In Jain dharma there is no strict rule that “this one dal must be eaten before meals.” But traditionally, among all dals, moong dal is most commonly preferred for regular use because it is:

• हल्का (light to digest)
• सात्विक और साधारण (simple, satvik)
• आम तौर पर रोज़ खाने लायक माना जाता है

If you want to eat something with dal before your main meal, then according to Jain principles you should:

1. Choose allowed dals

- Moong, chana, tur/arhar, urad, masoor etc. (all are from grains/pulses, not roots). - Avoid onion–garlic, and other Jain–restricted items with it.

1. Keep it simple and light

- Light moong dal, or soaked/sprouted moong/chana (if your family maryada allows sprouts), - Not deep‑fried, very oily or heavy snacks.

1. Follow basic Jain food rules

- Freshly made, not kept overnight. - Eaten in daytime only, before sunset. - Water used should be filtered/boiled (ukālu pānī) as per maryada.

So, for regular use and even in small quantity before meals, moong dal (in a simple, Jain way) is generally the best and safest choice among dals.

For a simple list of allowed Jain foods you can read more here: