1. What influences our food choices?
TASTE!!!
Nutrition knowledge
Access
Affordability
Time
Spirituality

2. Examples of spiritual dietary rules
Islam- avoid pork, only eat Halal meat
Mormon- avoid tea, coffee, alcohol
Hindu- avoid beef, pork, eggs
Judaism- avoid pork, seafood, meat/poultry, only eat Kosher foods
Islam: Halal meat contains no pork. Halal Meat and Poultry: That which is slaughtered according to the Islamic method of slaughtering animals and birds. Halal Fish: Fish or seafood from unpolluted waters.
Judaism: Kosher food:Kosher: Meat-- Animals are considered kosher if they chew their cud and have divided hoofs (cows, goats, sheep, etc.); the eating of meat from any animal that does not chew its cud and have divided hoofs is prohibited (pork and its derivatives).
* Kosher: Poultry-- Kosher fowl are primarily those that are not birds of prey (chicken, ducks, geese, turkeys).
All of the above must be slaughtered and dressed in the prescribed manner to be considered kosher.
*Kosher: Fish-- Fish are considered kosher if they have both scales and fins (carp, salmon, whitefish, tuna, etc.). Unlike meat, they do not have to be slaughtered ordressed in any prescribed manner. Furthermore, fish may be eaten with dairy products if prepared with a non-meat shortening or broiled.
Utensils used for the preparation and serving of non-kosher food may not be used for kosher food or vegetables.

3. Examples of spiritual dietary rules
The Spiritual Path of Siddha Yoga recommends a Lacto-Vegetarian Diet within the Ashram. Outside of the Ashram, the adherents are encouraged to follow a vegetarian diet in as much as that is possible considering their environment.
Source: Correctional Services of Canada
Traditionally, ashrams were usually located far from human habitation, in forests or mountainous regions, amidst refreshing natural surroundings conducive to spiritual instruction and meditation. Spiritual and physical exercises, such as the various forms of Yoga, were regularly performed by the residents of an ashram. Other sacrifices and penances, such as Yajnas were also performed. Many Ashrams also served as Gurukuls or residential schools for children. The word ashram is derived from the Sanskrit term "aashraya", which means protection.

4. The Yogic/Sattvic Diet
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5. The Yogic/Sattvic Diet
Yoga teaches that a vegetarian diet is best for spiritual life but also for good overall health
“Various grains, fruits, roots; and for beverages: milk and pure water openly exposed to air and sun- are decidedly the best natural food for man.” –Sri Yukteswar (the guru of Paramahansa Yogananda )
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6. More than a Vegetarian diet
The sattvic diet is a spiritual type of vegetarianism. Body consciousness, calming of the mind, increased prana and spiritual fastings are all a part of this lifestyle.
For this reason, the sattvic diet is much more disciplined than a vegetarian diet.
What does fasting mean?
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7. Definitions Sattva Prana Guna The quality of purity and goodness
The life force
Food is seen to be the carrier of prana
Guna
Type of category of food
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8. Traditional Sattvic Diet
Consists of organic, whole, natural fruits & vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds
Organically grown foods, naturally ripened and harvested often carry the highest level of prana
Preparation
The attitude in which food is prepared is just as important as the quality of the food itself
Foods grown and prepared with care and a positive feeling will ensure only nourishment is being absorbed
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

9. Modern Sattvic Diet Vegetarian Does not include
White flour,
White sugar,
Junk food,
Excessively spicy or salty foods,
Fried food, and
Other forms of food that unnaturally stimulate your mind and/or blood sugar
It avoids meat, alcohol, garlic and onions. Some also exclude fish and eggs.
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

10. Three Gunas of Food Sattvic Rajastic Tamasic
Foods which are considered clean and pure
Savoury, smooth, firm and pleasant to the stomach
Rajastic
Foods that cause over-stimulation and agitation
Pungent, sour, harsh or astringent
Tamasic
Foods that leave us tired and sluggish
Stale, tasteless, rotten or foul
In the unmanifested universe, energy has 3 qualities: Sattva (purity), Rajas (activity, passion) and Tamas (darkness, inertia).
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

11. Apple Example On an apple tree, all 3 energies can be seen
Ripe fruit (Sattvic)
Ripening fruit (rajasic)
Overripe (tamasic)
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

12. Sattvic Foods Light in nature Easy to digest
Refreshing and not disturbing to the mind
Eaten in modest portions and chewed slowly to enjoy taste and texture of the food itself, not spices or seasonings
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

13. Fresh Organic Fruit Most fruit are considered sattvic
Examples are apples, grapes, berries, bananas, apricots, melons, oranges, peaches and plums
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

14. Fresh Organic Vegetables
Most mild vegetables are sattvic
Leafy greens, beets, carrots, squash, celery sweet potatoes and cucumber
Some vegetables are rajastic and tamasic
Pungent (rajastic): hot peppers, onions and garlic
Gas-forming (tamasic): mushrooms and potatoes
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

15. Fresh Organic Milk Products
Milk & dairy can be consumed if the product is organic and the cows have been treated fair and raised naturally
It is believed that excess mucous and toxins are released in badly treated cow’s milk
Milk can be diluted and warmed with mild spices and served with raw honey to overcome mucous forming tendencies
*Caution- raw honey may not be safe*
Examples
Milk, clarified butter, fresh cheese, whey and fresh yogurt
Raw honey has not been pasteurized and is more likely to cause food poisoning (botulism)
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

16. Nuts, Seeds & Oils
Small portions of nuts and seeds (not overly roasted or salted)
Flax seeds, sesame seeds, walnuts and pine nuts (peeled and soaked)
Olive, sesame and flax oil (cold pressed)
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

17. Whole grains Organic rice, barley, spelt whole wheat and oatmeal
Yeasted breads are not recommended unless it is toasted
Lightly roasting grains prior to preparation will help to remove their heavy quality
I wasn’t able to find out why the toasting makes yeast breads ok.
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

18. Legumes
Lentils, split peas, organic tofu and bean sprouts are all considered sattvic
The general rule is that the smaller the bean the easier it is to digest
If consumed with whole grains it offers a complete protein combination
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

19. Spices & Sweeteners Mild spices including
basil, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, fresh ginger and turmeric
Spices like black pepper, red pepper and garlic are generally considered rajastic, but are sometimes used in small amounts
Raw honey and raw sugar (Caution: raw honey may not be safe)
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

20. Supplementary Protein
Various approaches
Most Yogis do not eat flesh foods. It is believed that the anger and killing the animal is transferred during consumption
Another approach is to avoid the flesh of mammals. This allows for consumption of fish, poultry and eggs. However, they should not be consumed more than four times per week
A more strict approach relies solely on dairy products for protein, because it is non-harming and given freely
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

21. Is there any scientific evidence to support the yogic diet?
Indian study: “Linkage of concepts of good nutrition in yoga and modern science” 2007, Current Science
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22. Study Findings
Sattvic food found to be high in micronutrient density (ie. Lots of nutrition per calorie)
Most Sattvic food found to be low in fat (only 18% were high fat)
42% of Rajistic foods high in fat
72% of Tamasic foods high in fat
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services

23. Study Findings
Significant association between Tamasic food intake and anxiety
Supports mind-body principle of yoga
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24. "Food is a dynamic force which interacts with the human on the physical body level, the mind emotional level, and also the energetic and spiritual level. The study of nutrition is the study of the interaction with and assimilation of the dynamic forces of food by the dynamic forces of our total being.”-- Gabriel Cousens, M.D., Spiritual Nutrition and The Rainbow Diet
For information purposes only. Does not represent the recommendations of Public Health Services