In Ayurveda, it is said that it is more important how you eat, rather than exactly what you
eat. A meal prepared in a loving, peaceful way contains more prana than
one that has been prepared in anger or discord. Equally, a meal shared
in gratitude has a sattvic effect on the body and mind. Taking from the
old adage “you are what you eat”, wouldn’t you want to eat a
meal that promotes inner peace and harmony? Maya Tiwari says that the
two most important ingredients in a meal are love and kindness. Here
are a few simple steps to elevating your kitchen experience.
1. Create A Sacred Space
Your kitchen should be a sacred, joyful space! Eliminate any clutter or distractions. Turn off the tv, take out the trash, and wash the dirty dishes – a clean kitchen means a clear mind as you begin to prepare your mindful meal.
Your kitchen should be a sacred, joyful space! Eliminate any clutter or distractions. Turn off the tv, take out the trash, and wash the dirty dishes – a clean kitchen means a clear mind as you begin to prepare your mindful meal.
2. Set Your Sankalpa
Craft a loving intention to guide you in the kitchen. If negative emotions are present while cooking, the food will be affected. Watch how you’ll burn a dish when you are feeling angry (too much pitta!). Use your sankalpa as a prayer to infuse into your food while cooking.
Craft a loving intention to guide you in the kitchen. If negative emotions are present while cooking, the food will be affected. Watch how you’ll burn a dish when you are feeling angry (too much pitta!). Use your sankalpa as a prayer to infuse into your food while cooking.
3. Breathe
Before you handle the food, take 5 deep breaths to ground and center yourself. Conscious breathing helps align you in the present as you begin to cook.
Before you handle the food, take 5 deep breaths to ground and center yourself. Conscious breathing helps align you in the present as you begin to cook.
4. Awaken the Senses
Cooking is a sensory experience. Awaken all five senses in the process. Take pause to notice how an onion in feels in your hand before you cut it, the sounds of the oil popping in a hot pan, what the herbs smell like as you slowly sauté them in ghee, and how the colors merge together in the pot to create the perfect sweet and savory stuffing that satisfies every taste bud.
Cooking is a sensory experience. Awaken all five senses in the process. Take pause to notice how an onion in feels in your hand before you cut it, the sounds of the oil popping in a hot pan, what the herbs smell like as you slowly sauté them in ghee, and how the colors merge together in the pot to create the perfect sweet and savory stuffing that satisfies every taste bud.
5. Practice Presence
From chopping the herbs, to stirring the pot, to the washing the dishes in between, merge completely and presently with each task at hand. This is true yoga. Should negative emotions arise, leave the kitchen and take a pause from your preparation. Allow the emotions to dissolve before returning with ease and attitude of love. Use your sankalpa as a tool for practicing contentment and connection in each moment.
From chopping the herbs, to stirring the pot, to the washing the dishes in between, merge completely and presently with each task at hand. This is true yoga. Should negative emotions arise, leave the kitchen and take a pause from your preparation. Allow the emotions to dissolve before returning with ease and attitude of love. Use your sankalpa as a tool for practicing contentment and connection in each moment.
6. Give Gratitude
As you sit down to serve and enjoy your food, take a moment to give gratitude for all those who’ve had a hand in your meal. Honor the farmer, the truck driver, the grocery store stocker, and all those in between the farm and your table. And at the end of your meal, remember to thank your body for receiving the nourishment you’ve prepared, for gratitude inward and outward is truly the best medicine.
As you sit down to serve and enjoy your food, take a moment to give gratitude for all those who’ve had a hand in your meal. Honor the farmer, the truck driver, the grocery store stocker, and all those in between the farm and your table. And at the end of your meal, remember to thank your body for receiving the nourishment you’ve prepared, for gratitude inward and outward is truly the best medicine.
AYURVEDIC BREAKFAST PORRIDGE
5-6 cups water
3/4 cup dried quinoa
3/4 cup dried brown rice
1 tbsp ghee
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp ground cardamom
5-6 whole cloves
5-6 threads saffron
pinch pink salt
In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the grains and spices, cover with a lid and simmer on medium heat for 30-40 minutes. Stir occasionally and continue adding water as needed until a soupy well-cooked consistency is reached. This can also be made in a slow cooker or rice cooker the night before for an easy, ready to eat morning porridge. Serve with stewed fruit and toppings of your choice (a splash of almond milk, shredded coconut, pumpkin seeds…just to name a few!).
Stewed Fruit
½ cup water
1 apple, apple or pear, cored/pitted & sliced
¼ cup raisins
2 dates, pitted & chopped
1 tsp raw honey
½ tsp cinnamon
In a small skillet, bring water to boil. Arrange the sliced fruit in one layer around the pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon, raisins and dates over top. Allow to simmer in the water until tender, about 3-5 minutes, adding more water to avoid burning or sticking to the pan. In the last few minutes of cooking, drizzle the honey and allow to slightly cook. It’s best to add honey at the end of cooking so to best preserve it’s beneficial properties. When ready, serve hot over top cooked porridge.
Makes 4 hearty servings
Click Here For More Articles
No comments:
Post a Comment