What Dietary Instructions Were Given to Humanity at Creation?
In the creation narrative recorded in the Book of Genesis, God not only forms the universe and creates human beings, but He also provides clear dietary guidelines for the first people. These instructions reveal God’s care for humanity, His purpose for food, and the original relationship between humans, animals, and the environment.
1. The First Dietary Command in Genesis 1:29
The main dietary instruction appears in:
“And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They shall be yours for food.’”
— Genesis 1:29
This verse summarizes God’s original design for human nourishment.
2. What Food Was Given to Humanity?
According to Genesis, God provided two main categories of food:
1. Seed-bearing plants
These include:
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Grains (wheat, barley, rice)
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Legumes (beans, lentils)
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Vegetables and leafy plants
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Herbs
These plants grow from seeds and reproduce through seeds.
2. Seed-bearing fruits
These include:
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Fruits of all kinds (apples, dates, grapes, figs, etc.)
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Nuts
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Edible seeds inside fruits
In short, God originally gave a plant-based diet.
3. No Permission to Eat Meat at First
It is important to note that at creation:
✔ Humans were not permitted to eat animals
✔ Animals were also given only plants for food
(See Genesis 1:30)
This means:
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No killing of animals for food
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No meat consumption
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Humans and animals lived in a non-violent, peaceful ecological system
This reflects a world without death, suffering, or predation among humans and animals.
4. The Diet Before Sin Entered the World
The plant-based diet given at creation corresponds to the paradise of Eden:
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Food was abundant
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No laborious farming was required
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There was perfect harmony between humans, animals, and nature
Food was meant to be:
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Natural
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Clean
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Easily accessible
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Life-sustaining
This diet supported a world free from sickness, corruption, and decay.
5. Additional Details After Adam’s Creation (Genesis 2)
Genesis 2 offers a more personal description of food in the Garden of Eden:
“The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.”
— Genesis 2:9
This reinforces the idea that God provided:
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Beautiful trees
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Nutrient-rich fruits
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Abundant variety
Furthermore, two special trees are mentioned:
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The Tree of Life
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The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
Adam and Eve were allowed to eat from every tree except one.
6. The First Dietary Restriction
God prohibited eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil:
“But you shall not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die.”
— Genesis 2:17
This is the first and only dietary restriction at creation.
✔ Purpose of the restriction:
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To test obedience
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To establish moral responsibility
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To give humans a choice
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To demonstrate trust in God’s wisdom
Eating from this tree symbolized rejecting God’s authority.
7. Dietary Instructions for Animals
God also gave food instructions to animals:
“To every beast of the earth… I have given every green plant for food.”
— Genesis 1:30
This means:
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All animals were originally herbivores
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There was no hunting or carnivorous behavior
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The world was in a state of peace—“no harm, no killing”
This aligns with the Bible’s description of creation as “very good.”
8. Why Did God Give These Instructions?
The dietary guidelines show several important truths:
• God is the Provider
He ensured that human beings had food from the moment they were created.
• Human health matters to God
God chose foods that sustain life, strengthen the body, and promote well-being.
• Harmony in creation
A plant-based diet contributed to a peaceful and nonviolent harmony among all living creatures.
• Humanity’s dependence on God
The food instructions remind humans that they rely on God’s provision and wisdom.
9. A Summary of the Dietary Instructions at Creation
God permitted:
✔ Seed-bearing plants
✔ Seed-bearing fruits
✔ Nuts
✔ Vegetables
✔ Edible herbs
God prohibited:
✖ Eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
✖ Eating animals (no meat was allowed)
God provided for animals:
✔ All green plants
Conclusion
The dietary instructions given at creation reveal an ideal world of peace, life, and harmony. Humans were originally given a plant-based diet, with fruits, seeds, and plants as their nourishment. This diet reflected a universe with no death or violence. God’s instructions emphasized trust, obedience, and care for the environment.
Understanding these original guidelines helps us appreciate God’s intention for human health, responsibility, and relationship with creation.
What does it mean that humans were created “in the image of God”?