An wellhealthorganic.com:ayurveda-dinner can be both rewarding and healing; just be sure to follow your body’s Prakruti (Body Constitution) and avoid foods which aggravate its doshas (Tissue Types).
Based in ancient wellness principles, Ayurvedic kitchari recipe (or kitchidi) combines nutritious chickpeas and vegetables with brown rice to produce a flavorful one-pot dish that provides nourishment in every bite! Plus it tastes incredible.
Vata
Vata doshas thrive with warm, grounding foods. Ayurvedic dinner recipes should include plenty of root vegetables and cooked legumes like mung beans, lentils, spinach and cabbage for optimal balance of Vata. Other nutritious choices that support Vata include asparagus, okra, green beans zucchini as well as sweet potatoes and pumpkins (cooked or raw!). Raw or cold foods increase agni (digestive fire) levels which could lead to imbalance.
When creating an Ayurvedic dinner for Vatas, take into account seasonal factors, your Prakriti, and local weather when selecting recipe ingredients. Remember to eat regularly throughout the day without overeating; skipping meals can harm digestion and create an imbalanced gut microbiome – eating healthily will keep Vata in balance and ensure restful nights sleep – for instance try Sahara Rose’s cookbook “Eat Feel Fresh: A Contemporary Plant-Based Ayurvedic Cookbook.” For instance try vegan shepherd’s pie featuring sweet potatoes and lentils like her vegan shepherd’s pie from Sahara Rose’s book Eat Feel Fresh: A Contemporary Plant-Based Ayurvedic Cookbook”.
Pitta
Pitta, one of three doshas found within Ayurveda – an ancient form of holistic medicine focused on finding balance within daily practices and diet – is the primary driver behind transformation and metabolism, body temperature regulation and our digestive capabilities. Pitta controls metabolism, temperature and digestion capabilities.
Pittas benefit most from foods that are sweet, light and dry and provide a cooling effect on their bodies. Salty, sour or pungent tastes should be limited as these increase heat production and may contribute to imbalance.
Try pitta-friendly proteins such as poultry, venison, rabbit or river fish in small amounts; nuts and seeds should generally be enjoyed in moderation; however, avoid overeating as their oily nature makes them too heating. Instead, opt for more beans and lentils such as mung beans, black gram and yellow moong dal, rice millet quinoa corn soup stew made with these ingredients or drink warm milk with turmeric or saffron at bedtime to soothe any inflammations.
Kapha
Kapha — composed of Earth and Water elements — forms the body’s structure, lubricates joints and tendons, and maintains immunity. When in balance, Kapha expresses love and compassion; otherwise it manifests into attachment and jealousy.
Kapha imbalance can contribute to weight gain and lack of energy, as well as poor metabolism, congestion and sleep problems. A balanced diet will help bolster metabolism while alleviating congestion.
An Ayurvedic dinner for Kapha people should consist of a small plate of cooked vegetables and whole grains or lentils such as wheat, barley, rice or quinoa. Soups, mashes or cooked lentils like our Mom’s Ayurvedic Soup with Yellow Lentils make great options for providing a nutritious yet filling meal. Try including spicy flavours to encourage fast metabolism like turmeric or fenugreek powder into any mash or dal and enjoy warm milk or herbal tea beverages instead of sweetened beverages or iced coffee when selecting beverages to consume.
Combinations
Food combinations play an essential part of Ayurvedic cooking. Each food we consume possesses different properties and characteristics that affect our digestive fire (Agni). When foods with incompatible qualities are consumed together, Agni weakens and digestion becomes disorganized, leading to an accumulation of toxins within our bodies and potentially an unhealthy lifestyle.
Avoid incompatible food combinations like milk and bananas, fish and yogurt, melons with yeast bread, or hot water with honey if possible in order to decrease ama and increase ojas (lifeforce energy). Doing this will help lower ama levels while increasing lifeforce energy (ojas).
Ayurved eating is about finding equilibrium among all your doshas for greater ease, health and joy in life. Ayurvedic dishes are delicious yet filling, providing just enough satisfaction without overfilling yourself. Many Ayurvedic recipes also encourage mindful dining experiences with inspiring mantras or simply sitting quietly enjoying one’s food; this allows us to fully experience and digest our food more fully – which makes this approach to diet so unique and effective!