FOOD

The Ayurveda Way

The ancients were very clear about the quality of the food that they ate. Before choosing the dishes the goal of the exercise had to be determined. Thus for those who had to do considerable physical work and those who had to use their intellect were supposed to have different kind of food. Non-vegetarian food was never excluded but care had to be exercised as to who was eating the saatvik and who the tamasik food.

by REPORTER@DAYAFTERINDIA.COM

The yogic and saatvik diet comprise the food which increase life, purity, strength, health, joy and cheerfulness that are substantial and loved by saatvik people. In other words saatvik diet is directly proportional to tranquility of mind, balanced body, harmonious atmosphere and intellectual personality. The saatvik diet promotes peaceful and clear mind. Saatvik diet is a diet based on foods which are strong in the sattva guna, according to Ayurveda and Yoga, and lead to clarity and equanimity of mind while also being beneficial to the body. Saatvik foods are generally based on the ancient principles of Ayurveda and are prepared according to simple, traditional methods. Many modern methods of food preparations have ill effects on the food prepared, which make them rajasik and tamasik and deteriorate health.

The classical texts describe three types of diets - saatvik, Rajasik and Tamasik: The saatvik diet consists of leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, milk, curd butter, honey and so on. The rajasik diet consists of hot and pungent foods, meat, beans and so on. This is suitable only for those who engage in heavy physical work. A tamasik diet includes fermented and highly spiced foods, sour curd, whines and so on and is considered harmful to health.

According to Ayurveda, a saatvik diet, moderate physical exercise and regular practice of Yoga help one to maintain good health. Ayurveda as such does not advocate vegetarianism.

The saatvik diet emphasizes on whole organically grown foods that are raw or freshly cooked, as well as raw cooked or lacto fermented foods, such foods that you have personally grown them and therefore strengthen your alignment with your natural environment. This diet is predominantly a lacto vegetarian that highly values dairy but avoids other animal products including eggs, fish, meat and poultry. A saatvik or spiritual diet excludes artificial food processing and altering of raw food as much as possible.

Saatvik food supply maximum energy, increase strength and endurance and help to eliminate fatigue even for those who do strenuous work. They promote a peaceful attitude and are conducive to the practical of meditation.

Foods should be as fresh and natural as possible, preferably, organically grown not genetically modified, and kept without preservatives or artificial flavorings. They should also be eaten in as natural a state as possible, raw, steamed, or cooked lightly.

Receipe

STEWED MIXED FRUIT SALAD

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp butter

½ cup black grapes, halved

½ cup green grapes/ pears, diced

½ cup peaches, stoned, diced

½ cup berries, stoned/ mango pieces

½ cup plums, deseeded, diced

½ cup apricots, deseeded, halved

DRESSING

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp brown sugar

Pinch of cardamom powder

GARNISH

Dry fruits, crushed

TO SERVE

Milk and Cereal

METHOD

• Melt butter in a saucepan, add all the diced and halved, mixed fruits into the pan.

• Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, then add the lemon juice, brown sugar and cardamom powder.

• Cook further for 3-5 minutes until fruits are tender and soft arrange on a serving dish, garnish with dry fruits and serve warm with milk and cereal.