| When you think about the foods that you | | | | Yogurt was also eaten during this time, although it |
| typically eat, you probably think about the | | | | is not the same kind of yogurt that comes |
| unhealthy fast food, prepared meals that are | | | | flavored in neat little packages that we eat today. |
| frozen and full of preservatives, or the sweets | | | | It contained no preservatives and no sugar. It |
| that are full of fats and sugars. These kinds of | | | | often was derived from goat milk and was |
| foods, while typical for many, are only recent | | | | curdled. This was also known as cheese during the |
| additions to the human diet. In fact, when you | | | | time. |
| look back in ancient times, many of the foods we | | | | When looking at grains and vegetables, it is |
| eat today didn't even exist. | | | | important to point out that the people during this |
| In many cases, foods eaten during Biblical times | | | | time ate what was native to their land. There |
| were much healthier, as they were organically | | | | was no importing or exporting of goods. Eating |
| grown and never eaten to excess. Organically | | | | foods that were native to the land also meant |
| grown is somewhat of a trendy buzzword today. | | | | that many people worked hard for their food, |
| It is "cool" to eat organic foods that are grown | | | | often farming their own crops. Popular vegetables |
| without hormones or pesticides. During the Bible | | | | and fruits included figs, pomegranates, olives |
| times, people had no choice but to eat organic | | | | (which most people ate on a daily basis), and |
| foods. There was nothing else available. | | | | apricots. Some studies actually suggest that the |
| Animals that were killed for food were always | | | | famed apple that temped Eve was actually not an |
| free ranging. They were never injected with | | | | apple at all, since it was not native to the area. |
| hormones or antibiotics, and they were always | | | | Instead it was an apricot. |
| lean. Of course, back then, most people didn't | | | | Of course, grains were very important to the diet |
| even eat meat at every meal because it wasn't | | | | during this time. People used barley and wheat to |
| as plentiful, and because the Bible actually states | | | | make bread and other grain products. It contained |
| that an excess of eating meat will make a person | | | | no preservatives, salt, and no sugar. If sweetness |
| sick. The meat they did eat was usually limited to | | | | was needed, then local honey was used. Fat was |
| fish, sheep, and some types of fowl. Pigs were | | | | forbidden, especially animal fat. However, olive oil |
| considered unclean. | | | | was used when cooking and making food. It was |
| When meat was not available, the people got | | | | plentiful and nutritious as well. |
| their protein from other sources. Nuts and | | | | It is easy to see how much our diets have |
| soybeans were important in their diet. We now | | | | changed through the years. During Biblical times, |
| know today that soy is extremely healthy and | | | | people just did not have the choices as we do |
| provides a good source of lean protein. Nuts are | | | | today. They ate when they needed to eat and |
| also very good for the body. While they do | | | | did not overindulge or eat unhealthy foods. |
| contain fat, they have the "right" kind of fat. | | | | |