The common features of the Rastafarian diet are:


 Pork or pork products are forbidden. Also suspect are commercially prepared meat products and meat-containing foods, such as patties, because they may contain pork.


 Vegetables, ground food, fruits, and legumes (peas and beans) are home grown without fertilizer and consumed when freshly harvested.


 Processed or canned foods are generally avoided, and meals are prepared at home from scratch. Salt is also avoided. The diet focuses on Ital foods, anything that is deemed natural and pure (or vital). Common Ital foods are coconuts, coconut oil, and fresh fruits and vegetables.


 Cornmeal is made at home, and the diet may exclude leavening.  White sugar is avoided; permitted sweeteners are honey or brown sugar.  Fish must have scales and gills intact and should be freshly caught. Shellfish are not eaten.


Rastafarians use folk medicine in times of illness. Teas are prepared from a variety of bushes, herbs, and roots and include ganja (Cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana) tea. Guinea corn porridge is also popular for infant feeding, and the guinea grass/guinea hen weed is used to treat prostate cancer.


Jamaicans tend to adopt the foods and practices of whichever country they live in, in addition to maintaining traditional, native customs. For instance, an early breakfast of convenience cereal may be eaten before 9 AM; the milk on top may be heavily sweetened. Pancakes and waffles are not as popular, but the bagel, which has similarities to the hard dough bread, may be eaten with a spread of butter or, more recently, peanut butter with jelly. Other breakfast choices may include eggs and cheese, French toast, and baked beans with sausage, either small frankfurters or hot dogs.


Some people leave home without eating breakfast and wait until midmorning to consume snacks that


include pastries such as cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, and apple tarts. Other snacks are also eaten between meals, so there is often an excessive intake of fat, sugar, and calories. Sandwiches are not popular but when eaten may be prepared with brown (whole wheat) bread.


The traditional heavy cooked lunch is popular in Jamaican restaurants. Rice, peas, meat, and liberal


amounts of gravy, or American-style fast foods such as fried chicken and fries with biscuits, are common for lunch. A third heavy cooked meal is a late dinner (after 6 PM), typical of the American pattern. Dinner consists of foods similar to those eaten at lunch but may include vegetables. Vegetable salads are liberally spread with dressings. In the absence of fresh fruit drinks, soda or other forms of juice drinks are consumed.


Some Jamaican immigrants do not regularly eat fruits, since their favorites spoil easily and are not


readily available. Some may eat American apples, peaches, plums, and pears. Oranges and bananas, on the other hand, might be rejected as looking too artificial and different from those found in Jamaica. In the absence of fresh seasonings, there is greater use of dry seasonings, possibly with more salt. The Jamaican patty and bun are much loved and eaten when available. Family members often bring these for their relatives when visiting the United States.


There have been some changes to traditional foods. Beef patties are served in smaller sizes called


cocktail patties; they are often used when entertaining. Alternative patty fillings include chicken, vegetables, shrimp, and lobster, but the recipe may be higher in fat and salt to cater to the traditional palate.


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