Food: Sattvic cooking workshop in Palghar tutors guests in clean eating

You are what you eat: this belief is what forms the basis of a five-day workshop that will present a scientific analysis of the types of food and their effects on the body and mind

Govardhan Eco Village in Palghar

You are what you eat: this belief is what forms the basis of a five-day workshop that will present a scientific analysis of the types of food and their effects on the body and mind. The workshop will feature live cooking sessions (sans onion, garlic, mushrooms or meat), hands-on training and an individual diet plan. They will be conducted by chefs Shyam Pyare Prabhu and Radha Vallabh Prabhu, both of whom have over 10,000 hours of Sattvic cooking experience.

Uttapams cooked the Sattvic way

“There is a saying in computing that goes, garbage in, garbage out. This applies to food as well. That’s what makes eating clean so important,” shares Neeraj Kapoor of Govardhan Eco Village (GEV), a 70-acre sustainable farming community and retreat centre in Palghar and the site of the retreat. Kapoor points out that Sattvic food even impacts the animal kingdom, where elephants are much calmer than dogs because their diet is Sattvic.

All the ingredients used at the workshop are organically grown at Govardhan Eco Village

“The most important thing while preparing food is the consciousness. You will notice that there are days you cook a dish for a loved one and it turns out brilliantly while on days when you do it against your will, it tastes different despite the ingredients being the same,” he says. “In most urban homes today, food is prepared by the house help. The taste is different because the consciousness is different, too,” Kapoor reasons. This, he says, has a long-term impact on a person’s well-being and most people don’t realise it immediately.

A previous edition of the workshop held with children

The workshop will teach people how to cook with the right kind of consciousness starting with the preparation, the actual process of cooking and the plating of the dish. All the ingredients used in the cooking workshop are organically grown at the farm.

While at the program, you can choose a Gokul Single room, a small private room with basic amenities, a bed and shared bath. The institute has strict regulations that need to be followed. No product(s) made of/or containing meat, fish, or eggs are allowed in GEV premises. Possession or consumption of paan, tobacco or gutka is also not allowed and a strict dress code needs to be followed. The retreat is also a
no-vehicle zone.

“When you visit GEV, you will experience a community that is a successful fusion between ancient Vedic wisdom and modern science. The idea is to learn how to live in harmony with the environment. People come here to experience a different life, which is unlike their routine. The regulations here are only to ensure their well-being,” adds Kapoor.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!