Ayurvedic Seasonal Food List

Seasonal eating is one of the cornerstones of healthy living. Eating seasonally appropriate foods can help keep your digestive fire strong and support your immunity through seasonal changes. Our ayurvedic food list includes a list for spring, summer, and fall/winter. Read on for a useful resource to help you start planning your meals and ensure that your pantry is stocked.

Download a printable version here.

Fruits

Fall/Winter, Vata	Spring, Kapha	Summer, Pitta
Apples (cooked)	Apples	Apples
Apricots	Blueberries	Apricots
Bananas	Grapefruit	Avocados
Berries	Grapes	Berries
Cantaloupe	Dried Fruits	Cantaloupe
Cherries	Lemons	Cherries
Dates	Limes	Coconut
Figs	Papayas	Cranberries
Grapefruit	Pears	Dates
Lemons	Pomegranates	Grapes
Limes	Prunes (soaked)	Guava
Mangoes	Raisins	Limes
Oranges & Necatrines	Raspberries	Mangoes
Pineapple	Strawberries	Melons
Papaya		Pears
Peaches		Pineapples
Pears		Plums
Persimmons		Pomegranates
Prunes (soaked)		Persimmons
Tangerines		Prunes
		Oranges
		Raspberries
		Strawberries
		Tangerines

Vegetables

All cooked; add a healthy oil such as ghee along with warming spices.

Fall/Winter, Vata	Spring, Kapha	Summer, Pitta
Asparagus	Alfalfa Sprouts	Alfalfa Sprouts
Artichoke Hearts	Artichokes	Artichokes
Avocados	Asparagus	Bean Sprouts
Beets	Bell Peppers	Beet Greens
Brussels Sprouts	Beets & Beet Greens	Bell Peppers
Carrots	Broccoli	Broccoli
Chiles	Brussels Sprouts	Brussels Sprouts
Corn	Cabbage	Cabbage
Fennel	Carrots	Cauliflower
Eggplant (cooked)	Cauliflower	Celery
Garlic	Celery	Cilantro
Ginger	Chard	Chard
Greens (cooked)	Chilies	Collard Greens
Mushrooms	Collard Greens	Cucumbers
Leeks & Onions	Corn	Endive
Okra	Dandelion Greens	Fennel
Potatoes	Endive	Green Beans
Parsley	Kale	Jicama
Pumpkin	Leeks & Onions	Kale
Sweet Potatoes	Lettuce	Lettuce
Tomatoes (cooked)	Mushrooms	Mushrooms
Winter Squash	Peas	Okra
Turnips	Potatoes, white	Snow Peas
	Radishes	Pumpkin
	Spinach	Potatoes
	Sprouts	Watercress
	Turnips	Winter Squash
		Watercress
		Zucchini

Grains

Fall/Winter, Vata	Spring, Kapha	Summer, Pitta
Amaranth	Amaranth	Barley
Barley	Barley	Oat
Buckwheat	Buckwheat	Rice
Einkorn	Corn	Rye
Millet	Durham Flour	Wheat
Oats	Millet
Quinoa	Oats (dry, not cooked)
Rice, Basmati	Quinoa
Rice, Brown	Rice, Basmati
Rye	Rye
Wheat	Spelt
	Tapioca
	Wheat Bran

Legumes

Fall/Winter, Vata	Spring, Kapha	Summer, Pitta
Lentils, Brown	Adzuki Beans	Adzuki Beans
Lentils, Red	Black Beans	Black Beans
Mung Beans	Black-Eyed Peas	Fava Beans
Navy Beans	Garbanzo Beans	Garbanzo Beans
Quinoa	Kidney Beans	Kidney Beans
Rice, Basmati	Lentils	Lentils
Rice, Brown	Lima Beans	Mung Beans
Rye	Mung Beans	Soy Beans
Tempeh	Navy Beans	Split Peas
Tofu	Split Peas
Wheat	Navy Beans
	Pinto Beans
	Split Peas
	Tempeh
	White Beans

Nuts + Seeds

Most nuts and seeds are good for the winter time.

Fall/Winter, Vata	Spring, Kapha	Summer, Pitta
Almonds	Filberts	Almonds
Brazil Nuts	Pinons	Cashews
Cashews	Popcorn	Coconuts
Hazelnuts	Pumpkin Seeds	Flax
Macadamia Nuts	Sunflower Seeds	Macadamia Nuts
Pecans	Pine Nuts
Pine Nuts	Pumpkin Seeds
Pistachios	Sunflower Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Walnuts

Dairy

Favor raw or vat pasteurized when possible.

Fall/Winter, Vata	Spring, Kapha	Summer, Pitta
Butter	Cottage Cheese	Butter
Butter Milk	Ghee	Cottage Cheese
Cottage Cheese	Goat's Milk	Ghee
Cow's Milk (not cold)	Oat Milk	Oat Milk
Ghee	Rice Milk	Rice Milk
Goat's Milk (not cold)	Yogurt (low-fat)	Soy Milk
Kefir
Soft Cheeses
Sour Cream

Oils

Kaphas should reduce oils

Fall/Winter, Vata	Spring, Kapha	Summer, Pitta
Almond Oil	Flax Seed Oil	Avocado Oil
Flax Seed Oil	Ghee	Coconut Oil
Ghee	Hemp Oil	Ghee
Mustard oil	Mustard Oil	Olive Oil
Olive Oil (unadulterated)	Sunflower Oil
Safflower Oil
Sesame Oil
Sunflower Oil

Spices

All spices can support digestion during the winter months. All spices can support digestion through the spring months as well, but favor mild heat and pepper for cleansing.

Fall/Winter, Vata	Spring, Kapha	Summer, Pitta
Anise	Anise	Anise
Asafetida	Asafetida	Asafetida
Basil	Basil	Basil
Bay Leaf	Bay Leaf	Cardamom
Black Pepper	Black Pepper	Cilantro
Caraway	Chamomile	Coriander
Cardamom	Caraway	Dill
Cayenne	Cardamom	Fennel
Cinnamon	Cayenne	Cumin
Clove	Cinnamon	Cilantro
Corinader	Clove	Lime
Cumin	Corinader	Mint
	Cumin	Parsley
	Dill	Peppermint
	Fenugreek	Saffron
	Horseradish
	Turmeric

Sweetners

Fall/Winter, Vata	Spring, Kapha	Summer, Pitta
Honey	Honey	Maple Syrup
Jaggery	Maple Syrup	Rice Syrup
Molasses	Molasses	Turbinado
Maple Syrup		Unrefined Cane Sugar

Animal Products

Favor in moderation if you eat these items.

Fall/Winter, Vata	Spring, Kapha	Summer, Pitta
Eggs	Eggs (in moderation)	Fish, Freshwater
Poultry	Fish, Freshwater	Poultry (white meat)
Venison	Fish, Ocean	Shrimp (in moderation)
	Poultry (white meat)