During lockdown, I ate. Well, it wasn’t so much that I ate, more that I had more time to cook. Alex was happy as I had time to bake cakes and biscuits. I experimented with different cuisines. My cookery skills increased, and so did my waistline!

Over Xmas we were lucky enough to spend a few weeks in the Canary Islands. Maybe it was wearing a bikini once again, or just the switch to outdoor living, but my food choices began to change.

I have never been a fan of dieting. I have never found one that worked for me – mostly they just make me more fixated on eating. But altering the way I think about food has worked for me. And this is what I have tried this year.

Firstly I have given up desserts, chocolate, biscuits – I would say sugar but I still enjoy the odd glass of wine! This wasn’t as hard as I thought – a couple of times I have craved something sweet to go with a coffee. But otherwise, the cravings past quite quickly – my energy levels have increased and I feel quite virtuous!

But the thing that has changed my diet the most is that I have started eating for Prana. I call it Eating Prana Rich.

Eating Prana Rich

Prana is effectively energy – it’s a key concept in Yoga, and in other energy based practices like Tai Chi, and Reiki (chi or ki). Prana animates the body, it is the spark in the machine. It is light, and balanced.

Yoga teaches us to live a Prana rich life, and one of the key components of that is diet. It also suggests we make food choices that do not cause any discomfort or mental agitation. We should choose foods that make us feel nourished, light, energised, and healthy. Avoiding foods that make us feel heavy, uncomfortable, sluggish, and unhealthy.

Eat for energy! High Prana foods are fresh, grown locally, in season and minimally processed. The less time between producer and table the better.

Foods that are tinned, old, packaged, and processed lack Prana. Meat is also a low Prana food because it’s dead and contains the toxic emotional energies of the animals from when they were killed.

In summary:

• High Prana Foods: Fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables; minimally processed whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds (especially sprouted).
• Medium Prana Foods: Imported (non-seasonal) produce; dried nuts / seeds / legumes; frozen fruit and vegetables.
• Low Prana Foods: Tinned, processed, and packaged foods; limp and lifeless fruits and vegetables; meat products; ‘ready meals’ / mass produced foods.

Eating for Energy

I have taken to looking at what I eat from an energetic point of view. Rather than counting calories, I consider the effect the meal will have on me. I avoid foods that make me feel sluggish and heavy. When I weigh up, for example breakfast, I choose colour and freshness over low energy sliced bread.

According to Yoga, the way we prepare the food also has a massive impact on the energetic properties of our meals. When we make our food, energy is transferred. If you make food when you are stressed or angry, the food itself holds that energy. Food made with love is said to be healthier and higher in Prana.

Is raw food more pranic? Yes and no. If you struggle to digest raw foods, then they are not Prana rich for you. Prepare food minimally in this case. I like a balance between minimally prepared vegetables (eg steamed), and raw salads.

The pounds aren’t dropping off dramatically, but I feel 100% better for eating like this. Far from being a chore, preparing colourful, fresh food is a joy, that even Alex appreciates! Eating in this way has also brought how I eat back into my awareness. I choose mindfully; eating is no longer being driven by anything unconscious.