- Also written
- I-tal
What “Ital” means
Ital describes natural, unprocessed food and the way of eating that goes with it. It comes from Rastafari, where food is meant to support life and vitality.
Examples
Mi only nyam ital
I only eat ital food.
How to use it
Mostly used by Rastafari and by people talking about Rasta cooking, but it's widely understood and you'll see it on menus and food stalls.
Where usage varies
How strict ital eating is varies from person to person. Many Rastafari avoid meat and salt; some also avoid processed food and alcohol; others are less strict.
Where it comes from
Commonly explained as coming from "vital", with the first syllable changed to "I", as in other Rasta words.