Wise Earth Ayurveda strongly believes in fasting and giving your body a break. Just as after a hard day of work, we need to rest and replenish; our bodies need the same. Day in and day out they work hard to break down the foods we eat.
Maya Tiwari’s book “Living Ahimsa Diet” explains fasting as a profound means to recover tranquility of the body, mind, and senses in order to reach the deeper spiritual recess within you, and it is a practice that she recommends during each of the six seasons throughout the course of the book. More than limiting or eliminating your food intake, fasting is about consciously healing yourself; it’s about taking an imperative pause.
Slowing down your metabolism and digestion and letting your vital tissues and organs rest from time to time is vital tissues and organs rest from time to time is necessary if you are to maintain excellent physical, emotional, and spiritual health. It will help you add years of vibrancy to your life!
The following recipe is a great light meal to consume as you start out. It is light and nourishing for semi-fasting. It is a simple, healing and nutritious meal that is sure to help sustain you during your fast or any other time of the year.
WHITE BASMATI KICHADI
Season: All Year
Serves: 2
1 cup white basmati rice
1/2 cup split mung beans
1 pinch turmeric powder
1 pinch asafetida
1 tablespoon organic ghee (recipe on pages 150-151)
6 cups boiling water
Wash rice and beans thoroughly. Sauté the turmeric and asafetida in ghee over medium heat for a few minutes, then add rice and mung beans. Sauté on low heat for 3 minutes. Add boiling water. (Reduce amount of water for a thicker kichadi.) Stir, cover, and simmer gently on low heat for 35 minutes.”