Time and Frequency of Food Intake

 

• The ideal time for taking food is when the digestive fire (Agni) is well manifested. Signs include clear eructation, lightness of the body, clarity of sense organs, and a calm, positive state of mind.

• A healthy person should ideally take food twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening.

• Dinner should be taken within three hours of sunset, ideally between 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM.

• Food should not be consumed within three hours of the previous meal, and one should not starve for more than six hours.

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Quantity of Food (Ahara Matra)

• The quantity of food intake should be decided based on the digestive capacity of the individual.

• Proper quantity is that which gets digested in time without disturbing normal bodily functions.

• In general:

  • ½ or ⅓ of the stomach should be filled with solid food,

  • The remaining portion should be left for liquids and the movement of bodily humors (Doshas such as Vata).

• While eating, a person should sit comfortably in a place slightly elevated from the floor, with all body parts kept in a normal and relaxed posture.

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Sequence of Taking Food

• Foods should be consumed in the following order:

  • Sweet taste at the beginning,

  • Sour and salty tastes in the middle,

  • Pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes at the end.

• Natural appetisers: In cases of loss of appetite or reduced digestive capacity, intake of ginger with rock salt before meals is beneficial.

• Fruits such as pomegranate should be eaten first (except banana and cucumber).

• Next, one should take soups and gruels, followed by solid foods such as rice and other preparations.

• Heavy items like pastries, poha (flattened rice), etc., should not be consumed at the end of a meal.

• Āmalakī (Indian gooseberry) may be taken before, during, or after meals to enhance appetite, improve digestion, and relieve constipation.

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Water Intake During Meals

• For healthy individuals, frequent intake of small quantities of water is recommended.

• During meals, consuming a small amount of water in the middle of the meal is considered ideal.