Jesus, Buddha & Mohammed
Who doesn’t know Jesus, Buddha, or Mohammed? They are the most respected religious figures and well-known in almost every country. They have many things in common, but also many differences. People who believe in this one or that one, fight about their beliefs and forget about the main message which unites all three of them: unity and not separation. But what did the saints eat, is here the question?
We all need food!
Our ideas and beliefs can be different but what unites us is the need for food and drink. All three of these men had to eat and drink. They were compassionate people and taught love and forgiveness. Did their food mirror their beliefs? Yes and no. Around 2000 years ago food was a privilege. You couldn’t go into a supermarket and buy whatever you wanted and decide to be a vegan, meat eater, or pescatarian. You had to eat what the environment had to offer.
Did they make a conscious decision?
Buddha: born: 623 B.C. Lumbini, Nepal
Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world. Buddha lived in India, a hot and humid country with plenty of vegetables, fruit, grains, and dairy products.
Buddhist food in that era:
Buddha did not eat animals and was against killing animals. He was a strict vegetarian, almost vegan. The only animal source he used was milk and ghee.
Therefore, one’s own flesh and the flesh of another are a single flesh, so Buddhas do not eat meat.
- Thick milk-rice porridge and fresh ghee
- Wild rice
- Rice with grains
- Barley meal honey balls
- Rice with curry
- Apple, mango,
- Barley and rice
- Lettuce and fruit salad
- Vegetables and rice
- Milk
- Conjey (watery rice porridge) and honey lumps
- Vegetables and bread

Jesus: born 4 B.C. Israel, Nazareth
Christianity started a couple of centuries later than Buddhism in Israel. This is a dry and hot country and food does not grow effortlessly. The bible does not state to eat any meat, but that it is spiritually better to do not so.
Christian food in that era:
The food was more of a Mediterranean based diet, like wholesome, unprocessed foods in accordance with ancient Jewish dietary laws.
God is saying that being a vegetarian is clearly the higher way, but it is not the only way.
- Fresh fruit
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Legumes
- Fish
- Olives
- Figs
- Dates
- Red wine
- Olive oil

Mohammed: born 570 A.C. Mecca, Arabia
The last one in this row of significant world religion founders, is Mohammed, the prophet of the Muslims. He was born in the dry climate of Arabia and preferred the traditional Arabic food. He was nonvegetarian and loved eating meat. In that era, meat from many different animals like camel, sheep, goat, was consumed
Muslim food in that era:
Prophet Muhammad talked about meat as precious meal of both this world and after death.
- Camel
- Goat
- Cow
- Rabbit
- Chicken
- Bustard
- Fish
- Tirīt (bread soaked in broth)
- Bread
- Bulgūr
- Zucchini
- Onion
- Garlic,
- Leek
- Mushroom
- Turnip
- Honey
- Dried dates with milk

This research was very interesting and reflects the different cultures up until today. What the saints eat in the past, we still eat today!
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