Fall Recipes and Health

Fall is that beautiful time of year when nature is transitioning, shedding, and preparing for the darker, colder winter months ahead. There is something so distinct about the vibrant colors, gusty winds, and the fresh, invigorating touch of crisp autumn air against your skin.

Ayurveda recognizes the fall as vata season, when the external environment begins to take on the same qualities and characteristics of vata dosha—cold, dry, mobile, light, rough, and so on. We can see these qualities all around us in the mobile nature of the wind, the rough, dry texture of fallen leaves, and the cold bite in the air.

It’s also a time when we can experience more vata internally, which may manifest as dry skin, cold hands and feet, difficulty sleeping, and feelings of restlessness or anxiousness. Ayurveda recommends balancing vata with foods and activities that are warm, nourishing, grounding, and hydrating.

It’s the perfect time of year for fall comfort foods of all kinds! Think tasty autumn meals like fall soup, stews, broths, squash, and other fall veggies. Fall is traditionally the time of bringing in the harvest, feasting on the abundance of the season, and preparing foods to store for winter.

Vata needs plenty of nourishment, and the seasonal foods of fall are perfect for providing this sustenance. So, if this season has you planning hearty feasts, craving desserts with pumpkin, and getting excited for things like fall food festivals and baking fall bread, you are right on track.

It’s also the season of abundant fall fruits—like apples, pears, and persimmons. So put on your baking apron and pull out your favorite fall spices. Now is the time to enjoy your favorite fall harvest food in desserts like apple pie, pumpkin pie, pear crisp, and spiced persimmon cookies.

Speaking of spices, it’s important to keep your agni, or digestive fire, strong and healthy throughout the fall season. One of the best ways to do so is by adding warming spices and herbs to your meals. Think things like cinnamon, cardamom, garam masala, cumin, mustard seeds, oregano, and sage.

It’s also helpful to avoid dry and cooling foods during this time, since these qualities can increase vata and lead us out of balance. In general, fall is not the best time for iced drinks, raw salads, or crunchy snacks like crackers and popcorn.

Fall is the perfect time to curl up with cozy, warm creamy drinks. Ayurveda recommends drinking plenty of warm herbal teas, warm water with lemon, and spiced drink mixes. Our CCF tea blends and Turmeric Milk Mix are excellent ways to warm your body and support healthy digestion throughout the day.

For more Ayurvedic guidelines and recipes for the season, we invite you to dive in and spend some time with these articles. Grab a mug of tea, curl up in your favorite chair, and enjoy!