What foods can Jains not eat

Jain dietary practices are rooted in the principle of ahimsa (non-violence), which leads to strict vegetarianism. Jains do not consume meat, fish, eggs, or any foods that involve killing living beings. Additionally, root vegetables such as onions, garlic, and potatoes are avoided because harvesting them kills the entire plant and disturbs numerous small organisms, increasing karmic intake. The reasoning is that root vegetables contain more "life units" than fruits, which grow on trees and can be harvested without killing the plant.