Knowledge of the six tastes and their actions on the body is essential for creating our own meals...You probably don't eat solo all the time, so what happens when one meal has to feed several people? What if they are all different dosha-types and sitting around the same table?
This is when we put our “Ayurvedic super smarts” hat on. First of all, we don't have to make separate meals. We provide a meal with a variety of tastes and options so that each person can build their plate a little differently. Let's have some fun!
Monica B is throwing an Ayurvedic pizza party!
Life has pizza parties after all, so let's make it as Ayurvedic as possible.
Monica B invites three guests; vata, pitta, and kapha.
On the menu is:
- A hearty green salad with leafy kale as the base, chick peas, steamed (then chilled) broccoli, carrots, and green beans.
- As a side dish, we have a toasted loaf of crusty bread and a roasted garlic bulb that has been drizzled with olive oil for schmearing on the bread.
- The pizza has a medium-thick crust with olive oil brushed on and topped with fresh mozzarella cheese, basil from the garden, and garden-fresh tomato slices.
- Condiments include olive oil, chili flakes, sunflower seeds, ranch dressing, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
How will they build their plates?
Kapha, knowing they need a lighter fare, would pile half their plate with salad and add some balsamic vinaigrette. They would take one slice of pizza and sprinkle hot pepper flakes on it. They might also steal a garlic clove (or three) and schmear it on their pizza. They would skip the extra bread because the crust of the pizza is enough. Too much bread makes them feel heavy.
Pitta would pile ⅓ of their plate with salad and dressing. Because they have a hearty appetite, they might have two pieces of pizza, but they would skip the chili flakes. They would enjoy a piece of toasted bread with olive oil, but would bypass the garlic since it gives them heartburn.
Vata would skip the salad, or at the very least, pick out the chick peas and broccoli since it tends to make them tooty. They would go right for the bread, adding some olive oil, and might have a little garlic schmear to warm them up. They would have one slice of pizza that they pick at, since they filled up on bread.
The result.
Everyone had a great time at the pizza party. Kapha felt joyful, light, clear-headed, and extra happy because of the vegetables, and not too much heaviness from cheesy pizza or bread. Pitta was content, full of humor and wit because the bitter greens helped their mind stay clear and emotions cool. They didn't get heartburn from an overly spicy pizza and avoided burping up garlic. Vata was hugging everyone and telling stories with their hands flinging in the air—for once they were not bloated! Instead, they were grounded and satisfied from a little salad, bread, and pizza. Vata was able to sneak in some extra oil from the olive oil.
By knowing themselves and by adhering to right choices and right action, these three left Monica B's pizza party feeling happy and satisfied. None of them will have digestive problems tonight. They will all wake up in the morning happy with THEMSELVES for making the right choices for their bodies. Based on such a positive experience, they are likely to use their smarts to practice customizing their plates all the time.
