What Did Jesus Eat?

Have you ever wondered what Jesus and His disciples had for dinner? While we don't find menus and recipes in New Testament scriptures, we do have a great deal of information from our Bible that details an astounding array of food choices. The staples were bread, wine and olive oil but as you scan the list of ingredients below, you can perhaps imagine the gourmet meals prepared by talented cooks that may have been among the followers of Jesus.

Seasonings, Spices and Herbs
Anise (Matthew 23:23 KJV)
Cinnamon (Exodus 30:23; Revelation 18:13)
Coriander (Exodus 16:31; Numbers 11:7)
Cumin (Isaiah 28:25; Matthew 23:23)
Dill (Matthew 23:23)
Garlic (Numbers 11:5)
Hyssop [caper bush] (Psalms 51:7; John 19:29)
Mint (Matthew 23:23)
Mustard (Matthew 13:31)
Saffron (Song of Solomon 4:14)
Salt (Ezra 6:9; Job 6:6; Luke 14:34)

Fruits and Nuts
Apples (Song of Solomon 2:5; Joel 1:12)
Almonds (Genesis 43:11; Numbers 17:8)
Dates (2 Samuel 6:19; 1 Chronicles 16:3)
Figs (Numbers 13:23; Nehemiah 13:15; Jeremiah 24:1-3)
Grapes (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 23:24)
Melons (Numbers 11:5)
Mulberry (2 Samuel 5:24)
Olives (Isaiah 17:6; Micah 6:15)
Pistachio Nuts (Genesis 43:11)
Pomegranates (Numbers 20:5; Deuteronomy 8:8)
Raisins (Numbers 6:3; 2 Samuel 6:19)
Sycamore Fruit [a type of fig]  (Psalm 78:47; Amos 7:14)

Vegetables and Legumes
Beans [fava beans & chickpeas] (2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9)
Corn (Ruth 2:14; 1 Samuel 17:17)
Cucumbers (Numbers 11:5; Isaiah 1:8)
Gourds [squash] (2 Kings 4:39)
Leeks (Numbers 11:5)
Lentils (Genesis 25:34; 2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9)
Onions (Numbers 11:5)

Grains
Barley (Deuteronomy 8:8; Ezekiel 4:9; Ruth 2:23)
Bread (Genesis 25:34; 2 Samuel 6:19; 16:1; Mark 8:14; Luke 22:19)
Flax Seed (Exodus 9:31)
Flour (2 Samuel 17:28; 1 Kings 17:12)
Millet (Ezekiel 4:9)
Spelt (Ezekiel 4:9)
Unleavened Bread (Genesis 19:3; Exodus 12:20)
Wheat (Ezra 6:9; Deuteronomy 8:8)

Fish
Bass, Cod, Flounder, Haddock, Halibut, Herring, Mackerel, Perch, Pike, Pollack, Salmon, Tilapia, Trout, Tuna, Turbot, Whitefish etc. (Matthew 15:36; John 21:11-13)

Fowl
Chicken (Matthew 23:37)
Partridge (1 Samuel 26:20; Jeremiah 17:11)
Pigeon (Genesis 15:9; Leviticus 12:8)
Quail (Psalm 105:40)
Dove (Leviticus 12:8)

Animal Meats
Calf (Proverbs 15:17; Luke 15:23)
Goat (Genesis 27:9; Deuteronomy 14:4)
Lamb (2 Samuel 12:4)
Oxen (1 Kings 19:21)
Sheep (Deuteronomy 14:4)
Venison (Genesis 27:7 KJV)

Dairy
Butter (Genesis 18:8; Psalm 55:21)
Cheese (1 Samuel 17:18; 2 Samuel 17:29; Job 10:10)
Curds (Isaiah 7:15)
Milk (Exodus 33:3; Job 10:10; Judges 5:25)
Yogurt (Genesis 18:8 NLT)

Miscellaneous
Bitter Herbs [dandelion greens-watercress-parsley-cilantro] (Exodus 12:8)
Eggs (Job 6:6; Luke 11:12)
Grape Juice (Numbers 6:3)
Grasshoppers, Crickets & Locusts (Leviticus 11:22)
Honey (Exodus 33:3; Deuteronomy 8:8; Judges 14:8-9)
Leaven [yeast] (Leviticus 23:17; Galatians 5:9)
Locust (Mark 1:6)
Olive Oil (Leviticus 2:4; Ezra 6:9; Deuteronomy 8:8)
Vinegar (Ruth 2:14; John 19:29)
Wine (Ezra 6:9; John 2:1-10; 1 Timothy 5:23)

Forbidden Foods
Blood (Leviticus 7:26)
Camel (Leviticus 11:4)
Catfish (Deuteronomy 14:10)
Fat from animals (Leviticus 7:23)
Fish without Scales [Shark, Swordfish, Catfish]  (Leviticus 11:12)
Ostrich & Emu (Leviticus 11:13)
Pork or Swine (Leviticus 11:7)
Rabbit (Leviticus 11:6)
Shellfish [shrimp, crab, lobster, clams etc.] (Leviticus 11:12)
Reptiles & Lizards (Leviticus 11:30)
Tortoise & Rodents (Leviticus 11:29)