May 18, 2026
Thanks to the Make America Healthy Again movement, an old dieting fad is gaining momentum across social media once more — and it's biblical in scope (literally).
The diet, known as biblical eating (1), may sound simple, but what it means depends on who you speak with; at its strictest, it can mean only eating food and ingredients mentioned in the Bible. This means cutting out ultraprocessed foods from your diet entirely.
Advertisement
Proponents say it's a way to eat healthy while connecting their religious beliefs to their diet. The trend also fits well into MAHA policy, which calls people to ditch highly processed foods (2) (along with more dangerous statements (3)).
But how much does it actually cost to start eating biblically yourself? Here's what to expect — and what to watch out for — if you want to know how biblically eating could change your budget.
The DIY approach to biblical eating has pros and cons for your budget
In some ways, biblical eating could save you money.
Some versions of biblical eating require cooking meals from scratch at home instead of eating out. One peer-reviewed study from 2017 did find that cooking at home was significantly less expensive than eating out (4), saving on food as well as any transportation costs.
And your savings might be even higher. That's because the USDA's Food Price Outlook report for April 2026 predicted that food-away-from-home prices will rise faster than food-at-home prices in 2026 (5). It goes on to say that food-away-from-home prices have generally risen faster than home food prices for the last decade.
That being said, ultraprocessed foods tend to be cheaper than healthier whole foods. A 2013 meta-analysis from Brown University found that it cost around $550 more per person, per year to eat healthy (6). That works out to around $1.50 more each day — a manageable budget bump for many, but at the time, that was about a 25% cost increase for low-income families (not to mention the cost of time required to prepare the food — time not all families can afford).
Grocery prices have changed drastically since 2013. A 2025 report from Pew Research said that almost 70% of adults have had to eat less healthily because of food price hikes (7). And with the cost of eggs, beef and vegetables rising quickly, you might struggle to find room in your budget for biblical eating (8).
Must Read
- Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — are you doing the same?
- Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how
- Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year and begs investors not to miss this ‘explosion’
Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
A biblical eating coach can cost more than a certified dietician
You might struggle to know what you can and cannot eat with a biblical diet. Most people aren't going to read the whole Bible themselves and note which foods it mentions.
Advertisement
It's tempting to let people online, especially influencers, tell you how to diet. But be aware that many biblical eating influencers are trying to sell you something.
Many of these are selling a digital course or guide to help you eat biblically. Others might even sell coaching; Kayla Bundy, a non-credentialed biblical eating influencer, says she offers coaching sessions that start at $700 per month (9).
You might want to consider hiring a registered dietician (RD) or a registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) instead if you're looking for advice on how to eat better. Both are board-certified professionals that have to meet regulatory standards to practice (10).
Their services generally start at $100 per hour — that's $400 per month if you see them once a week — and you can frequently get your visit covered by insurance.
Be especially wary of any influencer that makes medical claims about the diets they offer, such as that it treats depression. Diet changes can help you be healthier, but influencers generally aren't medical professionals (some aren't even real people); you shouldn't be making medical decisions based on their advice alone.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
The New York Times (1),(9); The White House (2); National Institutes of Health (3),(4); USDA Economic Research Service (5),(8); Health Journalism (6); Pew Research Center (7); Healthline (10)
You May Also Like
- Turning 50 with $0 saved for retirement? Most people don’t realize they’re actually just entering their prime earning decade. Here are 6 ways to catch up fast
- Inside a $1B real estate fund offering access to thousands of income-producing rental properties — with flexible minimums starting at $10
- Vanguard’s outlook on U.S. stocks is raising alarm bells for retirees. Here’s why and how to protect yourself
- Here are 5 easy ways to own multiple properties like Bezos and Beyoncé. You can start with $10 (and no, you don’t have to manage a single thing)
Kit Pulliam is a DC-based financial journalist with over five years of experience writing, editing, and fact-checking financial content.
