Creating a satisfying feast for the soul

Spa food may well give you the shudders, conjuring up the unappetizing image of a seductively presented but unmistakably tired piece of lettuce, paired with a couple of slices of cucumber and maybe a paltry tomato.

That's a meal?

Thankfully, it did not turn out to be that way for me as I chowed down on an Ayurvedic diet during my Prana retreat. The spa's Ayurveda and living foods chef, Madhava Nathanson, kept me sated on meals designed to cool down my pitta personality, including vegetarian samosas, tofu and vegetable stir-fry with rice, a "cleansing" bowl of tropical fruit doused with a puree of coconut and mango, and even a heaping plate of vegetarian sushi.

Raised in Hawaii, Madhava grew up in a family that was keenly interested in nutrition and natural medicine. He went on to study natural healing, before parlaying his interest in food into natural food preparation, especially "living" raw foods.

He said it's not a case of what you put on the plate, but it's the thought that counts.

"Packaged (health) foods may have all the ingredients, but it's not the same results without the chi, or energy (in preparation), and integrating the knowledge," said the 29-year-old, whose lean frame and sparkling eyes give him a youthful appearance.

He is quick to point out that he is not a "complete food freak" when it comes to putting together meals: coconut, avocado, ghee, dried fruits and nuts, often shunned by confirmed dieters for their fat content, all have a place in his kitchen.

A moorish treat after spa treatments consisted of health bars, made from dried fruits and nuts, and a glass of almond milk. He also introduced me to an addictive coffee substitute consisting of the famed South American herb mate and cardamom.

Food should not be considered the enemy, but an ally in feeding and nourishing the body to combat its ailments, he said.

"People are always looking for quick fixes in treating medical conditions, but then it may rebound on them later when the disease returns," he said. "Be realistic about making changes to your diet ... using food and herbs may take a bit longer, but they work with your body until you have a breakthrough."

-- Bruce Emond