‘Philosophy without practice is useless; practice without philosophy is dangerous’
‘Some people mistake macrobiotics for a ‘brown rice diet’, while others believe that it means giving up pleasure at mealtime. How far from the truth both these ideas are! Macrobiotics is a profound under-standing of the orderliness of Nature, the practical application of which enables us to prepare attractive, delicious meals and to achieve a happy and free life’.
Quotes from George Ohsawa
Due to my culinary degree being health supportive, we learnt many different well-being-based philosophies. Macrobiotics was one of them.
As you can see from the quotes above macrobiotics is a comprehensive life philosophy. Similar to other holistic philosophies, e.g. Ayurveda, eating is at the core. Here are some similar threads.
- A balanced diet leads to a balanced mind
- When choosing food, you should take into consideration nutritional density and try and refrain from artificial, non-organic and ‘franken foods’
- Whole foods are preferred
- A good diet should be varied in both cooking technique (raw and cooked), colors (to obtain different minerals and vitamins) and tastes (e.g. sweet, salty, sour)
- Sitting down and focusing on food leads to better digestion (mindful eating)
- Eating should be minimized 2-3 hours before bed
- Enjoy a bowl of simple soup regularly
In macrobiotics there is a hierarchy for eating for longevity. I based the bowl on this. It has low sugar, cholesterol, is vegan and gluten free. It packs a punch in terms of vitamins, minerals, protein and fibre. Mr. B loves all of these ingredients and this concept of eating. He makes this his largest meal in the afternoon and has a lighter dinner.
Recipe
- 1 cup. brown rice
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1 8oz packet of tempeh
- Peanut sauce
- 200g Broccolini/broccoli spears
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 4 pink radishes, sliced
- 1 tbsp. Kimchi or sauerkraut
- 1 piece of nori, cut to 1 inch pieces
Method
– To cook the brown rice: Wash and rinse the rice, place in a 2-litre pot and roast until dry. This provides a better structure for the grains in the final product as well as a nutty undertone. Add the salt and water, bring to the boil and then down to a simmer. Cover and cook till water is gone, leave to steam for 10-15 minutes if not cooked through
– Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and sear the tempeh. Add the peanut sauce. My recipe for the sauce is on the blog if you need it.
– Add the garlic to a pan with ¼ cup water, bring to a simmer. Add broccolini, sprinkle with salt and add a lid to steam the broccoli. Cook until still soft to the tooth, 3-5 minutes.
– Add a raw element like chopped cucumber or radishes
– Add pickles for probiotics and seaweed for extra iodine, vitamins and minerals
