Romapada Swami's Daily Diet Sheet
BY: GADADHAR DASA
Apr 18, 2012 — DALLAS, TEXAS, USA (SUN) — Samprasna das has a good question in his article, ", in which he gives the following quotes from Swami's website:
"It is not possible to describe the entire range of his activities in devotional service even in the course of one day, what to speak of one decade, or the course of his entire lifetime thus far. One thing that can be said for certain, however, is that each and every moment of his life Srila Romapada Swami is cent-per-cent absorbed in serving the instructions and the mission of his beloved spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada."
On Swami's website there is the following link under the section, "Latest Updates".
This explains one aspect of Swami's daily life - what he will eat and what he will not eat and the hell his disciples have to go through in planning, purchasing, cooking, and serving him his daily diet.
I guess it must be a nightmare for his disciples to provide him Early Morning Drink and Ginger Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, each of which must have certain ingredients, should not have any of the prohibited ingredients, and items must be prepared in a certain way. Below are a few examples:
Early Morning (between 3:00 – 4:00 am, when Maharaja wakes up):
Morning Drink and Ginger Tea. (It is important to give Morning Drink because Maharaja should not be taking Ginger Tea on an empty stomach.)
So what is this "Morning Drink" and how it is to be prepared? Continue reading.
Morning Drink:
Soak overnight, 2 washed Figs, 4 washed Dates, 1 teaspoon of plain vegetable protein powder, 1 tablespoon of Fennel seeds, 2 Cardamom pods and 6 Almonds in one cup of water. Remove the skin of Cardamom and Almonds in the morning. Blend everything by adding water (the same cup of water in which it was soaked) little by little till it becomes a nice paste and then add rest of the water. Additional water could be added to make it like a full glass of shake.
Breakfast: (ready by 9:00 am): Kichari (with Vegetables) or Poha (chipped rice) or Rice rava upma or cooked oatmeal or moong dosa/chila + Applesauce, 2-3 Muffins, grated Ginger, little sprouted moong, a bowl of cut pieces of ripe Papaya, Kokam Chutney and Green Drink.
Read below how Breakfast Items (Applesauce, Oatmeal, Green Drink, and Zucchini Muffins) are to be prepared.
Apple Sauce:
2 Tart Apples, cored and peeled. Cover cut apples with small amount of water. Add 1/2 teaspoon fennel powder (or 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds) and 1/4th teaspoon of cardamom powder (or 2 cardamom pods) to the water and boil for 15-20 minutes or until apples are cooked. Remove any remaining water (can be taken as prasadam). Blend or mash the apples and add 3/4th teaspoon of cinnamon.
Oatmeal:
Cook 1/2 cup Oats in half milk and half water, add cinnamon and stevia powder for sweetening. Please do not add any other sweetener. One may add raisins, fresh berries and a few nuts (almonds or walnuts). Please do not add butter/ghee/olive oil.
Green Drink:
Previous night: Soak 20 almonds in some water.
Morning: Peel the skin of almonds. Do not throw away the water in which you had soaked the almonds as it has beneficial enzymes. Blend the almonds in a blender using this water. If required add more water.
Add the following and blend well.
• 1/2 teaspoon Psyllium husk powder
• 2/3 teaspoon Organic Spirulina
• 2/3 teaspoon fat free Vegetable protein
• 2/3 teaspoon Liquid Chlorophyll
• More than handful of cut ripe Papaya pieces (When we cut a papaya, we usually keep the inner completely ripe portion for Maharaja to take directly and the less ripe outer portion is used for this green drink.)
The final quantity can be around 800ml and it should have a pour able consistency. The green drink tends to become thicker after some time, so while serving to Maharaja, either it has to be mixed well again or you might want to add some more water.
Zucchini Muffin:
Ingredients:
2 Cup Shredded Zucchini with skin
2 tablespoon Arrowroot powder
1½ Cup Spelt flour
¾ cup Raisins
1½ teaspoon Stevia extract
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon non-aluminum baking powder
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
½ cup nuts chopped (eg.walnuts)
½ teaspoon all Spice
½ cup olive oil (if it seems more oil, replace a portion of it with milk)
2 teaspoon vanilla without alcohol (real Extract)
Method:
1. First mix dry ingredients together in one vessel and then add wet ingredients.
2. Avoid mixing them too thoroughly.
3. Add flour if it is too liquid, till the dough can hold form.
4. Bake for around 20min @ 375 °
Yields 9-12 muffins
If you can come thus far - serving Swami his Early Morning Drinks and Breakfast needs - then you are doing great. Let us not talk about Lunch and Dinner.
Now think of how many disciple are needed to plan, purchase, and prepare/cook meals for the Swami?
If Swami is coming to your Temple then your team of devotees have to sit down with Swami's Diet Sheet and plan each meal in advance. Then go out and purchase items for each meal and keep them in a separate box and label it with a date, and if it is for Early Morning Drinks, Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner - 4 boxes for each day. If Swami is staying for three days then you end up having 12 boxes of supplies. Then in the evening, prepare for Morning Drink for next day.
Now what happens to all your plans and purchased items if Maharaj changes his mind? (Thoughtful and independent devotees do change their mind, and those who claim to be "As Good As God" or Rubber Stamped by GBC to be "As Good As God" are prone to change their minds too often.) What if he wants something different for Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner than what you planned for?
I do not know what Maharaj is thinking and doing every second, but I can see what Maharaj's disciples must be meditating on every second, a week before Swami comes to town, while he is in town, and after he leaves town.
Of course, disciples get to hear a few words of enlightenment and praise and get to eat Maha-prasadam… of Morning Drink, Oatmeal, Muffins, Applesauce, and Green Drink. Such a joyful and rare chance to associate with such a great personality and make advancement.
What would HDG Srila Prabhupada say after reading Swami's Daily Diet Sheet?
