What’s for Breakfast? Vata Dosha

If your predominant Ayurveda dosha type is Vata, then you are naturally governed by motion, energy, air and ether. Vata-types such as yourself generally go by impulse and are quick and light on their feet. They’re mostly thin with dry skin and hair, and may feel quite cold, even in warmer weather. Since Vata types are prone to nervous conditions, worry and anxiety, constipation, gas, bloating and other intestinal problems, they must take good care to consciously relax and create balance, regularity and stability in their lives.

Meditation, gentle exercise, calming massage, sunshine, warm foods and beverages and regular sleeping and eating habits are all highly beneficial. The light, dry characteristics of Vata are best balanced by heavier, cooked, warming and grounding foods with plenty of healthy fats and oils.

If you’re not sure what your Ayurveda body type is, check out this site where you can take a free quiz to help determine your primary dosha: ⁠ https://www.oneworldayurveda.com/free-dosha-quiz/

The predominant tastes that work to balance and stabilize Vata dosha are sweet, salty and sour. Here are five breakfast ideas to get you started:

1. Eggs cooked coconut-ghee or sesame oil with salt and melted cheese, served with a room-temperature citrus-fruit salad topped with pecans and a dash of maple syrup. Add hot tea or chai.

2. Hot cooked cereal like cream of wheat, rice, quinoa or oatmeal with ghee, jaggery or maple syrup, roasted nuts and berries, dates or bananas. Add hot cocoa or decaffeinated coffee.

3. Yellow split mung dal kitchari cooked with ginger, turmeric and Himalayan pink salt, garnished with a generous amount of ghee and avocado slices. Enjoy with hot decaffeinated green tea.

4. Spelt or wheat-flour blueberry muffins made with dates and walnuts, served with mashed tofu (or scrambled eggs) cooked in ghee and sesame or almond oil, seasoned with turmeric, cumin and tamari soy sauce. Serve with hot chai or other hot, decaffeinated herbal tea.

5. Banana-Ghee Pancakes made with eggs, flour, bananas, cinnamon and ghee. Serve with hot decaffeinated or chai tea.