A Winter (Hemant) Plate: Warm, Oily and Filling
Bajra or whole-wheat roti, ghee, sesame, jaggery and warm vegetable soups in cold months. A seasonal plate, not a diet.
Eating for cold weather
In Ayurvedic seasonal eating, hemant is early winter, when appetite is strong and the body likes warm, nourishing and slightly oily foods. A plate of bajra or wheat roti with a little ghee, a sesame and jaggery sweet and a warm vegetable soup follows that old idea. It is a seasonal eating guide and not a diet or a cure for anything.
Keep jaggery and ghee in small amounts, since both are rich, and balance with vegetables and dal. Sesame can be heating, so avoid large amounts in pregnancy. If you have diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, fatty liver or weight concerns, ask your doctor or dietitian how much ghee and jaggery suit you.
Ingredients
- 1 bajra or whole-wheat roti
- 1 teaspoon ghee
- 1 teaspoon sesame with a small piece of jaggery, and a bowl of warm vegetable soup
How to prepare
- Roast the roti and spread ghee on top.
- Roast sesame lightly and press with jaggery into a small bite.
How to use
- Serve the roti with a warm vegetable soup or sabzi.
- Finish with the small sesame-jaggery bite.
Helpful habits
- Make the vegetable soup with carrot, spinach and pepper.
- Warm foods and regular meals suit the season.
Precautions
- Ask a doctor or dietitian about ghee and jaggery if you have diabetes, cholesterol, heart disease or fatty liver.
- Avoid large amounts of sesame in pregnancy.
- A seasonal plate, not a diet or a cure.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a weight-gain diet?
- No. It is a seasonal plate; keep portions modest.
Can I use ghee freely?
- Keep it to a teaspoon or so per meal.
Is bajra good for everyone?
- Most people, but ask if you have a thyroid condition.
