Ayurveda is a science of bio-individuality— meaning no two people are alike, therefore no two diets should be alike.

There is an ancient quote that states “one person’s food is another persons poison,” implying what could be nourishing to you, may not be nourishing for another (including your family members!)

So how to cook healthy, Ayurvedic meals for your whole family when you may have a different constitution or predominant Doshas, and therefore different food requirements?

Here are a few tips to manage cooking for your multi-doshic family to create more ease, peace and health in your cooking to nourish the whole family.

1) Cook According to Ayurvedic Principles

Many principles of Ayurvedic cooking are universal and beneficial, regardless of your body type.

Start by simply home-cooking with fresh, organic, natural, wholesome and simple foods.

Preparing your family’s meals with the basic Ayurvedic principles of including all six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent,) making lunch the largest meal of the day, taking digestive aids or teas with your meals and avoiding drinks at mealtimes is beneficial for everyone and a great place to start!

2) Incorporate More Tridoshic Foods

Prioritize ingredients that are good for all Doshas, (or yours and your family members.) Many foods, in the right portion, are balancing for all Doshas.

Some of these foods include: basmati rice, yellow split mung dal, asparagus, green beans, tofu, cilantro, and ghee are all examples of tridoshic foods that can nourish everyone.

Stocking your kitchen with these foods and preparing meals regularly with these ingredients is a sure way to satisfy the unique needs of each family member.

3) Eat according to the Season

In Pitta season (hot,) our Pitta is more likely to go out of balance. In Vata season (cold and dry,) our Vata is more vulnerable. In Kapha season (cool and damp,) our Kapha naturally increases.

Since the elements of our environment affect us and our family members equally, eating according to the season (or at least keeping the season in mind,) by eating foods that pacify the predominant dosha of each season can help nourish everyone at once.

4) Garnish, Season & Side Dish for the Individual

Cook for the group, but garnish for the individual.

After the meal is prepared and cooked, prepare people’s individual plate the specific garnishes, seasonings, flavours, sauces or easy side dishes needed to fulfil the macronutrient and favoured tastes needed for each person.

It could look something like this for the various Doshas in your house:

  • For the Vatas: Adding a drizzle of ghee, a squeeze of lemon and a dash of tamari, enjoying a quick slice of sprouted grain bread as a side or finishing the meal with a ginger tea.
  • For the Pittas: Garnishing their food with fresh herbs like cilantro or mint, adding a spoonful of premade coconut chutney, a side of fresh cucumber slices and seasoning with less salt. They might enjoy their meal with mint tea.
  • For the Kaphas: Starting their meal with a ginger tea. Seasoning their plate generously with hot spices like chilli, black pepper, or enjoying a rice cake as a light, instant and easy side dish.

5) Portion size for the individual

Making the same meal for everyone, simply portion out more the various foods based on the individual’s unique macronutrient needs.

  • For the Vatas: Vatas main energy sources are carbohydrates and healthy fats. Make half of their plate carbohydrates (grains, pasta, starches etc,) and be sure they are getting enough healthy fats by adding a slice of avocado or a drizzle of olive oil over their foods.
  • For the Pittas: Pitta runs on protein, secondly, carbs and also bitter and astringent vegetables (they also need much fewer oils and fats than Vatas!) Make their plate with a higher dose of protein, then an equal amount of carbohydrates and vegetables.
  • For the Kaphas: Kaphas thrive with more vegetables, greens, bitters and spices, and significantly fewer carbohydrates than Vatas or even Pittas. Fill the Kaphas plate with half vegetables and the other half of the plate with one-quarter carbohydrates, one-quarter protein and no added oils or fats (other than what you may cook with.) Use spices and herbs generously!

6) Cook Separate Meals Only as a Last Resort

It’s unrealistic and unsustainable to continually cook separate meals for each person in your household.

You may only consider this as a last resort or only if acute conditions are present, like when someone in the family is sick or crossing a stronger imbalance that needs to be taken greater care of.

This may look like cooking a simple vegetable soup when someone in the house has a cold— serving that as the full meal for them, and as a side dish for the remaining family members who might eat something more substantial in addition to the soup.

Only in these cases, it can be helpful to make a separate meal for them to help them cross what they need to and bounce back to health more quickly and easily.

6) Cook with love!

Ultimately, by cooking with love, care and intention and allowing your intuition first and foremost to inform your cooking, you’re sure to meet the unique needs of all your family members.

I mean, LOVE really is the greatest medicine, after all. Isn’t it? 💖