Anyone who has ever had to follow a special diet—for medical reasons, for weight loss or otherwise—knows how restrictive it can seem. But if you think following a low-sodium protocol can limit your dining options, that’s only a fraction of what Jewish people who follow the kashrut laws endure.
In addition to having a list of foods that are prohibited, preparation methods are specific. Utensils used to cook meat products must be kept separate from those used to prepare dairy. Beef can only come from animals that have never been sick and then are harvested using the kosher methods.