For all Sanatana Dharma followers vegetarianism should be a huge part of our lives. Our food plays a very important role in our body’s development. There are 3 types of Gunas:
- Satvic
- Rajisic
- Tamasic
These three gunas represent goodness (purity), passion and ignorance respectively. In our food we should aim to eat more satvic type foods in order to be more satvic orientated i.e. being good /pure. If we eat more of the others (Rajisic and Tamisic) then we will inevitably be more passionate (which gives rise to desires and attachment) and ignorant.
Satvic Food:
This is purely vegetarian food, free from both animal and chemical elements. It is fresh raw food which has all its natural enzymes intact, and moderately cooked food, as well. Types of food under a Satvic diet would be:
- Cereals
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Nuts
- Wholemeal bread
Rajasic Food:
Pungent, sour, salty, excessively hot, harsh, astringent, and scorching: such are the foods desired by the rajasic, causing pain, misery, and sickness” Types of food under a Rajasic diet would be:
- Sharp and hot spices
- Tea / Coffee / Pop Drink
- Fish
- Eggs
- Chocolate
Tamasic Food:
“Stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, and left-over, the leavings of others, as well as the impure, is the food which is dear to the tamasic” Types of food under a Tamasic diet would be:
- Meat
- Onions
- Alcohol
- Garlic
- Stale foods
It is obviously very hard to stay on a Satvic diet only but you should therefore try to predominately have a Satvic way of life over the gunas which will still be of huge benefit to your mind, body and soul.
Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita,
Bg 3.13 — The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.
Bg 3.14 — All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña [sacrifice], and yajña is born of prescribed duties.
Please list your recipes in the comments section below for others to enjoy – thank you!
Relevant Links:
http://www.positivehealth.com/article/ayurveda/ayurvedic-way-of-cooking-herbs-and-food-supplements
Sanatan Cultural Society 
July 28, 2014 at 9:43 pm
Vegetarian – Green lentil and carrot shepherds pie with sweet potato mash
Recipe is for 4 people:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, diced finely
2 large carrots (500g/1lb 2oz in total), grated
2 tbsp thyme chopped or dry herbs
400g can chopped tomatoes
1 low salt vegetable stock cubes
410g can green lentils
950g sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks (Or a mixture of sweet and normal)
25g butter
85g vegetarian mature cheddar, grated
1 Tps mixed herbs
1clove garlic, peeled and crushed
Sprinkling of lemon juice
Boil potatoes for approximate 15mins.
Whilst boiling heat the onions in a pan with the oil til soft. Then add tomatoes and thyme and cook for 5 mins. Rinse lentils thoroughly and add with carrots, stock cube, garlic and herbs and 200ml water. Simmer for approx 10mins til lentils and carrots are soft.
Meanwhile check potatoes. When soft, drain, add butter and mash. Add a little lemon juice to the mash.
When the lentil mix is done put it in an ovenproof tray, add the mash potato on top, top with the cheese and cook in the oven at 190c for 20mins.
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July 28, 2014 at 9:46 pm
Roasted vegetable pasta bake
2 courgettes
2 peppers (red, yellow or orange)
1 aubergine
1 red onion
2 plum tomatoes
3 spring onions
2 celery sticks
2 garlic cloves
Approx 300g passata
Approx 300g pasta
Red and black pepper or just black pepper
Mixed herbs
Cheese to top
Cut up peppers, courgettes, aubergine, onion and tomatoes into chunks. Onions and tomatoes can be cut into quarters. Roast veg in a little olive oil til soft but still a little firm.
Meanwhile cook the pasta and drain as normal.
In a wok/pan heat a little oil. Dice the celery finely and finely slice spring onions and add both to pan until soft and slightly brown. Add the roasted veg to the pan, cook for a couple of mins then add the passata and crush the garlic cloves and add them. Add a sprinkling of black pepper and mixed herbs to taste. Cook for 5-10mins…basically til the veg is soft enough…mine didn’t take long.
Mix saucy veg and pasta then transfer to an ovenproof dish, top with cheese and bake til the cheese is golden brown then serve.
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December 26, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Remember onion and garlic are also “Tamasic!” So those who care for such nonsense practice eating grass. After all cow eats grass and cow is your mother!!!
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