How to Know How Much to Eat

How to know what is the “right” amount of food? 

From the Ayurveda view, this depends on a multitude of factors:  

how hungry you are – if you’re not, skip it. 

Activity levels- sedentary generally need less food. 

What time of day- more earlier, less later. 

Time of year- cold weather = more food. 

How old you are- aging often means less food is needed. 

Emotional state- texts state to avoid eating much when angry or anxious. 

The problem is that a lot of us learned there is a “right” amount of food that is static. Ayurvedic eating is not about following rules, it is about paying attention to factors of self and environment and going with the flow. 

What's the deal with BEANS?

The name of the game in Ayurveda is small beans in winter. Little guys such as mung and lentil, are easier to digest during the Vata season. They soften and moisten quickly and more completely through the cooking process.

Large beans, such as garbanzo and kidney, eaten in excess, can fill the digestive tract with air, which is very aggravating and irritating to the body, and also the mind (being gassy is a little...distracting, no?).

Some bodies can eat beans no problem (like your Pitta and Kapha types!), others will have to moderate even small beans. Always soak them over night, and cook them well with some spices and fat to balance their light, dry qualities.

This is why you find so many dal recipes in my cookbooks. Head over to my IGTV to find a video of me making a super quick dal soup.