Macrobiotic Diet

The philosophy behind macrobiotics is the balancing of yin and yang food, which are opposite in nature but complementary,.  Yin foods, generally cooling, tend to grow above ground in spring and summer, and be aromatic; yang foods, generally warming, tend to ripen later, often below ground, and be less aromatic.  Brown rice is the purest, most balanced food and whole cereal grains usually make up a large proportion of the diet.  Herbs are usually yin foods, and chives, parsley, ginger and mustard are used liberally.  Strong, saltier flavours are yang.

Typical daily diet

Breakfast:  Scrambled tofu, or rolled oat porridge

Lunch:  Poached white fish with shoyu and ginger, brown rice, cucumber and seaweed salad and fresh stewed apple.

Dinner:  Miso soup,  sourdough bread,  rice with roasted pumpkin seeds and steamed green vegetables.

Drinks:  Twig or stem tea; mu tea,  Apple or vegetable juices.

yin and yang?  yes please.

The New Age Herbalist   Richard Mabey