Macrobiotic cooking is more than following a diet: it's a way of life. Meaning "long life," the macrobiotic diet revolves around eating lots of grains with supplements including vegetables and beans. Processed and refined foods are avoided in macrobiotic cooking. The philosophy of macrobiotics is to address the way in which we consume food and to find a peaceful balance between yin and yang. Because of the low-fat, high fiber nature of macrobiotic recipes, this mode of cooking is often followed by those with cancer or similar chronic diseases.
Whole grains comprise at least half of each meal a macrobiotic consumes. Whole grains include everything from rye to brown rice to buckwheat and corn. Vegetables make up a quarter of a macrobiotic's diet. Vegetables can be eaten raw or steamed, boiled, baked or sautéed. It is also recommended that those following a macrobiotic diet consume at least one cup or bowl of soup a day, especially such soy-based soups as miso and shoyu.
Beans are another major component of macrobiotic cooking. About 10% of the food consumed by a macrobiotic should be beans. This includes cooked beans or bean-based products like tofu. Animal products are recommended in moderation (several times a week), though meat, poultry, eggs and dairy are avoided. Fish and seafood are recommended.
There are other foods that are allowed in moderation. One example is seeds and nuts. Local fruit is recommended several times a week, though tropical fruit like mangos and pineapples are avoided. Desserts that are naturally sweet, like apples, are recommended, but items like honey, sugar and molasses should be avoided.
The great thing about the macrobiotic diet is that it includes foods that are not always included in typical American diets. The low-fat, high fiber diet is said to be healthy, though some nutritionists worry about its lack of nutrients like protein and B12 vitamins. The macrobiotic diet is as much about physical health as it is mental. Because of this, macrobiotic cooking is more a philosophy for life than a diet.
 | Like veganism, macrobiotics is a way to approach your relationship with food and your relationship with life. Often the subject of controversy surrounding its purported healing benefits, macrobiotics emphasizes eating local whole foods, especially grains. |
 | Just like any diet, there are pros and cons to the macrobiotic eating. If you have a basic understanding behind the diet, you can make an educated decision about whether or not you want to follow this way of eating. |
In recent years it seems a level of awareness has been on the rise over the merits of adopting a macrobiotic diet. |
A food combining diet does not allow the mixing of protein-rich foods with carbohydrate-rich foods. If you can learn to combine foods in the correct manner, your digestive system will improve, as well as your energy levels. |
Interested in applying the macrobiotic approach to your diet? Read on for a sample macrobiotic diet menu. |
