God also made it easy to identify clean water creatures, in that they must have both fins and overlapping scales (Leviticus 11: 9 12 & Deuteronomy 14: 9,10). Trout, salmon, cod and halibut qualify as clean. Crab, lobster, shrimp, oyster, snails, frogs, abalone, turtle, shark, squid, octopus, catfish, and so on are unclean. I well remember my dilemma when I could no longer eat crab, a former favourite delicacy of mine. However, it was made easier when I learned that the crab primarily feeds on rotten carcasses and other garbage. Unclean water creatures are the source of many diseases; of this we can be certain.

God specifies the birds that fall into the unclean category; birds of prey including the eagle, vulture, buzzard, raven, crow, owl, hawk, sea gull, water hen, pelican, stork, woodpecker, penguin, parrot, bat and others (Leviticus 11: 13-19 & Deuteronomy 14: 11 18). Clean birds include chicken, pheasant, grouse, quail, turkey, duck, goose and songbirds. God also forbids us to eat such abominable food as mice, rats, weasels, lizards, snakes, worms and moles. In fact, these later creatures are considered so unclean that anything their dead bodies touch is unfit for use until thoroughly washed (Leviticus 11: 23 25).

By the way, if you’re in the mood for a good feed of grasshopper, that's okay.

Various passages covering God's rules for plants and herbs appear in the Bible as well as certain rules when such cannot be eaten (Leviticus 9: 19, 23 25/Genesis 1: 29/Genesis 3: 18/Genesis 9: 3/ Deuteronomy 22: 9). However, suffice to say, they cover vegetables, ripe fruits, nuts, grains, etc. Sorry, mushroom lovers, fungus is not on the menu.

I once read that good health goes hand in hand with good food, good thinking and deep breathing habits. When you think about it, this is quite true. The good thing is that we as individuals can control our habits through discipline. And as health relates to food, we have the wonderful Laws given us by the Lord God Almighty. As for me, researching for this article has renewed my determination to better my diet. One thing is a certainty. I shall send a copy of this article to my evangelical friend and will also encourage him to review I Corinthians 11: 29 30, "For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep [die].