The Ayurvedic Diet and Cookbook Review

Like many of you I have heard of the Ayurvedic diet and Ayurvedic medicine for some time but really had very little idea of what is was. So when I had the opportunity to review the book The Essential Ayurvedic Cookbook I jumped at the chance to learn more. This cookbook by Lois A Leonhardi contains several chapters that explain the Ayurvedic diet for beginners, western beginners. Since the diet comes out of Eastern influences it is a great place to start to have it broken down into steps and ideas that are tailored to those of us who have grown up in the West. She includes 200 recipes in the cookbook and specifically suits them to a Western palate. She also makes a point to use recipes designed to be balancing to all constitutions so that it will work well for families. And her recipes include many dairy free, gluten free and soy free options. I also appreciated that Ms. Leonhardi includes meat in many recipes since I am not a vegetarian and most Westerners join me in that.

Early on in the book Ms. Leonhardi identifies Ayurveda as a philosophy rooted in balance in all areas, including balanced energy, balanced tissues and balanced digestion. She contrasts that with the Western concept of health, which is the absence of disease. 

One of the key underlying ideas of Ayurveda is that there is not a one size fits all diet. Each of us is different and need to find what combination of foods works for us. It is also a very flexible approach to food and health. We must learn to listen to our bodies and observe how to respond to certain foods. All tastes should be present in a meal, including sweet, salty, pungent, bitter, astringent, and sour.

Another key component of Ayurveda is understanding the 3 Doshas, vata, pitta, and kapha. To me this seems like the Eastern version of the Meyers Briggs personality types. These personality types are important because different foods go with each type and other foods are to be avoided.

One section I really appreciate in this book was the top ten essential ayurvedic tips for wellness.

1. Eat only when you are truly hungry.
2. Wait 6 hours between meals,
3. Eat mindfully, in a harmonious environment.
4. Drink warm water with your meals and upon rising.
5. Stop eating before you feel full.
6. Eat your big meal at midday and lighter meals for breakfast and dinner.
7. Cook at home using whole foods.
8. Emphasize local, organic foods in your diet.
9. Minimize leftovers.
10. Take a break with a mono-diet of kitchari. (mung beans and basmati rice)

Ms. Leonhardi also has a section called The Ayurvedic Pantry, where she explains all the basic ingredients needed for an Ayurvedic diet. This was also very helpful especially if you do not normally use an ingredient that is basic to the Ayurvedic pantry.

My only negative on this book is related to images. I love pictures of recipes before I make them. It is often what motivates me to try and make a particular recipe. There are pictures in this cookbook but not many. This publishing company tends to group images together in sections of the book. I understand the motivation is to save money and I do want to pay less for my books, but I miss the photos next to the recipe that motivate me to try it out.