Breaking Free from Cultural Food Norms                                     

In today’s world, it’s easy to get swept up in the habits and traditions of our culture—especially when it comes to food. In this powerful article, Cyd Notter, author of The “Plan A” Diet, shares her personal journey from a childhood steeped in comfort foods to a deeper understanding of how our dietary choices intersect with faith. With both wisdom and compassion, she challenges us to consider how cultural food norms may be affecting not only our health, but also our ability to fully live out our calling.

Growing up in an Italian home with parents who owned a bar/ pizza kitchen afforded me every child’s dream at the time: access to all the pizza, candy bars, and root beer floats I could handle. Meals at home included fish sticks, grilled cheese, bologna sandwiches, malted milk shakes, baked hamburger boats, and a variety of meats which were typically cooked on the stovetop in butter. On the plus side, my parents were avid gardeners, which provided lots of fresh produce as well.

Food norms

My diet was typical of growing up in that era, and my recollections are not intended to reflect unfavorably on my folks in any way. They were loving, caring parents, doing only what they knew best to do.

We clearly FIT into the culture of that time.

Although nutrition awareness has grown over the years and the public now has access to more health information than ever, today’s dietary culture has evolved to include more fast food and ultra-processed foods than ever as well.

Our grocery stores and bakeries are filled with sugary, fat-laden products covered with dye-filled frostings. Most television cooking shows focus on artery-clogging foods, while all-you-can-eat buffets filled with similar options entice us to dig in and keep going back. Even food trucks at the farmer’s markets are offering funnel cakes, cheese fries, greasy meats, and deep-fried candy bars.

Sadly, this is the overall dietary culture in America today. And it’s one reason Christians should pay closer attention to the principle found in the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Rome:

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into without even thinking.
Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.
(Romans 12:2a, MSG)

Culture conformance

Why does this matter so much? Because conforming to a dietary culture that promotes obesity and ill health comes at a high cost. I’ve witnessed so many believers suffering needlessly, losing quality of life, and being forced to deal with the pain stemming from diet-related illnesses. I believe it saddens God to see us bring harm to ourselves through unnecessary sickness. Our loving Father finds delight in our welfare:

Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say
evermore, “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servants!”
(Psalm 35:27, ESV, underline mine)

What should Christians eat?

For Christians today, there is no biblical mandate regarding what can or cannot be eaten. No directive requires Christians to eat meat, dairy, and processed junk food, nor is there a directive to refrain from meat, dairy, and processed junk food. Christians may choose to eat whatever they please – however, they cannot choose to escape the resulting consequences that affect their health, their families, and their ministry efforts.

That’s why everyone, particularly Christians whose bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, should be paying closer attention to their food choices. Scripture reminds us:

Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything (and brought under its power, allowing it to control me). (1 Corinthians 6:12, AMP)

Friends, our bodies are the most intimate earthly gift we’ve been given – and we’ve been called to steward (manage) them wisely.

Renewing your mind for health

May you be encouraged to examine how much influence the culture is having on your food choices, and whether certain foods have been given control. May you be strengthened by the renewing of your mind to change from the inside out, and may the Holy Spirit help you make any necessary changes going forward. Remember that God’s will for your life is good and pleasing and perfect (Rom. 12:2); that surely includes his will for your health. Let’s cooperate.

I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy.
And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. (1 Thessalonians 5:23, CEV, underline mine)