Diet for a Hare Krishna

Members of the Krishna Consciousness movement observe a vegetarian diet. Devotees believe that one of the ways Krishna appears to them is in their food. Devotees prepare, serve and eat food in ways that honor Krishna. Followers prepare food, offer it to Krishna and eat after the food is blessed with prayerful devotion. Krishna Consciousness members eat vegetarian meals that feature fresh and natural vegetables, fruit, grains and dairy products. They don't eat fish, eggs or meat.

The sacred text, Bhagavad Gita defines food as sattvic, which means wholesome and nourishing. Devotees view food as spiritually and physically sustaining. Hare Krishnas prepare fresh, natural foods with clean hands. Because they offer it to Krishna before eating, devotees never taste food during preparation. Before eating, they serve food to Krishna on platters used by nobody else, recite prayers and leave food in front of Krishna's image for a few minutes. Hare Krishnas believe that Krishna rejects all food but vegetables, grains, fruits, milk and water. After devotees place the food on a platter used to serve guests, the food becomes prasadam, or a gift from God that purifies. Vegetarian meals can include soup, salad, pasta and rice, and use ingredients like lentils, eggplant, potatoes and cauliflower.