Ital food, derived from the word "vital food." means food that is natural, pure, and clean.
Rastafarianism is a religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by scholars of religion. It has been adopted by many groups around the globe and combines Protestant Christianity, mysticism, and a pan-African political consciousness.
What exactly is Ital food?
Ital food, derived from the word "vital food." means food that is natural, pure, and clean. For a Rastafarian, an ital diet is characterized and one that contains no salt, no chemicals, no flesh, no blood, no whites (called white blood), no alcohol, no cigarettes, and no drugs.
Rastafarians avoid salt, oil, and meat. Their dietary laws are similar to the laws followed by Jews in Leviticus 11. Fish must be less than a foot long. No shellfish or fish without scales. Pork is especially condemned amongst Rastafarian. It is so important to not put the wrong thing in your body that some Rastafarians never cook in aluminum pots as it is said to leave traces of metal in the food that can get in your body.
All the available information I found was very vague and unsatisfying, so I did the next best thing. I contacted my cousin who is one of the most dedicated and disciplined Rastafarians I know, Mr. Vaughan Robinson. This is what he had to say:
I just want to know about how you organize your meals, what kind of foods you eat?
"Basically, I try to eat plants in its most live state as possible when the enzymes are alive (not exposed to a lot of heat) as to the kind of foods - all fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains especially when they are in season: at that time they are more potent than when preserved or used as by-products; canned/bottled.
As for spice coconut is a vital ingredient in 98% of meals. Coconut milk is used in porridge/cereal, soups, sauté and stir fry. The Cold-Pressed OIL is like no other for its flavor, nutritional value, and aroma. This diet is most beneficial by ANY standard.
With such a vast range to choose from every day I create and combine (without clash) different foods; basically because, once I have certain key ingredients (coconut oil, fresh herbs & spices excluding powdered seasonings), I can work wonders".
How affordable is this diet?
"The expenses would vary depending on where you live and where you have to shop, of course, you don't have to buy every ingredient from the whole foods store, though the sad thing is: they are the only ones that sell certain rare herbs/plants locally- cheaper to buy them online. T
To view this diet as more expensive is looking at it from the angle of what is a more convenient angle- which is basically an illusion. If the food is live, it is more dense/nutritional so you need less to get the same volume of nutrients that you would get from eating 2/3 more inorganic dead food which sits longer in the stomach so we get bloated thinking "once we fatter we healthier". Apart from general food preparation, the things we use to season the food: most powders have an anti-caking agent in them, this is cancerous, MSG also.
This type of diet (Ital) really takes little or no preparation. It takes far less gas, electricity, use of your utensils, and vital seasonings as well as visits to the doctor. Living in Jamaica puts one at an advantage as many foods can be planted almost anywhere all year round. The Coconut Industry Board has the OIL reasonably priced...IT IS LIKE " SAVING $5 TODAY WHICH WILL COST YOU $500 TOMORROW/spending 500 to save 50."
Although the literature on the dangers of using MSG has changed in recent times, and is no longer seen as a dangerous substance, I still appreciate that in following the diet, this would still not be a preferred one to use in meals by Rastafarians.
I would LOVE to learn the meal preparation techniques used in Ital Cooking and raw food cooking overall. What do you think about the Rastafarian Ital diet? Would you try it?
Special thanks to Mr. Vaughn Robinson
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