Here is a simple Jain “restricted / not allowed” food list (for normal days, for all Jains). Exact details can vary by family-maryada, guru, and Digambar / Shwetambar tradition.

Always restricted (for all Jains)

1. All non‑veg

- Meat, fish, chicken, eggs, seafood, etc.

1. Honey

- Taking honey harms many tiny lives (bees, larvae etc.), so it is avoided.

1. Alcohol & intoxicants

- Alcohol, drugs, intoxicating drinks, tobacco, etc.

1. Root / underground vegetables (kand-mool)

Common examples: - Potato, sweet potato - Onion, garlic - Carrot, beetroot, radish, turnip - Yam, suran, etc. Reason: uprooting the plant kills many lives in soil and the whole plant.

1. Fungi

- Mushrooms, truffles, etc. Reason: they grow in damp, impure places with many small organisms.

1. Udumbara group fruits (many subtle lives inside)

- Anjeer/fig - Gular (cluster fig) - Banyan (vad), Peepal, Pakar, etc.

Generally avoided or to be very careful with

1. Fermented foods

- Alcoholic drinks, vinegar - Idli / dosa batter kept overnight - Some cheeses, kombucha, kefir, etc. Reason: many micro‑organisms are born and destroyed in fermentation.

1. Very old / stale / previously cut food

- Leftovers kept long time - Food cut and stored many hours before Reason: more chance of tiny life forming inside.

1. Eating after sunset (chovihar)

- Many householders try to avoid night eating; ascetics follow strictly. Reason: darkness increases risk of killing tiny insects.

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Festival times (Paryushan, Das‑Lakshan, Chaturmas)

During these periods, rules become stricter. Common extra restrictions:

• No green leafy vegetables (saag, palak, methi, dhaniya leaves, etc.).
• No sprouts.
• No fermented items at all.
• Often only one or two meals in daylight and boiled, filtered water.

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Differences in Digambar / Shwetambar:

• The principle is same: maximum ahimsa, minimum himsa.
• Lists are almost same; some small differences (e.g., exact use of dairy, some vegetables, local customs).

You can read a simple explanation of “what Jains should not eat” here

And a basic Jain foods list here