Macrobiotics For Dummies
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Here are some basic guidelines for choosing foods that fit within your macrobiotic diet plan. This dietary model outlines principle foods, secondary foods, and pleasure foods.

Principle foods

  • Whole grains: Approximately 25 to 30 percent by volume for the amount of food consumed for one day

  • Grain products: Approximately 5 percent per day (as in 1 to 2 slices of bread or 1 to 2 servings of pasta)

  • Vegetables: Approximately 35 percent of the day’s total percentage of food from greens, roots, and ground varieties

  • Beans: Approximately 5 to 10 percent beans or bean products (tempeh, tofu, so on), either canned or dried

Secondary foods

  • Fruits: Approximately 5 to 10 percent as fruits, according to sweet cravings

  • Beverages: Grain-based teas, herbal teas, vegetable juices, and so on

  • Oils, nuts, seeds, and limited dairy products: Approximately 5 to 10 percent natural vegetable oils, nuts, seeds or limited dairy products.

  • Reduced animal protein: Approximately 5 to 10 percent of fish (preferable) or meat (optional)

  • Swing percentage: Additional percentage of whole grains or more vegetables, according to your needs

  • New foods: Devote a small percentage of your dietary template to exploring new foods, such as sea plants or fermented foods (sauerkraut, pickles, miso, and so on)

Pleasure foods

  • “WYW”: Whatever You Want means exactly that. Enjoy the best quality and control the volume of what you eat.

About This Article

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About the book author:

Verne Varona is one of the most dynamic health educators in the country. A nationally sought-after speaker, Varona has authored articles for publications such as Natural Health, Alternative Healing, Macrobiotics Today, and Healthy Body & Fitness. Verona is also the author of the best-selling Nature's Cancer-Fighting Foods.

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