"And God said, 'Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed...and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat (food)." Genesis 1:29

 

"The liability to take disease is increased tenfold by meat-eating." Counsels on Diet and Foods, pg. 386. (1868).

 

"The intellectual, the moral, and the physical powers are depreciated by the habitual use of flesh meats. Meat-eating deranges the system beclouds the intellect, and blunts the moral sensibilities. We say to you, dear brother and sister, your safest course is to let meat alone." Counsels on Diet and Foods, pg. 391 (1868).

 

"The tissues of the swine swarm with parasites. Of the swine, God said, "It is unclean unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, or touch their dead carcass." This command was given because swine's flesh is unfit for food. Swine are scavengers, and this is the only use they were intended to serve. Never, under any circumstances, was their flesh to be eaten by human beings." Counsels on Diet an Foods, pg. 392. (1905)

 

Proper nutrition is vital to good health. Food that is devitalized cannot supply the vitamins and minerals it lacks. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we choose wisely the food that goes on our table. Vegetables and fruits should be making the greater proportion of our meals, along with whole grains, beans, legumes, and seeds. Nuts can be included in small amounts. From our food, we will obtain all the elements essential for good health: vitamins, minerals, water, carbohydrates, protein, fats, and fiber.

 

Foods should be prepared with simplicity and variation, perhaps only three or four dishes at a meal, and properly cooked. Food should be carefully chosen and prepared with intelligence and skill. Avoid the use of grease in foods. Lard, butter, and hydrogenated vegetable fats may be classified as grease. If using oil, use natural oils sparingly, such as extra virgin olive oil.

 

Avoid sugar. It is not good for the stomach, because it causes fermentation. Milk and sugar clog the system, irritate the digestive organs, and affect the brain. Sugar, when largely used, is more injurious than meat.

 

Eat raw vegetable salads or raw fruits before the main course. This will stimulate and assist digestion, and help avoid overeating of cooked foods. Fruits and vegetables should not be eaten at the same meal. Eat fruits at one meal and vegetables at another.

Eat sparingly—for strength and not for drunkenness. The benefit you derive from your food does not depend so much upon the amount eaten, as upon its proper combination and thorough digestion. Neither does gratification of taste depend so much upon the amount of food swallowed as upon the length of time it remains in the mouth. Overeating clogs the machinery and weakens the moral power to resist other passions.

 

Eat at regular intervals, allowing 5-6 hours to elapse between meals. Do not eat a morsel of food between meals. When hungry between meals, drink a large glass of cool water. Do not eat before going to bed. The stomach must not be constantly at work, but have periods of rest.

Take time to eat and enjoy mealtimes. Avoid eating compulsively or when emotionally upset, in pain, or overtired.

 

Eat a substantial breakfast. In the morning, after a good night's rest, the stomach is far better able to digest a hearty meal than at other meals of the day. The practice of eating a little or no breakfast and a heavy supper may be conducive to putting on unwanted pounds.

Two meals a day are better than three; but if a third meal is eaten at all, it should be light, and eaten several hours before going to bed.

 

In grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are found all the food elements to make good blood.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, and 10:31:

 

"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19

 

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:20

 

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

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Fresh Fruit
“The Lord desires those living in countries where fresh fruit can be obtained during a large part of the year, to awake to the blessing they have in this fruit. The more we depend upon the fresh fruit just as it is plucked from the tree, the greater will be the blessing.” 7 Testimonies p124.6.
“Fruits, used with thoroughly cooked bread two or three days old, which is more healthful than fresh bread, slowly and thoroughly masticated, will furnish all that the system requires.” Unpublished Testimony.

Fruit and Vegetables
“If we would preserve the beast of health, we should avoid eating vegetables and fruit at the same meal. If the stomach is feeble, there will be distress, and the brain will be confused, and unable to put forth mental effort. Have fruit at one meal and vegetables at the next.” Youth’s Instructor. May 31. 1894. (The reason for this is because fruit and vegetables have a different form of digestion. Avocadoes are an exception, and also citrus fruit. However, if something does not agree with your system, avoid it. We are all different)

Bread
“For use in bread making, the superfine white flour is not the best. Its use is neither healthful nor economical. Fine flour bread is lacking in nutritive elements to be found in bread made from the whole wheat. White bread is a cause of constipation and other unhealthful conditions.” Ministry of Healing p300-302.

 

 

Simplicity
“Food should be prepared with simplicity, and yet with a nicety that will invite the appetite.” 2 Testimonies p63.

Variation
“There should not be many kinds at any one meal, but all meals should not be composed of the same kinds of food without variation.” 2 Testimonies p63.

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Little Cooking
“The large amount of cooking usually done is not at all necessary. Neither should the diet be poor, either in quality or quantity.” Unpublished Testimony No. 5 1896. (It is better to eat raw fruit and vegetables, rather than cooked. Eat what can be eaten raw and cook ‘just enough’ those vegetables that must be cooked)

Cook Properly
“The proper cooking of food is a most essential requirement. Food should be thoroughly cooked, nicely prepared, and appetizing.” Unpublished Testimony Aug 30 1896. (Grains need to be cooked thoroughly)

Appetising
“If the food eaten is not relished, the body will not be so well nourished. The food should be carefully chosen and prepared with intelligence and skill.” Ministry of Healing p300.

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Science of Cooking
“Both physical and mental strength depend upon the food we eat; therefore the one who prepares the food occupies an important and elevated position.” Counsels to Teachers p312.

Milk and Eggs
“Great care should be taken to obtain milk from healthy cows and eggs from healthy fowls that are well and well cared for; and the eggs should be cooked as to be most easily digested.” The Ministry of Healing p320.321.

This counsel was given for those who were unable to obtain sufficient fruit and vegetables in their diet, and that if they used eggs and milk, it must be from animals that were known to be healthy.
The question is asked today: Should we use eggs and milk? The answer must come from our response to the counsel: Are the animals known to be healthy?
Are the hens fed chemicals and hormones to encourage and speed production of eggs? Free range eggs may be different, but who really knows? Even hens running about the garden could be full of cancer.
Likewise cattle. They are full of disease, and even when the cancers and tumours are cut out, the remainder of the animal is sent to market. Milk that is pastuerised and homogenised destroys important ‘friendly’ bacteria, but it does not destroy the bacteria that is harmful. (Homogenised means hydrogen is force through the milk or butter, making it unhealthy. Drinking milk straight from the cow, sheep or goat is not recommended either, not in these days of sickness)
In 1902 Ellen White said: “The time has not yet come when I can say that the use of milk and of eggs should be wholly discontinued.” B-135.
She also wrote, “The time will come when we may have to discard some of the articles of diet we now use, such as milk and cream and eggs; but my message is that you must not bring yourself to a time of trouble beforehand, and thus afflict yourself... Wait until the Lord prepares the way before you.” K-37.1901.
Has the Lord now prepared the way with the introduction of soy milk and many vegetarian alternatives?
“The diet reform should be progressive. As disease in animal’s increases, the use of milk and eggs will become more and more unsafe.” The Ministry of Healing p320.321.
Many health-conscious people believe the time has now come.

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10 Tips for Healthful Eating:

1. Eat a variety of fruits, grains, vegetables, legumes, seeds, and nuts (See A Vegan Vegetarian           Lifestyle).

2. Avoid animal protein.

3. Limit fat, sugar, and salt.

4. Eat a good breakfast, a moderate lunch, and a light supper.

5. Don't eat too late at night.

6. Don't eat between meals—allow five hours between meals.

7. Eat at regular times.

8. Watch your combination of foods—don't mix fruit and vegetables.

9. Avoid refined grains.

10. Choose foods that will build good blood.

11. Try to avoid combining fruits and vegetable together.