Eat to Live, Don't Live to Eat

A yogic diet is one of concsious eating, moderation and gratitude. Here are some simple techniques and guidelines to help you become more aware of how what you eat becomes who you are.

• Prepare your food with love and care, chant as you cook.
• Serve the food gracefully and eat with attention.
• Take time to be grateful for the gift of food.
• Eat only when hungry, chew, rest and enjoy.
• Avoid: white sugar, excess salt, nicotine, white flour, alcohol, sodas and preservatives.
• Ensure you eliminate regularly, without the use of artificial products.
• Avoid microwaving, overcooking and packaged foods.
• Balance your acid/alkaline foods for a 75% alkaline to 25% acid ratio. Alkaline foods build and tone organs, nerves and glands, keeping us calm and reflective (examples are sweet and sour fruit, green vegetables, milk, yogurt and lemons). Acid foods give us a burst of energy, but too much make us vulnerable to illnesses, chronic aliments and premature aging and bring on anxiety, higher stress levels and agitation (examples are meats, eggs, starches, sweets and alcohol and nicotine).

Yogi Tea

Everyone's favorite! Good for blood, colon, nervous system and bones. Good for colds, flu and physical weakness.

96 oz. water
18 slices fresh ginger root
27 cloves
36 green cardamon pods, crushed
36 black peppercorns
4-5 sticks cinnamon
3-5 teabags black tea
milk and honey to taste

Bring the water to a boil and add the spices. Cover and continue to boil 10-30 minutes. Remove from heat, dip tea bags in and let steep just a few minutes then remove. Strain tea, add honey to sweeten slightly and add milk. You can keep the tea without milk in fridge and heat with milk to serve.