• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
BetterFoodGuru
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers and Dips
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Salads
    • Soups & Stews
    • Dessert
    • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Essential Links
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • About
  • Links
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    My Affinity with India

    April 7, 2021 by Sara Tercero 6 Comments

    Indian food
    Cozy bowl of Vegan Coconut Curry dal

    People often ask me what is my affinity with India and Indian cuisine. Buckle your seatbelts because you are in for a weird ride. Be aware this post may sound very strange to many but to some it will make perfect sense. This story involves gurus, a dream, a tattoo, some very deep breathing and lots and lots of curry.

    I was born in 1974 in small town Massachusetts. I had zero exposure to anything or anyone Indian until college in 1992 when I had my first Indian friends, heard Ravi Shankar for the first time and tasted my first curry and fell deeply in love with it. This is also where I began a fascination with world religions, yoga and enlightenment. I was introduced to the concepts of karma, dharma, reincarnation and psychedelics. All of these things began to reshape my understanding of reality and the world around me which opened my mind and heart to a more spiritual path.

    In 1994, I found the book "Be Here Now" by Ram Dass. The book quite literally called me from the shelf at the bookstore, I had no intentions of buying a book that day. In fact, I had not even heard of this book. It helped me to calm the anxieties I felt about the impermanence and fragility of reality. Ram Dass's books were the tip of the iceberg for me as I dove into more spiritual books like "I am That" by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, "Raja Yoga" by Swami Vivekananda, the Upanishads and Bagavad gita. Simultaneously I was reading The Christian Bible, books about Paganism and the Quabbalah. Books about spirituality were my bread and butter. They influenced me profoundly and made me long for a meaningful life, devoid of consumerism, atattchment and toxicity.

    In 1996 I moved to California. I got on a Greyhound bus with very little money or possessions. On the way, I met many interesting characters and we formed a motley little family. I can't tell you how many hemp necklaces I made on that journey, but it was enough to have the knotted patterns imprinted in my minds eye as I fell asleep with my head on the shoulder of a stranger. One of the last people I met before the trip was over was a Swami. He entered the bus silently, in his salmon colored robes and marked forehead. He beamed at me and glided down the aisle to sit at my side. We talked for hours. I don't remember his name but I do recall the mantra he gave me. He said that one day I would come to India, I haven't yet but someday I will.

    Later, while living in California, I spent hours in walking meditation, reading spiritual books and contemplating the universe. I also began trying more Indian foods, enjoying all the vegetarian options at the Indian buffets. I fancied myself as a bit of a Buddhist or Hindu despite my Christian upbringing. Although I loved the life I was living, I returned home to Massachusetts when life became chaotic and with me I brought my love for all things Indian.

    While back in Massachusetts, I had a very vivid dream that I had a peacock tattoo. I immediately set out to make this a reality. Although at the time, I had no idea there was any connection to India, I have had time now to research peacocks and there is a strong connection. Peacocks are the national bird of India and have an auspicious symbolism in Hindu and other religions. This is another thing that strenghthened my affinity with India. Now I have a giant peacock tattoo that starts on my back and goes over my shoulder and down my arm. Like me, it still needs work. Someday it will be finished but I am in no rush.

    Around the same time that I got my tattoo, I discovered ashtanga yoga. My teacher Jason and his girlfriend Jen were enormous influences on me although they were only in my vicinity a short time. Ashtanga was yoga in action and I adored it. I still love ashtanga although I am not practicing anymore. I do however use ujjayi breathing to center myself in moments of tension or anxiety. At that time, I also had some neighbors from India. Their mother's were always so kind when visiting. They gifted me delicious food and peacock feathers which further solidified my affinity with India.

    Over the years, my peacock tattoo has always reminded me of my affinity with India as has the various mantras I use. Whenever I had a chance, I would consume luscious Indian food with whoever I could. I found with most Americans they either loved Indian flavors or hated them. There was no in between. Those friends of mine who were curry lovers too were always my favorites. I also loved Indian music, although I didn't understand the words, the sound always brought me peace.

    Fast forward several years to 2011. I had been living in California since 2001. I went to a yoga class which relit my fire. This began a rigorous yoga practice which resulted in me quitting smoking, losing weight, getting certified to teach yoga and ultimately conceiving my first child. Yoga and Indian influence had once again touched me very deeply and helped to steer my life in a new direction. In the same year I began practicing Kundalini meditation under Swami Khecaranatha and received Shaktipat which was a profound experience.

    Let's jump now to 2018. That is the year I began Betterfoodguru. My yoga practice had been resting for several years, my diet was a mess and I was a mom of 3, working full time as a Chef. I started the instagram account to hold myself accountable for my eating choices and to share healthy food with the masses. Hence the name Betterfoodguru came about with the intention of teaching others to eat better. To be honest, I did not think much about the implications of the word Guru in the title. Guru resonated with me, so I used it without knowing that curry would be one of my specialties. The first year of blogging was experimentation with several diets but my big takeaway was that I felt best eating and working with whole foods and plant based ingredients. This is when I started cooking more with Indian flavors.

    Much of my following comes from India, in fact about 30%. This is so wonderful considering my affinity with India. I continue to read about India's culture, religions and history. And I continue to experiment with India's bold and intoxicating flavors in my kitchen. I'm not Indian but I hold a deep affection for India and it's people and they inspire me. I do not claim to know everything about India or cook authentic Indian food. But I respect India and the gifts that they have brought to our world. Maybe I was Indian in a past life or two or perhaps India is just part of this American girl's destiny. I may never know exactly where my affinity with India comes from, but I do know that I feel it in my heart.

    Indian cuisine is special. The spectacular flavors and textures are a joy to cook with. I think Indian food deserves a bigger spotlight. It is part of my plan to spread love through food and expose more people to the exotic and extraordinary flavors of India. I know that I have not even touched the tip of India's culinary iceberg, but I will keep trying, learning and eating my way through it's rich history and sharing it with the world.

    Thank you for reading my long story about my affinity with India. I hope you enjoyed the share and it answered the questions that so many of you have asked. Someday I will be adding to this story but for now this is all she wrote.

    Indian food
    Vegan Spicy Curry with potatoes, cauliflower and Peas
    « Spicy Moong Dal
    Farro Rainbow Mediterranean Salad »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janitha Perera

      April 08, 2021 at 8:47 am

      I believe Your connection between India, its culture, its food, people and religions is certainly connected with the past lives and blissful. Everything happens for a reason. Everything guiding you towards your current path has happened for your own good as i ccould see.

      As a buddhist i was fascinated to read your soulful reveal on your connection to India. I wish you get to visit India one day and broaden your spirituality and echieve enlightenment🙏

    2. Sara Tercero

      April 08, 2021 at 12:52 pm

      Thank you for reading and your thoughtful comment!

    3. Mindy Czubiak

      February 19, 2024 at 4:10 pm

      Hi Sara,

      I greatly enjoyed reading your story. My brother, Yogi Theo Mann (as he called himself), was also fascinated with Indian and Indian spirituality. He traveled a few times to India. It sounds like a wonderful trip if you do get there. I've been doing spiritual hypnosis for 30 years, so your story is interesting but normal for me 😉

      Your recipes look amazing, so I'm going to be trying them soon. First up is the Creamy Vegan Cucumber Salad, which is the recipe I found when searching for a vegan dressing to go with Indian food.

      Best wishes for your future!

      Mindy

    4. Sara Tercero

      February 25, 2024 at 8:46 pm

      Hi Mindy thanks for reading my story. How very cool. Let me know how it goes with the salad. I think you will like it, I love it with Indian food. Best wishes for yours as well!

    5. Judy Gross

      April 27, 2024 at 7:46 pm

      Hi Sara, I loved reading your story about India. I too have a love for India. I have been there 7 times. My trips were always a spiritual journey. I would stay a month at a temple. My Guru is Krsna Balaram Swami. He has a small temple in Vrindavan. It is called The Red Stone Temple. My last trip was March 2020. The airport in New Delhi was closing that day because of Covid. I made it home though. My Guru had the temple pack me a dinner for the plane. It was so. Good and had the taste and smell of India. Judy Gross

    6. Sara Tercero

      April 28, 2024 at 1:23 pm

      Hi Judy thanks for reading my story and thanks for sharing yours! I still have not visited India but I know I will someday!

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    About BetterFoodGuru

    image Sara Tercero

    Hi, I am Sara Tercero, the Chef behind BetterFoodGuru. It is my mission to prove that plants are delicious and to help others cook and eat their way to health and happiness. My recipes are inspired by global flavors and my love for eating the rainbow. Reach out on social media or leave a review with feedback!

    Categories

    Check Out These Recipes

    collage image of different cold vegan salad recipes that reads "no cook salads" with images of strawberry feta salad, watermelon salad, cucumber salad, street corn slaw, and more.

    Beat the Heat: 25 No Cook Salads for Easy Summer Meals

    collage image of cooling vegan summer salads like cucumber salads, fruit salsa, tomato salad, and more.

    27 Refreshing Vegan Summer Salads to Keep You Cool

    collage image of different vegan bbq salads like pasta salad, potato salad, kale salad, slaws, and more, all to take to summer BBQs.

    25+ Summery Vegan Salads to Bring to Your Next BBQ

    Copyright © 2025 Better Food Guru | Privacy Policy

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience

    Advertising.


    This Site is affiliated with CMI Marketing, Inc., d/b/a Raptive (“Raptive”) for the purposes of placing advertising on the Site, and Raptive will collect and use certain data for advertising purposes. To learn more about Raptive’s data usage, click here: https://raptive.com/creator-advertising-privacy-statement/

     
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT