Steve Jobs' Extreme Dietary Regimen
Steve Jobs' relationship with food was not a simple matter of taste but a reflection of his intense personality and minimalist philosophy. Throughout his life, he engaged in extreme and often erratic eating habits, influenced by diet books he read in college. His regimen included extended fasts, lasting for days or sometimes up to a week, which he believed provided mental clarity and euphoria. He would break these fasts with simple, leafy vegetables and water.
The Fruitarian Phase
One of the most famous aspects of Jobs' diet was his period of fruitarianism. Inspired by a book called Mucusless Diet Healing System, he gave up not only meat but also grains and milk, believing this would prevent the buildup of harmful mucus in the body. During this phase, he would consume large amounts of fruit, sometimes focusing on a single item like apples for weeks on end. It was during one of these fruitarian episodes that he came up with the name "Apple" for his company, after visiting an apple orchard. His intense focus on specific fruits and vegetables led him to stock the Apple offices with Odwalla brand juices, with his consumption of carrot juice being so frequent that his skin took on an orange tint at one point.
The Allure of Japanese Cuisine
Despite his typically restrictive plant-based diet, Jobs developed a strong affinity for Japanese food, a notable exception to his strict veganism. He was a regular at several sushi restaurants in Silicon Valley and Japan. His favorite toppings included unagi (cooked eel), fatty tuna, salmon, and yellowtail, which he considered acceptable enough to bend his vegetarian rules for. On one occasion, his daughter Lisa Brennan-Jobs recalled a dinner in Tokyo where he happily ate trays of unagi sushi, which was a rare moment of dietary relaxation for him. This interest was so significant that he even sent a chef to study at the Tsukiji Soba Academy in Japan and had a special dish, "sashimi soba," created for the Apple employee cafeteria after his death.
Life After the Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis
Jobs' dietary fixations became even more extreme following his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2003. For nine months, he opted for alternative treatments instead of the recommended surgery, believing a strict diet of vegan foods, fruits, and juices could heal him. His wife, Laurene Powell, who was also vegan, tried to incorporate more protein into his meals after his surgery in 2008, including fish. However, Jobs remained a finicky eater, often rejecting meals presented to him. This later period of his life was marked by an intensified battle with food, exacerbated by his psychological attitude toward fasting.
Comparison of Steve Jobs' Diet Phases
| Dietary Phase | Primary Foods Consumed | Notable Exceptions | Key Influences | Mental & Physical State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Fruitarianism | Apples, carrots, dates, almonds, Odwalla juices | None reported | Mucusless Diet Healing System by Arnold Ehret | Felt euphoric during fasts, developed an orange skin tone from carrot juice. |
| Later Vegetarianism/Veganism | Simple vegan pasta, lemongrass soup, carrot salad | Unagi sushi, fish (later in life), goat cheese, occasional non-vegan meals | Diet for a Small Planet, minimalist philosophy | More erratic and picky, often rejecting dishes. |
| Final Stage (with cancer) | Fruit smoothies, fruit juices, specific vegetable dishes | Minimal fish added by wife | Continued belief in healing through diet, despite doctor's advice | Significant weight loss, finicky eating, weakened health. |
Conclusion: The Ever-Evolving Preferences of a Visionary
Defining what's Steve Jobs' favorite food is impossible because his preferences were constantly evolving, rooted in his life philosophy. His diet reflected his desire for purity, simplicity, and control. From fruitarianism to enjoying Japanese sushi, Jobs' food journey was complex and contradictory. His approach serves as a reminder that for some, food embodies one's deepest beliefs and struggles. For a more detailed account, readers can refer to Walter Isaacson's comprehensive biography of Steve Jobs, which chronicles his life and dietary habits extensively.
Key Takeaways
- Eccentric Dieting: Steve Jobs was known for his extreme and unconventional dietary habits, including prolonged fasts and eating only one or two foods for weeks.
- Fruitarian Phases: During certain periods, he was a strict fruitarian, a diet consisting mainly of fruits, nuts, and seeds, which led him to name his company after a visit to an apple orchard.
- Apples and Carrots: Specific foods like apples and carrots were frequent staples, sometimes consumed exclusively for extended durations.
- Japanese Food Exception: Despite being a long-term vegetarian, Jobs had a soft spot for sushi, particularly unagi (cooked eel), making an exception to his rules for Japanese cuisine.
- Diet and Cancer: After his cancer diagnosis, he pursued an extreme vegan diet as an alternative treatment, which proved unsuccessful and was a decision he later regretted.
