macrobiotics

The Return to Macrobiotics

/ Becky B / 2 Comments

I hate being sick.

I realize I am neither alone in this nor particularly original, but I bring it up anyway because lately, every time I decide to Eat & Exercise More Better (TM pending), I also fall prey to a stupid cold.

Coincidence? I really wonder!

koala

This koala is not amused.

This time, even I can acknowledge that said stupid cold started tendriling on me a few days before I decided to make a big shift in my daily food regime.

Still. Having a bug bugs. Be glad you’re on the other side of my screen.

To occupy my time…

While I’m recovering, here’s what I’m doing: The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics, which I first tried out with great success in 2009…

…check out a bunch of foodie recommendations here…

…and rather fell off from after 2011, with both fervent and uninspired attempts at resurgence over the past years.

But several colleagues are doing the Whole30 this month, and while that program has a lot of cool things in it besides a refreshing honesty, the thought of doing a Macrobiotic30 resonated with me more.

(I considered calling it a Macrobe30, but…no.)

And I’d still have a built-in support group with others suffering forging bravely ahead with their own plans.

One of the things I love about the Hip Chick

Jessica Porter outright tells you to argue with her, argue with her book, forge your own path with what works for you. You gotta admire that.

Plus, shopping and cupboard-stocking lists, and loads of recipes.

What IS macrobiotics anyway?

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert, check with your doctor, do your own research, etc., etc.

Okay. It’s probably easier to say what it isn’t. It isn’t vegetarian. It isn’t vegan. It isn’t pescatarian, Mediterranean, Paleo, or Whole30.

But it has elements of most of these things. It definitely includes grains, veggies, fish, and other proteins, but meat is still okay.

It’s really about balance.

What isn’t okay: Processed food and food with ingredients you never heard of, can’t pronounce, and are too busy to look up, but we all knew that already.

What else you get: A whole new world of tasty food you may never have heard of.

For more details, you are best served going to the experts:

 

macrobiotic-dietary-pyramid

Speaking of refreshing honesty

I just dug up this post about a Cheat Day I had from when I was all gung-ho with macrobiotics.

It starts out: “The way I can justify food borders on the clinically insane.” Yep.

Tastebud Satisfaction

Since you read this far and I just made a batch of these last night, here’s my favorite recipe from Jessica’s book: An extremely tasty, slightly-sideways approach to the rice krispie treat.

RECIPE: Crispy Rice Treats

/ Becky B / Leave a comment

Rice Crispy Treats are a staple of classroom events, family get-togethers and office potlucks–at least in my area. You’ve got your sugar, your marshmallow and your snap, crackle and pop all pressed together into a portable square. What’s not to love?

A lot, if you’re gluten-free or following macrobiotics. We want our sweets too, doggone it! Fortunately, there’s a whole lot of us out there who want the same thing. Grab your sweet tooth and try the Hip Chick’s Crispy Rice Treats!

Ingredients (quantities may differ from the link above):

  • 1 cup brown rice syrup
  • 2/3 cup peanut butter (or almond, cashew, hazelnut)
  • Healthy dash umeboshi (plum) vinegar (try an Asian or organic food store)
  • Healthy dash vanilla (optional)
  • 3 cups crispy brown rice cereal
  • Cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, roasted almonds, peanuts or cashews to taste (optional)

Instructions:

  1. In a medium pot over a medium flame, heat up the brown rice syrup, peanut butter, vinegar and your optional vanilla.
  2. Stir constantly until the mixture is smooth, thin, and bubbling a little at the edges. Turn off the heat.
  3. Pour cereal into the pot and blend well with a wooden spoon. A silicon spatula works quite well also. Add in your optional cinnamon, et al.
  4. Pour into an oiled pan (square if you want fat bars, rectangular if you want thin bars) and flatten with a wet spatula if needed.
  5. Let cool. Slice and serve.

My notes:

  • I put in more than a healthy dash of vanilla
  • I skip the cinnamon line to keep it simple
  • A pie server may be your friend when it comes time to pulling these sticky treats off the pan.
  • The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics has saved my taste buds, stomach, reasoning and sanity. I highly recommend adding it to your cookbook and spiritual library.

Hall of Fame ingredients:

My beautiful syrupy peanut butter mix:

Incoming! The cereal has landed…

…and has been indoctrinated into the fold.

The toothsome result:

Foodie Reviews & Recipes

/ Becky B / Leave a comment

Healthy-Food

Going (or gone) vegetarian, vegan, or macrobiotic? This page is (mostly) for you.

Always been curious but never thought eating rabbit food was the way to go? Try it anyway. I did, and while I still indulge in sudden-death cravings for mac’n’cheese and hot dogs, I’ve been enjoying the wealth of taste bud-happy foods below.

Recipes

Recipes That Snuck In That Aren’t Necessarily Vegetarian/Vegan/Macrobiotic

Taste Bud Satisfaction Reviews