Eat

A simple breakfast or dessert of super foods stuffed with spices to jumpstart digestion.

Preparation Time: 5-10 Minutes

Yields: 4 Servings

Ingredients:

Strawberries are the ultimate summer fruit. I remember going strawberry picking with my family every year as a kid. We would make a whole day out of it and at the end we would get freshly-made strawberry ice cream right from the farm itself.

If you’re short on time but still want to prepare a fresh, healthy meal, the zucchini that are overflowing in markets and gardens across the northern hemisphere during this time of year are calling your name. During the summer, this supermarket staple is at the height of flavor.

When I was at yoga school in India I encountered many other students who were also on an Ayurvedic path. It was actually my first interface with Ayurveda in action. I remember seeing one student in particular who sat with a bowl full of soaked almonds in the morning, peeling the skins, adding them to the yogic diet we were already being fed. My interest was immediately piqued. I was interested in what he was doing, as he obviously chose almonds over any other food to bring to our silent morning meals.

Summer is in full swing and so are the squash plants in the garden. By now, most of us have an abundance of summer squash and all of our neighbors and friends have loads of squash as well.

What to do with all of the lovely summer squash fruit?

One way to utilize squash is to harvest and eat the flowers! Squash blossoms, generally used from the zucchini plant, are a delicacy that has been cooked for centuries by many different cultures. 

Tofu.  The very word instills disgust in the mouths of many omnivores, and even in some who abstain from meat products.  And with good reason!  Since the 1960s, the idea of “tofu” has been used in U.S. media to conjure up images of gross, weird, vegetarian and vegan food – in the collective psyche, it’s almost a four-letter word, one that’s practically synonymous with vegetarianism itself.

If you are trying to get healthier, inside out, the first thing you need to focus on is home-cooked meals. It's important to get organized well enough to be able to cook those healthy meals at home. Here’s some help…

Condiments are great. There are so many of them, and they can always make or break a dish. Two of my favorite condiments are peanut butter and jelly, a diehard classic. One day, while eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I wondered how easy it would be to make my own peanut butter and jelly condiments from scratch. You’ll be delighted to know that it’s very easy (and tasty!). It just takes a little time, patience, and dedication. The best part is, you have full control over the ingredients list.

Turmeric, botanically known as Curcuma longa, has long been revered as a sacred plant for healers of many traditions. Used as food, medicine, and in ritual, this rhizomatous plant holds a well-respected power.   

Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) is native to the Western Pacific Islands region. Captain Cook is responsible for the naming of the kava plant, though he didn’t actually discover it. The Latin name Piper methysticum translates to “intoxicating pepper.” The terms “kava” and “kava kava” are both used often and refer to the same plant.