Volume I · Kartik – Margashirsha
November
Nourish & Build — Diwali, Annakut & Kartik Snan
Hemanta · early winterVolume II plan for November →
The season
Sharad → Hemanta (early winter)
| Aspect | In the book |
|---|---|
| Hindu months | Kartik – Margashirsha |
| Ritu | Sharad → Hemanta (early winter) |
| Weather | ≈ 12 – 26 °C, crisp mornings, dry air |
| Agni | Strong — the 'building' season begins |
| Dosha | Pitta settling; Vata rising with dryness and cold |
| Favour | Sweet, sour, salty; unctuous, warm, nourishing; ghee, sesame, milk, jaggery |
| Limit | Dry, cold, light-only food; skipping breakfast; cold drinks |
In season
Vegetables
Amla, methi, palak, peas, cauliflower, carrots, radish, sweet potato, singhara, beans, cabbage
Fruit
Guava, oranges, amla, apple, pomegranate, sitaphal (early)
Other
Fresh jaggery (end), sesame, nuts
Festivals & observances
| Occasion | In the kitchen |
|---|---|
| Diwali (Kartik Amavasya) | Soft mithai: moong dal halwa (small), kaju–date roll, besan ladoo (soft); a 'sugar-smart' sweet box for diabetic guests. |
| Govardhan Puja / Annakut | 56-dish spirit in a single mixed-vegetable Annakut sabzi with kadhi and rice. |
| Kartik Purnima / Dev Deepawali | Ganga snan in Haridwar; light satvik thali, kheer. |
| Gita Jayanti (late Nov/Dec) | Simple prasad: panchamrit, sheera. |
Kitchen guidance
- Increase portion size slightly and reintroduce parathas, nuts and sesame.
- Amla every day — November is peak amla; make murabba and chutney for the season.
- Begin weekly 'oil-massage day' menus with warm soups and khichdi.
- Diwali: offer small portions of sweets with the meal, never on an empty stomach.
Daily rituals
- On waking
- Warm cumin–ginger water
- At bedtime
- Golden milk with nutmeg and ½ tsp ghee
Seven-day menu
The week at the table
Monday
- Breakfast
- Paneer–methi paratha (soft) · curd
- Lunch thali
- Panchmel dal (light)
- Annakut mixed vegetable
- Gobhi–matar adraki
- rice & phulka
- Amla–ginger chutney
- Evening
- Badam–kesar milk
- Dinner
- Shakarkandi–gajar–ginger soup · phulka
- Sweet
- Amla murabba (1)
Tuesday
- Breakfast
- Vegetable upma · guava
- Lunch thali
- Masoor–palak
- Palak paneer
- Gajar–matar–shakarkandi
- rice & phulka
- Beetroot raita (room temp.)
- Evening
- Amla–ginger tea
- Dinner
- Moong khichdi
- Sweet
- Moong dal halwa (30 g)
Wednesday
- Breakfast
- Moong chilla · amla chutney
- Lunch thali
- Methi–moong dal
- Aloo–methi
- Kaddu khatta-meetha
- rice & phulka
- Spiced takra
- Evening
- Roasted makhana
- Dinner
- Palak–moong soup · phulka
- Sweet
- Gajar halwa (40 g)
Thursday
- Breakfast
- Ragi porridge · dates
- Lunch thali
- Whole moong
- Beans thoran
- Matar paneer (light)
- rice & phulka
- Mint–coriander chutney
- Evening
- Stewed guava
- Dinner
- Vegetable dalia
- Sweet
- Kaju–date roll
Friday
- Breakfast
- Rice idli · coconut chutney
- Lunch thali
- Toor dal with lauki
- Mooli bhurji
- Cabbage–peas
- rice & phulka
- Carrot–amla pickle (fresh)
- Evening
- Sweet-potato chaat
- Dinner
- Methi–moong khichdi
- Sweet
- Besan ladoo (soft, small)
Saturday
- Breakfast
- Oats with dates & walnuts · orange
- Lunch thali
- Chana dal–lauki
- Annakut mixed vegetable
- Gobhi–matar adraki
- rice & phulka
- Amla–ginger chutney
- Evening
- Til–gud ladoo (mini)
- Dinner
- Carrot–ginger soup · rice
- Sweet
- Rice kheer
Sunday
- Breakfast
- Sweet-potato–jaggery porridge
- Lunch thali
- Kadhi (no pakora)
- Palak paneer
- Gajar–matar–shakarkandi
- rice & phulka
- Beetroot raita (room temp.)
- Evening
- CCF tea
- Dinner
- Lauki–moong dal · phulka
- Sweet
- Sheera (40 g)
Nutrition
Energy in the featured recipes
Energy from protein, fat and carbohydrate
kcal per serving (protein & carbs × 4, fat × 9)
This month's six recipes
Vol I · Nov 1November
Paneer–Methi Soft Paratha with Curd
BreakfastAutumnWinter
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
401 kcal16.4 g proteinSoft
View recipe →
Vol I · Nov 2November
Panchmel Dal (Light)
Lunch · DalAutumnWinter
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
192 kcal9.5 g proteinSoft
View recipe →
Vol I · Nov 3November
Annakut Mixed Seasonal Vegetable
Lunch · SabziAutumnWinter
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
108 kcal3.1 g proteinSoft
View recipe →
Vol I · Nov 4November
Badam–Kesar Milk
Evening · DrinkAutumnWinter
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
213 kcal8.5 g proteinSmooth
View recipe →
Vol I · Nov 5November
Shakarkandi–Gajar–Ginger Soup with Soft Phulka
DinnerAutumnWinter
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
256 kcal7.4 g proteinPureed soup
View recipe →
Vol I · Nov 6November
Amla Murabba (Seasonal Rasayana)
SweetAutumnWinter
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
130 kcal0.3 g proteinSoft
View recipe →Signature dish