what is a macrobiotic diet?

and should we all be doing it?

This week i’ve found myself cooking for a family who have requested a macrobiotic diet.  I’ve been loosely following a macrobiotic way of cooking for the past 4 years, (with a few exceptions!) but it occurred to me, could this be new trend?

We’ve all heard of veganism, pescatarianism, and vegetarianism.  But how about the lesser known diets such as fruitarian, RAW, and even kangatarian!

here’s a quick breakdown to help ease the confusion …

fruitarian – a diet that consist of mainly raw fruit
lacto vegetarian – vegetarian with some dairy but not eggs
lacto – ovo – vegetarian – vegetarian with some dairy and eggs
flexitarian – vegetarian with occasional meat
kangatarian – vegetarian with the exception of kangaroo – i’m not joking!
pescatarian – fish is allowed but no meat

we could go on forever!

anyway lets get back to the macrobiotic diet!

The macrobiotic diet is all about the yin and yang of food, or the energy of our food.  It’s about where the food comes from and how we can balance all the food groups and keep things as unrefined as possible.  People following this diet believe that eating these foods lead to a balanced, more rounded healthy life.

Grains are a staple part of this diet.  Grains that are naturally grown, and found all around the world combined with a variety of fruit and veg should make up the bulk of meals.  The focus is on unrefined, naturally produced, and seasonal foods.

Some people choose to include white meat and fish to increase their protein levels, but no red meat, or dairy is allowed.

So what are the health benefits?
Following a macrobiotic diet has proven success stories … people such as the Hunza in Kashmir who are known for their  life longevity and optimal health have been following a macrobiotic diet for years!

A second benefit is peace of mind, and the idea that we are living in balance with the universe.  For example, if we are feeding our children lots of sugar, they will become hyperactive and overly emotional.  If we eat a lot of red meat, we become angry and aggressive.

So in conclusion,  I love this idea!  i’m not saying to stop ever having spaghetti bolognese or the occasional hamburger but if we use this as a guide to re-balance our bodies and minds along the way, every so often, surely this cant be a bad thing.

Why not give it a go for a month and see how you feel.  If you’re interested, send me an email at foodenvylondon@gmail.com, and i’ll send you my months macrobiotic plan.

happy eating x