Is Eating Healthy a Mitzvah?

Hashem gifted us with a body to encase our holy neshama. We thank Him for it every morning when we say “Modeh ani lifanecha melech chai v’kayam she’he’chezarta bi nishmati b’chemla rabah emunatecha,” I thank before you the living and established king that my soul has been returned to me with great compassion of your belief. 

Moshe Rabbeinu reviews Bnei Yisrael’s experience at Har Sinai as they stand outside of Eretz Yisrael and dictates, “V’nishmartem me’od l’nafshoteichem…And you should take great care for your souls, for you did not see any likeness on the day Hashem spoke to you at Horeb, from the midst of the fire” (Devarim 4:15). Taking care of our bodies and souls is clearly a mitzvah that we must fulfill. Does this extend to healthy eating? If so, to what extent must we consider our food choices to be a mitzvah? 

Healthy eating is trendy and encompasses much of the daily social media platforms. Our generation is dealing with the most access and abundance than all prior generations. This has created many challenges in regards to habits and health. Be it the fitness fads that people are into, meal prepping, or weight loss journeys – it’s a modern phenomenon. However, years ago Mesilat Yesharim (10:5) taught us that a person must be attentive to their well-being and not put themselves in danger no matter how many mitzvot a person does. A person must take care of themselves in addition to trusting in Hashem as it states in Ketubot 30a, “All is in the hands of Heaven except chills and fever.” In Devarim 4:15 we are explicitly told to “be very watchful of your selves.” Rabbi Shmuel Nachman in Vayikra Rabbah (16:8) says in the name of Rabbi Natan that “ninety-nine die of heat to one by the hand of Heaven.” The Rabbis said in contrast that ‘ninety-nine die through [their own] neglect to one by the hand of Heaven.” The act of taking care of our bodies and maintaining our own health is in our hands.

Healthy eating is trendy and encompasses much of the daily social media platforms. Our generation is dealing with the most access and abundance than all prior generations. This has created many challenges in regards to habits and health. Be it the fitness fads that people are into, meal prepping, or weight loss journeys – it’s a modern phenomenon.

Eating is specifically discussed in Devarim (8:10), “V’achalta, v’savata, u’veirachta…” “When you have eaten your fill, bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.” We learn from Bnei Yisrael in the midbar in Parashat Beshalach that our daily food intake is meant to be capped. They were commanded to collect only their relevant portion of man (or manna). If they were to take more than their allotted amount it would become wormy and rotten. When it comes to meal planning for shabbat and yom tov, Chazal say, “There is no simcha without meat and wine.” As such there are special foods associated with varying yamim tovim; think cheesecake and dairy foods for Shavuot, honey cakes and apple based foods for Rosh Hashana, and latkes and sufganiyot for Chanukah celebrations. Food in these instances are directly connected to the moed and the mitzvot of the yom.

The Rambam in his Shmonah Prakim (5:2) delineates that “the real object in maintaining the body in good health is to acquire wisdom.” The acts of eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, moving about, and resting should all be towards achieving this goal. The Rambam himself specialized in the arena of health as his training and career as a doctor, who was referred to in the highest regard (he was the royal doctor to Saladin, the sultan of Egypt and Syria). His scholarship intersects Torah and the natural world. He teaches that the “soul and its agencies” need to be working in harmony and health in order to attain the highest of goals in life which is to acquire a knowledge of Hashem.

He continues in the Mishneh Torah (4:1), “Since a healthy and whole body is necessary for the ways of God (for it is impossible to imply or know anything of Godly wisdom when one is sick), therefore one must distance himself from things that are damaging to the body and to accustom oneself to things that strengthen and make one healthy. They are as follows: a person should only eat when he is hungry, and drink when he is thirsty, and not delay his orifices even for one second…” He provides additional advice in his introduction regarding how to maintain a person’s health, “One should not eat until he has first walked before his meal till his body begins to warm. Alternatively, he should do work or tire himself in some other way. The rule of the matter is that one should exert (lit., ‘afflict’) his body and tire himself the entire morning until his body begins to warm. He should then relax a little until he recovers and then eat.” Expanding on creating a healthy lifestyle, this guidance leads one towards healthy movements and exercise as a “rule of the matter.” According to the Rambam, eating healthy should be considered a foundational mitzvah in the observance of Torah. 

The Pele Yoetz (78:2) questions if someone needs to make a bracha before the fulfillment of a mitzvah, should there be a specific bracha before eating in addition to the bracha relating to the food itself. He drafts the potential bracha as such, “Behold I am coming to eat and drink in order that my body should be healthy and strong to do the service of my G-d.” Furthermore, since eating is considered a mitzvah, he directs us to be very diligent with eating and drinking. “A person must be careful about his food to prefer that which is beneficial over something that might be more tasty, but harmful. Not only will it not be desirable before G-d and not considered a mitzvah, he even will be punished for violating what the Torah (Devarim, 4:15) said, ‘…and you shall diligently protect your lives.’”

It’s not just the focus of choosing healthy choices, but the Elyah Rabbah (170:23) shifts the focus by quoting the Shlah HaKadosh. He reproves us to be “careful not to overeat or over-drink; rather you should eat and drink only to strengthen and keep your body healthy so that you can do ‘Avodat HaNefesh’.” Even to the point that overeating or over-drinking during meals that take place on Shabbat or Yom Tov will violate three negative prohibitions and benching would be forbidden. 

Considering such a perspective, Rabbi Eliezar Melamed notes that serving guests unhealthy foods then may fall under the prohibition of “lifnei ever,” do not place a stumbling block. Serving refreshments at any Torah lecture or shul event needs to be done with forethought, and should then forego any unhealthy options like sugary drinks or processed snacks. 

The Rambam (ibid) guides us as to what foods are considered healthy and even when it is recommended to eat them. He describes “foods which loosen the bowels — such as grapes, figs, berries (‘tusim’), pears, melons, the insides of gourds (‘kishu’im’), and the insides of cucumbers –one should eat at the start of his meal. He should not mix them with his food, but should wait a bit till they leave his upper stomach and then eat his food.” These healthy choices that support our digestion are key to leading a healthy lifestyle. He continues, “and foods which tighten the bowels — such as pomegranates, quinces (‘prishin’), apples, and ‘krustmalin’ — one should eat right after his meal. He should not consume them in too large quantities.” Keeping top of mind that moderation keeps healthy foods healthy. 

He advises that “one should always begin with the lighter food and finish with the heavier.” This recommendation is connected to eating chicken and meat. The order of consumption during a meal should be eggs, meat of small animals (like sheep and goat), and then large animals (cattle). The time of year affects the food that you eat as well. The Rambam notes that in the summer eating foods that are “cold” are ideal and adding vinegar to your diet is important. Take care not to overspice your foods during this season. Whereas during a rainy season, the Rambam highlights eating hot foods, increasing spices, and eat a little mustard.

The Rambam and the Ramban do not list healthy eating as one of the 613 mitzvot, even though the Rambam himself holds it in such high esteem. It is clear that taking care of our body’s health is essential. Whether it falls under the mitzvah of “v’nishmartem me’od” or “v’achalta,” what comes through is that there is a mitzvah to fulfill. Hashem gave us one body with which to accomplish in this life. It is up to us – our sole responsibility – to care for it and use it to the best of its’ God-given ability.