Keeping Kosher and Keeping Healthy

by Miriam Metzinger | More from this Blogger

30 Jun 2009 07:11 AM

When I first became religious, I was very much into organic fruits and vegetables, as well as grains. While not strictly vegetarian, I did tend to eat according to the macrobiotic "greens, beans and grains" pattern. Not every meal (I was also a heavy coffee drinker- not so healthy) but often.

When I became religious I sometimes noticed, to my chagrin, how often junk food carried the best kosher labels whereas I was often hard-pressed to find symbols I recognized in health food stores. Not to mention the problem of bugs, which is a significant concern for those who are keeping a kosher kitchen. Eating bugs is the equivalent of eating pork, and many foods, such as leafy greens, grains and rice must be checked carefully for bugs. Flour must be sifted, and in the case of whole wheat flour which is too coarse to sift, it should be kept in the fridge not long after it is ground to keep it from attracting bugs.

It is easier to find good kosher symbols on health foods in the land of Israel, but there is the added challenge of certain dietary laws that apply only to Israeli produce, and adhering to those standards as well.

The good news is that it isn't hard to keep kosher and to eat healthy. It just requires some awareness, planning and practice and any difficulties that may arise can melt away.

1. Be aware of bugs: The Orthodox Union website has an excellent guide for how to check various fruits and vegetables for bugs. Study up on these rules, put them in your kitchen, get a magnifying glass and start checking. With a little practice, it will be second nature.

Buy Whole Wheat flour in bags that you can put in the refrigerator. Health food stores sell flour this way. I have a friend who grinds her own flour in a food processor. She takes wheat kernels and just puts them in on a very powerful setting.

Familiarize yourself with various kosher symbols. You will want to ask a rabbi which ones you should be on the lookout for. Many health foods have these symbols, and as keeping healthy as well as kosher gains more popularity, there are more healthy foods that carry these symbols. 95% of Eden Organic products carry the circle K symbol from Crown Heights Brooklyn (the Lubavitch kosher symbol).

Learn more about Miriam Metzinger

Miriam is a freelance writer, a work-at-home mom and lives in Jerusalem with her two sons, Schneur Zalman (3), Yosef Yitzchak (6 months and counting) and her husband, Yehoshua, who is a rabbi and i...

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