What Are Biblical Dietary Laws?
Honoring God with Every Bite
In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, God gave instructions about which foods are clean (permitted) and unclean (forbidden). These laws were meant to set His people apart — not just spiritually, but physically.
Today, many believers still choose to follow these guidelines, not for salvation, but as a way to honor God’s wisdom, show obedience, and treat their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
Eating biblically clean isn’t about restriction — it’s about reverence.
“Be ye holy; for I am holy.” — Leviticus 11:44
Clean VS Unclean Foods
Clean Animals (You May Eat):
- Beef (cow, ox)
- Lamb
- Goat
- Chicken, turkey
- Fish with fins and scales (salmon, cod, tuna, trout)
Unclean Animals (Avoid):
- Pork (bacon, ham, sausage, ribs
- Rabbit
- All scavengers (raccoons, opossums)
- Reptiles & amphibians (turtles, frogs)
Clean Sea Creatures:
- Fish with fins and scales
Unclean Sea Creatures:
- Shrimp
- Squid
- Lobster
- Crab
- Octopus
- Snails
- Fish without scales (catfish, shark, eel)
Clean Birds:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Dove
- Quail
Want to Remember the Rule?
If it chews the cud and has a split hoof, it’s clean.
If it has fins and scales, it’s clean.
No pork, no shellfish, no scavengers.
Unclean Birds:
- Eagles
- Owls
- Vultures
- Penguins (non-flying scavengers)
Unclean Insects:
- Most insects
Exception: Certain locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers are clean (Leviticus 11:22) — but not commonly eaten today.
Meal Makeover: Replace What Doesn’t Honor God — One Bite at a Time
God cares about what we eat — not to restrict us, but to protect us.
The foods we often crave (like pork, shrimp, or shellfish) are unclean according to Scripture and were never meant for the body of a believer (Leviticus 11).
This tool helps you replace popular, unclean meals with delicious, biblically clean alternatives — so you can enjoy your food while still honoring God with your choices. Each clean recipe is based on the dietary instructions found in the Bible and reminds us that obedience can be flavorful and fulfilling.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
Meal Makeover: Salmon Alfredo Pasta
Clean Meal
Salmon is a biblically clean fish — it has fins and scales (Leviticus 11:9).
This dish brings comfort and flavor without compromise.
Meal Makeover: Beef Brisket Sandwich
Clean Meal
Beef is a clean land animal — it has a split hoof and chews the cud (Leviticus 11:3).
A smoky, savory sandwich that satisfies both the stomach and spirit.
Meal Makeover: Tuna Cakes or Cod Patties
Clean Meal
Tuna and cod are clean fish with fins and scales (Deuteronomy 14:9).
A crunchy, flavorful favorite that pleases kids and grownups alike!
Meal Makeover: Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito
Clean Meal
Turkey is a clean animal — no biblical restrictions (Leviticus 11:3).
A tasty, protein-packed way to start your morning with obedience and joy.