women make rigi kur, which is a crispy potato pancake served with yak butter. Other vegetable crops in the region include cauliflower, onion, giant radishes, and greens. The greens can be fermented.


The highland Bhotia of the Himalayan region frequently consume Tibetan tsampa, a flour made from


roasted barley that is formed into dough by mixing it with dried cheese and tea (32). The mountainous region is ideal for livestock cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens;


consequently much of the cuisine contains animal products such as meat, cheese, and yogurt (37). Sukuti is spicy, dried meat commonly from buffalo that is cut into strips and hung over the fireplace until the strips become hard. Sukuti can also be mixed with ground spices: chili, onion, garlic, and salt (10).


Dietary practices of Nepali vary, depending on each individual’s beliefs and customs (38). The prominent religions in Nepal are Hinduism and Buddhism. However, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism, Bon, ancestor worship, and animism are also commonly practiced and have traditionally coexisted peacefully with Hinduism and Buddhism (1).


According to the 2011 National Population and Housing Census report, Hinduism is practiced by 81.3% of Nepal’s population, while 9% of the population practices Buddhism (39). Statistically, less than 10% of Nepal is represented by those who practice Islam (4.4%), with Kirat (3.1%), Christianity (1.4%), and Prakriti (0.5%) following (39).


It is common for Hindus to avoid beef, and many restrict pork. Furthermore, many Hindus follow a


vegetarian diet (38). Even though the majority of Hindus avoid beef, as the cow is considered to be sacred, dairy products such as milk, butter, and yogurt may be consumed (40). Some observant Hindus restrict garlic or onions, as these foods are considered to interfere with mediation practices (38).


Similar to the varying degree to which Hindus adhere to vegetarianism, fasting varies among


individuals. Fasting may be practiced regularly or during religious occasions. Hindus practice fasting by abstaining from all food and drink, or only from certain foods, as a means of “purifying the body and the soul, encouraging self-discipline, and gaining emotional balance” (38). Comparatively, when feasting during Diwali, the Hindu celebration of lights, confectionaries are commonly the focus of the five-day festival. Hence, the extent to which religion influences diet varies among Hindus in Nepal.


Similar to Hindus, many Buddhists practice vegetarian lifestyles. The basis for a plant-based diet is rooted in the proposition that “violence or pain inflicted on others [and animals] will rebound,” and, therefore, many Hindus abstain from the consumption of meat (40). Additionally, plants are not only the basis of many Buddhists’ diets but are also emphasized in traditional herbal medicine (41).


Wesak, a celebration commemorating the death and birth of Buddha, is celebrated by offering


vegetarian food to monks at temples (42). Likewise, many other Buddhist festivals involve the offering of food to others. It is common for Buddhists to bring food to monasteries on Parinirvana Day, which marks the Buddha’s death and achievement of enlightenment (42).


It is imperative to note just as interpretation of religion varies between individuals, dietary practices related to religion may differ.


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