What is a Japanese macrobiotic diet?

In the 1920s, Japanese philosopher George Ohsawa developed the macrobiotic diet. It is a high fiber, high complex carbohydrate, low fat eating plan that focuses on whole grains and vegetables . The diet encourages eating foods that are unprocessed, organic, and locally grown.

What is a macrobiotic diet for vegans?

In many respects, the macrobiotic diet is the same as a vegan diet, save for the addition of fish and seafood . The vegan diet doesn't allow for any animal products at all. Both a vegan and macrobiotic diet eschew dairy, meat, eggs, and honey.

What are the disadvantages of a macrobiotic diet?

This generally isn't ideal for those with high blood pressure or kidney disease. For some people, macrobiotic eating causes too high a reduction in body fat . Because the diet is low in animal fat, fruit, and dairy, it can provide too little: protein.

Can you drink coffee on a macrobiotic diet?

Forbidden foods in the macrobiotic diet Coffee, soda, canned food, refined products (including sugar), eggs and all kinds of processed foods are not allowed . In regards to alcohol, only mild forms of Japanese beverages like sake are allowed.

Are bananas macrobiotic?

Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, asparagus, spinach, beets, zucchini, and avocados are examples of excluded vegetables. A macrobiotic diet also recommends consumption of locally-grown produce and avoidance of fruits that do not grow locally , such as bananas, pineapples and other tropical fruits.

Can you eat potatoes on a macrobiotic diet?

Some vegetables should be avoided : potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers particularly for those who have arthritis. Turnips, carrots, celeriac, the large white Japanese radishes (daikon); all these are good. Winter squashes are excellent.

Can I eat bread on macrobiotic diet?

Although whole grains are preferred, small portions of pasta and bread from refined flour may be eaten . Fresh vegetables should comprise 25 to 30% of food intake.

What is an example of a macrobiotic diet?

organic whole grains such as brown rice, barley, oats and buckwheat (half your food intake) locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables (up to a quarter of your food intake) soups made with vegetables, seaweed, beans, chick peas, lentils and fermented soy (miso) (up to a quarter of your food intake)

Is avocado a macrobiotic?

Nightshade vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant; also, spinach, beets, and avocados, are not recommended or are used sparingly in macrobiotic cooking, as they are considered extremely yin.

What kind of foods are encouraged in a macrobiotic diet?

Macrobiotic dieters are encouraged to eat regularly, chew their food extremely well, listen to their bodies, stay active, and maintain a perky, positive mental outlook. Whole grains, vegetables, and beans are the mainstays of the diet, which some people believe can prevent or treat cancer.

What famous people are on the macrobiotic diet?

Explainer / What is the macrobiotic diet loved by Hollywood celebs? Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone and Sting follow its holistic principles for glowing skin and better health.

Recipes - Vegan, Macrobiotic & Japanese (2024)

Simple Kake Udon and Kake Soba Noodles Bowl

Kake Soba or Kake udon is a simple warm noodle bowl with condiments on top. It is enjoy as a warm quick lunch or light dinner in Japan. You can add tempura to this dish or pair it with vegetable on the side.

Cold Zaru Soba Noodles

Soba noodles are enjoyed through out the year in Japan. From store bought packs to handmade "Teuchi soba 手打ちそば" in restaurants where you can watch the skill of a master make buckwheat noodles from scratch.Zaru Soba is a very famous dish enjoyed on New Year's Eve and has many wonderful meanings, from connecting the crossing of the year, bringing longevity and symbolic to wash away the hardships of the past year. It’s important to slurp the noodles as you eat to maximise the flavour, so slurp away.

Miso Udon Noodle Soup

Barley Miso Soup with Udon Noodles 🍲 Nikomi udon or miso nikomi udon 味噌煮込みうどん is a warm and comforting miso soup made using udon noodles. You can use any vegetables you like to make this warming miso noodle soup at home.

Teriyaki Udon Noodle Stir-Fry

Enjoy this quick and easy udon noodle stir fry with lots of colourful vegetables. You can make this dish with any leftover vegetables in your fridge. Simply make a stir fry with all the vegetables, add the cooked udon noodles and season it with Clearspring Teriyaki Sauce.

Instant Vegan Miso Ramen Bowl

Ramen is one of the easiest meals to create when you are in a rush. By adding lots of vegetables, you can create a simple and nourishing bowl of noodles in under 10 minutes.

Pumpkin Pie with Tofu Vanilla Cream

Enjoy this plant-based take on a classic seasonal dessert, using Clearspring's versatile Silken Tofu for this dish's finishing touch, the vanilla cream.

Tahini Tantanmen Ramen with Crispy Shiitake

This recipe is inspired by tantanmen ramen – a Japanese take on Sichuan dan dan noodles, with a broth made from soya milk and sesame – but it is by no means authentic. Typically this would have a proper stock as the base and be topped with minced (ground) pork, but I got attached to the idea of a ramen that could be knocked up quickly and that remained vegetarian/vegan. I also wanted to use udon noodles (again, untraditional), because I love their texture: big, fat, slippery, chewy – is there anything more satisfying?

Pickled Sakura Cherry Blossom

Spring activity 🌸 Pickled Sakura cherry blossom. “Sakura zuke “ #桜漬け using Clearspring’s Ume Su - Ume Plum Vinegar 🌸 Sakurazuke is enjoyed in Japan as a seasonal decoration/garnish on dishes, desserts and even in teas. They can be eaten like an edible flower after it has been preserved.

Creamy Buckwheat Soba Noodle Salad With White Tahini Dressing

Creamy buckwheat soba noodle salad using Clearspring 100% Buckwheat Soba noodles. This is a really light noodle salad mixed with raw sliced vegetables and a creamy tahini dressing. We used rainbow carrots to bring out different colours to the salad. If you are not going to eat it straight away, keep the sauce in a separate container and dress it before serving.

Have you massaged kale before? This is a great recipe using massaged kale with an umami chickpea miso dressing and creamy almond nut butter. This green salad is perfect for a light lunch or as a side salad.

Char-grilled Tenderstem Broccoli with Whole Tahini Sauce

This creamy whole tahini sauce is great with raw, grilled or baked vegetables. We used the whole tahini sesame paste as it gives a more rich nutty flavour to the sauce.

Grilled Little Gem Salad with White Tahini Dressing

This is an easy dressing which you can pour over raw or cooked vegetables. The combination of the creamy white tahini paste, fresh lemon juice with the umami boost of the white miso brings the flavour together. You can play with the consistency by adding water for a drizzle or a thick sauce. You can enjoy it with a raw salad or on grilled little gems lettuce as a side with your bbq or grilled vegetables.

French Green Beans with Black Sesame Tahini

This recipe can be adapted to any raw or cooked vegetables. It is so easy to make the vegetable tasty. Play around with the amount of Tamari or Tahini you would like when dressing.

Fennel Umeboshi Pickle

Quick and easy pickle using Umeboshi Plums. Umeboshi is a Japanese apricot plum, pickled in sea salt.

Sunomono Wakame Cucumber Salad

Japanese cucumber salad with wakame sea vegetables. A light salad with a sweet and vinegary taste.

Hijiki with Carrot and Coriander Salad

Hijiki is a distinctive jet-black sea vegetable that grows on the ocean ﬂoor in long thin strands. It is most widely popular as an ingredient in Japanese cuisine. It is naturally rich in ﬂavour with a delicate texture. Its colour contrasts beautifully with other vibrant ingredients and works wonderfully well when combined with grains and other vegetables.

Hijiki Tofu Shira-ae

Shira-ae is a tofu-based dish, usually with some boiled green vegetables and sea vegetables, either hijiki or arame. This recipe explains how to cook the hijiki and to mix it with the shira-ae sauce. Hijiki can sometimes look a bit scary as its strands of black, so mixing it with this creamy tofu sauce makes it easier for someone new to adding sea vegetables to your meals. You can swap the edamame beans with blanched or fresh spinach or just have it plain.

How to Cook Hijiki Sea Vegetable

Hatcho Miso Glazed Aubergine

Miso glazed aubergine is a very popular Japanese dish enjoyed as a starter or as a side.

Barley Miso Soup with Udon Noodles

Nikomi udon or miso nikomi udon 味噌煮込みうどん is a comfort miso soup with udon noodles served in both restaurants and at home in Japan. You can add any vegetables to make this miso soup. In the cold months, people enjoy this soup with winter vegetables like squash or pumpkins, which adds an extra creamy and sweetness to the soup.

Brown Rice Miso Soup

Miso soup is a kitchen staple in Japan. Everywhere you go you will see people enjoying a bowl of miso soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner.Here, you will find the basic method for making your own miso soup. You can add any green or root vegetables and Clearspring Udon noodles to make it into a pot dish as well.Create your simple homemade fresh Miso soup by following these simple steps.

White Miso Soup with Wakame and Tofu ( Shiro Miso Shiru )

This miso soup is a classic white miso soup using simple ingredients, tofu, wakame and spring onion. Add any vegetables of choice, or keep it simple with this recipe for a warm bowl of miso soup. White miso or Shiro miso is a young miso. It is commonly made using white rice and fermented for a short period of 3-6 months.

Jackfruit Tacos

Jackfruit has a great texture for fillings like Tacos, Fajita or Burritos. Here is an easy recipe to create a simple filling using Clearspring Jackfruit. Seasoned with Clearspring Teriyaki sauce makes it easy and simple to make the fillings in a rush, and if you make too much, you can save the fillings and eat it the next day. The cooking is so simple that you can get your kids involved. They can use their hands or a fork to break and tear the large jackfruit chunks to create shredded or pulled pieces.

Jackfruit Bites

These Jackfruit bites are delicious on their own or with a tofu mayo, ketchup or your favourite dips. Perfect bites to have as a starter or as a side. You can also tear or shred the jackfruits into smaller pieces and make it into a patty for burgers or with vegetables.