Kosher food is divided into three categories: meat, dairy, and parve. One of the most basic principles of kosher dietary laws is the complete separation of meat and dairy products. They cannot be cooked or eaten together. For this reason, kosher kitchens have separate utensils, plates, cutlery, and countertops for food preparation. A third category is parve, which consists of foods that are neither meat nor dairy and can be eaten with either.
All foods containing meat, such as chicken or beef, even in small portions, are considered meat foods, just as all foods containing milk or dairy products (such as yogurt, cheese, and butter) are considered dairy foods. Eggs, fish, vegetables, fruits, and grains are examples of neutral foods.