Kosher Diet Plan

Keeping kosher can be a challenge when you're not used to it, but a little advanced planning makes it much easier. Once you're familiar with all the kosher foods and preparation methods available, your kosher diet plan can be full of flavor and variety. Even better, kosher eating habits are compatible with nearly all other diets, including vegetarian, low-carb, low-calorie and diabetic diets.

Understanding the Kashrut

Before you start your kosher diet plan, get familiar with which foods are and are not allowed under the Jewish dietary laws known as the kashrut. The details of the kashrut laws can be complex and vary by culture or level of religious observance. To start planning, brainstorm a list of foods you enjoy and want to include in your diet. Leave out any that conflict with your personal dietary needs, such as foods high in fat or sugar. Look up the kosher status of any foods you're unsure about and eliminate those that aren't kosher.

Finding Kosher Foods

Make sure you have easy access to the foods you plan to eat regularly. This is important because not all localities have kosher varieties of certain meats or dairy products. Look for local kosher butchers, bakeries and grocers under rabbinical supervision. Buying here protects you from the risk of problems like a fillet from a non-kosher fish species being mislabeled as kosher. Plan ahead because these stores will be closed throughout Shabbat and on certain holidays.

Getting Kosher Products from Alternative Sources

Check what's available at ordinary stores, too. Not all grocery stores have a separate kosher section, but nearly all carry some kosher items stocked among related non-kosher items. Kosher products carry one or more small symbols called a hechsher. A U in a circle is one of the most common. Online shopping is another way to buy kosher foods. You can order baked goods, processed meats and fish, snacks and candy, and kosher wine. The occasional meal in a kosher restaurant also adds variety to your diet. Keep in mind, though, that not all restaurants offering Jewish cuisine or kosher-style cooking are halachicly kosher.

Planning Meals and Menus

When planning meals and menus, remember not to mix milk and meat foods. Each meal must be either milk, meat or parve. For example, if your main dish is beef stew, every other food or drink you consume with that meal must be either meat or parve. You should also wait one to six hours (depending on how observant you are) between eating milk and meat products. Plan parve meals and snacks between non-parve meals. If the day's menu includes a cheese omelet for breakfast and chicken legs for dinner, consider vegetable soup for lunch. Keep a selection of parve snacks on hand, too.

Exploring Traditional Jewish Cuisine

For ideas on complete kosher meals, look to traditional Jewish cuisine. Many of these dishes are kosher-friendly takes on the traditional recipes of different regions. Examples include kreplach, popular with Ashkenazim, and the chakchouka of the Sephardim. Also look for dishes with an Israeli spin, like Israeli salad or Jerusalem kugel. If you enjoy wine, try some of the modern kosher wines. New winemaking techniques mean even mevushal wines are less syrupy than they used to be. Gather ideas for parve desserts like coconut macaroons, fruit sherbet and apple cake. You can finish off any meal with one of these.