Cuisine

The cuisine of Kerala is characterized by the use of coconut, either chopped or grated. Coconut milk or paste is used to thicken gravies and coconut oil is used for cooking.

Breakfast dishes are usually made from ground rice and pulses, steamed or fried. Puttu, a dish of steamed rice powder is a popular breakfast, garnished with coconut and eaten with stew, curry, or bananas.

Kerala breakfast dishes include vallepam - a frilly pancake made from fermented rice paste, cooked in a curved pan and served with stew or coconut milk – as well as traditional South Indian specialties, such as dosas, idlis, sambhar and uttapam.

Rice is the staple diet of Kerala but seafood is also very popular with the non-vegetarian population. A typical lunch or dinner meal would consist of rice, dal - hulled and split pulses made into a thick soup- , seasonal vegetables cooked with coconut and spices, a seafood curry (for non-vegetarians) and a sweet such as payasam.

Sweet dishes are usually made using rice, milk, sugar or jaggery and bananas and cooked to form a cream-like consistency, but one can also find various kinds of halwa (thick pudding made from flour or semolina and sugar and flavoured with fruits and nuts).

Locally available vegetables like tapioca, cassava and yam find their way in Kerala dishes.

Seasonal fruit such as papaya, jackfruit, mangoes and lime are eaten at different times of year, but bananas and coconut are available year round and are a staple of the Kerala diet. The refreshing juice of the tender coconut is a healthy and cooling drink, and is completely sterile, thus safe for the tourist.

Snacks include banana chips, murukkus (friend rings made from a batter of rice flour, pulses and spices), shakaruperi (banana chunks coated with jaggery and ginger)

Food is typically served on green banana leaves and eaten with the fingers of the right hand.

One of the highlights of the Onam festival is sadhya, an elaborate festive meal served on banana leaves: it includes rice along with at least an array of 4 dishes, pickles, papadam and a dessert - usually payasam.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a very old system of medicine, which evolved in India around 600 before c.e. It stresses prevention of ailments, not only cure. It is based on the theory of body's humours - vata, pitta and kapha. The diagnosis will ascertain which is out of balance and will prescribe a treatment (including a proper diet) to achieve the right balance. It is a holistic medicine, treating the individual as a whole, not just symptoms of an affected part of the body, and It uses only natural ingredients.
Kerala's mild climate and abundance of forests (providing precious herbs and medicinal plants), and it is a part of India that has kept the tradition very much alive, with many practitioners and centres. Even if you don’t suffer from a particular ailment, ayurveda is indicated for promoting general well-being, as well as for rejuvenation and fat reduction.
The treatment may include head and face massage with medicated oils and creams, body massage with herbal oil or powder, by hand and foot, intake of herbal medicines, a special diet and medicated steam bath. Herbal baths are also used. The cool, dust-free monsoon season (from June to November) is traditionally considered the best time for ayurvedic cures.
There are may trained and licensed ayurvedic practitioners in Palakkad, many of whom have been practicing it for generations. These institutions still practice Indian system of medicine as it had been practiced thousands of years ago.
Please plan for a stay of at least a week.
More on Ayurveda here:

Yoga and meditation

People flock to India from all over the world to learn this age-old practice for body, mind and soul harmony.

We won't even attempt to talk about yoga here, as it is not something to be described in a few lines, and there are numerous books and online resources, not to mention teachers, if you wish to know more about it!

If it is becoming the relaxation method of choice of Westerners in busy cities, it is even more relaxing and inspiring when done in beautiful natural surroundings in its country of origin.
There are many reputed yoga teachers and centres in Kerala offering lessons, workshops and retreats.