Here are ten basic macrobiotic diets suggested by George Ohsawa for your health. (See pages 50-55 in Zen Macrobiotics.)
1) DIET #7 — 100% Cereals (whole grains)
2) DIET #6 — 90% Cereals (whole grains) + 10% Vegetable Nitsuke
3) DIET #5 — 80% Cereals (whole grains) + 20% Vegetable Nitsuke
4) DIET #4 — 70% Cereals (whole grains) + 20% Vegetable Nitsuke + 10% Soup
5) DIET #3 — 60% Cereals (whole grains) + 30% Vegetable Nitsuke + 10% Soup
6) DIET #2 — 50% Cereals (whole grains) + 30% Vegetable Nitsuke + 10% Soup + 10% Animal
7) DIET #1 — 40% Cereals (whole grains) + 30% Vegetable Nitsuke + 10% Soup + 20% Animal
8) DIET #-1 — 30% Cereals (whole grains) + 30% Vegetable Nitsuke + 10% Soup + 20% Animal + 10% Salads and Fruits
9) DIET #-2 — 20% Cereals (whole grains) + 30% Vegetable Nitsuke + 10% Soup + 25% Animal + 10% Salads and Fruits + 5% Dessert
10) DIET #-3 — 10% Cereals (whole grains) + 30% Vegetable Nitsuke + 10% Soup + 30% Animal + 15% Salads and Fruits + 5% Dessert
The way I measure out the percentages of my food is by thinking in terms of parts — where ten parts equal 100%, and five parts equal 50% or half. This way, I can use different sized tools to measure proportions for one or more meals.
For example, ten spoonfuls would equal 100%, as would ten cups, ten quarter-cups, or ten teaspoons. I could use ten handfuls for 100% or I could also divide a plate of food into ten equal sections (five on one side and five on the other).
So, if I were to use a 1/4 cup to measure my meal for "Diet #1," I'd have 1 cup of cereal/grains, 3/4 cup of vegetable, 1/4 cup of soup, and 1/2 cup of animal product (except that I'd usually substitute more vegetables instead of animal product!).
By the way, notice how the diet numbers for the first seven diets begin with a positive number and then they change to negative numbers as you introduce salads, fruits, and dessert to the diet. This applies to two (at least) theorems of the Unique Principle.
See also:
What NOT To Eat (Or Drink) On A Macrobiotic Diet
What To Eat And Drink On A Macrobiotic Diet
Related Blog Articles:
What Is A Macrobiotic Diet, Really? (5/5/2011)
What Is The Macrobiotic Centering Diet? (4/1/2011)
My Notes On The Macrobiotic Centering Diet (4/5/2011)
Diet #7 By George Ohsawa (2/12/2011)
Diet #6 By George Ohsawa (What Is Nitsuke?) (2/27/2011)
