In our own home we are “Ayurvedis” and Yogis, if we are anything. This means that we eat mostly a vegetarian diet with the emphasis on locally grown, seasonal, organic, whole foods, balanced in terms of the six tastes and the Doshas. We are not fundamentalists, we don’t believe in denial as a methodology, nor do we claim to be Masters. We enjoy life, for all its beauty and all its bounty, but we try to be conscious about it, to make conscious choices, so that the health, energy, passion, joy, and abundance that we enjoy can be shared by all.

My intention in creating Food: A Love Story is to share that wisdom with you, in the simplest, most accessible manner, so that you are encouraged to love yourself Ayurvedically.

                                           Photo: Getty

Traditionally, Ayurveda has called for milk and ghee as important staples of any diet. I remember an Ayurvedic Doctor in India telling me, “As you know, we love the cow. Cows are sacred for us not only in mythology, but  as a practical matter. We value her gifts and use everything she gives – milk, ghee, even dung for fire!”

According to Maharishi Ayurveda, “Milk provides special and unique nutrition that cannot be derived from any other type of food. When digested properly, milk nourishes all the tissues, promotes balanced emotions, and helps to balance all the doshas. It is one of the most important foods to promote Ojas.

According to Ayurveda, Ojas is a refined substance the body produces from the most subtle level of proper digestion. Ojas brings strength, strong immunity, happiness, and contentment. Therefore milk is a very important food to include regularly in one’s diet especially if you follow a vegetarian lifestyle.”

What to do, then, if you are Vegan?

Nowadays, cows are almost never treated with Ahimsa, and so avoiding dairy seems the most sattvic choice.  Fortunately, there are Ojas-building foods of the non-dairy variety. Generally, those are the foods that are naturally “sweet” in taste. Examples are grains, pulses (split-mung dhal, lentils, split beans), root vegetables, seeds, dates, figs, raisins, olives and nuts (we are loving chestnuts lately for a “meaty,” incredibly tonifying snack).

Ghee can be replaced with a high-heat olive oil or coconut oil for sautéing. Avocado and olive oil are good for spreading on toast, dolloping on a dish as a final flourish, drizzling on soups. Coconut milk is a good stand-in for cream, and is delicious added to stews and stir-fry.  Milk can, of course, be replaced with a grain or nut “milk” like Rice Milk, Almond Milk, Oat Milk, etc. In the Ojas Rasayana under Basics, for instance, Almond Milk is recommended.

By the way, canned, frozen, processed and microwaved foods, eating on the run, in front of the telly or while angry or stressed are to be avoided as possible. All are highly Ojas-depleting!

Think of Ojas as another way to describe what love does to us physically and mentally. It makes us stable, patient, inspired, confident, happy. It strengthens the immune system, improves organ function, increases clarity and fires up the brain.

Whether you are in love or not, love is in your food, so be sure to get enough healthy oils, enjoy your grounding staples, and relax with sweet, warm, healthy comfort. Indulge in Ojas-building foods and let love nourish you.