Soup is a warm, nourishing one-pot meal for the Vata (force of dissipation) season. Sometimes I want to lighten up a recipe when serving it for dinner. Ayurveda (science or wisdom of life) suggests more vegetables and less animal products slow cooked for best digestion. Since learning Ayurveda I have taken many of the soups I grew up with and modified them to be lower in fat and minus the meat.

Change recipes to meet your nutritional needs and flavor favorites. Do you take traditional family recipes and remake them meat-free or change the spices to get all five tastes in the meal? I do this all the time based on what is seasonal and what I have in my pantry. This practice gives me a connection to the food my mom used to make, with a fresher, healthier take.

Health is a great reason to eat more vegetables. Vegetables are filled with the vitamins, fiber and minerals we need. Lower environmental impact is a second super reason to eat less meat.The energy to grow vegetables is much lower to grow the equivalent calories in animal food.

In Ayurveda, animal flesh has a sweet taste; too much of it is Tamasic and imparts a low, stuck energy. The western diet is very high in sweet taste, so shifting to less meat will help balance the energy food has in the body.

Do You Have To Be Vegetarian To Practice Ayurveda?

The answer is no. Many yogis and people who practice Ayurveda are lacto-vegetarian and eat milk products. Organically raised minimally processed cow’s milk is considered a profoundly nutritious food source. Ayurveda doesn’t push being a vegan; instead, it suggests a vegetable-heavy diet that varies based on the season and your Prakruti (State of Health). 

I won’t tell anyone to become a vegan or vegetarian.  Eating as a vegetarian for many years taught me how vital, colorful living foods are to my health.  Now I eat an organic vegetable-heavy diet.  I work to keep my animal products, grain, and sugar foods low, and my food fresh and seasonal.

Forge Your Path To Eating More Living Foods

Here are some ideas that I have used for my family and with clients who wished to lighten up their diet. Different methods work for each of us, so don’t be afraid to try more than one of these or create unique options of your own. Share ideas that work for you and your family in the comments at the end of this post.

Eat vegetarian one day a week

Skip meat products for one meal each day. I grew up on meatless Fridays during lent as part of my religious culture. We didn’t think about it too much.  Go to meals like grilled cheese and tomato soup or pizza with a big salad were pretty standard.  My mom made the dough from scratch; it would sit rising on the stove after she got home from work.

De-emphasize meat

Make meat a condiment rather than the center of the meal.  Sometimes chicken broth is the meat of the meal.  Ground turkey and chicken dishes with a couple of ounces per person filled out with many veggies or beans taste great and feel filling with a lot less meat.

Eat Ethnic

Explore bean centric food.  Bean dishes are familiar in Asian Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Ayurvedic, and Asian cooking. Have some fun, try new things; newness helps with enjoyment and satiety.

One Meal A Day

As part of my journey to increase vegetables, I read The OMD Plan by Susy Amis Cameron. She teaches vegan eating to minimize your energy impact on the planet.  While some of the recipes in her book don’t align with my eating style, I found the approach very laudable and doable.

Making My Way To Yellow Split Pea Soup Minus The Meat

Here is an example of how I changed a recipe over time. Growing up, yellow split pea soup started with chicken broth, yellow split peas, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, and a ham bone with lots of meat. The first change I made was to chicken broth and chicken sausage to get rid of the pork. Later I added kale and took out the chicken sausage. Most of the time, I make vegan yellow split pea soup with kale; I use homemade vegetable broth and a little smoky salt for flavor. Next, I am going to make my soup lighter and add more broth.

Are You Up For The Shift Away From Animal Protein?

How about you?  If you are trying to shift your diet towards more vegetables, set up a meal plan to guide your family towards healthier choices. Make it easy for everyone with gradual easy changes. Take some favorite family recipes and make them minus the meat over time.

Ayurselfcare’s purpose is to educate on the benefits of Ayurveda. This article is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment, or advice. All the material here is for learning purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.