16
Enlightenment Journal | 35
th
Anniversary Issue | Fall/Winter 2016–2017
Ayurveda cookery
is more than just what you whip up in the kitchen—it’s a
whole way of life. Ayurvedic eating takes into account intention and attitude,
time of day, whether something is a meal versus a snack, portion size, the season,
and the dining space.
In Ayurveda, the why we eat is the most important factor in our relationship
with food, as it determines how the food will be received by the body. When you
begin to use food as medicine, hold the intention for the food to be nourishing,
energizing, enjoyable, and easy on your body. Keep in mind, there is room for
both enjoyment and nourishment. Ayurveda references the hunger of the tongue
as well as the hunger of the stomach. Pleasing the palate is an important aspect of
Ayurvedic cookery, one that is accomplished through the use of digestive spices
and the inclusion of the six tastes: sweet, sour salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent.
Eating foods that one dislikes is not considered beneficial. So, although the focus
is on nourishment first, remember that the foods you eat should also be pleasing
to you.
How we eat is certainly more important than what we eat. For instance, you
could have a carefully chosen, lovingly prepared meal in front of you, but if you
eat it while worrying that it will cause you to gain weight, the worry can create
nervous indigestion or cause your body to reject the food.
The key to eating with the right mind-set is to approach your meals with
gratitude. Just as you would take care to listen to a friend in need, take care to
notice your foods. As soon as your body smells food, it begins to prepare the
appropriate enzymes for the fare it recognizes. Before you’ve even taken a bite
into your mouth, the process of digestion has begun! Engage your sense by
looking closely, smelling, and feeling the qualities of the food on your plate.
What colors, scents, and textures do you observe?
Practice Tip: Make a practice of taking a few moments to sit with the food
before you eat it—just a few breaths to take it all in with your senses and prepare
for the eating.
HEALTHY LIVING
The Principles of Ayurvedic Eating
Why and How We Eat
Kate O’Donnell