Q&A: Obligation to Eat Bread at the Sabbath Meal for Someone on a Diet
Obligation to Eat Bread at the Sabbath Meal for Someone on a Diet
Question
To Rabbi Michael Abraham, may he live long and well,
Hello Rabbi!
Unfortunately, I’ve gained a lot of weight, and because of that I started dieting in order to lose weight. For that reason—and also because it’s healthier (although thank God I’m not sick)—I stopped eating flour. I wanted to ask whether I am still obligated to eat bread on the Sabbath, or whether I can fulfill the meal obligation in some other way.
Thank you very much in advance!
Answer
I think that does not justify an exemption. Eat at least one slice of challah at the first two meals.
There is an argument by Rabbi Yoel Bin-Nun regarding Grace after Meals: that nowadays one should recite it over the main dish, meaning the food that is filling and important, since many people do not eat bread at a meal. Perhaps according to his approach there is room to be lenient about this for the Sabbath as well. But that seems far-fetched to me.