Favor fresh and lightly steamed vegetables, as well as fresh vegetable juices.
Fruits
Favor fruits and fruit juices that are fresh and in season.
Grains
Rice, especially basmati, is sattvic in nature. Wheat and oats are also good.
Dairy
A sattvic diet should include milk, especially if it is boiled before drinking and not taken along with other foods. Ghee, or clarified butter, is also very sattvic. Cheese and eggs, however, should be avoided when on this diet.
Beans
Since mung dahl is easy to digest, it can be incorporated into a sattvic diet. Otherwise, beans are heavy and not generally recommended on this diet.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are sattvic in nature. They should always be taken fresh, and not allowed to become rancid. Sesame seeds and almonds are especially good.
Herbs and Spices
Sattvic spices include cardamom, ginger, coriander, turmeric, and cinnamon.
Sweeteners
Avoid refined sugar. Small amounts of honey may be taken, but honey should not be heated or used in cooking.
Oils
Oils should be kept to a minimum. Sesame oil is particularly sattvic, and ghee, or clarified butter, can
be used as well.
Meat and Fish
A sattvic diet should not include meat, poultry, or fish.
