According to Ayurveda, such a diet provides great nourishment to the body and also maintains a peaceful state of mind. Since I am consuming a plant-based diet only, I make it a point to stock my kitchen with calming and invigorating foods. Because to be honest, it’s easy to lose the track on ‘healthy eating’ when on a vegetarian or vegan diet.
When I had just started my vegetarian diet, I was consuming a lot of sugar and fried snacks such as chips and fries, because I just didn’t know what to eat! So I just alternated between salty and sweet snacks and as you can imagine, it impacted my health. I was bloated, unfit and feeling generally ‘off’. So what did I do?
Gave away all the junk food and stocked my kitchen with all the foods I am mentioning in this list. And yes, I started cooking my meals way more! ( 4-5 times a week). That’s why It’s important that you stock your kitchen with these foods well, you will not regret it.
Understanding The Importance Of Satvik Diet
Satvik means ‘pure essence’ in Sanskrit. It purifies the mind so that it functions to its maximum potential and is also easy on the stomach, hence promoting good digestion. As per Ayurveda, a Satvik diet offers you:
- Physical strength
- Healthy mind and body balance
- Longevity
- Spiritual awareness
- Healthier immune system
A satvik diet is mainly dependent of food products that are light, soothing and easily digestive. Satvik signifies a group of ethereal foods that grow above the ground and draw energy from the sun. These include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, dairy products, herbs, honey and sprouted seeds, to name just a few.
5 Must-Have Satvik Foods In Your Kitchen
Seasonal Vegetables
The idea of a Satvik diet promotes clean eating that reenergizes the mind and body. Seasonal vegetables that are fresh, as well as free of chemicals, form the very base for such a diet.
While it is easy to find all fruits and vegetables round the year today, a true satvik diet honours the role climate plays on fresh produce. Organic foods and vegetables promote good health and can be incorporated into a variety of dry and curry dishes as well as salads, soups and stews.
Organic Honey
Honey is a natural sweetener that is far healthier than sugar itself. Use honey to sweeten herbal teas, cold beverages, and desserts, or drizzle some on warm toast for a healthy, nutritious snack.
Nuts And Seeds
A great snack, nuts are rich in antioxidants and Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids. They are also rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Crunchy and delicious, they are a wonderful gift from Mother Nature and available in many varieties, all of which come with their own individual benefits. Just munch on a handful of mixed nuts of healthy seeds like sesame to stay healthy and fit! Indulge in Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts, Brazil nuts and Pistachios. High in Zinc, pumpkin seeds are great for skin too.
Legumes
Legumes are a wonderful source of plant-based proteins. They are also rich in complex carbs and fibre, making them healthy and highly satiating food.
Legumes and beans keep you full for longer and are low in calories themselves, hence keeping away unwanted weight again and unhealthy snacking. A ½ cup of cooked lentils offers as much as 20gm of complex carbohydrates, 9 gm of protein, 8gm of fibre and less then ½ gm of fat. Most legumes contain an insoluble fibre that promotes healthy digestion and also maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Try to eat kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas lentils and split peas are all mature legumes several times a week.
Fresh Fruits
Many fruits are high in natural sugars, and that makes them a rich energy source. Fruits, in general, are very good for you. They are high in fibre, water content, vitamins and minerals and most fruits are also low in sugar. However, citrus fruits, in particular, are one of the best foods as they give your body instant energy, thus raising the metabolism, and Vitamin C in these fruits helps to burn fat readily. Try to incorporate more fruits in your diet and choose from apples, oranges, pears, bananas, berries, melons, watermelons, papaya and more.
Also worth mentioning are low-fat dairy and sprouted whole grains. Try to eat a variety of whole grains, including Amaranth, Barley, Millet, Quinoa, Brown and Wild Rice, to name just a few. The best Satvik oils to use for cooking are Sunflower, Olive, Sesame and Safflower oils.