What Are Macrobiotic Diet Foods?

Healing Through Balance

Introduced to the world by the man often credited with founding macrobiotics, George Ohsawa, this dietary regimen and life philosophy is based on the concept of healing through food. Although stemming from Oriental ideas about finding well-being through harmony, the macrobiotic diet is most popular in America, where many people facing serious degenerative illnesses have tried the macrobiotic way. The belief is that by eating macrobiotic diet foods, and changing the way that food is prepared and chewed, transformation will take place. The body will become purified, circulation will improve, the heart will be strengthened, and the acid-alkaline balance will be restored.

Grains

The bulk of what is consumed in this healing diet are unprocessed grains, making up about half of the diet. Whole, natural grains are rich in both nutrients and fiber. They are also non-mucous forming, and alkaline by nature. They should be cooked with a small amount of sea salt, water, and a little organic vegetable oil if necessary. Macrobiotic grains include:

• Amaranth
• Oats
• Millet
• Buckwheat
• Corn
• Brown Rice
• Quinoa
• Whole Wheat

Vegetables

Vegetables make up a third of the macrobiotic diet. When choosing vegetables, make sure they are organic, and locally grown whenever possible. Those that increase acidity should be avoided — zucchini, tomatoes, beets, eggplant, peppers, and potatoes. They should be lightly sauteed in virgin olive oil, steamed, or baked. Ideal macrobiotic vegetables include:

• Carrots
• Squash
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli
• Green Leafy Vegetables
• Parsley
• Cabbage
• Parsnip
• Burdock Root
• Onion

Other Foods

The rest of this healing diet consists of soups, sea greens, mushrooms, protein, nuts, tea and fruit. Soups such as miso should make up about ten percent of what is eaten. Miso soup helps to boost the immune system and works to create balance. Sea greens should also be eaten on a daily basis. They can easily be cooked with grains or added to soup. Tofu, beans, nuts, and seeds can be included regularly for nutrients, protein, and fat. Umeboshi plums and healing mushrooms, especially shiitake and maitake mushrooms, should be eaten several times a week. White fish such as flounder, cod, and halibut can be consumed two or three times a week. Cleansing green tea and twig tea are also a regular part of the macrobiotic diet. Fruit, such as peaches, apricots, raspberries, melon, grapes, and cherries are generally eaten occasionally as dessert.

Sample Macrobiotic Diet

Start the day with a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of green tea for a sample macrobiotic diet. Eat quinoa with sea greens and sauteed shiitake mushrooms for lunch, a cup of miso soup before dinner, and tofu, steamed cabbage with carrots and brown rice for dinner. Try a cup of twig tea and sesame seeds for a snack.

Although the list of macrobiotic diet foods is limited, it is flexible. For many people living a busy lifestyle, sticking to a strict regiment may difficult, and even unhealthy. Suit macrobiotics to fit your own specific needs, making sure to get enough fat, protein, and nutrition—remember the focus is on well-being.

Resources

Page, Linda. “Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone.” Eleventh Edition (Traditional Wisdom, 2003).

“Macrobiotic Dietary Guidelines.” (Macrobiotic Guide) <macrobiotics.co.uk/foodlist.htm#sparinglyoravoid>

“Vegetables in the Macrobiotic Diet.” (Natural Cures for Colds to Cancer) <natural-cancer-cures.com/vegetables.html>

Photo credit

photo by: Kushi Institute (CC/flickr) <flickr.com/photos/kushiinstitute/1483320935/>