What is the “Optimal Diet”?
A Biblical Perspective
October 21, 2012
As my wife and I just finished facilitating our first CHIP class (Complete Health Improvement
Program), we are excited to see the positive results. The whole food, plant based diet promoted by
CHIP as the optimal, steers clear of dairy, meat, poultry and fish, except as condiments, if used at all.
But, being one who believes that God created man, and wisely provided an optimal environment for
him, I have an apparent dilemma. Many of my friends, some from personal perplexity, others with a
desire to reveal my personal contradictions, point out that the Bible, which I confess to believe,
talks about the “land of milk and honey”, and things that the people of God consumed, such as meat,
poultry, and dairy products. These were looked at as positive, as provisions from God. How could
they be unhealthy? Didn’t Jesus himself prepare fish for his disciples?
As I think this through, two references to obesity from the Bible come to mind. There may be more.
I need to research this at some point. One obese individual was an oppressive king. You can
imagine what he ate. The other was the elderly priest Eli, whose sons had the reputation of
misusing the priesthood, including choosing the best portions of meat from the sacrifices for
personal consumption. No wonder Dad was obese, if this is what his sons brought home for dinner.
Mention of meat for meals in the Bible generally occurs in the context of special occasions. There
was no refrigeration to keep a half of beef. Animals were not only thought of as meat, but as a
source of wool, leather, and for sacrifice. And, yes, even for milk.
So, I would agree that if we lived as pilgrim wanderers, or peasant farmers, without refrigeration,
microwaves, running water, natural gas, electricity, gasoline powered tractors and automobiles,
and if we didn’t sit behind a desk for eight hours a day, worked hard physically, and ate what we
grew, meat for special occasions and some dairy would probably not be an issue.
But that’s not how we live!
So, to bring us back to health, in the Western world in which we exist, a more drastic approach is
required, at least initially. Once we achieve our “optimal” state, whatever that may be, if even
possible in our contemporary world, then maybe the true Mediterranean diet would be pretty
decent; a small portion of meat or fish a couple of times a week, lots of fruits, vegetables, beans,
whole grains, seeds and nuts. But unless we join the Amish community, we might be better off
avoiding all animal products.
My youngest son, who is a reluctant participant in our diet, since nothing else is available in the
pantry or fridge, likes to point out, “You can’t eat that, Dad!” when we are in a restaurant or at a
party. I remind him that I can eat whatever I want, but that I choose not to eat it, for the sake of my
health. My wife likes to say, “We are vegan, mostly.” (Like the Norwegian bachelor farmers in
Prairie Home Companion, who are “pure, mostly”.) When we are in a restaurant, in someone’s
home, or at a gathering, we choose carefully what we eat, but don’t reject food because it has a little
cheese sprinkled on top or is made with chicken broth. We gratefully participate in what God has
provided, control the factors that influence our health the best we can, and enjoy our food!
So, bon appetit,
or, in Spanish, buen provecho!
(Why don’t we have an equivalent phrase in English?)
Thoughts from Athens,
Dave Drozek