Tips to avoid pork consumption in America

I have been a Muslim for three years, and for the majority of that time, I have consumed alcohol on occasion and pork quite frequently.

But within the last few months since being discharged from the military, I have made a concerted effort to avoid possible pork consumption.  Being on unemployment and back in school, I have little spare income for purchasing meat/protein products that require the butcher’s knife.  Since I generally cook, yes I cook, I prefer food that requires little prep time and cooking times.  I have discovered that many of my favorites in terms of Mexican food can be substituted with soy instead of using traditionally pork.  One example is soy-rizo instead of chorizo which can be made with either beef or pork.  Pork is more common though.

I now make an effort to read the items listed on the “ingredients” of food packaging.  Since sometimes you never know if the “gelatin” is beef or pork product, I heard they sell halal Jell-O at your local zabihah grocer.

When it comes to purchasing pre-packaged foods on the go, like a Breakfast Sandwich or Breakfast Burrito, 99.99% of the time, the food in question will have some pork product.  I try to avoid these items.  However, I will confess I had some pork bacon this morning prior to my Modern Standard Arabic class.

I know this may sound silly, but when you try to stick to a halal diet in America, it requires being more cognizant of what you consume, how it is prepared, what fats or oils are used if the food is fried, and paying closer attention to the ingredients listed on packaged food items.