How to Eat to Live

Last updated

How To Eat To Live is a series of two books published by the Nation of Islam and written by its leader Elijah Muhammad in the 1960s. ( ISBN   978-1884855160) The books cover his beliefs on healthy eating and the prescribed diet of members of the Nation of Islam at that time. [1]

As is typical for all Muslims, Elijah Muhammad forbade eating pork. He also wrote that it is sinful to watch pigs being slaughtered, or to watch or smell the aroma of pork being cooked. [2] According to Daniel Pipes, Elijah Muhammad believed that pigs came from another planet. [3]

He was a strong advocate for eating only one meal a day, or eating every other day. He wrote that "If we could eat one meal a week, we could live as long as Methuselah." [2] He opposed eating any fish weighing more than 50 pounds, opposing the consumption of tuna, halibut, carp and catfish. [2] He supported consumption of buffalo fish, and various bass, trout and perch. [2] Elijah Muhammad was very selective about beans, rejecting fava beans which he called "horse beans" and lima beans and other large beans. On the other hand, he praised consumption of smaller navy beans. [2] He advocated for eating baked foods instead of fried foods, and advocated for eating cream cheese instead of aged cheeses. [2] He did not believe that breads and cakes should be eaten directly from the oven, and supported waiting a day or two before consuming them, and for baking bread twice. [2] He was opposed to eating food from metal cans, but supported eating canned foods from glass jars, and encouraged his followers to can seasonal foods in glass jars themselves. [2]

According to the review that Daniel Pipes wrote of the books, Elijah Muhammed was opposed to eating "sweet potatoes, white potatoes, rice, pasta, grits, and full-grown corn and popcorn". [3] He also opposed eating "all peas but sweet peas, no to collard greens, cabbage sprouts, turnip salad, raw vegetables, leafy legumes, large beans, and soy beans" [3] claiming that a " meal made of nuts reduces life by five years". [3] He believed that corn bread should not be eaten. [3]

Among the foods that Elijah Muhammed recommended were "brown rice, smoked turkey, tahini, and tofu". [4]

An indirect legacy of these books is the Black Muslim bean pie which has become "one of the most enduring symbols of revolutionary black power that dates back from the civil rights movement". [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argentine cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Argentina

Argentine cuisine is described as a blending of cultures, from the Indigenous peoples of Argentina who focused on ingredients such as humita, potatoes, cassava, peppers, tomatoes, beans, and yerba mate, to Mediterranean influences brought by the Spanish during the colonial period. This was complemented by the significant influx of Italian and Spanish immigrants to Argentina during the 19th and 20th centuries, who incorporated plenty of their food customs and dishes such as pizzas, pasta and Spanish tortillas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of the Midwestern United States</span> Regional cuisine of the United States

The cuisine of the American Midwest draws its culinary roots most significantly from the cuisines of Central, Northern and Eastern Europe, and Indigenous cuisine of the Americas, and is influenced by regionally and locally grown foodstuffs and cultural diversity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of the Southern United States</span> Regional cuisine of the United States

The cuisine of the Southern United States encompasses diverse food traditions of several subregions, including cuisine of Southeastern Native American tribes, Tidewater, Appalachian, Ozarks, Lowcountry, Cajun, Creole, African American cuisine and Floribbean, Spanish, French, British, and German cuisine. In recent history, elements of Southern cuisine have spread to other parts of the United States, influencing other types of American cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazilian cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Brazil

Brazilian cuisine is the set of cooking practices and traditions of Brazil, and is characterized by European, Amerindian, African, and Asian influences. It varies greatly by region, reflecting the country's mix of native and immigrant populations, and its continental size as well. This has created a national cuisine marked by the preservation of regional differences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hungarian cuisine</span> Culinary tradition

Hungarian or Magyar cuisine is the cuisine characteristic of the nation of Hungary, and its primary ethnic group, the Magyars. Hungarian cuisine has been described as being the spiciest cuisine in Europe. This can largely be attributed to the use of their piquant native spice, Hungarian paprika, in many of their dishes. A mild version of the spice, Hungarian sweet paprika, is commonly used as an alternative. Traditional Hungarian dishes are primarily based on meats, seasonal vegetables, fruits, bread, and dairy products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finnish cuisine</span> Culinary tradition

Finnish cuisine is notable for generally combining traditional country fare and haute cuisine with contemporary continental-style cooking. Fish and meat play a prominent role in traditional Finnish dishes in some parts of the country, while the dishes elsewhere have traditionally included various vegetables and mushrooms. Evacuees from Karelia contributed to foods in other parts of Finland in the aftermath of the Continuation War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polish cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Poland

Polish cuisine is a style of food preparation originating in and widely popular in Poland. Due to Poland's history, Polish cuisine has evolved over the centuries to be very eclectic, and shares many similarities with other national cuisines. Polish cooking in other cultures is often referred to as à la polonaise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistani cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Pakistan

Pakistani cuisine can be characterized as a blend of regional cooking styles and flavours from across South, Central and West Asia. Pakistani cuisine is influenced by Persian, Indian, and Arab cuisine. The cuisine of Pakistan also maintains certain Mughal influences within its recipes and cooking techniques. Pakistan's ethnic and cultural diversity, diverse climates, geographical environments, and availability of different produce lead to diverse regional cuisines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peasant foods</span> Dishes eaten by peasants

Peasant foods are dishes eaten by peasants, made from accessible and inexpensive ingredients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cypriot cuisine</span>

Cypriot cuisine is the cuisine of the island of Cyprus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Czech cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of the Czech Republic

Czech cuisine has both influenced and been influenced by the cuisines of surrounding countries and nations. Many of the cakes and pastries that are popular in Central Europe originated within the Czech lands. Contemporary Czech cuisine is more meat-based than in previous periods; the current abundance of farmable meat has enriched its presence in regional cuisine. Traditionally, meat has been reserved for once-weekly consumption, typically on weekends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thanksgiving dinner</span> Centerpiece of Thanksgiving in the US

The centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in the United States is Thanksgiving dinner, a large meal generally centered on a large roasted turkey. Thanksgiving is the largest eating event in the United States as measured by retail sales of food and beverages and by estimates of individual food intake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congolese cuisine</span> Food and drink of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The cuisine of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo varies widely, representing the food of indigenous people. Cassava, fufu, rice, plantain and potatoes are generally the staple foods eaten with other side dishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Chile

Chilean cuisine stems mainly from the combination of traditional Spanish cuisine, Chilean Mapuche culture and local ingredients, with later important influences from other European cuisines, particularly from Germany, the United Kingdom and France. The food tradition and recipes in Chile are notable for the variety of flavours and ingredients, with the country's diverse geography and climate hosting a wide range of agricultural produce, fruits and vegetables. The long coastline and the peoples' relationship with the Pacific Ocean add an immense array of seafood to Chilean cuisine, with the country's waters home to unique species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and algae, thanks to the oxygen-rich water carried in by the Humboldt Current. Chile is also one of the world's largest producers of wine and many Chilean recipes are enhanced and accompanied by local wines. The confection dulce de leche was invented in Chile and is one of the country's most notable contributions to world cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belizean cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Belize

Belizean cuisine is an amalgamation of all ethnicities in the nation of Belize and their respectively wide variety of foods. Breakfast often consists of sides of bread, flour tortillas, or fry jacks that are often homemade and eaten with various cheeses. All are often accompanied with refried beans, cheeses, and various forms of eggs, etc. Inclusive is also cereal along with milk, coffee, or tea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of Minnesota</span> Cuisine of the state of Minnesota

The cuisine of Minnesota is a type of Midwestern cuisine found throughout the state of Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassava-based dishes</span> Foods prepared with cassava

A great variety of cassava-based dishes are consumed in the regions where cassava is cultivated. Manihot esculenta is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America, from Brazil, Paraguay and parts of the Andes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regional street food</span>

Regional street food is street food that has commonalities within a region or culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lists of foods</span> List of lists of food products

This is a categorically organized list of foods. Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is produced either by plants, animals, or fungi, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. The substance is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism's cells in an effort to produce energy, maintain life, or stimulate growth.

References

  1. Gardell, Mattias (1996). In the name of Elijah Muhammad : Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press. p. 329. ISBN   0822318458.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Muhammad, Elijah (October 8, 2019). "Foods to avoid". The Final Call . Nation of Islam . Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Pipes, Daniel (October 27, 2021). "How to 'Live as Long as Methuselah': Sample the Nation of Islam Diet". Middle East Forum . Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Anastopoulo, Rossi (November 13, 2018). "The Radical Pie That Fueled a Nation". Taste . Retrieved November 18, 2024.