In the cold, dry and windy weather of the winter, we counterbalance these qualities in our diet to maintain balance and prevent disease by choosing foods, spices and herbs that mitigate the effects of the weather.

Winter dining should have an emphasis on warmth, richness and soothing qualities. We can achieve this by avoiding cold, raw, dried or light foods and opting for warm, cooked and denser foods. It is also important in this season (and truly during all seasons) to maintain regularity in our meal times, avoid skipping meals and eat at a slow and mindful pace.

According to Ayurveda, there are six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent and pungent. The later three - bitter (such as leafy greens), astringent (such as broccoli, cabbage) and pungent (or spicy) have a cooling and drying effect on the system, so we reduce these tastes in our food to avoid imbalance in the winter. 

We can increase the amount of sweet (such as potatoes, nuts), sour (such as oranges, yogurt) and salty tastes (salt, seaweed). To assist you in selecting these foods, we have compiled a winter shopping list below.