SKU: 12940650947

Holy Food (Christina Ward)

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Holy Food (Christina Ward)Does God have a recipe? "Holy Food is a titanic feat of research and a fascinating exploration of American faith and culinary rites. Christina Ward is the perfect guide generous, wise, and ecumenical." Adam Chandler, author of Drive Thru Dreams "Holy Food doesn't just trace the influence that preachers, gurus, and cult leaders have had on American cuisine. It offers a unique look at the ways spiritualitywhether in the form of fringe cults or major

Does God have a recipe?

"Holy Food is a titanic feat of research and a fascinating exploration of American faith and culinary rites. Christina Ward is the perfect guide – generous, wise, and ecumenical." — Adam Chandler, author of Drive-Thru Dreams

"Holy Food doesn't just trace the influence that preachers, gurus, and cult leaders have had on American cuisine. It offers a unique look at the ways spirituality—whether in the form of fringe cults or major religions—has shaped our culture. Christina Ward has gone spelunking into some very odd corners of American history to unearth this fascinating collection of stories and recipes." — Jonathan Kauffmann, author of Hippie Food: How Back-to-the-Landers, Longhairs, and Revolutionaries Changed the Way We Eat

"An engaging book that shares everything from little-known facts to illuminating profiles of historical figures. Best of all, Ward shares recipes from historic religious communities, updated to reflect modern cooking technology. A must-have for food historians, religious historians, or just the curious and hungry folks in your life. " — Dr. Julia Skinner, author of Our Fermented Lives

Independent food historian Christina Ward’s highly anticipated Holy Food explores the influence of mainstream to fringe religious beliefs on modern American food culture. Author Christina Ward unravels the numerous ways religious beliefs intersect with politics and economics and, of course, food to tell a different story of America. It's the story of true believers and charlatans, of idealists and visionaries, and of the everyday people who followed them—often at their peril. Holy Food explains how faith pioneers used societal woes and cultural trends to create new pathways of belief and reveals the interconnectivity between sects and their leaders.

Religious beliefs have been the source of food "rules" since Pythagoras told his followers not to eat beans (they contain souls), Kosher and Halal rules forbade the shrimp cocktail (shellfish are scavengers, or maybe G-d just said "no"). A long-ago Pope forbade Catholics from eating meat on Fridays (fasting to atone for committed sins). Rules about eating are present in nearly every American belief, from high-control groups that ban everything except air to the infamous strawberry shortcake that sated visitors to the Oneida Community in the late 1800s. Only in the United Stateswhere the freedom to worship the God of your choice and sometimes of your own makingcould people embrace new ideas about religion. It is in this over-stirred pot of liberation, revolution, and mysticism that we discover God cares about what you put in your mouth.

Holy Food looks at how the explosion of religious movements since the Great Awakenings (the nationwide religious revivals in the 1730s-40s and 1795-1835) birthed a cottage industry of food fads that gained mainstream acceptance. And at the obscure sects and communities of the 20th Century who dabbled in vague spirituality that used food to both entice and control followers. Ward skillfully navigates between academic studies, interviews, cookbooks, and religious texts to make sharp observations with new insights into American history in this highly readable journey through the American kitchen.

Holy Food features over 75 recipes from religious and communal groups tested and updated for modern cooks. Also includes over 100 historic black-and-white images.


"Ward uses deep-dive research on religious history, and an equally deep knowledge of food, to show us how the two are intimately connected. Not only do we eat and drink within our religious rituals, but religion informs what and how we eat as well (and what and how we eat informs religion, too).  An engaging book that shares everything from little-known facts to illuminating profiles of historical figures. Best of all, Ward shares recipes from historic religious communities, updated to reflect modern cooking technology. A must-have for food historians, religious historians, or just the curious and hungry folks in your life. " --Dr. Julia Skinner, author of Our Fermented Lives

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SKU: 12940650947

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4.7 ★★★★★
Based on 11 reviews
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Verified Purchase
Chad Landis
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 4
Perfect size even tho I wanted hard/firm. This soft pillow is acceptable.
Color: Grey
I didn’t read every thing properly but even though I got the wrong product ( soft ) it still is not bad. It works for my intended use (between legs ) even though it’s soft I’m still using it for now because after fluffing it out and cramming it in two regular pillow cases it seems to keep a decent thickness to it JUST. In fairness I don’t know if it would get smaller in just one pillow case. But because I’m dumb I will use it for now and I still like it. I can’t comment on the cooling part because I use it under a blanket. The cooling thing only works with low thread count material and if it’s exposed to air. I have neither sorry. We all know the “ cooling” thing is a gimmick any ways. But with the right material and air some things do cool better than others at the same time. Hope this helps lol
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2026
Y
Verified Purchase
YAHU
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
wife loves it as a pregnancy pillow
Color: Grey
For my wife's first pregnancy we got a ton of really bad recommendations for pregnancy pillows that ended up being basically useless -- ones with small beads inside that moved away from where she needed it, weird wedge ones that would just fall out of place immediately, the question mark one that was just uncomfortable. all she really needed was something like this. large, firm enough, and doesn't just shift around a bunch. her sleep quality during the second pregnancy third trimester has really improved since we got it.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2026
D
Verified Purchase
David
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Great product
Color: Grey
Love this pillow...stays cool
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
Jason
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 3
Not 54" long, only 47.
Color: Grey
Not 54" long. It's the same length as my old 47" pillow, laid them out side by side and the same. Measures 47" with the tape measure. I got it because 47" wasn't long enough. It's soft and comfortable though, so I guess if you need a 47" it's fine. Not what I needed though.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2026
K
Verified Purchase
Kim W
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
It's much better then I expected.
Color: Grey
I love the length of this pillow and how fluffy it is. It really does stay cool to the touch.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2026

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