The Best Breakfasts for Calming Anxiety & Boosting Calm

Fall is here, and with  the temperatures dropping, our thoughts should turn to wholesome nourishment of the mind and body. This is the time when we see the decline of the summer pitta dosha and the rise of the Vata dosha. The Vata season is light, airy, erratic, cool, and dry.

Nervousness, anxiety, panic, fright, twitches, tics, tremors, spasms and dry or chapped skin are typical symptoms of a  Vata imbalance. To counter these symptoms and ground yourself during the Vata season opt for nourishing food: try more root veggies, warm soups, stews, and hearty meals.

Vata-balancing breakfasts can be a great way to start the day by supporting your body with grounding nourishment.

Ayurveda recommends eating breakfast within an hour of waking up, and it should be the biggest or second biggest meal of the day. Some great grounding breakfast options for the Vata season include oatmeal with warming spices like cinnamon and ginger, eggs cooked in ghee, and avocado toast.

Here are some of our favorite vata-balancing recipes:

1. Vata-balancing Vanilla Porridge

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of oats 
• ¼ cup of almond milk
• ⅔ cup of boiling water 
• ½ teaspoon of vanilla essence
• a pinch of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of honey or maple syrup

Instructions:

• Combine the oats with boiling water, almond milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and any other sweeteners you're using, in a pot.
• Ten to fifteen minutes should pass while the pan's cover is on.
• When the oats have softened, let cool and serve with your preferred garnish.

2. Egg-Avocado Toast

Ingredients:

• ¼ avocado
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 slice whole-wheat bread, toasted
• A small squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• 1 hard-boiled egg
• Rock salt as per your taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, sliced

Instructions:

• Mash the avocado along with the garlic powder and black pepper in a bowl.
• Toast bread.
• Top toast with the avocado mixture and the boiled egg (cut into coins). Garnish with olive oil and rock salt.

3. Baked Fall Apple-Pear

Ingredients:

• 2 pears
• 2 apples
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ½ cup water

Instructions:

• Set the oven to 350 degrees.
• Arrange the cut apple and pears in a baking dish
• Sprinkle cardamom evenly on the pears.
• Bake until tender at 350°F
• Let cool, and serve

4. Sweet Potato Hash-Brown

Ingredients:

• 1 medium Shredded Sweet potato
• Ghee or Olive oil to cook
• Salt, as per taste
• ¼ teaspoon pepper 
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• ¼ teaspoon Chilli powder

Instructions:

• Mix the oil, seasonings, and sweet potato shreds together.
• Scoops of the sweet potato mixture should then be dropped onto the hot pan after adding oil and butter. Flatten each into a patty by flattening it.
• Cook until browned on both sides. 
• Let cool, and serve

5. Acai Breakfast Bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 Banana
• 100-gram pouch frozen acai
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• Fall toppings: bananas, apples, figs, pomegranate seeds

Instructions:

• For the smoothie, combine the yogurt, banana and acai and blend
• Add toppings based on preference