How to take Food

Eat sattvic food. Do not waste food. Eat in moderation, only as much as your body needs.

Not even a morsel of the food we eat is made purely by our own effort. What comes to us in the form of food is the result of the toil of many people, nature's bounty, and God's compassion. Even if we have millions of dollars, we still need food to satisfy our hunger. After all, we cannot eat money. So we should never eat anything without first praying with humility and gratitude.

We should always sit down while we are eating. We shouldn't stand or walk when we eat.

While eating, don't just focus your attention on the taste of the food. Imagine that your beloved deity or Guru is present within you, and that you are feeding Him. If you are feeding a child, you can imagine that you are feeding your beloved deity. This will make eating or feeding an act of sadhana (worship). Do not talk while eating. As often as possible, the family should eat together. Take a little water in your right palm and chant the Bhojana mantra or your own mantra. Then circle your hand clockwise over the food three times and sip the water. Close your eyes and pray for a few moments: "O God, let this food give me the strength to do Your work and to realize You."

The Bhojana Mantra

Om Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir Bhramagnau Brahmana Hutam
Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam Brahmakarma Samadhinah

If you have any pet animals or birds, you should never eat before they have been fed. Perceive God in every living being and feed your pets with that attitude.

Always mentally repeat your mantra while you eat. This will purify the food and your mind at the same time.

Do not eat at twilight. It is not a good time to fill the stomach. The atmosphere is more impure then than at any other time; so, at that hour, one should repeat the Lord's name and fill the mind with divine nourishment.