Religious beliefs/customs influencing diet and eating habits

Religion	Special dietary needs
Buddhism	Although it does not appear in the teachings many Buddhists follow a vegetarian or vegan diet as Buddha commends a harmless life. Strict or ordained Buddhists may decline anything but a vegan diet and in addition may refuse food after midday (unless for medicinal purposes) as this acknowledges that people often indulge a craving for food by eating more than is needed. As they interfere with judgement the uses of intoxicants such as alcohol are likely to be resisted. Buddhists may also refuse sedatives, tranquillizers and opiates as these drugs can also have an impact on their consciousness and awareness
Christianity	There are an estimated seven million practising Christians in the UK and Christianity is found in many other countries around the world. Although the core beliefs remain the same, the interpretation of its teachings may be modified by local culture and custom. It is impossible to include the dietary customs of every branch of Christianity and therefore the less familiar branches of Christianity are highlighted. These are the Afro-Caribbean Christian community in the UK of which the main churches are Methodist, Anglican, Pentecostal and Church of God, and secondly Christian Orthodoxy of which the Greek Orthodox Church is an example. Afro-Caribbean Christians usually have no dietary restrictions although most of the community may not eat pork. Traditional foods include rice and peas, chicken, curried goat or mutton, yam and green bananas (plantains). Some hospitals provide Caribbean dishes for patients. Older people usually prefer traditional foods, which can cause problems when they are admitted to hospital. Traditionally, Christians are supposed to refrain from eating meat during Lent, a 40- day period before Easter, which begins on Ash Wednesday. Fish should be served instead. In Christian communities fish as an alternative to meat is also traditionally served on Fridays Within Christian Orthodoxy there are no dietary restrictions except during periods of fasting, which are seen as spiritual catharsis. Unlike Muslims, who abstain from food from dawn to dusk during holy periods, for Orthodox Christians fasting means abstaining from animal and dairy products. The Church requires healthy adults to fast at least three days before taking communion and during the holy periods of Easter (50 days up to Easter Sunday), the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 1–14) and Christmas (40 days up to Christmas day). In practice, apart from the older generation few people observe the extended fasting rules. Those wishing to take holy communion usually fast for three days during the year, apart from before Easter and Christmas. The sick and young children are excluded from fasting
Hinduism	Many Hindus restrict what they eat and drink on religious grounds and some may refuse food that has been prepared by other people as they cannot be sure that the cooking methods have adhered to the purity code of the religion. They may also avoid processed foods or any food containing animal products. Vegetarianism is regarded highly as an indication of spirituality, therefore a strict Hindu vegetarian who eats any food containing meat, fish or egg products is likely to feel spiritually polluted. The cow is a sacred animal that is generally protected and revered but the pig is perceived as a scavenging animal whose meat is dirty so Hindus will not eat beef or pork. Some Hindus may fast on certain occasions as they believe it has spiritual benefits. In addition, close relatives, especially women, often fast and say special prayers for the recovery of someone ill. Some may fast in thanksgiving for a successful operation or recovery
Islam (Muslim)	Permissible food is referred to as halal. Non-permissible food is called haram. Halal foods include halal meat, fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, eggs and cheese. Halal meat comes from an animal that has been slaughtered during a prayer ritual. Haram foods include pork, non-halal meat, gelatine products and alcoholic drinks. Care must be taken when serving food to ensure that halal food does not become contaminated with haram food. Muslims also eat with their right hand and consider it rude to be handed anything in the left hand, especially a glass of water, as the left hand is used for washing the genital area. During the month of Ramadan Muslims are only allowed to eat at certain times of the day. People eat and drink before sunrise and sunset and then signify their intention to keep the fast by rinsing their mouth with water. No food or drink is consumed during daylight hours. The fast is broken at sunset usually by eating a piece of fruit or a date, followed by a main meal. Children are expected to start praying and observing the fast when they reach puberty. Muslims who are ill are exempt from fasting, but some still fast and may also omit or refuse medication. To accommodate fasting the times that medicines are due may be rescheduled or the dose possibly changed. The use of tobacco, alcohol and other intoxicating substances is prohibited
Judaism	Jewish people are required to eat kosher food, which is food that is fit to be eaten in accordance with Jewish law. There are lots of laws relating to kosher food so it is always advisable to ask patients or their families what their custom is. Broadly speaking the laws on food govern two areas – food types that cannot be eaten, such as pork and shellfish and their derivatives, and the utensils in which food must be cooked. Milk and meat cannot be eaten or cooked together. Therefore orthodox households always have two sets of pots and pans, cutlery and crockery – one for dairy products and one for meat dishes. Hospital cutlery and plates cannot be used. These laws are usually followed by orthodox Jews, but not by all. As the cooking methods as well as food types are different, offering a patient a vegetarian meal is not a suitable alternative. Hospitals can order kosher meals, which can be reheated in the hospital ovens. The meals also come supplied with plates and cutlery. Orthodox Jews wait up to six hours between eating meat and dairy products and some drink only kosher milk. All medication is permitted except when there is an alternative
Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints)	No particular dietary laws or customs
Rastafarian	Many Rastafarians follow a system of hygiene and dietary laws that uphold and advocate a naturalistic and holistic lifestyle. The body is regarded as the temple of god, which should be protected from contamination. Food is considered to have a key influence on the well-being of body and soul. What is acceptable is down to individual choice but natural food that is as pure and fresh as possible (known as ital) is highly valued. Pork, predatory fish and some types of crustaceans are regarded as especially unwholesome. Dairy products, sweets, sugarbased beverages, white flour, preserved foods (those in tins or containing additives) and anything containing salt is generally avoided. Alcohol is rarely taken. The most orthodox Rastafarians are vegans
Sikhism	Dietary customs vary from not eating beef, fish or eggs to vegetarianism. Ritualistic fasting is forbidden by the faith but may be performed as part of a patient’s culture, especially by Sikhs whose families originated in or near Hindu towns or villages. Eating meat prepared as part of a ritual, for example halal meat, is forbidden. Many Sikhs also avoid veal and beef out of respect for the Hindu faith, in which the cow is a sacred animal. Ensuring that an accurate description is available of the ingredients in hospital food may reassure Sikh patients, particularly older people who may refuse food they do not recognize