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The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics: A Philosophy for Achieving a Radiant Mind and a Fabulous Body
Heralded by New York magazine as one of the city's most popular diets, macrobiotics has become the latest trend in dieting, thanks to high-profile supporters like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Speaking to the generation of young women looking to extend their healthy lifestyles beyond yoga and Pilates, macrobiotic chef and instructor Jessica Porter offers fresh, contemporar...more
Speaking to the generation of young women looking to extend their healthy lifestyles beyond yoga and Pilates, macrobiotic chef and instructor Jessica Porter offers fresh, contemporar...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
September 9th 2004
by Avery
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I definitely agree with the author that certain foods can influence the harmony, energy, and feel of our bodies. This book was very informative regarding the world of macrobiotic eating, but I got a bit tired of reading about the yin/yang philosophies; maybe it's because I don't focus enough on that aspect of my Asian culture!
Overall, changing one's lifestyle to fit the requirements of pure foods can be challenging. It's hard to find all the necessary ingredients (tempeh? seitan...more
Overall, changing one's lifestyle to fit the requirements of pure foods can be challenging. It's hard to find all the necessary ingredients (tempeh? seitan...more
There is a hold on this item so I'm returning it to the library tomorrow. I had plenty of time to finish it but couldn't bring myself to do it. There was a lot of spirituality talk about yin/yang and which foods are which and I just couldn't get into her way out way of describing how a carrots going to change your life. I think there is a lot I'd like to know about macrobiotics from a scientific perspective and I didn't know that it was like a religion, at least that's how she makes it sound. I ...more
I am someone who is generally prone to jump on health food bandwagons, I practically eat a vegan diet as it is. But this woman is nuts. Wacko. For instance, the idea that celery "balances" carrots because one grows skyward, and the other earthward ... and that, well, "macro people generally don't eat potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant, because they leech vitamins from your system" (not an exact quote but that was the idea). Macrobiotics looks to me like a constructed, fictionali...more
I read this book in a little over a day, coming to it with a very limited understanding of macrobiotics. I'm not sure what to think about the yin/yang aspects of food, but I love the concept of "non credo" the author repeatedly mentions. That is, don't believe what she says--try it and check your own inner compass. I've been trying to eat healthy for about two years now--lost 70 pounds in the process--and my diet has evolved over this time. I will consider adopting some macrobiotic hab...more
I have to agree with several reviewers, where this book was nifty but it focused more on the yin/yang ("Mathematical cooking" - They used this term, and I have to admit I found that cool.)
I didn't buy this so much to be told how to chew my food and focus on the sensation of the food's energy entering my body and the energy of the room. Or that I'm not allowed to stir my rice when running water over it, because I will disrupt the vibe of the rice. Though kind of cool to know, it ...more
I didn't buy this so much to be told how to chew my food and focus on the sensation of the food's energy entering my body and the energy of the room. Or that I'm not allowed to stir my rice when running water over it, because I will disrupt the vibe of the rice. Though kind of cool to know, it ...more
i really enjoyed reading this, it was a really fun read for a guide describing a particular diet/lifestyle. it makes it very clear that macrobiotics isn't just about eating... the author is really passionate about it and shows the macrobiotic ideals from a western perspective. the diet itself it hard to follow unless you are ready to make strict changes but she offers adaptations, and the philosophy is simplified to offer a broader understanding.
I didn't get a chance to finish this book. I am studying Macrobiotics because my mother-in-law has cancer and is using this strict diet to shrink the tumor and live a healthier life. She was already a vegan, so I wasn't sure how much healthier she could hope to be. It's been over a month and she is feeling very well and confident that this new lifestyle will free her from any future worries of cancer.
What I liked about this book was its lightheartedness. The author knows how to make...more
What I liked about this book was its lightheartedness. The author knows how to make...more
I didn't buy everything in this book, but there are definitely some tips that make a lot of sense to me. More whole grains and veggies, and chew your food more make a lot of intuitive sense. Pretty much cutting out fruit and dairy does not make sense to me. I'll definitely make some changes to my diet and behavior, but I'm not on the bandwagon just yet.
Very interesting book on macrobiotics. It goes into detail on both the ideology and the practical applications. It is at times funny and other times inspiring all the while making it clear that this is not an all or nothing way of eating, but everyone can incorporate whatever parts of the philosophy they want.
This book seems like it might be a Sex and the City approach to macrobiotics, but it isn't really. Lots of information about the macrobiotic philosophy (yin and yang) that guide the diet. I'd recommend it if you're interested in macrobiotics specifically or just being healthier.
I started out not knowing what to think, it seemed along of the lines of new agey talk, I kept reading through it it peaked my interest and I am anxious to try some of the recipes. by the time I finished the book, I want to buy it and put it into practice, I am intrigued.
There is something to be said for this fad, I think, given the fact that there is so little food in our food today, and so much toxic sludge. If you want an introduction to macrobiotics, I would recommend this book. If nothing else, it educated me about many different foods I had never even heard of. It was fun going to Whole Foods afterward and spotting things I otherwise would not have noticed. Kale is yummy! I'm looking forward to trying out some of the recipes. The author is pretty funny, an...more
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This book presents a very interesting alternative to "diets" as it's approach concerns understanding the yin and yang balance that exists in each of us. It may appear to be quite radical from "normal" Western cookbooks. However, after reading Dirk Benedick's account of how he healed himself from prostate cancer by using this approach, I believe strongly that it is very much worth exploring, especially if one possesses some sort of phyical illness or condition that has not bee...more
This book mostly focuses on the philosophy of macrobiotics as defined by Michio Kuchi. There are a number as good recipes as well that I can't wait to try out. I gave this book only 3 stars, because it doesn't do a good job of describing how to actually live a balanced yin-yang life. It is a good introduction, but that's where it ends.
Interesting read. Some good ideas, some kind of "far out", and some do-able and not so do-able for me.
great introduction to macrobiotics- a little hippy dippy but a good read. Recipes are delicious!
Unfortunately I tend to read about someone else living macrobiotically while sipping a cinnamon dolce latte (which has all sorts of faux sugars and dairy products, the enemy of aformentioned book). I do like her tone and her honesty about how this isn't an easy lifestyle to just become overnight. And I now love brown rice and it's only been a few weeks.
**
I can't remember if I ever read every single line in here, but I think I did (or skimmed enough to just throw this ...more
**
I can't remember if I ever read every single line in here, but I think I did (or skimmed enough to just throw this ...more
Eve
marked it as to-read
Note/Reminder: Avail as audio-book (download) through BHPL.
I really liked this. It is flaky and spiritual and I can see why some people think there is too much of the yin/yang stuff, but the thing is, that is what macrobiotics is all about. This is not a book for people who are just looking for another weight loss diet. You have to be interested in nourishing the whole body/mind.
My favorite book on Macrobiotics to date. I like how the author mentioned that men and women have to adapt the diet differently. Men get 50-60% grains and women get 50-60% veggies and only 20% Grains. I also like how flexible the diet is. You have to clearly avoid some things for maximum health benefits, but you don't have to be so strict about it. You can slide every once in a while. My mom is now adapting her lifestyle to Macrobiotics Diet/Principles after reading this book too : )
This book was good, but I was more interested in the basics and rules of macrobiotics, not so much the spiritual wisdom behind it. I know it's hard to really practice one portion without the other, but my aim was to focus on the mechanics and not so much the theory. If it's your first dive into macrobiotics, it's a great all around guide. If you're just looking for a way to expand your knowledge of the kitchen side of it, it's a bit more than you need.
Food for thought, though far from practical at this point in my life.
this is an easy read about macrobiotics, which can be quite complicated. jessica porter humorously discusses integrating macrobiotics into your life style, not just practicing it on your plate. i would often bounce back and forth between finding the author compelling and annoying as her voice is sometimes too strong.
This was a dollar at a book store. The title is awful, but I glanced to see what the recipes were like and bought it. I'm glad I did because I think this is a good and needed reminder of the powerful positive effects of a whole grain based diet & the negative effects of excess.
Read in August 2010
I did not like the layout or overall style of this book. For its size, it did not offer many recipes, especially not many recipes unknown to macrobiotics. There are much better books available on not only the macrobiotic lifestyle but recipes as well.
I did not like the layout or overall style of this book. For its size, it did not offer many recipes, especially not many recipes unknown to macrobiotics. There are much better books available on not only the macrobiotic lifestyle but recipes as well.
this book makes getting the yin and yang down easy- frees the concept up- makes the path not so restrictive and more of a fun adventure! great information, up-to-date (for now) cultural references and a fun, easy and creative attitude.
I'm not ready to go "whole hog" macrobiotic, but the suggestions to start with adding more grains to your diet and eating more balanced meals really helps. This book made the concepts behind the macrobiotic diet more accessible.
Yeah, yeah, this has a dumb name, but it was a super helpful intro to the almost always confusing macrobiotic lifestyle. Oh, and also, I feel like a trillion clams, so I'm not sweating it either.
Ms. Porter is a friendly read but, at times, verges on being "too hip." I also have a really hard time agreeing with anyone who encourages people not to drink a lot of water.
I love to read books about nutrition - I may not try all of her recommendations, but again, I can incorporate some of her advice to improve my own health.
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