Indian Food Habits
Ancient Yogic Teaching on Right Food and Eating Habits
“The less you eat, the longer you live”
- Yoga saying -
“If you eat too much, you will get sick. Gluttony has been the death of many people; avoid it and live longer.”
- Bible Old Testament, Sirach 37:32-34 -
“Food kills more people than famine”
- Modern saying -
“You can dig your grave with chopsticks”
- Japanese saying -
“Two kinds of people: Those who eat to live and those who live to eat.”
- Popular saying -
“During the day you should eat only food that can be held in the two palms”
- Buddhist saying -
“A person who eats once a day is a ‘Yogi’ (a healthy person)
A person who eats twice a day is a ‘Bhogi’ (one who seeks enjoyment)
A person who eats three times a day is a ‘Rogi’ (a patient)
A person who eats four times a day is a “Drohi” (a criminal)”
- Ancient Tamil saying -
“Stop eating while still enjoying food.”
- A mother’s advice to her VIP son -
All these sayings convey one message: Eat moderately.
What is food for?
The main role of food is to satisfy hunger and to provide essential nutrients for growth and maintenance of health and to provide the energy necessary for activities of the body.
Appetite
Appetite is the natural desire for food to satisfy hunger. What we choose to eat is influenced by many other factors such as taste of food, individual likings, what we are conditioned to eat from young, social factors, emotional state, and also expectations of those around us. It is a combination of physical needs and other factors.
When to Eat?
Eat only when you are hungry. For this you should follow the habits of animals and birds i.e. eating tit-bits (small quantities of food) throughout the day. This is not possible for most of us who are working people; so follow the usual breakfast, lunch and dinner schedule at fixed times, with a minimum of four hours in between. No eating between meals; drinks are fine, preferably plenty of water.
Where to Eat?
A clean, ventilated,
“The less you eat, the longer you live”
- Yoga saying -
“If you eat too much, you will get sick. Gluttony has been the death of many people; avoid it and live longer.”
- Bible Old Testament, Sirach 37:32-34 -
“Food kills more people than famine”
- Modern saying -
“You can dig your grave with chopsticks”
- Japanese saying -
“Two kinds of people: Those who eat to live and those who live to eat.”
- Popular saying -
“During the day you should eat only food that can be held in the two palms”
- Buddhist saying -
“A person who eats once a day is a ‘Yogi’ (a healthy person)
A person who eats twice a day is a ‘Bhogi’ (one who seeks enjoyment)
A person who eats three times a day is a ‘Rogi’ (a patient)
A person who eats four times a day is a “Drohi” (a criminal)”
- Ancient Tamil saying -
“Stop eating while still enjoying food.”
- A mother’s advice to her VIP son -
All these sayings convey one message: Eat moderately.
What is food for?
The main role of food is to satisfy hunger and to provide essential nutrients for growth and maintenance of health and to provide the energy necessary for activities of the body.
Appetite
Appetite is the natural desire for food to satisfy hunger. What we choose to eat is influenced by many other factors such as taste of food, individual likings, what we are conditioned to eat from young, social factors, emotional state, and also expectations of those around us. It is a combination of physical needs and other factors.
When to Eat?
Eat only when you are hungry. For this you should follow the habits of animals and birds i.e. eating tit-bits (small quantities of food) throughout the day. This is not possible for most of us who are working people; so follow the usual breakfast, lunch and dinner schedule at fixed times, with a minimum of four hours in between. No eating between meals; drinks are fine, preferably plenty of water.
Where to Eat?
A clean, ventilated,