Kosher foods

Okay kiddo, so you know how some Jewish people have special rules to follow when it comes to what they eat? That's called keeping kosher.

Now, there are a lot of rules when it comes to kosher food, but let's start with the basics. First, kosher food needs to come from animals that chew their cud (like cows or sheep) and have a split hoof (that means their foot is split in two parts). So that means no pigs, because pigs don't have a split hoof.

But it's not just about the animals. The way the animals are killed is also important. Jewish people believe that animals need to be killed in a specific way, called shechita, which involves making a very quick, sharp cut to the animal's throat. This is supposed to be as painless as possible for the animal.

Then, there are rules about not mixing meat and dairy. That means no cheeseburgers or chicken parmesan, because you can't mix meat and cheese. Even things like buttery mashed potatoes or creamy soups are off limits if they have any meat in them.

And when it comes to preparing food, the pots, pans, and dishes also need to be kosher. That means if you cook meat in a pot, you can't use the same pot to cook dairy in, because that would mix the two. So kosher kitchens often have separate sets of dishes and utensils for meat and dairy.

So there you have it, kiddo. Keeping kosher is all about following specific rules about what you eat and how it's prepared. It can be pretty complicated, but it's an important part of Jewish tradition and culture for those who practice it.