Foods mentioned in The Holy Quran

Believers in the Qur'an should include the foods mentioned in The Holy Quran into their daily diet patterns to stay fit and healthy. There has to be some very special importance in these foods if Allah chose to mention them in His Holy Book. Many scientific studies had confirmed that the best types of foods are the foods that Allah Had created in this nature, especially fruits, cereals and meat.

The Holy Qur’ân also offers useful tips regarding a balanced diet, a diet which contains the useful ingredients required for the growth, strengthening and repairing of the human body. These ingredients include animal protein, fat, calcium, iron, salts, etc.

The foods mentioned in Quran:

Water (mentioned 100+ times)

Milk (2)

Honey (2)

Wine that exists in Paradise (2)

Olive oil (1)

Plants                                                                                      

1. Dates (22)
2. Fruit (14)
3. Grapes (11)
4. Grains in general (7)
5. Olives (6 or 7)
6. Buckthorn (4)
7. Pomegranate (3)
8. Mustard seed (2)
9. Onion (1)
10. Herbs, beans and vegetables (1)
11. Cucumbers (1)
12. Garlic or wheat (1)
13. Lentil (1)                                                 
14. Gourd (1)
15. Banana (1)
16. Herbage, or Abb (1)
17. Fig (1)

Animals with halal meat

1. Cattle (34)
2. Birds in general (18)
3. Camels (11)
4. Calves (10)
5. Cows (9)
6. Sheep (8)
7. Seafood (5)
8. Quails (3)
9. Goats (1)
10. Hoopoes (1)
11. Meat in general (1)

Meat and Poultry: Muslims are permitted to eat meats and fish, but they are not permitted to eat certain meats and certain seafood.
Firstly, Muslims are only permitted to eat halal meats. Halal is a term that means "lawful," but when applied to food, it means the animal had to be slaughtered with the term, "In the name of God" recited over the animal beforehand. There is also a very specific method in which the animal must be slaughtered before it is deemed "halal".
Secondly, Muslims are not permitted to eat meat that has been dead already -- meaning it wasn't slaughtered -- animal blood, any form of pork, or any carnivorous animal.

The foods mentioned in the Quran: olive, fig, dates, grapes, pomegranate, honey etc, all ensure you emotional stability and make your immune system more resistant to diseases, especially heart and cancer diseases.
And the Quran emphasizes the importance of eating natural foods. Analysis of various verses from the Holy Qur'an clearly show that the foods spoken about in it, will fulfil one's daily protein, carbohydrate, fat and vitamin requirements.                      

Qur'anic verses speak about the importance of, among other things:
meat (6 : 118) dates (6 : 141) milk (16 : 66) olives (wat-Teen) pomegranates (6 : 141) figs (wat-Teen) fish (16 : 14) honey, etc.

Other than Qur'anic verses, muslims have the authentic Sunnah of Prophet (PBUH) which also testifies to the importance of a balanced diet. The fact that Prophet would at times eat cucumber together with dates in order to balance the opposing hot and cold effects in these foods is a proof of this.

As Islam is heavily influenced by the cultures that reside in the Muslim world, many of meals in muslim families are traditional despite of the fact that they prefer to include the foods mentioned in Quran and Hadith to their diet.

More links for useful information:

* 'Quranic food' pdf

Balanced diet according to The Holy Quran and islam

Islam teaches to adopt the balanced diet which can help a Muslim stay healthy. Islam emphasizes that people should eat a balance diet. A balanced diet comprises of protein, carbohydrate, fat and vitamin in Islam.

Balanced diet means getting the right types and amounts of foods and drinks to supply nutrition and energy for maintaining body cells, tissues, and organs, and for supporting normal growth and development. Following a balanced diet is important to keep our body healthy and fit.

In Holy Quran, we can find the divine order for people to eat the lawful foods which Allah, (the Almighty) Had created for them. He says:
"O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that we have provided you with, and be grateful to Allâh, if it is indeed He Whom you worship" (172: Al Baqara).
Therefore, the scientists confirm that the best type of food is what we find ready in the nature before the human hand poison it!                                            

Importance of balanced diet in Islam 
Islam itself is a balanced way of life that is pure from all forms of excesses. A balanced diet fits beautifully into the balanced teachings of Islam.The Islamic way of life is a natural lifestyle suited to the temperament of mankind at large. Islam is opposed to extremes in the physical as well as spiritual matters of life

Islam always promotes the middle path and this Ummah(muslims) has been declared in the Holy Qur'an as being 'the nation of the middle path'. So long as Muslims adhere to this general principle of Islam in every matter of their lives, they can look forward to not only good physical health but even an excellent mental, psychological and spiritual state of well being, by the Will of Allah.

A Balanced Diet
Importance of balanced diet or healthy food is clear when we see that “food” has been mentioned in 108 verses of the Holy Quran.
The Qur’ân has not restricted itself in merely mentioning the permissible and impermissible foods but goes to the extent of giving useful tips regarding a balanced diet, a diet which contains most if not all the useful ingredients required for the growth, strengthening and repairing of the human body. These ingredients include animal protein, fat, calcium, iron, salts, etc. The most balanced diets consist of meat, fish, fresh milk, cheese and fruit. Both direct and indirect references have been made regarding the afore mentioned.

The reference regarding the importance of meat protein in the human diet is given in the following verse:

“And the cattle, He has created them for you, in them there is warmth (clothing) and numerous benefits, and of them you eat.”(16:5) In this verse special reference has been given to the importance of eating despite having said, “…numerous benefits…”. 

Reference regarding other types of meat has also been given such as the meat of fowls in the following verse:
 “And the flesh of fowls that they desire.”(56:21)

Fish has always been considered as a food of very high protein and is very important for human consumption. Allah says:
 “And from them both (fresh and salt water) you eat fresh tender meat (fish).”(35:12)
 The usefulness of fresh milk is stressed in these words:
 “And verily in the cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from between excretion and blood, pure milk, palatable to the drinkers.”(16:66)

The benefits of fruits as good nourishment can be understood from this verse:
 “And from the fruits of date palms and grapes, you desire strong drink and a goodly provision.”(16:67)

Similarly there are verses which cover the whole range of fruits, salads, and vegetables which also play an important role in a nutritious, balanced diet:
 “It is He who sends down rain from the sky, and with it We bring forth vegetation of all kinds, and out of it We bring forth thick clustered grain. And out of the date palm and its spate come clusters of dates hanging low and near, and gardens of grapes, olives and pomegranates each similar (in kind) yet different (in variety and taste). Look at their fruits when then begin to bear, and the ripeness thereof.” (6:99)

Islam, being a complete religion, also teaches and advises the believer as to what the best method of eating is. The believers are advised to be moderate in every aspect of life. Direct reference has been made in the Noble Qur’ân regarding moderation in eating and drinking.
 “And eat and drink, but waste not in extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not those who waste in extravagance.”(7:31) 
 Muslims follow a specific diet in accordance to their holy book.
One of the main principles of good health is a Quran Food balanced diet.

1. Eating slowly is recommended for health. 
2. Eat together and not separately 
3. Eat something to keep you going from the Quran food menu ( Important )

Useful links:
* Quranic food, a list of the foods mentioned in the Quran