Tips for Biblically Clean Eating at Summer Cookouts

In the summer there are lots of opportunities for gathering with family and friends! Whether it's a cookout at the lake, picnic in the park, a barbecue celebration at a friend's, a company picnic, or a meal after a baseball game or day at the pool, there's no shortage of potlucks and meals with others. Today I want to share some ideas for how you can take part in these activities while sticking to a Biblically clean diet.

Tips for Biblically clean eating at Summer cookouts:

1. Ask what to expect. If you are invited to a meal or get together it's okay to ask what's on the menu! A simple, "Sure I would love to come - what are we having? Can I bring anything?" is a polite way to get an idea of what to expect, so that you can plan accordingly. If it's a more formal event like a company picnic, I would base my expectations off of what was served last year. If you didn't go to the event last year, ask a coworker what it was like.

2. Take food that is Biblically clean. No one is responsible for what you eat except yourself, so take initiative! Whenever I go to a cookout I am sure to take Biblically clean foods that I and my family can fill up on. That way if everything else fails, we still have food to eat. I tend to take salads or sides because that's what I like to eat, but you could also take a protein like chicken or hot dogs to grill. I would recommend clearing that with your host before commandeering their grill or kitchen, "Would you mind if I stuck these hot dogs I brought on the grill at some point? My family has some dietary restrictions." Bring enough to share.

3. What to watch out for. Hot dogs and brats are your most likely unclean offenders. Most brands of these are pork or contain pork, so I wouldn't eat these unless I was absolutely certain they are all beef or chicken. If the package is handy, take a look at the label and see. The good news is that there are lots of Biblically clean versions of these made from beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, or even vegetarian options. Bring your own if that's appropriate, or forgo the hot dogs in favor of side dishes if that's the best option. I also skip baked beans because they almost always have bacon in them. Most marshmallows contain pork gelatin, so I take my own if I expect we'll be roasting smores.

4. Don't be afraid to ask what's in something. It really is okay to ask what is in a dish. "This looks great - do you know what's in it?" or "I heard you made the broccoli salad, what's your recipe?" are polite ways to ask about the ingredients without coming off like the food police. Please note though, that you should also talk about other things! It does not come off well if you don't even say hello and just start grilling someone on the ingredients they used. Make it a point to also make time for normal conversation with everyone you bring up food questions with.

5. Look for simple ingredient offerings. I love summer because it's so easy to slice up tomatoes or melon and stick them out on a buffet. Salads with just a handful of ingredients make it easy to identify what's in them. If something is store-bought you can also check the ingredients list on the label.

6. You don't have to eat anything. If for any reason you don't feel like any of what's being served at a cookout is Biblically clean, you are not required to partake of it! You don't need to make a scene, but you can choose to forgo the buffet line. I've done this many times, and it's never an issue. Most people don't notice and the ones that do know I eat a little differently. If you expect this to be the situation, you can eat beforehand or take food with you. If you didn't expect it, you can make your excuses and leave or choose to be hungry for a bit and continue spending time with friends and family.

7. Share why you've changed if it comes up. Now I'm not saying that you have to tell everyone there five times that you don't eat pork, but opportunities will come where you can share about how your faith is growing. Use discernment about when and how to best talk about this. In my experience, people are more receptive to hearing that I feel called to keep the Bible's instructions than to hearing about how pig eating is an abomination and will make you sick, while they are chowing down on a hot dog.

8. Do not complain! Yes, it can be frustrating to not have many food options but remembering that many believers are being persecuted can help to keep that in perspective. We are doing well if skipping a meal occasionally is the worst of our troubles. Take joy in spending time with loved ones, even if the meal is disappointing. No one is going to be positively impacted by your faith if it's causing you to grumble and be miserable. Keep a good attitude and show others that you are happy to be honoring YHWH with your dietary choices. 

Related posts:
Biblically Clean Cookout Recipes
How to Eat Biblically Clean
Brands of Biblically Clean Marshmallows
Questions and Answers on Biblically Clean Eating