These days it seems everyone’s on a restricted diet.
Here are ten of them.
- Kosher. This means the historic Jewish restrictions. You know, no ham. But that’s just for starters. And even the plates must be blessed.
- Halal. The Muslim equivalent of dietary laws. By the way, Ramadan still sounds like cheating. I mean, what’s the hardship of refraining during the day if you can eat like a pig, uh, beast all night?
- Eastern Orthodox fasting. Food’s allowed, but the options are highly limited. No olive oil, for instance, and no meat. It can be tricky.
- Caffeine-free. The Mormon church recently lifted this restriction from carbonated drinks, though it still holds for hot coffee or tea. Some other disciplines, including yogis, also ban it.
- Vegan. Or its less restrictive vegetarian alternatives.
- Gluten-free or lactose-free or peanut-free. Based on a medical diagnosis, OK?
- Healthy Heart. A little broader, largely to reduce cholesterol levels.
- Weight-loss. Oh, my, these are endless and ever so trendy.
- Alcohol-free. Sometimes as a religious tenet, sometimes as a consequence of addiction.
- Hindu. No beef. Those cows are sacred … and sources of milk.
Are you observing any dietary restrictions?
Oxalates gave me a kidney stone. No more nuts or chocolate. But on the bright side, no more spinach either.
Oxalates even sounds ominous, in a four-letter kind of way.