Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 8

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः | रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ||

āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvika-priyāḥ

Foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, happiness, and pleasure—foods that are juicy, smooth, stable, and pleasing to the heart—are dear to sattvic people.

Krishna describes sattvic food—food that is dear to sattvic people. 'Āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ'—these foods increase (vivardhanāḥ) life (āyuḥ), purity (sattva), strength (bala), health (ārogya), happiness (sukha), and pleasure (prīti). These are foods that nourish body, mind, and spirit. They're 'rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyāḥ'—juicy (rasyāḥ), smooth (snigdhāḥ), stable (sthirāḥ), and pleasing to the heart (hṛdyāḥ). Sattvic foods are fresh, natural, nourishing—like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, nuts. They're not just physically healthy—they promote mental clarity and spiritual growth. Understanding this helps you recognize sattvic food and choose it to support your growth.