Does Christianity have any dietary guidelines?

Question

Based solely on recollection from my childhood religious education, I understand that by Christian doctrine (regarding a vision/revelation Peter had), Jesus fulfilled the law and so the Jewish dietary laws (kosher) are not required to be followed anymore.

How fully does this apply? Do Christians get any "kudos" by eating kosher? I understand that salvation would have nothing to do with it, but is it considered a "good work" anyway for whatever that's worth? Do any other dietary suggestions/guidelines/laws apply to Christians?

Answer 1

Nope. There are no restrictions.

We can even eat food sacrificed to idols. This passage in 1 Corinthians talks about that. The passage ends with the verse:

1 Corinthians 8:8 (NIV)
But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Having said this, the author continues with:

1 Corinthians 8:9-10 (NIV)
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?

Essentially, we can eat anything that we can keep down that doesn't kill us. However, this is providing that we do not cause others to sin. (Though this is primarily in reference to food sacrificed to idols.)

Answer 2

As a precept of the Catholic Church, in America, we are obliged to fast from meat on Fridays in Lent and fast completely on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Bishops in the U.K. are re-adopting this guideline starting Advent 2011 for all fridays. In America we're supposed to maintain some sort of penitential observance, although we get to choose what.

But on the whole, there are no dietary restrictions, except as Richard says rightly, in eating food sacrificed to Idols or cannibalism.

Answer 3

And some Christians (notably the Witnesses) refuse to eat blood because of the restriction in Acts 15:29.

Answer 4

^{Disclaimer: I'm not a Mormon. If I misportrayed something, please edit.}

For Mormons, the following are forbidden:

• wine(except for sacraments)
• strong drinks
• tobacco
• hot drinks

These commandments arise from Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89 (which is Mormon-specific scripture):

5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.
9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.