What Is A Buddhist Diet? What To Eat What To Avoid

There are so many diets that are doing the rounds especially in the past few months when pandemic COVID 19 hit the world turning everything topsy turvy. We all have been hunting food items that boost our immunity, take care of our weight and detoxify our bodies. One such diet which people are turning to is a Buddhist diet which is an Asian diet that is ardently followed by monks and Buddhists. 

A Buddhist diet is a vegan diet where no alcohol, meat, egg or diary products are consumed. This diet is not temporary like your and mine when we want to lose weight or have those phases. It is adhered to throughtout their lives which keeps them fit. If you feel like giving it a try then here is everything you need to know about it. 

What Is The Buddhist Diet?

This diet is plant-based and involves no onion, garlic, leeks and non-veg which includes fish and egg. The key is to eat right at the right time and in the right quantity. Buddhism has dietary food restrictions and traditions based on three dietary aspects: Fasting, vegetarianism, and abstention from alcohol.

Fasting

Buddhist diet followers are big on intermittent fasting (IF), which is a new fad among many of us but rather common for them. It is a form of time-restricted eating. It is all about programming the time when you consume the meals. This is one way of practicing self control for Buddhists an they cannot have anything from afternoon to the dawn of the next day.

Vegetarianism

Full of fruits, seeds, nuts, legumes, vegetables and healthy oils, this diet involves a lot of antioxidants which are excellent for our health, guarding us from various diseases and also helps in slowing down the signs of ageing. Now there are different sects in Buddhism as well where not all opt for vegetarianism. Some are conditioned in a way that they eat anything that has been served to them which could also include meat but there is a twist to that as well. The meat served to them should not have been specifically killed for their food on the table. 

No Alcohol

Since alcohol is an addictive substance, an important principle of a Buddhist diet is that you cannot have it. 

Foods To Eat

If you want to try this diet then here is what you can eat under different categories:

• Vegetables like beans, broccoli, tomatoes, bell peppers, etc.
• Legumes like lentils, black beans, chickpeas and kidney beans.
• Whole grains oats, quinoa and rice. 
• Fruits like apples, citris fruits, bananas, berries, etc.
• Nuts and seeds
• Healthy oils like flaxseed oil, olive oil, avocado oil.

Food Items To Avoid 

Besides all kinds of dairy and meat stay away from alcohol, punget spices and vegetables. Also, you can sweets and desserts in a very moderate amount.

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Sample Meal Plan 

Here is a regular meal plan that most Buddhist Diet fans follow but it is best to consult your nutritionist and doctor if you can go for it or not. If you suffer from BP issues or any other health problems, presume nothing and consult an expert as these diets are not easy to follow since it involves time issue and also that fact that it involves no dairy. 

Here is a mock meal plan

• For breakfast, ½ cup of blueberries, a bowl of porridge, and some nuts.
• For lunch, a fruit salad and stir-fried vegetables with seasonings.
• For dinner, vegetable salad of your choice.

Stay tuned to HerZindagi for more on different types of diets.