Question 17
Child: Mom, I often hear about vegetarian and non vegetarian foods
in Hindu homes. Could you please tell me something about this?
Mother: As I mentioned earlier, our scriptures show us ways to obtain a sound
body and mind in order to lead a proper way of life. Proper intake of food is
necessary for this purpose. Hence the scriptures recommend only those foods
which are tasty and can be digested easily and such foods are said to be in
the "mode of goodness" (satwik). Vegetarian food by nature falls in this
category. Although our scriptures do not say specifically not to eat
non-vegetarian food, but they do emphasize the mode of goodness
considerations in selecting the foods we eat. The selection between the
two types of foods is up to the individual.
