Creating Healthy Eating Habits

Unhealthy eating can be described as eating whatever edible items we crave for that immediately satisfy the palate, even if harmful in the long run. When we eat foods to satisfy the palate, invariably we end up eating the wrong foods that contain high amounts of salt, sugar, excessive spices and harmful fat. Such foods temporarily satiate our inner cravings. The “feel good” factor is a very powerful reinforcer that turns seemingly innocuous actions into an irreversible bad habit. Let us look at some of the reasons why we eat unhealthy food.

In his recently published book on The Science of Mind Management, Swamiji said that unhealthy eating is like a bad habit that we cannot give up because we do not observe any immediate harmful effect. On the other hand, we may experience emotional gratification or sensory pleasure when eating the wrong foods. Gradually, without our conscious awareness, we become conditioned to seek immediate pleasure and begin eating wrong foods at the wrong time as well. We get caught into a bad habit loop!

In his lectures, Swamiji has described the importance of understanding the bio-cycle to make better decisions about when and how much food to consume. He says that we should “earn our breakfast” after exercising in the morning. Lunch should be the heaviest meal and consumed between noon and 1:00 PM. We should have a light dinner 3-4 hours before bedtime to allow the body adequate time to digest the food. Also, we should drink water either ½ hour before or 2 hours after meals but not during the meal. These habits are in sync with our metabolic system and position of the sun.

Swamiji also says that what we eat impacts the physical body and the mind. We are what we eat! Our scriptures also teach us a lot about foods that we eat. In Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita, Swamiji explains that our preference for food is in accordance with our gunas (i.e., modes of goodness or sattva, passion or rajas, and ignorance or tamas). If we eat pure food, our mind will become pure too. Specifically, Bhagavad Gita 17.8 states:

आयु:सत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धना: |
रस्या: स्निग्धा: स्थिरा हृद्या आहारा: सात्त्विकप्रिया: || 8||

āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ
rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛidyā āhārāḥ sāttvika-priyāḥ

“Persons in the mode of goodness prefer foods that promote the life span, and increase virtue, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, succulent, nourishing, and naturally tasteful.” Such foods are also conducive to good physical and mental health. The Bhagavad Gita (17.9) also states that:

कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिन: |
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दु:खशोकामयप्रदा: || 9||

kaṭv-amla-lavaṇāty-uṣhṇa- tīkṣhṇa-rūkṣha-vidāhinaḥ
āhārā rājasasyeṣhṭā duḥkha-śhokāmaya-pradāḥ

“Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry, and chiliful, are dear to persons in the mode of passion. Such foods produce pain, grief, and disease.”Swamiji further explains that such foods are eaten in the tamasic mode with the purpose of experiencing material bliss through the palate (i.e., preya pleasure – referenced in the October issue of Samarpan). Thus, people tend to eat at any time of the day when they want immediate gratification of the senses, even if they are not hungry. 

With this knowledge about our gunas and corresponding food preferences, we need to reflect on ways we can increase healthy habits and a sustainable lifestyle. 

In The Science of Mind Management, in the chapter on The Power of Habits, Swamiji presents a very strong case for contemplating on the pleasure vs. pain of adopting a healthy vs. unhealthy lifestyle with respect to food and exercise. Quoted directly from the book (pp. 75-77), here are the essential points to reflect on in one’s daily life.