Ashtanga Discussion Room: David, what do you eat?

For years I have been asked what do I eat? Two weeks ago I posted a Ghetto Kitchen on how to make brown rice and gomasio and it occurred to me after the posting that there wasn't enough context for where the rice fits in a Yogic diet and specifically how it can help your daily asana practice. So I created a 3 part video series on Yogic diet and how food can positively and negative effect the Ashtanga practice.

So here is part one. Part one is a discussion room between Joy and I on the Yogic diet. Part 2 and Part 3 take you into a local Philly farmer's market and into a huge corporate supermarket.

I have also included in this post a rudimentary listing and circle diagram attempting to set forth the Yogic Principles and the specific foods that the practitioner should both adhere to and avoid.



Whole Grains

Staples
up to 50% of the diet
(if desired take with gomasio sesame seed condiment)
brown rice
millet
quinoa
buckwheat
fresh ground wheat for chapati's
Whole grain noodles
whole grain, hearty real bread
hot cereals, cream of wheat, sweet brown rice cream, steel cut oats, and occasionally oat bran, instant natural oat meal


Vegetables
(based on what's in season)

1st Tier
Burdock root
carrot
daikon radish
turnip
rutabega
Greens (swiss chard, spinach, kale etc)
cabbage (all variety)
broccoli
cauliflower
winter squash (kabocha, delicata, butternut, pumpkin, red kiri etc)

2nd Tier for use more sparingly for variety, freshness, flavor, texture, color etc
onion
mushrooms
peppers (bell, chili, etc)
summer squash
tomatoes
potatoes
salad


Vegetarian Protein Sources
tofu
seitan
tempeh
beans (adzuki, pinto, chick peas, black etc)
legumes (red lentils, small french lentils, toor dal, split peas etc)
occasional use vegan chorizo, vegan sausage, vegan hot dogs, ready made tofu or tempeh

Oils
high quality sesame oil
extra virgin olive oil organic, first cold pressed
canola oil
ghee

Snacks
whole grain crackers
apples or other select in season fruits
rice or corn cakes

Beverages
spring water
eden soy milk, or rice etc
teas (bancha,herbal, green, black etc)

Sweeteners
organic cane sugar
agave
barley malt
rice syrup
fresh apple cider
fresh seasonal juice

Sweets
dark low sugar chocolate 60% or more of caoco
heathy whole grain, less sweet cookies,
soy pudding, yogurt
juice

Occasional use foods
Cheese
goat
romano or parmesan
soy

Off limit or rare use foods
Animal Protein Sources
if you must then choicely wisely
organic, cage free eggs
fresh fish
organic free range chicken
game

Intoxicating substances
alcohol
marijuana
pain relievers

Dairy products
milk
cheese
yogurt
ice cream
butter

Dairy Substitutes
soy and other grain milks
cheeses
yogurts
margarine

Processed Foods
frozen
canned
packaged
processed
white flour pastries
fried foods
restaurant food
bad oil chips

Sweet drinks
soda
ice tea
vitamin water
juice
coffee
smoothies
Tropical fruits or out of season fruits.