Diet

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Buddhist monks are allowed to collect, receive, and consume food between dawn and noon. They are not allowed to consume food outside of this time and are forbidden to store food overnight. Plain water can be taken at any time without having it offered.  Although a monk lives on whatever is offered to them, vegetarianism is encouraged.

Everything a monk eats and drinks, except plain water, must be formally offered into his hands or placed on something in direct contact with his hands. In the Thai tradition, in order to prevent contact with a woman, monks will generally set down a cloth to receive things offered by women. They are not allowed to cure or cook food except under special circumstances. Traditional diets abound throughout many parts of the world, the western diet including fast food is not always the standard!