When it comes to our diet, as Christians we are called to honor our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit. Eating healthy is an essential part of taking care of ourselves, both physically and spiritually. But, what is Christian healthy eating? Does it mean we should eat kale every day, fast once a week, or commit to eating “clean”? Rather than make assumptions, let’s see what the Word of God has to say about it!
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthian 10:31 (NLT)
Let me preface this by saying that the list below is NOT a to-do list. Do not be overwhelmed as you read it. Simply ask the Holy Spirit to nudge you on the one point He would have you apply this week.
Remember, God made you and He knows your imperfections and limitations. He doesn’t expect you to do every single thing, every single day. The addition of ANY mindfulness into making His Name great through your eating is glorifying indeed!
So, let’s get started!
1. Embrace Hunger.
For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Psalm 107:9 (NLT)
Our bodies are designed to be healthy and fit – to thrive – within the context of hunger and fullness. By honoring those cues, you are honoring God’s design for your body and eating God’s way.
A person who is full refuses honey, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry.
Proverbs 27:7 (nlt)
Hunger is no more uncomfortable than being thirsty, but our fear can add a layer of anxiety that makes it unbearable for some. Breathe, pray, and try waiting for true body hunger before eating.
2. Practice Portion Control.
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
Proverbs 30:8b (NLT)
Not more. Not less. Enough. God promises to always meet our needs but His plan does not include excess food. By practicing portion control and eating “just enough,” we are eating in accordance with His best. Consider, eating slowly, stopping your meals a little sooner and see if less is actually “enough.”
3. Be Content With What You Have.
After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
1 Timothy 6:7-8 (NLT)
Have you ever pondered why your naturally thin friend can eat “whatever she wants” and yet you seem to gain weight just looking at a cookbook? Life can feel unfair sometimes. Especially when we lose sight of our blessings.
Pray for contentment. Then cook a healthy and delicious meal and take some time to be grateful for the tasty food that you DO have!
4. Avoid Unhelpful Dietary Rules.
You have died with Christ, and He has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?
Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Colossians 2:20-23 (NLT)
Trendy diets may change your body, but they cannot change your heart. We may feel like we’ve earned a badge of honor by adhering to today’s popular plan, but those external restrictions are often met with a dietary regression as our habits have not actually changed.
That’s why diets don’t work in the long term. While improving your food choices, look for ways to improve the state of your heart, too.
5. Enjoy Your Meals With Others.
They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity- all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Acts 2:46-47 (NLT)
Eating with others when looking to make healthy choices can be a real challenge. We may find ourselves being served food outside of our preferences or nutrition plan, and that stress can detract from the enjoyment of our company.
Or we may feel disconnected from our original intentions as we get caught up in socializing and special occasions and eat types and amounts of food we didn’t plan on. Remember that people are first in God’s eyes.
When we align with His purpose, we can approach fellowship with a Godly perspective and food becomes just “food.”
6. Don’t Worry About Food.
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:25 (NLT)
There is value in planning and preparation, but being overly concerned about food will only dampen our focus on and energy for more important things. If you find yourself preoccupied with what and when to eat, prayerfully decide ahead of time how you will navigate your meals and snacks.
These “boundaries” will give your mind a place to rest, and the challenges in sticking to your plan will require a welcome reliance on God.
7. Refrain from Judgment.
Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.
Romans 14:3 (NLT)
The dinner table is a judgment-free zone. Whether you’re looking at a plate across the table or in another shopper’s cart, food choices are individual. The same goes for you. Don’t allow others’ opinions to cause you to doubt what God has called you to do.
The full context of this verse encourages us to avoid eating things that will cause another to stumble. Meaning, it never hurts to eat in a way that is supportive of your fellow diner.
8. Honor Your Convictions.
But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.
Romans 14:23 (NLT)
Don’t let this verse scare you. The idea is to err on the side of obedience in your food choices. Life is no different.
Integrity is energizing and it “tastes” better than any delicacy, while compromise has a terrible aftertaste. Keep your spiritual and physical health in mind when choosing what to eat, and honor those convictions!
9. Start Afresh.
“But forget all that---it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.”
Isaiah 43:18
No matter how many times you’ve tried to make healthy choices and “failed,” it doesn’t matter! This time can and will be different because this time you are relying on GOD as your ultimate guide to weight loss. Your previous and present experiences are incomparable.
10. Acknowledge that God has All the Answers.
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)
I sometimes find it hard to believe that the Bible has everything we need to live a life that glorifies God. After all, there is NO “Bible Diet” food plan in its pages.
However, what God promises – He delivers on! It’s up to you and me to believe that what He says is true. If you can’t quite wrap your mind around this, it’s ok. Simply ask Him to help you (Mark 9:24).
11. Ask for Direction.
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Galatians 5:25 (NLT)
As believers in Christ, the Holy Spirit resides within us. Rather than relying on external guidance, we have our very own navigator.
While it’s easy to believe that the Spirit will lead us in big decisions, we often forget to remember that He will also guide our daily choices. Yes, even what to eat! But, we need to ask. Before you eat, pause and check in. Where does your Peace lead you?
12. Invite Him In to Dine.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
Not only can we ask Christ to our meal times, He’s WAITING to join us. A “meal” speaks of so much more than physical food but it also includes it. How different would your dinner time look if you opened the door and invited Christ in to dine with you?
While we long for the day we enjoy a meal face-to-face, we may experience eating in His presence now if we welcome Him in.
13. Seek True Satisfaction.
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.“
John 6:35 (NLT)
Why did God create us with a need to eat? After all, His capabilities are endless and He could have easily woven us together to live off oxygen alone. Yet, here we are-getting hungry multiple times per day.
This need for food serves as an example of the hunger and satisfaction that we can find in Christ. While spiritual starvation is possible, it’s unnecessary.
It will help you to realize that physical and spiritual appetites can get crossed. If you find yourself exceptionally ravenous for food, try filling your spiritual “stomach” first.
14. Ingest the Word.
When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.
Jeremiah 15:16 (NLT)
It is one thing to read the Bible, it is another thing to INGEST Bible verses about overeating. We can look at a salad, touch it, taste it, and even sit down to the table with it.
But, until we chew it and swallow it, those vegetables do not become a part of our being. The same goes for the Word of God. When we eat this True Food, our spiritual needs are met. No longer will we be confusing spiritual cravings as physical ones.
15. Replace Food Thoughts.
Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
Romans 13:14 (NLT)
What dominates our minds, dominates our lives. If you think about food more than you think about the things of God, it will be no wonder that you struggle to find balance in your eating. This is me. I still find myself thinking about food a lot.
While it’s very difficult to control what thoughts come into our minds, we can control how long those thoughts stick around. Rather than fighting food thoughts, replace them with the things of God.
In Conclusion
How God wants us to eat may look different than we expected. It’s not “eat this” or “don’t eat that.”
No, Christian healthy eating is all about the heart. This may surprise us as our inner workings don’t seem visible to others, but let me assure you-they are!
There is something different about a man or woman who eats God’s way. A big piece of this is because obedience brings true JOY. A joy that becomes a light to those around us.
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:16 (NLT)
Brandice Lardner is a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Amazon #1 Best Selling Author, Homeschool Mom, and Jesus Girl whose mission in life is to help women ditch the diet mentality and find peace with food and their bodies so that they are better equipped to do the great things God has called them to do.
Let us pray for our food to nourish our bodies and your word God to nourish our soul. Amen.
Amen, Susan!
Amennn🙏🏾🤍.
💕
Have you considered putting each of these scriptures into a printable for people to place around their homes? It would be easy on Canva and a quick little upsell for your business. Just a thought in case you haven’t already done that. Thanks for the awesome article!
Thanks so much for the suggestion, Al! We have a free study but the verse cards could be lovely too 🙂
Amén!
2 Samuel 7:22 KJVS Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
I love the 15 ways … sometimes you just need a little nudge or reminder .. never thought I was a judger per se but when you tell someone whose drinking diet coke for example how bad it is and they still drinking I don’t want to make judgments on people who still like the diet coke..
also God provides for us so we need not worry about not having food.. just focus on God not food.
Thank you for sharing that verse! I think we ALL have those sneaky judgments in our lives 😉 I love how you are open to hearing God’s voice!
I have had this on my Pinterest page for years. I read it once before, It didn’t sink in. I have tried to lost weight many times before without God (not with long lasting success). Well I chose to read it again. Now that I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior I am ready for the challenge. Thank You for your powerful words and biblical quotes. I will continue to rely on them in time of need. LG
Congratulations, Susan! Yes, bringing the Lord into changes EVERYTHING! I’m so excited for you to look at this journey with fresh eyes 🙂
Thank you, Brandice, for this solid wisdom from God’s Word! I so appreciate these practical steps. I am a Christian health and wellness coach (certified through Wellcoaches), and I work with clients through the process of gaining wellness in body, soul, mind and spirit. There are just not enough Christians in the wellness field who point to Christ unapologetically. Thank you.
Hi Alyssa! Thank you for the comment and encouragement! I love that we can spread the message that God wants to be intimately involved in our health and fitness. I have looked at the WellCoach certification and it looks great!
This is probably the BEST post I have ever read on honoring God with our meals and snacks. This is my biggest struggle, but you’ve given me (through God) a MUCH better perspective to lean on. Thank you!
Thanks, Kelly! I am glad you enjoyed it. If you’d like to elaborate on how the meals and snacks are a struggle, maybe I can help. Just reply here or email me at [email protected].
I sure need this. I’ve By God’s grace I have been able to overcome many obstacles in my life. However I’m still struggling with my eating. Your grace filled helps here are exactly what I have needed.
Thank you!! I will be using these helps from now on.
May God richly bless you!!
Hi Mary! It is awesome that you have been able to see God’s faithfulness in your life. It sounds like He is going to use this area of your life to grow you closer to Him 🙂 So glad you’re here!
This was a great article Brandice. I am writing a book called Bread from Heaven and needed some insight on something. You have written not only practical steps but golden nuggets, as I struggle in the area of overeating myself. I look forward to reading more of your articles.
God bless you!!
Hey Barbara! Writing a book? How exciting! I am glad you enjoyed the article and hope you find more inspiration here 🙂
I believe God intended me to find this article today. I’ve been struggling with judging others for their food choices and remembering God wants to relationships to be but first.
I’m struggling with how grandparents feed my kids (sugar, artificial ingredients, preservatives and dyes). Do I have grace, let it go and leave it to God OR lovingly express my concerns (how does one do that without sounding judging?) Any wisdom to share?
Hi Katie! Thanks for the note! It’s hard to me to say because I don’t know your relationship with your children’s grandparents but I can tell you that, around here, we’ve made our wishes known and our parents know we’re serious about it. That being said, I’m perfectly ok with an occasional “treat” but still try to avoid it by making my own more nourishing ones.
It may help to think of WHY they do this and start the conversation assuring them that their grandchildren love them, feel loved by them, are excited to see them, feel special, etc to see them. Then maybe explain how you’ve done some reading and have some concerns about how certain types of foods may be harmful to your children (who wants to harm their grandchildren?). Ask if you can provide alternative treats or if they can express those WHYs in a different way.
Does that help?
(Edit to add: I think it’s great you’re tuned into the state of your heart. Try to notice if it’s judgment and something you need to work through with God, simply looking out for the well-being of your children or a combo of both. Then pray for God’s will. HE knows your kid’s health needs best <3 )
Thank you so much. Yes, this was helpful and I’m still praying and trying to tune into God’s voice on the matter.
I’m happy to hear! Drop a line anytime if you want to chat: [email protected].
Thank you so much for the words of grace and mercy. I’m 57 yrs old and struggled my whole life with my weight. I saved this article as a favorite on my Pinterest page and keep going back to it. I’m determined to let God get the glory over my eating!
I’m so glad you found this post helpful, Kim. God’s grace is the antidote to our diet madness. By resting in His love, we can start to let go of the pull to food that comes from restriction and emotional turmoil. It takes time but He will use every step to grow you closer to Him <3
This is one of the best things I’ve ever read! Beautiful blog. Thank you!
That’s so great to hear, Katrina! I look forward to seeing you around 🙂
I loved your article “15 Ways to Glorify God in Your Eating” . I have recently started a very expensive and restrictive diet plan that has not been working out for my life schedule at present. Really struggled whether to continue or just stop, but felt guilty that maybe I was not doing enough on my part. Just felt that God had a better plan! And I believe God directed me to your article! Than you so much!
This may be a duplication but…I just wanted to say thank you very much for your article “15 Ways to Glorify God in Your Eating”. I am in a program(1 month) that is very restrictive with all kinds of rules and stipulations and very expensive. It is just not working out for me with my current job situation and I was struggling feeling like a failure and guilty because I wanted to quit. I have been feeling that God had a better way! And then I found, or rather HE led me to your article! This was an answer to my prayer! Again thank you!
Hi Peggy! I’ll take a duplicate of that comment anytime 🙂 The comments have to wait for my approval, which is why you didn’t see it right away (thanks, spammers!). I know how hard it is to invest your time and money and have the program feel like a failure. But, here we can see that God was using that challenge to show you a different way. I hope you find the blog helpful. Feel free to reach out to me anytime!
Number 16 in your list of how to eat and drink to the glory of God should be: Give thanks. John 6:11 English Standard Version (ESV)
11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.
The power of praise and thanksgiving to bring health to our body is even proven by science. And if it did nothing for us, Jesus is worthy of all praise.
That is a GREAT verse, Frank!
I love how you make this both spiritual and practical! It’s easy to say that we “should” eat a certain way because we want to glorify God. But breaking it down into how we actually can do it is a whole different story! Thanks for these tips and verses 🙂
You’re quite welcome, Lyndsie!
This article was SOOO good! Since I’ve understood that I do, in fact, emotionally eat, I’ve been trying to make sense of it. This article is a wonderful roadmap for meditating on the various facets of eating related to the spiritual life and how to glorify God with our eating. I feel like this encompasses everything I need to learn how to eat according to God’s design. This is definitely one to print up and meditate on regularly until it sinks in and become second nature. Thank you for such a comprehensive, well thought out article on this issue. I’m so tired of food having control of me. I’m ready to be free. God bless.
Excellent List
Thank you, Donna!
Thank you for this information! Is there any way I can an easy to read copy of these tips? I need reminders and a hard copy really helps me. Thank you
Hi Sandy! You’re welcome. I just sent it to you in an email. It’s NOT pretty but it will work 🙂
I would love that too. This was a great article, I am so tired of emotional eating. The world is in turmoil but it has always been in turmoil, why do I need to eat that turmoil? Haha
I just sent it, Jacque!
Thank you! This was in my email today and over the past week I have been praying about and thinking through how I can best “glorify God in my eating”. I even used those exact words when doing my Bible study this week. This was confirmation and encouragement that I am doing the right things.
I love that story, Heather! So glad you found this encouraging.