Eating Guidelines

Eat enough quantity considering the state of agni, and doṣas.

Eat three meals a day.

Eat after previous food is digested.

Set specific time and place.

Eat with proper frame of mind (a happy mood).

Create a pleasant environment (flowers, music, incense).

Wash hands thoroughly.

Feed somebody before you eat.

Bless your food before eating.

Do not eat very slow or very fast. Take your time and chew your food longer (each bite 32 times, according to Ayurveda). Food starts digesting in the mouth by bodhaka kapha. We enjoy the taste of the food while it is in the mouth. It reduces the amount of food we eat.

Do not talk or laugh while eating. Do not eat on the run or while watching TV. Concentrate on the food and eat.

Eat less, exercise more.

During Times Of Difficult Digestion

Avoid these foods:

● Cruciferous vegetables (more gas-producing)

● Fried foods

● Heavy sweets

When to eat

Eat only when you feel very hungry. When we follow these times regularly, we begin to feel hungry at these times.

Breakfast	7.00 am – 7.30am
Lunch	11.00 am – 1.00 pm
Dinner	6.00 pm – 7.30 pm

Eating in Sequence

Eat carbohydrates (sweet) at first.

Then eat salty, sour tastes and finally astringent food.

In many European countries, salads are served at the end.

Example

In India, buttermilk (Lassi-astringent, sour in taste) is served at the end.

How much to eat

Consider the age, constitution, season, balance/ imbalance of doshas, exercise, type of food.

The rule of thumb: Eat food to ½ your stomach capacity. Drink water to ¼ of your capacity and leave room for ¼ of your capacity for the food to move in the stomach during digestion.

Eat heavy and sweet foods in less quantity. Eat light food to fill your stomach.

The signs of right quantity of food are:

Feeling satisfied

Not feeling heavy

Should be able to breathe, talk and walk easily

Senses (Indriyas) become sharp

Eating Guidelines