Ideal Times for Eating according to Ayurveda

Ahara is one of the three pillars of life according to Ayurveda; the other two being sleep and regulated sexual life. The classical texts of Ayurveda of 300 BC–700 AD dedicate elaborate sections on foods (6). Unique aspects include detailed descriptions of food and beverage, food classification based on their taste, therapeutic qualities, etc., food safety and measures for the same, different incompatibilities of food based on their tastes, processing, dose, time, place, etc., prescriptions of consumption, food qualities and intake based on the digestive ability of an individual, and the nature of food that is being consumed. 

A key part of Ahara niyama or Dietary rules in Ayurveda is the selection of proper / healthy eating timings. This influences the capacity to digestion and assimilation. In fact, choosing the correct time to eat each meal has a similar influence as choosing what to eat, on our health. 

Ayurveda tells us that each day is divided into 4-hour dayparts. Each of these dayparts is connected to the slow rise, peaking and then falling of a specific dosha in our body. The strength of each dosha is related to the movement of the Sun. 

Pitta dosha is strongly influenced by the sun as “Agni” is one of the 2 Pancha mahaboothas that make up Pitta dosha. Therefore, when the Sun reaches its Peak i.e. at noon, with maximum Agni, the Pitta in our body is also at its peak. So, Ayurveda recommends the heaviest meal to be taken at noon. 

Here is an Ayurvedic recommendation for meals:

Breakfast moderately, lunch well, and eat dinner very sparingly.

Ideally, all meals are better when freshly made. Cold and stale food increases the Kapha in the body and might result in Ama or undigested toxic matter in the body. During breakfast and dinner, Kapha rich foods like sweets, cakes, desserts, sweet fruits, meats and foods like curd should be avoided.