Late
S u m m e r

In the same vein as kindling our “Agni” - digestive fire - nutritional healing with the Five Element system involves the support of specific foods and herbs that repair the internal condition of our body, stabilize homeostasis, and nourish our blood.

Externally, practicing asanas with an awareness of Stomach | Spleen energy stokes the heat of our metabolism, especially in instances of stagnation, cold, and/or dampness.

The Earth Element
healing and balancing Ingredients

Sweet + Centering Fruits & Vegetables
Orchard apples, tomatoes, sweet corn, squash, yellow potatoes, yams, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage

Herbs & Spices
Garden basil, cilantro, sage, rosemary, chamomile, smoked paprika

Nourishing & Grounding Foods for Spleen Health
Whole grains, rice, millet, couscous, sweet potato chili with corn bread, apples & cinnamon, squash kitchari, roasted carrots and potatoes

Mild Amounts of Ginger & Spices to Alleviate Dampness
Try incorporating sautéed ginger in stir fry and buddha bowls, adding some spicy heat to chili or beans, black pepper, mustard seeds

The Sweet Flavor
Chai with local honey or maple syrup, sweet jam on bread; the sweet flavor enters the Spleen and nourishes the tissues

Eating to Align with the energy of Late Summertime

Late Summer is a unique fifth season that encompasses late-August/early-September; dry heat with the “Vata” energy of true Fall, when the weather can surge up to Summer temps during the day, but the mornings and evenings are cooler.

The bounty of our Late Summer garden indicates for us an optimal seasonal menu; tomatoes, sweet corn, and hot peppers combine into a delicious salsa perfect with warming and rooting beans, and we can slowly begin adding more corn, apples, squash, and sweet potatoes to enjoy in tacos, salads, or simply roasted as a side with salt and pepper.

Late Summer is a gentle transition into baking, roasting, and simmering more of our ingredients. The wisdom of the “Yin” seasons (Fall and Winter) is to cook our foods for longer periods to retain more of their concentrated properties and nutrition.

We can also still combine some of the spicy Summer flavor to help keep our digestion strong and metabolism high as we prepare for the shift towards the heavier foods of Fall & Winter.

In September especially, one week it may be hot, with a few days of cold rain, while the next week it could be very hot, windy and dry; these are the weeks where a batch of chili can help keep a menu interesting during a cold snap, while still enjoying our seasonal tomatoes and basil in sandwiches or pastas with garden produce as we have all throughout the Summer…

A few recipe ideas to support the Spleen during Late Summer :

Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos with Charred Corn and Cilantro Jalapeño Salsa
Crispy BBQ Tofu Wrap with Red Cabbage Slaw and Roasted Yellow Potatoes
Jasmine Rice with Red Beans, Sweet Corn, & Tomato-Jalapeño Salsa
Smoky Sweet Potato Chili with Black Beans, Sweet Corn, & Late Summer Tomatoes
Garden Basil Pesto Pasta with Garden Cherry Tomatoes
Oatmeal with Orchard Apples, Maple Syrup, and Cinnamon
Healing Squash Kitchari with Heirloom Carrots and Cilantro

Interested in more personalized guidance? Let’s explore a meal plan together.