All About Mormons

Mormon dietary recommendations are found in a document called the "Word of Wisdom." Specifically, the "Word of Wisdom" counsels Mormons to avoid:

1. Tobacco, including cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
2. "Strong drinks," meaning alcoholic beverages.
3. "Hot drinks," meaning coffee and black tea (but not hot chocolate).
4. Meat in excess, although if you're inviting Mormons over for dinner it's very unlikely they'll object to any meat dish.
5. Drugs of abuse. (hopefully you don't plan on serving any Marijuana at your dinner party!)

Some Mormons hypothesize that God discourages coffee and black tea because these beverages contain caffeine, an addictive substance with negative medical effects. For this reason, some avoid caffeinated beverages like Coca Cola, although the Church has no official doctrine discouraging caffeinated soda pop. Other Mormons drink caffeinated pop without any reservations.

Hope this information helps. If anyone else would like to take a crack at this question, perhaps explaining their views about caffeinated soda pop, feel free to post!

I have looked into this as my sister has recently become a Mormon. Their religion does not state what they should or should not eat. It does make some hints to certain diets such as more whole grain and eating meat sparingly. Beliefs can very some according to personal/family preferences. They do abstain from alcohol, hot drinks (referring to coffee and some teas), and tobacco.

The answers given before mine are pretty much inclusive. There are a few more things I'd like to mention, though. The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are also encouraged to fast at least once monthly. A fast is defined as going without 2 consecutive meals while praying for something specific. This is a recommendation that should be done only with the guidance of the members' primary care physicals. Personally, I am not allowed to fast because I'm hypoglycemic and (other than the Word of Wisdom discussed earlier) my doctor is the only one who tells me what I can and cannot eat.

I can't answer your other questions, but I can answer what you can't eat or drink.

*Alcoholic beverages or food
*Beverages or food that contains caffeine
*Tobacco

Someone recently sent me the following correction to my previous answer:

"Hi, great site. you recently answered someone's question about the word of wisdom, but mistakenly said we do not drink 'black tea' all tea is derived from the same tea plant. We do not drink any teas except for those referred to as herbal tea, tea derived from the root or herb of anything aside from the tea plant and berry. Green tea, black tea....all not allowed.

Thanks so much for your correction! This answerer is exactly correct. I'd forgotten about green tea...