Ayurveda emphasizes healthy digestion for balanced living as most diseases have their origin from bad digestion. Table manners become very important because this helps in better awareness of food which results in better digestion.

Preparation of the food: 

• Food should be prepared by a person who is devoted and cares for the wellbeing of the family. This carries on the tradition of the mother and wife cooking for her family with love and affection.

• Food should be prepared in a clean kitchen which is uncluttered, well ventilated, clean, devoid of any rodents or insects. 

• Food should be prepared with clean utensils and cutlery.

• Food should be appetizing and nutritious. It should be prepared from the fruits, vegetables, grains, spices which are of the best quality and full of goodness of the nature.

Setting of the table:

• Food should be served on a spotless table in a dirt free and pleasantly scented environment.

• Ayurveda suggests variety of dining utensils to be used for different kinds of food. There are four kind of foods.
  
  Peet - liquid foods like soups, dals etc.
  Ashit - semi-solid foods like khichri, pouridge etc.
  leedh – food which are licked for eg. Sauces, pickles etc.
  Khadit - food which is chewed for eg. Rice, breads etc.

• Different kinds of food should be served in different utensils. It ensures the protection from the diseases/infections/ allergies caused by improper contact of the food and the vessels. 

• Liquids (peet) like soups should be served in silver glasses or bowls,

• Foods which tastes sour should be served in stone vessels (ceramics, glass may be used nowadays in absence of the stone bowls).

• Dry foods, semisolid food, leedh (foods which can be licked), Khadit (foods which are chewed) or food prepared from yoghurt or buttermilk should be served in golden plates or bowls. In absence of that one may use earthen or glass plates.

• Water should be served in copper glasses. It helps to disinfect the water.

• Soups and vegetable preparations with curry should be served in bowls, while dry preparations like rice/ bread/ dry vegetables should be served in plates.

• Jaggery preparations should be presented in front of the person.

• Main food item should be served on big plate in front of the person with all other food items around it.

• Fruits and other dry food items should be kept on the right hand side of the person to whom the food is presented.

• Liquid food like soup, milk, juice should be served in the left hand of the person.

• Deserts should be served at the right hand of the person.
  

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