I need more education on halal foods

[Kamaboko 0]

Ok, so here is my dilemma...my husband is Muslim...he will be here very soon (we are at NVC now). I was talking to someone today from Jordan (here in the states) and he mentioned halal meats. He explained all of that to me and now I am worried. I guess I didn't realize that there was the halal aspect to the foods allowed to be eaten in the Isalmic religion (as I am Christian I am not very educated on this). The guy I was talking to mentioned halal marshmallows and then that really threw me for a loop. I really didn't realize that some pork bi products were used to make these kinds of things, like gelatin. So to get to the point, I live in a rather small town. There is one place I know of that sells halal meats & a few other things. So is there a list of brands that you can buy...stuff like chips, chocolate...etc? I'm scared to buy the wrong thing!!! On top of that all of my family is Christian and they buy their meat from the regular grocery store, so I am guessing we are going to have to take our own meat to family gatherings because I cannot be sure that what they are serving is halal (not to mention going to all the restaurants around here, pretty sure NONE of them serve anything remotely halal except veggies).....I want to make sure my husband is comfortable here and that he doesn't have to worry about what he is eating...any suggestions, tips, your experiences if you are/have been in a similar situation would be very helpful. Sorry its long-winded but I want to get the point across.

Amanda

Yes, as Allah/God promises to ease things, I do the same as the other poster does. Whenever I eat out and the halal chicken or beef isn't available, I say 'bismillah'.

However, husband and I do not cook non-halal meat at home since we have options here (the halal meat store is quite reachable, about 35-40 minute away from home). I suggest you to cook more seafood at home, since there's no halal-haram term on it.

Btw, I am touched on your effort in providing him a comfortable environment. God bless!

[morocco4ever 63]

Even if you bring,cook halal..but then "in jesus name" is said over the food..he may not eat it

This never even crossed my mind.

When we have dinner at other homes my family blesses the food with a Christian prayer, and I requested that my husband respect their customs. He merely says Bismillah after they have finished the blessing. He seemed okay with that.

that's what we do too

mine wont

If you have family/friends that normally do a prayer it would be wise to figure this out before he gets here. This could turn nasty, and I am sure that is the last thing you will want when he gets here. Good luck with it.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Even if you bring,cook halal..but then "in jesus name" is said over the food..he may not eat it

This never even crossed my mind.

When we have dinner at other homes my family blesses the food with a Christian prayer, and I requested that my husband respect their customs. He merely says Bismillah after they have finished the blessing. He seemed okay with that.

that's what we do too

mine wont

If you have family/friends that normally do a prayer it would be wise to figure this out before he gets here. This could turn nasty, and I am sure that is the last thing you will want when he gets here. Good luck with it.

We did.

thats why I was suggesting that people think about this and talk about it/come up with a solution before the spouse comes.

It's one of those things that probably isnt thought of, and i know my husband cant be the only one lol

I explained to my right wing/fundemental parents that they would not want to eat dinner that had been blessed in Mohammed's name..so they should understand. they did.

Edited February 11, 2009 by Lisa wa Yazied

[morocco4ever 63]

Even if you bring,cook halal..but then "in jesus name" is said over the food..he may not eat it

This never even crossed my mind.

When we have dinner at other homes my family blesses the food with a Christian prayer, and I requested that my husband respect their customs. He merely says Bismillah after they have finished the blessing. He seemed okay with that.

that's what we do too

mine wont

If you have family/friends that normally do a prayer it would be wise to figure this out before he gets here. This could turn nasty, and I am sure that is the last thing you will want when he gets here. Good luck with it.

We did.

thats why I was suggesting that people think about this and talk about it/come up with a solution before the spouse comes.

It's one of those things that probably isnt thought of, and i know my husband cant be the only one lol

I explained to my right wing/fundemental parents that they would not want to eat dinner that had been blessed in Mohammed's name..so they should understand. they did.

Smart girl. And it sounds as if your parents are great people to be so understanding.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Even if you bring,cook halal..but then "in jesus name" is said over the food..he may not eat it

This never even crossed my mind.

When we have dinner at other homes my family blesses the food with a Christian prayer, and I requested that my husband respect their customs. He merely says Bismillah after they have finished the blessing. He seemed okay with that.

that's what we do too

mine wont

If you have family/friends that normally do a prayer it would be wise to figure this out before he gets here. This could turn nasty, and I am sure that is the last thing you will want when he gets here. Good luck with it.

We did.

thats why I was suggesting that people think about this and talk about it/come up with a solution before the spouse comes.

It's one of those things that probably isnt thought of, and i know my husband cant be the only one lol

I explained to my right wing/fundemental parents that they would not want to eat dinner that had been blessed in Mohammed's name..so they should understand. they did.

Smart girl. And it sounds as if your parents are great people to be so understanding.

Thanks They are trying. Im sure we will have periodic misunderstandings, but I'm doing my best to prepare them for everything.

sorry Amanda...back to topic

[Sandrila 1]

I am going to agree with UmmSqueakster on this one. He doesn't get it yet, he's not here. My husband said "yes of course I only eat halal" until he moved to BFW (BF Wisconsin) and there was no halal meat. He hates vegetables, so that left him with fruit and beans, and it lasted ooooooh a day?? After talking to the imam at the mosque it was quite ok for him to say bismillah and dig into grocery store meat. Also this may cause an uproar but the Quran says it's permissible to eat the meat of the people of the book. Turkey, chicken, beef, all pob (people of the book) food. For us it's not an issue now. Also when a pound of ground beef at the halal store is $6 and a pound of ground beef at the grocery store is $3 come on. Economics come into consideration. We have 4 mouths to feed!

As for the family this was an issue. We had to be very careful what we ate at first. This year was the first Christmas gathering where everyone was VERY accomodating and left pork items off the menu. It really was so much more relaxing and easy for us. The hardest is the kids. For example we eat pepperoni pizza, with turkey pepperoni, however when we're with my family they have pork pepperoni, it's pretty tough to explain to a 4 yr old why he can eat something that looks the same at home but not at grandma's. We've since talked to him about it and I think it's ok now. But you should have seen the death stares of my family when he was throwing a fit because we wouldn't let him eat the pepperoni pizza....

He always says Bismillah and i think he has resorted to the fact that #1 it is not that easy for us to get the halal meat #2 it is more cost effective

and #3 he will be forgiven for eating the only meat that is available as long as it is not PORK.

Plus after having not eaten the Pork, even tho he could get it in his country and the fact that is ingrained in him that is not good for various reasons

I think he doesnt want to eat it anyway, he doesnt even like the smell..it is very distinct to him, kind of like the lamb smell with me.

Edited February 12, 2009 by sandrila

[nunyab 0]

we got a great new butcher at our halal store nearby really jazzed about it. When we're out we generally eat vegitarian and have learned local halal restaurants not too easy and we're in seattle but when focused it can be done.

[Wantedtobelieve 4]

Ok, so here is my dilemma...my husband is Muslim...he will be here very soon (we are at NVC now). I was talking to someone today from Jordan (here in the states) and he mentioned halal meats. He explained all of that to me and now I am worried. I guess I didn't realize that there was the halal aspect to the foods allowed to be eaten in the Isalmic religion (as I am Christian I am not very educated on this). The guy I was talking to mentioned halal marshmallows and then that really threw me for a loop. I really didn't realize that some pork bi products were used to make these kinds of things, like gelatin. So to get to the point, I live in a rather small town. There is one place I know of that sells halal meats & a few other things. So is there a list of brands that you can buy...stuff like chips, chocolate...etc? I'm scared to buy the wrong thing!!! On top of that all of my family is Christian and they buy their meat from the regular grocery store, so I am guessing we are going to have to take our own meat to family gatherings because I cannot be sure that what they are serving is halal (not to mention going to all the restaurants around here, pretty sure NONE of them serve anything remotely halal except veggies).....I want to make sure my husband is comfortable here and that he doesn't have to worry about what he is eating...any suggestions, tips, your experiences if you are/have been in a similar situation would be very helpful. Sorry its long-winded but I want to get the point across.

Amanda

The Iman at the mosque told my husband that it was acceptable to eat halal meat only at Ramadan, so that is what he does. Of course, he doesn't eat pork.

[sandinista! 1,816]

so expense, convenience, and sheikhs with bad intel are all it takes to sway some people. that's pretty amazing. i feel like such a martyr now.

[MrsAmera 41]

Wow, so condescending......judging others also so very islamic...

[Nothing1234 2]

so expense, convenience, and sheikhs with bad intel are all it takes to sway some people. that's pretty amazing. i feel like such a martyr now.

Yes of course...didn't you know?! I heard it on Fox news...its all good.

[sandinista! 1,816]

none of the criticisms i made involved judging others-merely the methods through which they reached their conclusions.

[sandinista! 1,816]

so expense, convenience, and sheikhs with bad intel are all it takes to sway some people. that's pretty amazing. i feel like such a martyr now.

Yes of course...didn't you know?! I heard it on Fox news...its all good.

<---- be careful, even with this face some may think yr very serious and judgmental.

[MrsAmera 41]

so expense, convenience, and sheikhs with bad intel are all it takes to sway some people. that's pretty amazing. i feel like such a martyr now.

Hmmm reads as pretty judgmental but that's nothing new from the source...

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Wow, so condescending......judging others also so very islamic...

i havent seen anyone being judgmental yet.

People seem to be extra sensitive when they are told its not the "right way" or whatever.

But, i havent read any judgments.