Unleavened Bread - know what to eat...

Chametz...  leaven ... what not to eat during the Feast of Unleavened Bread

(source: Biblically Kosher by Aaron Eby)

Sh’mot /Exodus 12:15 cjb “For seven days you are to eat matzah (matzos) - on the first day removed the leaven (se’or) from your houses.  For whoever eats c/hametz [leavened bread] (chametz) from the first to the seventh day is to be cut off from Isra’el.”

There are three terms in this verse:

Matzah - translated “unleavened bread”

Se’or - translated “leaven”

Chametz - translated “what is leavened” or “leavened bread”

These translations can be misleading... “The Hebrew terms do not refer to “leaven” or “leavening” in the sense that we use the word today.” - Eby

Chametz - refers to products made of certain kinds of grain/s that have come in contact with water and are allowed to sit for a period of time before being cooked.  - Not just fluffy bread, but noodles, cookies, drinks...

Se’or - refers to an inedible lump of starter dough that contains a high concentration of yeast.  Yeast itself is not chametz or se’or.

Matzah - is flat bread that is made with flour and water and baked quickly at high temperatures.  This ends the biochemical processes that would otherwise make it chametz.

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What NOT to eat....

Wheat, barley, oats, spelt, rye.

Vinegar - unless pure wine vinegar.  Do not eat things with grain vinegar in them like mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise

Beer

All baked goods with the above grains in them.  pastas, crackers, flour tortillas, pretzels etc.

This is not definitive, but is a basic list.

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A simpler way to look at this...

Things to avoid:

Wheat and wheat flour products:

Bread, croissants, biscuits

Flour tortillas

Pasta and noodles

Barley

Breakfast cereals such as Cheerios, Shredded Wheat, etc.

Baked goods with flour such as cookies, muffins, cake, etc.

Beer

Vinegar. Unless specified as apple cider or wine vinegar, it is made from wheat. Watch out for vinegar in condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressings, salsa, soy sauce, and pickled vegetables, including pickles and olives. 

Oatmeal, spelt, and rye

What you CAN eat:

Any fresh vegetables

Any fresh fruit

Rice

Quinoa

Lentils

Potatoes

Any kosher fish or meat

Dairy - yogurt, cheese, milk, butter, sour cream, etc.

Corn tortillas

Gluten free cornbread

Gluten free soy sauce, also called tamari

Salad dressings made with balsamic or apple cider vinegar

Ice cream

Nuts

Gluten free baked goods - such as macarons, meringue, or flourless brownies

Matzah

Eating ideas:

Beef or chicken fajitas with corn tortillas, black beans, guacamole, and veggies

Stir fried broccoli, carrots, cabbage, peppers, etc. over rice with tamari

Baked salmon with roasted butternut squash and spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette

Scrambled eggs with cheese served with matzah

Baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese

Spaghetti squash with marinara sauce

Coconut curried vegetables over rice

Lettuce salad topped with chicken breast, hardboiled eggs, nuts, carrots, tomatoes, etc. and salad dressing from apple cider or wine vinegar

Peppers stuffed with quinoa, cheese, onions, greens, etc.

Roasted chicken or turkey with lentils and mushroom sauce

Chili with cornbread

Lots of soups: black bean, vegetable, lentil, potato cheese, etc.

Fruit smoothies

Apples with peanut butter

Celery with peanut butter

Carrots with hummus

Yogurt with fruit or jam

Trail mix with mixed nuts, dried fruits, and chocolate chips