Getting kids to eat healthy

Okay, so this post isn’t specifically about Ayurveda. But getting kids to eat their veggies can be tough whether you are living the Ayurvedic lifestyle or not. That said, I will take a moment to brag here. My son LOVES his veggies, and fruits, and whole grains. So what’s the trick?

Well, for those of you who are new parents, please see my post on “Making your own baby food“. Giving our kids REAL food, instead of the yucky manufactured stuff is the first step. We can’t expect our kids to enjoy good healthy food if we start them out with nothing but the processed stuff. Think of it as “culture shock”.

Just remember, the funny faces your baby makes don’t mean he/she doesn’t like what you are giving them. It’s just your child getting used to new textures and flavors. You’ll know if they truly don’t like something because they will either cry, or they won’t open their mouth. But if it’s just the funny faces, and they keep opening their mouths for more, keep going. You have to get them used to different foods.

That said, if your kids are older and you need to find creative ways to get them to eat their veggies and other healthy foods, here are a few ideas.

• When making rice, mix the rice with half white and half brown. The kids will never know the difference, and you’ll feel better knowing they are at least getting some whole grains.
• Make your saturday morning pancakes with whole wheat pastry flour. (See my post on pancakes for an easy, “from scratch” recipe. Your kids will love them!
• Serving a meal with sauce, such as spagetti? Steam a few pieces of veggies, put them through the blender, and add them to the sauce. Your kids won’t be able to tell the difference.
• Put some steamed veggies through the blender with a little butter and milk. I loved this growing up. My grandmother always did this for me. It worked every time. It was like a thick and tasty veggie soup.

All in all, you just have to NOT give your kids a choice. Because, given a choice, they will ALWAYS go for the junkfood. As a parent, it’s up to you to make sure they make healthy choices. Lessons that will last a lifetime.

Tiffany

Originally posted 2008-08-13 06:48:19. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Breakfast for your dosha

One of my challenges when I started trying to follow an eating plan for my dosha, was in knowing what “combination foods” I could eat. It’s fine to say that a Kapha dosha should eat pumpkin seeds, but how do you turn that into a Kapha meal?

Here are some breakfast ideas for each dosha to get your day started right.

Vata – Warm cereals are wonderful for you. Cream of wheat is a great start to your day. Just add milk, and you’re on your way! Warm, sweet and milky is your best bet. You need warmth and comfort in your foods.

Pitta- eat cold cereals, toast and tea. Avoid caffeine such as a morning cup of joe. It’s not good for your doshic balance. Try herbal tea instead.

Kapha- You want to stay away from a fattening breakfast, such as sausages, bacon, etc. You also need to stay away from sugar breakfast items. So what can you eat? My favorite morning breakfast is buckwheat or barley pancakes. You can add fruit to these, in place of sugar. Try fruit butters. They are easy to make at home, and there are a ton of recipes for them on the internet. While most of them call for sugar, you can easily make them without. 

Monday, I will post a pancake recipe for each of the doshas. See you then!

Namaste
Tiffany

 

 
Find peace and balance. Unveil your bliss with Ayurvedic bath and body products. Personal Alchemy offers botanical bath salts, ritual massage oils, healing balms and body creams.

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Originally posted 2008-06-20 07:20:36. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Dosha Diets (Part 3 – Kapha)

Generally speaking, it is important for all doshas to allow time for each meal. To sit at a table, chew food thoroughly, and relax to allow for good digestion.

While this is obviously not typical of the American lifestyle, the more you can do to achieve this, the better off you’ll be. ________________________

Kapha doshas: here are some guidelines to get you started. Keep in mind, however, that for a true evaluation of what is good for you as an individual, you should see an Ayurvedic practitioner.

• Cook with ghee in very small quantities. Overall, you need to stay far away from most fats. You do need some for general health, but for Kaphas, a little goes a long way         

• Eat broth based foods such as vegetable soups         

• Eat lots of veggies         

• Stay away from all sugars, including indredients ending in “ose” (i.e. sucrose, fructose, etc.). Also avoid corn syrup. The only allowable sweetener for Kaphas is honey. But this should also be used in small quantities         

• Flush toxins from your body by drinking warm water all day long

Food list – This list is a general overview. Some foods listed here may not be appropriate a Kapha dosha simply because of an individual’s current constitution. Please see an Ayurvedic practitioner for an exact list of foods that appropriate just for you. 

Dairy: Margarine, mayo, ghee (in moderations)

Oils: Olive oil (in moderation)

Drinks: coffee, lemonade, mineral water, tea and wine

Meats: Chicken, goose, lamb and pheasant

Again, this is just a loose description of what you should eat. Each person will be different and unique. But it will give you a place to start.

To your health
Tiffany
Personal Alchemy

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Originally posted 2008-05-07 22:59:18. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Ayurvedic Chocolate and Zucchini Cake

I just posted the Ayurvedic recipe for this month, and boy does it look yummy! (Thanks Claudia! – For those of you who don’t know, our Ayurvedic recipes come from our fantastic guest blogger, Claudia Dávila).

I have a soft spot for baked goods, and I can tell you that I will definitely be trying this one very soon. The picture alone is enough to make me run for the nearest bar of chocolate. But I suppose moderation is key, so I’ll have to control myself a bit. (darn it!)

Click on the recipe link at the top of this page to get the recipe.

Let me know how you like it. (And have a slice for me!)

Namaste,

Tiffany
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Originally posted 2008-07-07 09:37:44. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Being Vegetarian

Ayurveda promotes vegetarianism. You don’t have to be vegetarian to utilize Ayurveda, but it is definitely highly valued within this system of healing.  

I haven’t been vegetarian for very long. One week, to be exact. I can honestly say, that it’s been fantastic. I lost 12 pounds of stubborn post-pregnancy poundage in just this one week. I love it, and I feel amazing!

So if you’re thinking of going veggie, here is a fantastic download my sister-in-law sent me. It’s really great information for beginners. I hope you’ll find it as inspiring as I did!

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/2007/pdf/vegetarian_starter_kit.pdf

If you have any issues/questions that come up for you about being vegetarian, please post them. If I can’t help, I’m sure somebody can!

Take care,
Tiffany
Personal Alchemy

Originally posted 2008-03-16 03:45:52. Republished by Old Post Promoter

What in the world is Ghee?

If you’ve heard anything about Ayurveda, you’ve probably heard the word “Ghee”.

What is Ghee?
Pronounced “gee” (as in geese),  ghee is a type of clarified butter. It has no hydrogenated oil or milk proteins, and is therefor a great cooking agent for those on a diet, or for those who are lactose intolerant.  

“The ayurvedic texts say that ghee helps balance excess stomach acid, and helps maintain or repair the mucus lining of the stomach.”

While no current medical evidence supports this, you won’t find me arguing with a 5000 year old tradition. In my mind, this product has withstood the test of time.

One of the cooking benefits of Ghee is that it will not burn like butter will. It also has a very buttery flavor which it imparts to the food that is cooked in it. The longer it cooks, the more intense the flavor is.

How do you make Ghee? 
Here is a recipe I found on the internet. It works well and produces a very nice Ghee. I no longer know where I found this recipe, so I apologize for not giving credit!

Ghee Recipe

1 pound unsalted butterPut the butter in a heavy, medium-sized pan. Turn the heat on to medium until the butter melts.Turn down the heat until the butter just boils and continue to cook at this heat. Do not cover the pot. The butter will foam and sputter while it cooks. Whitish curds will begin to form on the bottom of the pot. The butter will begin to smell like popcorn after a while and turn a lovely golden color. Keep a close watch on the ghee, as it can easily burn. After a while it will become a clear, golden color. You will have to take a clean, dry spoon to move away some of the foam on top in order to see if the ghee is clear all the way through to the bottom. When it is clear and has stopped sputtering and making noise, then it needs to be taken off the heat. Let it cool until just warm. Pour it through a fine sieve or layers of cheesecloth into a clean, dry glass container with a tight lid. Discard the curds at the bottom of the saucepan. The ghee is burned if it has a nutty smell and is slightly brown. 1 pound of butter takes about 15 minutes of cooking time. The more butter you are using, the more time it will take.Ghee can be kept on the kitchen shelf, covered. It does not need refrigeration. The medicinal properties are said to improve with age. Don’t ladle out the ghee with a wet spoon or allow any water to get into the container, as this will create conditions for bacteria to grow and spoil the ghee.Two pounds of butter will fill a quart jar with ghee.   Ghee can be used in place of butter and is an ideal cooking oil, as it does not burn unless heated excessively. It makes a wonderful body oil for massage and can serve as a base for herbal ointments (for burns, skin rashes, etc.) and can even be used for lamps, with wicks made from cotton balls.Ghee is a digestive. It helps to improve absorption and assimilation. It nourishes ojas, tejas and prana. It is good for improving memory and lubricates the connective tissue. Ghee makes the body flexible and, in small doses, is tridoshic. Ghee is a yogavahi—a catalytic agent that carries the medicinal properties of herbs into the seven dhatus or tissues of the body. Ghee pacifies pitta and vata and is acceptable, in moderation, for kapha. Persons who already have high cholesterol or suffer from obesity should be cautious in using ghee. Ghee is not to be used when there are high ama (toxic) conditions.

Originally posted 2008-03-25 03:17:00. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Benefits of tea

There’s nothing like a good cup of joe…… unless you’re talking about a good cup of tea! I don’t know what it is about tea, but it can be so comforting. It always reminds me to slow down and take a moment to relfect. It makes me feel like I’m caring for myself  in a healthy and unique way.

Ayurvedic teas can be wonderfully healing. It’s something I’ve often thought of adding to my product line. But until that day comes, here is a great resource for Ayurvedic teas.

Originally posted 2008-04-14 14:49:50. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Pancakes for your dosha

I love pancakes. So when I thought I could no longer have pancakes following an ayurvedic diet, I was just a tad bit upset. But then I did a little research, and found that with just a few adjustments, I could still have my favorite breakfast food! Yippeee!!!

Here are pancake recipes for each of the doshas. I should warn you that if you are looking for a “bisquix” recipe, you will be a bit disappointed. But believe it or not, there was life (and pancakes) before bisquix. Frankly, I like these much better. While these recipes won’t produce the “fluffy” pancakes so many people are used to, the flavor of these delicious breakfast goodies far outweighs the fluffy factor in my book.

Vata: Rice or wheat flour, 2 eggs, milk, 2 tbsp. ground almonds or almond extract

Pitta: Oat or rice flour, milk or soy milk, sesame seeds

Kapha: Buckwheat or soy flour, coconut milk, ground coconut

For all doshas: place 2 cups flour in a bowl, and stir in remaining ingredients in order listed, until you have a nice medium thick batter. Fry in a non-stick pan using ghee in dosha appropriate amounts.

Let me know how these turn out for you!

Namaste
Tiffany

 

 

 
Find peace and balance. Unveil your bliss with Ayurvedic bath and body products.
Personal Alchemy offers botanical bath salts, ritual massage oils, healing balms and body creams.

 ____________________________________________________

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Originally posted 2008-06-23 07:47:08. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Ayurvedic Recipes!

We have a wonderful new section (see links at the top) on Ayurvedic Recipes!

These wonderful dishes are created by our guest blogger, Claudia Dávila.

Each recipe can be adjusted to make it appropriate for your dosha. Plus, you can sign up to get regular emails with other recipes she posts on her blog. Visit our “Ayurvedic Recipes” page (up above) to sign up for her mailings.

Thanks Claudia! Just looking at those pictures is making my tummy growl!

Tiffany
Personal Alchemy

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Originally posted 2008-05-12 12:31:37. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Ayurvedic view of vegetarianism

Although many associate the Indian culture with being vegetarian, Ayurveda itself is not vegetarian as a whole. It does promote being vegetarian, however.

Ayurveda is first and foremost a method of healing. If your health will benefit from eating meat, then meat is what Ayurveda will prescribe within your doshic diet. However, vegetarianism is promoted for ease of digestion. There are a few moral concerns, but again, Ayurveda is a science, and doesn’t typically deal with the morality of vegetarianism. Morals are recognised and taken into account, but are not the leading force behind the recommendation.

Ayurveda does, however, encourage the awareness of our effects on the environment. Vegetarianism is definitely the more sustainable route to take. It is said that, if everyone in this world was vegetarian, no one would go hungry. Most of all grain crops grown here in the USA, will go to being animal feed, instead of feeding our hungry people!

Did you know that vegetarianism increases your health by decreasing your risk of cancer, and heart disease?

I do miss eating meat. But with all the obvious health benefits, I’ll put in my vote for vegetarianism.

 I’d love to hear your reasons for being veggie!

 

Originally posted 2008-04-01 00:06:35. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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