Jain vegetarianism

Set of religion-based dietary rules

The food choices of Jains are based on the value of Ahimsa (non-violence), which means Jains prefer food that inflicts the least amount of violence. Part of a series on

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Jain vegetarianism is practised by the followers of Jain culture and philosophy. It is one of the most rigorous forms of spiritually motivated diet on the Indian subcontinent and beyond. The Jain cuisine is completely lacto-vegetarian and excludes root and underground vegetables such as potato, garlic, onion, etc., to prevent injuring small insects and microorganisms. Other vegetables that have a higher chance of containing small organisms such as cauliflower, eggplant, mushroom and broccoli are also not consumed.[1] The diet is associated with practices that aim to minimise harm to plants, such as avoiding the uprooting of entire plants during harvest. It is practised by Jain ascetics and lay Jains.[2]

The objections to the eating of meat, fish and eggs are based on the principle of non-violence (ahimsa, figuratively "non-injuring"). Every act by which a person directly or indirectly supports killing or injury is seen as act of violence (himsa), which creates harmful reaction karma. The aim of ahimsa is to prevent the accumulation of such karma.[3][4] The extent to which this intention is put into effect varies greatly among Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Jains believe nonviolence is the most essential religious duty for everyone (ahinsā paramo dharmaḥ, a statement often inscribed on Jain temples).[5][6][7] It is an indispensable condition for liberation from the cycle of reincarnation,[8] which is the ultimate goal of all Jain activities. Jains share this goal with Hindus and Buddhists, but their approach is particularly rigorous and comprehensive. Their scrupulous and thorough way of applying nonviolence to everyday activities, and especially to food, shapes their entire lives and is the most significant hallmark of Jain identity.[9][10][11][12] A side effect of this strict discipline is the exercise of asceticism, which is strongly encouraged in Jainism for lay people as well as for monks and nuns.[13][14][15] Out of the five types of living beings, a householder is forbidden to kill, or destroy, intentionally, all except the lowest (the one sensed, such as vegetables, herbs, cereals, etc., which are endowed with only the sense of touch).[16]

## Practice

[edit]

For Jains, vegetarianism is mandatory. In 2021 it was found that 92% of self-identified Jains in India adhered to some type of vegetarian diet and another 5% seem to try to follow a mostly vegetarian diet by abstaining from eating certain kinds of meat and/or abstaining from eating meat on specific days.[17] In the Jain context, vegetarianism historically stems from the objective of minimizing violence to all beings.

According to Jainism even the smallest particles of the bodies of dead animals or eggs is unacceptable.[18][19] Some Jain scholars and activists support veganism, as they believe the modern commercialised production of dairy products involves violence against farm animals.[20][21][22] According to Jain texts, a śrāvaka (householder) should not consume the four maha-vigai (the four perversions) – wine, flesh, butter and honey; and the five udumbara fruits (the five udumbara trees are gular, anjeera, banyan, peepal, and pakar, all belonging to the fig genus). Lastly, Jains should not consume any foods or drinks that have animal products or animal flesh. A common misconception is that Jains cannot eat animal-shaped foods or products. As long as the foods do not contain animal products or animal flesh, animal shaped foods can be consumed without the fear of committing a sin.[23][24]

Jains go out of their way so as not to hurt even small insects and other tiny animals,[25][26][27][28] because they believe that harm caused by carelessness is as reprehensible as harm caused by deliberate action.[29][30][31][32][33] Hence they take great pains to make sure that no minuscule animals are injured by the preparation of their meals and in the process of eating and drinking.[34][35]

Traditionally Jains have been prohibited from drinking unfiltered water. In the past, when stepwells were used for the water source, the cloth used for filtering was reversed, and some filtered water poured over it to return the organisms to the original body of water. This practice of jivani or bilchavani is no longer possible because of the use of pipes for water supply. Modern Jains may also filter tap water in the traditional fashion and a few continue to follow the filtering process even with commercial mineral or bottled drinking water.

Jains make considerable efforts not to injure plants in everyday life as far as possible. Jains accept such violence only in as much as it is indispensable for human survival, and there are special instructions for preventing unnecessary violence against plants.[36][37][38] Strict Jains do not eat root vegetables, such as potatoes, onions, roots and tubers, as they are considered ananthkay.[24] Ananthkay means one body, but containing infinite lives. A root vegetable, such as potato, though appearing to be a single object, is said to contain infinite lives. Also, tiny life forms are injured when the plant is pulled up and because the bulb is seen as a living being, as it is able to sprout.[39][40][41] Also, consumption of most root vegetables involves uprooting and killing the entire plant, whereas consumption of most terrestrial vegetables does not kill the plant (it lives on after plucking the vegetables or it was seasonally supposed to wither away anyway). Among Indian Jains, 67% report that they abstain from eating root vegetables.[17] Green vegetables and fruits contain uncountable lives. Dry beans, lentils, cereals, nuts and seeds contain a countable number of lives and their consumption results in the least destruction of life.

Mushrooms, fungi and yeasts are forbidden because they grow in unhygienic environments and may harbour other life forms.[42]

Honey is forbidden, as its collection would amount to violence against the bees.[35][43][44]

Jain texts declare that a śrāvaka should not cook or eat at night. According to Acharya Amritchandra's Purushartha Siddhyupaya:

> And, how can one who eats food without the light of the sun, albeit a lamp may have been lighted, avoid hiṃsā of minute beings which get into food?

— Puruşārthasiddhyupāya (133)[45]

Strict Jains do not consume food that has been stored overnight, as it possesses a higher concentration of micro-organisms (for example, bacteria, yeast etc.) as compared to food prepared and consumed the same day. Hence, they do not consume yoghurt or dhokla and idli batter unless they have been freshly set on the same day.

During certain days of the month and on important religious days such as Paryushana and 'Ayambil', strict Jains avoid eating green leafy vegetables along with the usual restrictions on root vegetables.

Jains do not consume fermented foods (beer, wine and other alcohols) to avoid killing of a large number of microorganisms associated with the fermenting process.

Jains can however consume vanilla extract, as the very minuscule amount of alcohol in extract gets baked off completely in the cooking process. In addition, certain juices (apple juice, orange juice), breads/flours (via Amyloglucosidase and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and portions of certain fruits as they ripen (bananas as they yellow, cherries, and pears) will contain a very minuscule amount of alcohol via the fructose, sucrose, and glucose sugars, similar to vanilla extract (and can be consumed by strict Jains) [reference, jaina.org]. [46]

According to Puruṣārthasiddhyupāya:

> Wine deludes the mind and a deluded person tends to forget piety; the person who forgets piety commits hiṃsā without hesitation.

— Puruşārthasiddhyupāya (62)[47]

Along with practicing total abstinence from consuming certain types of food and limiting foods that harbor the lives of many microorganisms, fasting is also an important component of Jain dietary practices, Jain identity and Jain culture. However, Jain fasting exists in many forms and both ability and social status can limit the practice of fasting to some extent. In India 84% of Jains report partaking in some form of fasting.[17]

## Influence on vegetarian cuisines in India

[edit]

The vegetarian cuisines of some regions of the Indian subcontinent have been strongly influenced by Jainism. These include

* Gujarati Jain cuisine[48]
* Marwari Jain cuisine of Rajasthan
* Bundelkhandi Jain cuisine of central India
* Agrawal Jain cuisine of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh
* Marathi Jain cuisine of South Maharashtra
* Jain Bunt cuisine of Karnataka
* Kannada Jains cuisine of Karnataka
* Tamil Jains cuisine of Northern Districts of Tamil Nadu.

In India, vegetarian food is considered appropriate for everyone for all occasions. This makes vegetarian restaurants quite popular. Many vegetarian restaurants and Mishtanna sweet-shops – for example, the Ghantewala sweets of Delhi[49] and Jamna Mithya in Sagar – are run by Jains.

Some restaurants in India serve Jain versions of vegetarian dishes that leave out carrots, potatoes, onions and garlic. A few airlines serve Jain vegetarian dishes[50][51] upon prior request.

According to survey responses of Indian Jains who identified themselves as vegetarians, 92% would be unwilling to eat at a restaurant that is not exclusively vegetarian and 89% would be unwilling to eat at the home of a friend/acquaintance who is not a vegetarian as well.[17]

## Historical background

[edit]

When Mahavira revived and reorganized the Jain community in the 6th century BCE, ahimsa was already an established, strictly observed rule.[52][53] Parshvanatha, a tirthankara whom modern Western historians consider a historical figure,[54][55] lived in about the 8th century BCE[56][57] and founded a community to which Mahavira's parents belonged.[58][59] Parshvanatha's followers vowed to observe ahimsa; this obligation was part of their caujjama dhamma (Fourfold Restraint).[60][61][62][55]

In the times of Mahavira and in the following centuries, Jains criticized Buddhists and followers of the Vedic religion or Hindus for negligence and inconsistency in the implementation of ahimsa. In particular, they strongly objected to the Vedic tradition of animal sacrifice with subsequent meat-eating, and to hunting.[5][63][64][65][66][67]

According to the famous Tamil classic, Tirukkuṛaḷ, which is also considered a Jain work by some scholars:

> If the world did not purchase and consume meat, no one would slaughter and offer meat for sale. (Kural 256)[68]

Some Brahmins—Kashmiri Pandits and Bengali Brahmins—have traditionally eaten meat (primarily seafood). However, in regions with strong Jain influence such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, or strong Jain influence in the past such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Brahmins are strict vegetarians. Bal Gangadhar Tilak has described Jainism as the originator of ahimsa. He wrote in a letter:

> In ancient times, innumerable animals were butchered in sacrifices. Evidence in support of this is found in various poetic compositions such as the Meghaduta. But the credit for the disappearance of this terrible massacre from the Brahminical religion goes to Jainism.[69]

## See also

[edit]

* Religion portal

* Lacto-vegetarianism
* Fruitarianism
* Veganism
* Indian cuisine
* List of diets
* Sattvic diet
* Vegetarian cuisine
* Vegetarianism and religion
* Vitalism (Jainism)
* Vegetarianism and ecology

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ "Figs To Honey, Why Jains Consider These Foods 'Non-Vegetarian'". Times Now. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
2. ^ Natubhai Shah 2004, p. 249.
3. ^ Laidlaw 1995, pp. 26–30.
4. ^ Laidlaw 1995, pp. 191–195.
5. ^ a b Dundas 2002, p. 160.
6. ^ Wiley 2006, p. 438.
7. ^ Laidlaw 1995, pp. 153–154.
8. ^ Hemacandra, Yogashastra 2.31.
9. ^ Laidlaw 1995, pp. 154–160.
10. ^ Jindal 1988, p. 74–90.
11. ^ Tähtinen 1976, p. 110.
12. ^ Dundas 2002, pp. 176–177.
13. ^ Dundas 2002, pp. 187–192.
14. ^ Dundas 2002, pp. 199–200.
15. ^ Laidlaw 1995, pp. 153–159.
16. ^ Champat Rai Jain 1917, p. 79.
17. ^ a b c d Corichi, Manolo (8 July 2021). "Eight-in-ten Indians limit meat in their diets, and four-in-ten consider themselves vegetarian". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
18. ^ Laidlaw 1995, pp. 166–169.
19. ^ Tähtinen 1976, p. 37.
20. ^ Wiley, Kristi L. (2009). The A to Z of Jainism. Scarecrow Press. p. 78\. ISBN 978-0810868212. "The consumption of dairy products, such as milk, curds and clarified butter (ghee), are not prohibited in the medieval texts. In recent times, out of concern for the treatment of cows in commercial dairy farming, some Jains in the diaspora and in India now observe a vegan diet and discourage the use of dairy products in temple rituals."
21. ^ Evans, Brett (2012). "Jainism's Intersection with Contemporary Ethical Movements: An Ethnographic Examination of a Diaspora Jain Community". Journal for Undergraduate Ethnography. 2 (2): 21–32\. doi:10.15273/jue.v2i2.8146. ISSN 2369-8721.
22. ^ "Dairy farming and Hinsa (Cruelty)". Atmadrarma.com. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
23. ^ Vijay K. Jain 2012, p. 44.
24. ^ a b "Mahavir Jayanti 2017: A beginner's a guide to Jain food", NDTV, 9 April 2017, archived from the original on 20 July 2017, retrieved 9 April 2017
25. ^ Jindal 1988, p. 89.
26. ^ Laidlaw 1995, p. 54.
27. ^ Laidlaw 1995, pp. 154–155.
28. ^ Laidlaw 1995, p. 180.
29. ^ Sutrakrtangasutram 1.8.3
30. ^ Uttaradhyayanasutra 10
31. ^ Tattvarthasutra 7.8
32. ^ Dundas 2002, pp. 161–162.
33. ^ Granoff 1992, pp. 32–35.
34. ^ Sangave 1980, pp. 260–261.
35. ^ a b Tähtinen 1976, p. 109.
36. ^ Lodha 1990, pp. 137–141.
37. ^ Tähtinen 1976, p. 105.
38. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 106.
39. ^ Laidlaw 1995, pp. 156–157.
40. ^ Laidlaw 1995, pp. 167–170.
41. ^ Sangave 1980, p. 260.
42. ^ Jain, Prof. Pushpendra K. (2000). "Dietary code of practice amongst Jains". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved 6 October 2023. "Mushrooms and fungus are not used by Jain families because they are said to grow under unhygienic conditions and are parasites."
43. ^ Hemacandra: Yogashastra 3.37
44. ^ Laidlaw 1995, pp. 166–167.
45. ^ Vijay K. Jain 2012, p. 86.
46. ^ "Mahavir Jayanti 2015: The importance of a Satvik meal", NDTV, 2 April 2015, archived from the original on 4 April 2016
47. ^ Vijay K. Jain 2012, p. 45.
48. ^ "Catering to Jain palate". The Hindu. 30 June 2004. Archived from the original on 21 November 2004. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
49. ^ "A royal treat in Chandni Chowk", Hinduonnet.com, 7 November 2002, archived from the original on 1 March 2003
50. ^ "Air Travel Vegetarian Style". Happycow.net. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
51. ^ "Dietary requirements". Emirates.com. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
52. ^ Goyal 1987, pp. 83–85.
53. ^ Chatterjee 2000, p. 14.
54. ^ Dundas 2002, pp. 19, 30.
55. ^ a b Tähtinen 1976, p. 132.
56. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 30.
57. ^ Chatterjee 2000, p. 15.
58. ^ Acaranga Sutra 2.15
59. ^ Chatterjee 2000, pp. 20–21.
60. ^ Sthananga Sutra 266
61. ^ Goyal 1987, pp. 83–84.
62. ^ Goyal 1987, p. 103.
63. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 234.
64. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 241.
65. ^ Wiley 2006, p. 448.
66. ^ Granoff 1992, pp. 1–43.
67. ^ Tähtinen 1976, pp. 8–9.
68. ^ Tiruvaḷḷuvar 2000.
69. ^ Bombay Samachar, Mumbai:10 Dec, 1904

### Sources

[edit]

* Alsdorf, Ludwig (1962), Beiträge zur Geschichte von Vegetarismus und Rinderverehrung in Indien, Wiesbaden
* Chatterjee, Asim Kumar (2000), A comprehensive history of Jainism, vol. 1 (2nd rev. ed.), New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, ISBN 81-215-0931-9
* Dundas, Paul (2002) [1992], The Jains (Second ed.), London and New York City: Routledge, ISBN 0-415-26605-X
* Granoff, Phyllis (1992), "The Violence of Non-Violence: A Study of Some Jain Responses to Non-Jain Religious Practices", Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, 15
* Goyal, Śrīrāma (1987), A history of Indian Buddhism, Meerut: Kusumanjali Prakashan
* Jain, Champat Rai (1917), The Practical Path, The Central Jaina Publishing House This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
* Jain, Jagdishchandra (1984), Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canon and Commentaries (2nd ed.), New Delhi`{{citation}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
* Jain, Vijay K. (2012), Acharya Amritchandra's Purushartha Siddhyupaya: Realization of the Pure Self, With Hindi and English Translation, Vikalp Printers, ISBN 978-81-903639-4-5 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
* Jindal, K.B. (1988), An epitome of Jainism, New Delhi`{{citation}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
* Laidlaw, James (1995), Riches and Renunciation. Religion, economy, and society among the Jains, Oxford
* Lodha, R.M. (1990), Conservation of Vegetation and Jain Philosophy, in: Medieval Jainism: Culture and Environment, New Delhi`{{citation}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
* Sangave, Vilas Adinath (1980), Jaina Community (2nd ed.), Bombay: Popular Prakashan, ISBN 978-0-317-12346-3
* Shah, Natubhai (2004) [First published in 1998], Jainism: The World of Conquerors, vol. I, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-1938-1
* Tähtinen, Unto (1976), Ahimsa. Non-Violence in Indian Tradition, London`{{citation}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
* Tiruvaḷḷuvar (2000), Tirukkuṟaḷ (Tirukural : ethical masterpiece of the Tamil people), trans. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, New Delhi: Abhinav Publications, ISBN 81-7017-390-6
* Wiley, Kristi L. (2006), Flügel, Peter (ed.), Ahimsa and Compassion in Jainism, in Studies in Jaina History and Culture, London`{{citation}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Jain vegetarianism at Wikimedia Commons
* List of Foods that are not-Jain

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Groups
and events|

| Vegan|

* American Vegan Society
* Beauty Without Cruelty
* China Vegan Society
* Food Empowerment Project
* Go Vegan
* Nederlandse Vereniging voor Veganisme
* Our Hen House
* Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
* Plamil Foods
* Vegan Awareness Foundation
* Vegan flag
* Vegan Outreach
* Vegan Prisoners Support Group
* The Vegan Society
* Veganmania
* Vegetarian Resource Group
* Veganuary
* Veganz
* World Vegan Day

|

Vegetarian|

* Alcott House
* Bible Christian Church
* Boston Vegetarian Society
* Christian Vegetarian Association
* Dutch Vegetarian Society
* Eden Gemeinnützige Obstbau-Siedlung
* European Vegetarian Union
* French Vegetarian Society
* Hare Krishna Food for Life
* International Vegetarian Union
* Jewish Veg
* Meat-free days
* Meatless Monday
* Friday fast
* North American Vegetarian Society
* Order of the Golden Age
* ProVeg Deutschland
* ProVeg International
* ProVeg Nederland
* Scottish Vegetarian Society
* Swissveg
* Toronto Vegetarian Association
* Vegetarian Federal Union
* Vegetarian Society
* Vegetarian Society (Singapore)
* Veggie Pride
* Viva! Health
* World Esperantist Vegetarian Association
* World Vegetarian Day

Films|

* The Animals Film (1981)
* Diet for a New America (1991)
* A Cow at My Table (1998)
* Meet Your Meat (2002)
* Post Punk Kitchen (2003–2005)
* Peaceable Kingdom (2004)
* Earthlings (2005)
* A Sacred Duty (2007)
* Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (2010)
* Planeat (2010)
* Forks Over Knives (2011)
* Vegucated (2011)
* Live and Let Live (2013)
* Cowspiracy (2014)
* PlantPure Nation (2015)
* What the Health (2017)
* Carnage (2017)
* Dominion (2018)
* Eating You Alive (2018)
* The Game Changers (2018)
* Maa Ka Doodh (2023)
* You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment (2024)

Magazines
and journals|

* The Animals' Agenda
* Naked Food
* The Pleasure Boat
* Satya
* Vegan Journal
* The Vegetarian Magazine
* Vegetarian Times
* VegNews

Books
and reports|

* On Abstinence from Eating Animals (3rd century)
* Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets (1699)
* The Fable of the Bees (1714)
* A Reasonable Plea for the Animal Creation (1746)
* Primitive Cookery (1767)
* The Cry of Nature (1791)
* An Essay on Abstinence from Animal Food, as a Moral Duty (1802)
* Vegetable Cookery (1812)
* A Vindication of Natural Diet (1813)
* Reasons for not Eating Animal Food (1814)
* Moral Inquiries on the Situation of Man and of Brutes (1824)
* Nature's Own Book (1835)
* Fruits and Farinacea (1845)
* "The Vegetarian; or a Visit to Aunt Primitive" (1847)
* The Penny Domestic Assistant and Guide to Vegetarian Cookery (1850)
* The Ethics of Diet (1883)
* A Plea for Vegetarianism and Other Essays (1886)
* What is Vegetarianism? (1886)
* The First Step (1891)
* Shelley's Vegetarianism (1891)
* Behind the Scenes in Slaughter-Houses (1892)
* Why I Am a Vegetarian (1895)
* Figs or Pigs? (1896)
* Fifty Years of Food Reform (1898)
* The Logic of Vegetarianism (1899)
* Thirty-nine Reasons Why I Am a Vegetarian (1903)
* The Meat Fetish (1904)
* The Apsley Cookery Book
* The New Ethics (1907)
* A Fleshless Diet (1910)
* The Benefits of Vegetarianism (1927)
* Living the Good Life (1954)
* Ten Talents (1968)
* Diet for a Small Planet (1971)
* The Vegetarian Epicure (1972)
* Moosewood Collective Cookbooks (1973)
* The Farm Vegetarian Cookbook (1975)
* Laurel's Kitchen (1976)
* Moosewood Cookbook (1977)
* Fit for Life (1985)
* Diet for a New America (1987)
* The Sexual Politics of Meat (1990)
* Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone (1997)
* The China Study (2005)
* Skinny Bitch (2005)
* Livestock's Long Shadow (2006)
* The Bloodless Revolution (2006)
* Eating Animals (2009)
* Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows (2009)
* The Vegan Studies Project (2015)
* Animal (De)liberation (2016)
* The End of Animal Farming (2018)
* Vegetable Kingdom (2020)
* Making a Stand for Animals (2022)
* Meat Atlas (annual)

Restaurants|

| Active|

* Ben & Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli
* Cinnaholic
* Crossroads Kitchen
* Green Elephant Vegetarian Bistro
* Greens Restaurant
* Elizabeth's Gone Raw
* Hiltl Restaurant
* Little Pine
* Moosewood Restaurant
* Plant
* Purezza
* Slutty Vegan
* Souley Vegan
* The Sound Lounge
* Veggie Galaxy
* Veggie Grill

|

Former|

* Cranks
* Food for Thought
* InSpiral Lounge
* Lentil as Anything
* Minerva Café
* New Riverside Cafe
* Nix
* Penny Cafeteria
* Pink Peacock
* The Hollow Reed
* The Pitman Vegetarian Hotel

Related|

* Cultured meat
* Juice fasting
* Low-carbon
* Plant-based action plan
* Plant-based diet
* Planetary health
* Sustainable diet
* Vegaphobia
* Vegetarian and vegan dog diet
* Vegetarian and vegan symbolism

* v
* t
* e

Human nutrition and healthy diets

Main articles
Diet
Dieting
Cuisine
Dietitian
Hunger
Leptin
Meal
Nutrition
Obesity
Staple food

Dieting|

| Basic types|

* Omnivore
* Plant-based

|

Regional diets|

* Western
* Mediterranean
* Atlantic

Sustainable diets|

* Low carbon
* Planetary health

Religious diets|

* Buddhist
* Christian
* Hindu
* Islamic
* Jain
* Jewish
* Rastafari
* Sikh

Vegetarianism
and veganism|

* Fruitarianism
* Meat analogue
* Milk substitute
* Raw vegan
* Tofu

Semi-vegetarianism|

* Ovo-lacto vegetarianism
* Pescetarian
* Pollotarian

Supplement diets|

* Bodybuilding supplements
* Meal replacement
* Therapeutic food

Non-solid diets|

* Liquid diets
* Very-low-calorie diet

Specific
restrictions|

* Calorie restriction
* Cardiac diet
* Diabetic diet
* Elimination diet
* Fluid restriction diet
* Gluten-free
* Gluten-free and casein-free
* Intermittent fasting
* Low-sodium
* Low-FODMAP
* Low-carbohydrate
* Low-fat
* Low-fiber/low-residue diet
* Low-protein
* Monotrophic diet
* NPO
* Renal diet
* Soft diet
* Specific carbohydrate

Other diets|

* Entomophagy
* Cotton ball
* Pica
* DASH
* Inuit
* MIND
* Time Restricted Eating
* Liquid diet
* Ninja diet
* Raw foodism
* U.S. military

Fad diets|

* Cambridge
* Macrobiotic
* Master Cleanse
* Junk food
* Superfood
* Slow-Carb

List of diets|

* Diet food

Nutrition|

| Amino acids|

* Alanine
* Arginine
* Asparagine
* Aspartic acid
* Cysteine
* Glutamic acid
* Glutamine
* Glycine
* Histidine
* Isoleucine
* Leucine
* Lysine
* Methionine
* Phenylalanine
* Proline
* Selenocysteine
* Serine
* Threonine
* Tryptophan
* Tyrosine
* Valine

|

Vitamins|

* Vitamin A
* Vitamin B1
* Vitamin B2
* Vitamin B3
* Vitamin B5
* Vitamin B6
* Vitamin B7
* Vitamin B9
* Vitamin B12
* Vitamin C
* Vitamin D
* Vitamin E
* Vitamin K

Minerals|

* Calcium
* Chlorine
* Chromium
* Cobalt
* Copper
* Iodine
* Iron
* Magnesium
* Manganese
* Molybdenum
* Nickel
* Phosphorus
* Potassium
* Selenium
* Sodium
* Vanadium
* Zinc

Nutritional
advice|

* 5 A Day
* Dairy Council of California
* Food pyramid
* Fruits & Veggies – More Matters
* Healthy eating pyramid
* Latin American Diet Pyramid
* French paradox
* Mediterranean Diet Pyramid
* MyPlate
* MyPyramid
* Vegetarian Diet Pyramid
* Weight Watchers

* Category
* Commons
* Cookbook
* Food portal, Health and fitness portal

* v
* t
* e

Cuisines

Continental|

| African|

* North
* West
* list

|

Americas|

* Caribbean
* North
* South
* list

Asian|

* Caucasian
* Central
* Levantine
* South
* North Indian
* South Indian
* list

European|

* Balkan
* Central
* Eastern
* Caucasian
* list

Oceanian|

* Australian
* New Zealander

Intercontinental|

* Global
* Latin American
* Mediterranean
* Middle Eastern

National and
(regional)|

* Afghan
* Albanian
* Algerian
* American
* Puerto Rican
* Angolan
* Argentine
* Armenian
* Australian
* Austrian
* Azerbaijani
* Bahraini
* Bangladeshi
* Barbadian
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* Belgian
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* Bolivian
* Bosnian-Herzegovinian
* Botswana
* Brazilian
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* English
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* Canadian
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* Dominican
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* Gambian
* Georgian
* German
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* Cretan
* Epirotic
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* Heptanesean
* Guatemalan
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* Guinean
* Guyana
* Haitian
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* Hungarian
* Icelandic
* Indian
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* Arunachali
* Assamese
* Bengali
* Bihari
* Chhattisgarhi
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* Jharkhandi
* Karnataka
* Kerala
* Maharashtrian
* Manipuri
* Meghalayan
* Mizo
* Naga
* Odia
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* Tamil
* Telangana
* Tripuri
* Uttar Pradesh
* Uttarakhandi
* Indonesian
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* Banjar
* Batak
* Betawi
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* Indo
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* Irish
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* Japanese
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* Romanian
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* Slovak
* Slovenian
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* Spanish
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* Balearic
* Basque
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* Cantabrian
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* Swazi
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* Swiss
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* Tajik
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* Thai
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* Tunisian
* Turkish
* Turkmen
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* Ugandan
* Ukrainian
* Uruguayan
* Uzbek
* Vanuatuan
* Venezuelan
* Vietnamese
* Western Saharan
* Yemeni
* Zambian
* Zimbabwean

Ethnic|

* African American
* Ainu
* Arab
* Arab-Indonesian
* Aromanian
* Assyrian
* Balochi
* Berber
* Buryat
* Cajun
* Chinese
* American
* Australian
* British
* Cambodian
* Canadian
* Filipino
* Indian
* Indonesian
* Malaysian
* Pakistani
* Peruvian
* Crimean Tatar
* Gagauz
* Greek-American
* Hausa
* Hazaragi
* Hmong
* Indian
* English
* Indonesian
* Malaysian
* Indigenous American
* Indigenous Australian
* Inuit
* Italian American
* Jewish
* American
* Ashkenazi
* Bukharan
* Ethiopian
* Mizrahi
* Moroccan
* Sephardic
* Syrian
* Kurdish
* Livonian
* Louisiana Creole
* Malay
* Ossetian
* Parsi
* Pashtun
* Pennsylvania Dutch
* Peranakan
* Pontic Greek
* Romani
* Sámi
* Tejano
* Transylvanian Saxon
* Yup'ik

Religious|

* Buddhist
* Christian
* Goan Catholic
* Mangalorean Catholic
* Mennonite
* Hindu
* Islamic
* Chinese
* Ital
* Jain
* Kashrut
* Kosher food
* Sikh

Historical|

* Ancient Egyptian
* Ancient Greek
* Ancient Israelite
* Ancient Roman
* Antebellum America
* Aztec
* Byzantine
* Early modern European
* Historical Argentine
* Historical Chinese
* Historical Indian subcontinent
* Historical Japanese
* Historical North Indian and Pakistani
* History of agriculture
* History of alcoholic drinks
* History of bread
* History of seafood
* History of vegetarianism
* Hittite
* Inca
* Mayan
* Muisca
* Mughal
* Medieval
* Ottoman
* Peasant
* Pre-contact Hawaiian
* Korean royal court
* Scottish royal household
* Soviet
* Thirteen Colonies

Styles|

* Classique
* Fast food
* Fusion
* New American
* Eurasian
* Haute
* Molecular gastronomy
* Note by Note
* Nouvelle
* Vegetarian

Lists|

* List of cuisines
* List of historical cuisines
* Lists of foods
* Prepared

Related|

* Cookbook
* Cooking
* Culinary arts
* Drink
* Food
* history
* sociology
* specialty
* Diet
* Fat
* Meal
* Meal preparation
* Ritual slaughter

* Category
* Outline

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