Jesus needed his brain food!
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