Do Amish drink coffee? They do. In fact, coffee soup is a common breakfast dish in Amish country. It's made of coffee and generous amounts of cream and sugar.
The Amish Have No Dietary Restrictions
Having no dietary restrictions means they can eat whatever their heart desires. While many Amish stick to a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch diet, we've seen Amish dine at Olive Garden and take their buggies through the Burger King drive thru line.
Many Amish people enjoy beer or wine at feasts or even at home, and some even produce their beers. It's a part of their Germanic heritage and as such is seen as part of their culture. Therefore, it's not unusual for Amish men to turn one of their barns into a space for creating community craft beers.
Milk, eggs, and other dairy products are also common features in Amish meals, which lend them a rich and creamy flavor. Amish women have passed their recipes down to each generation's daughters.
And, in case you've noticed, many Amish recipes include sugar. Even savory dishes and vegetables sometimes have sugar added. My mom used to make a sweetened creamy sauce to add to peas, asparagus, etc. It makes the food taste good, but it isn't very healthy.
While we are on the topic, yes, the Amish are huge consumers of soda. To be honest, I've not met too many who are Coke fans. It seems to be Pepsi and Mountain Dew that are popular among the Amish.
After giving birth, Amish mothers breastfeed their babies for as long as possible.
As such, many Amish people—even youths—wear dentures. Rebecca from the TLC reality show Breaking Amish is perhaps the most famous case of this. On the show, Rebecca explained how she had all of her teeth removed at the age of 19 and currently wears dentures.
The Amish also believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. Same-sex relationships are not allowed within the Amish community. Unmarried Amish men and women aren't supposed to have any physical contact with each other. This includes kissing, hugging, and even holding hands.
As a general rule, Amish cuisine is plain and rich in carbohydrates and lipids (1,2). Most Amish tend to have home gardens that provide fresh fruits and vegetables for seasonal consumption, as well as for canning, pickling, and storage for use during the winter months (1,2).
All types of birth control, and also all forms of natural family planning such as calendar-based methods, are forbidden in Old-Order Amish communities. However, especially in recent years, more Amish women have begun using contraception.
The modern world has so many inventions that make life easier so how do the Amish live without those conveniences or modify them to fit within their lifestyle? The Amish can still take a hot shower, they simply hook up their hot water tank to a gas or propane fueled energy source.
All Amish cleaning recipes contain natural ingredients, like white vinegar and baking soda. Instead of flushing toilets, outhouses are commonly used. This is true of the most conservative Amish, the Swartzentruber Amish. Interestingly, even communities that have indoor plumbing, sometimes still use outhouses.
As part of their Ordnung, Old Order Amish forbid owning automobiles; tapping electricity from public utility lines; owning televisions, radios, or personal computers; attending high school or college; joining the military; and initiating divorce. All Amish groups expect men and women to wear prescribed clothing.
The couple is allowed to talk to each other during the night, but they're not allowed to touch each other. Not only does this ensure that they remain chaste, it protects them from forming premature emotional and physical bonds. The Amish believe strongly in remaining sexually pure before marriage.
Feminine Hygiene
Female Amish wash their hair and wear it in a bun. As for makeup, Amish women aren't allowed to wear cosmetics or adornments considered worldly. This includes lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, and jewelry.
Women are to keep their hair long and worn in a single braid or bun that is pinned behind their head. Hair must be kept out of sight, as it's seen as too sensual and can be distracting for men in the community. The reason Amish women don't cut their hair is more than just aesthetic preference.
Do Amish shave their legs and armpits? The Ordnung (set of community rules) forbids women from shaving. What's more, because the Amish interpretation of the New Testament considers cutting hair a shameful act (1 Corinthians 11:5-15), women don't cut or shave any hair on their bodies.
However, in addition to the modesty aspect, women must keep their heads covered at all times so that they can pray at any time. Both modesty and prayer are central to the daily lives of Amish people and for women, wearing head coverings and bonnets is an important part of that.
Amish parents consider their children their greatest earthly treasure. Children are welcomed as a blessing from God and large families are the norm.
Birth control and abortion are forbidden by religious doctrine, even when pregnancy is life threatening. The Amish church has no rule against immunization, but only 16-26% of Amish children have received immunizations against the common childhood diseases.
The Amish Community and Dating
To find a prospective date, the young adults socialize at functions such as frolics, church, or home visits. One of the most popular activities is the Sunday night singing.
In the Amish community, things like pregnancy are very sacred and secret. People's privacy is important, and intimate details are often not shared with other members of the community until it is more than obvious.