Ayurvedic eating is oriented on 3 seasons – Vata (fall/early winter); Kapha (late winter/spring) and Pitta (summer). These seasons are in coherence with the harvest. Below you will find a list of foods for balancing yourself during the summer (Pitta) season, where sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes that are energetically cooling should be favored.
FRUITS ?????????????
Apples*, Apricots*, Berries*, Cherries*, Coconut, Dates, Figs, Grapes (red, purple, black), Limes, Pomelo, Mangos*, Melons, Oranges*, Pears, Pineapple*, Plums*, Pomegranates, Prunes, Raisins, Wild Strawberries, Watermelon
*provided that they are sweet in taste
VEGETABLES ??????????
Avocado, Artichoke, Asparagus, Beets (cooked), Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots (cooked), Celery, Cucumber, Dandelion Greens, Green Beans, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Lettuce, Okra, Olives (black), Onions (cooked in butter or ghee), Parsley, Parsnips, Fresh Green Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Rutabaga, Squash, Spinach (cooked), Sweet Potatoes, Watercress, Zucchini
GRAINS ??
Amaranth, Barley, Couscous, Oats, Quinoa, Rice (basmati, white, wild), Spelt, Tapioca, Wheat
LEGUMES ??
Adzuki Beans, Chickpeas, Kidney Beans, Lentils, Mung Beans, Pinto Beans, Green Peas, White Beans
MILK PRODUCTS ??
Butter (unsalted), Cheese (soft, unsalted, not aged), Cottage Cheese, Cow’s Milk, Ghee, Goat’s Milk Goat’s Cheese (soft, unsalted)
NUTS & SEEDS ???
Almonds (soaked & peeled), Coconut, Walnuts, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds
MEAT & EGGS ?????
Fish (freshwater), eggs (whites only), rabbit, lamb, beef, turkey & chicken (white part)
OILS
Coconut Oil, Ghee, Olive Oil, Virgin pumpkin seed oil, Grapeseed oil, Sunflower oil, Walnut oil
HERBS & SPICES ??
Fenugreek, Basil (fresh), Cardamom, Coriander (seeds or powder), Black and white cumin, Dill, Fennel, Mint, Neem leaves, Orange Peel, Parsley, Peppermint, Saffron, Spearmint, Tarragon, Turmeric, Vanilla