Let go of calories and macros and learn the Ayurvedic way to balance your meals instead.
Have you ever wondered what makes a dish beyond tasty and another one "blah?" Why we are drawn to different cuisines from around the world more than what can be found from the deep fryer at McDonalds? Its the use of the 6 tastes. What are they? Lets dive in.
The 6 Tastes
Sweet
Earth + Water
Bananas, figs, dates, coconut
Cooked root veggies like beet, sweet potato, carrots
Rice, wheat
Beans
Nuts/seeds
Fats, milk, eggs
Meats, pork, salmon
Sugars
Cardamon, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, fennel, vanilla
Sour
Earth + Fire
Citrus, raisins
Pickled & fermented foods
Butter, cheese, cultured dairy
Vinegar, alcohol
Garlic
Sourdough
Tomatoes
Salty
Fire + Water
Salt, soy sauce, tamari
Tunafish
Celery, nori/kelp/seaweed
Bitter
Air + Ether
Dark greens (kale, dandelion, chard)
Bitter melon
Chocolate, coffee
Sesame seeds/oil, cumin, dill, turmeric
Aloe vera gel/juice, green tea
Lemon/lime zest
Astringent
Air + Earth
Apples, cranberries, plantains, pomegranate, rhubarb
Avocado, broccoli, potatoes, raw veggies, green beans, okra, nettles
Wheat pasta, rye, sorghum, amaranth, legumes, lentils
Popcorn, alfalfa sprouts
Chicken
Coriander, bay leaf, basil, cilantro
Pungent
Fire + Air
Onions, leek, chives, garlic
Cayenne, dry ginger, wasabi, red pepper flakes, ajwain, black pepper, paprika, cloves
Raw spinach, radish
Each of these 6 tastes, when in correct balance (especially for your Doshic needs), can make any meal satisfying and equally nourishing. Every Dosha has different needs for how to build their meals and different tastes to favor. In general, it looks like this:
Vata: Sweet, Sour, Salty
Pitta: Sweet, Bitter, Astringent
Kapha: Bitter, Astringent, Pungent
What is so beautiful about approaching our meals in this way is that we DON'T EXCLUDE A TASTE--we simply adjust the amount/ratio. This allows us to get the nourishment our body needs, experience all the tastes which helps improve agni and promote regular hunger AND leave your meal feeling satisfied.
Ayurveda does not deprive--it enriches.
Next time you are headed to meal plan or make dinner, check out this download. You can find it at my Etsy shop here.
If you have any questions, please send them my way! Schedule a 15 minute consult here or if you'd like to work with me one-on-one, schedule your Initial Ayurvedic Consultation here.
Thank you and Namaste
-Grace
If you are looking for additional resources on The 6 Tastes, check out these links for more:
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