Q. What are some simple ways to incorporate spices into my diet? I am a vegetarian, and I mainly eat soups, breads, cereal and steamed or sautéed vegetables. I would like the health benefit from the spices, but I would prefer that the spices not overwhelm the flavors of the foods.

A. Many people ask us if they have to eat Indian foods to eat ayurvedically. All Indian food is definitely not ayurvedic, and there are many foods or dishes in other cuisines that would qualify as ayurvedic. The important thing is to choose fresh foods suited to your physiology and needs for balance. Spices should also be chosen based on your physiology and the season.

Here are some simple ways to add spices to your diet:

1. Cook fruit such as apples and pears with whole cloves. Discard the cloves before you eat the fruit.

2. Add a pinch of ground ginger, nutmeg or cardamom to your milk. Boil the milk with the spice, cool it to the desired temperature and drink it.

3. Cook grains with whole spices. Choose from cardamom, cinnamon, peppercorns, cloves and bay leaves. Sauté the herbs in ghee, then add the grain and the required quantity of water, and cook until done. Discard the spices when you serve the grain.

4. Dress your steamed or sautéed vegetables with a ghee-spice mixture. Heat ghee until it is clear, add the ground spices of your choice, and sauté briefly to release the flavor and aroma of the spices. Be careful not to burn the spices. Pour the mixture over the cooked vegetables.

5. Add ground spices to soups during the simmering process. Choose from turmeric, ground dry-roasted cumin, cinnamon, black pepper, crushed rosemary or thyme, and ground dried ginger.