The Balanced Bowl

The balance bowl method offers the foundation for all meals in our home. It is a simple way of nourishing the body with the right proportions of augmenting and extracting foods. For adults, this ratio is 60% augmenting and 40% extracting. Let’s explore what that means.

Augmenting foods are those that add to the body and allow it to build tissue. We need a little more augmenting foods than extracting. They are generally sweeter in taste, such as grains and vegetables like carrot, sweet potato or squash.

Extracting foods are cleansing in nature. They ask the body to give up something to digest. They are generally bitter or astringent in taste including kale, broccoli, nuts, legumes and animal meat.

How to build a balance bowl

The balance bowl contains four main components: a grain, a legume/meat, an augmenting vegetable, an extracting vegetable.

With this as your foundation, the balance bowl can look like a bowl, a sushi roll, a wrap, a pasta or even a pizza! The possibilities are endless and as you grow in confidence, enjoy experimenting with new creations.

Something to note:

Children require much more augmenting foods as they are growing. Consult your practitioner for further guidance on appropriate ratios for children.

Here’s a handy guide to sattvic augmenting and extracting foods to create a balanced meal.

If you’re interested in learning more about simple Ayurvedic food and ways of living, visit the link below to book a consultation or workshop enquiry, or subscribe to keep in touch.