Hello Winter
Tis the Season to stay balanced
HOW TO EAT
· Regular meal times – yes snacking, baking & cooking go hand in hand this holiday season so this can be very challenging to the digestion. The body really likes to know when it will eat next, it also like to be able to digest the previous meal before you start another, not so good with surprise nibbles here and there.
· Emphasis on calming the nervous system before eating -this can be with prayer or 3 deeps breaths just prior to eating but please turn the TV and computer off and put the phone down! Make your eating space pretty and peaceful. The two things that are most important are the food you are eating and the friends or family you are eating with.
· Enjoy whatever it is you are eating & do NOT feel guilty -Just make sure you sit down to do it….
WHAT TO EAT
· Foods that are naturally sweet, salty, and sour in taste
· Unctuous (oily and moist) and warm
· Well spiced cooked and delicious food
Fruits to Favor: (sweet, sour or heavy fruits)
Bananas, dates, figs, grapes, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, tangerines, peaches, pears (ripe), mango, papaya, pineapple, plums, pomegranate, strawberries, apricots, persimmons, Apples (cooked), cranberries (cooked)
Vegetables to Favor: (cook all vegetables and add a healthy oil and warm spices. Favor root vegetables)
Beets, carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, leeks, onion, garlic okra, avocadoes, Brussels sprouts, acorn squash, winter squash
Grains to Favor: (most grains are good, best eaten warm, moist and with a healthy oil)
Amaranth, millet (moderation), buckwheat (moderation) Oats, Quinoa, brown rice, wheat
Legumes to Favor:
Kidney beans, mung- split yellow
Dairy to Favor: (all dairy is good, ideally at room temperature or warm such as boiled milk)
Buttermilk, cheese (moderation and white is best) ghee, butter, cow’s milk, cream, Kefir, yogurt, goat’s milk,
Oils to Favor: (most unrefined oils)
Ghee, sesame, unadulterated extra virgin olive oil, coconut
Nuts & Seeds:
Almonds, cashews, macadamia, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios
Spices to Favor:
Cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, fennel, coriander, cumin, basil, oregano, thyme, mustard seeds, cardamom, clove, nutmeg
WHAT TO AVOID
· Drying foods (crackers, corn chips, dry toast, popcorn, salads-especially without oil)
· Cold foods
· Cold drinks
· Raw foods
· Smoothies
· Overeating
WHAT TO DO
· Nourish and baby yourself with lots of self care
· Keep a daily routine, with regular meal times, regular sleeping and waking times, meditation and gentle exercise routine
· Keep warm no matter what the weather
· Oil your body with self-massage for 10-20 minutes with warm sesame oil (not toasted you will smell like stir fry) then rinse and relax with a warm shower or bath
May you be happy, healthy, safe and live with ease and peace this season and many many more to come!