4. Promotional Ideas And Kid Appeal For Burger Number Seven (A Free Toy)

(Still under development — Part 4 of my Dream Diner Proposal.)

Ideas include:

Kiddie Menu (for Kids Of All Ages):

• corncats (deep-fried corn-batter mini-burgers — an alternative to the corndog)
• corndogs (deep-fried corn-batter tofu sausages)
• macro-mini burgers (ten tiny little burger types for a buck each)

Chewing games, quizzes, and puzzles from the restaurant's mascot, Chewy, the Happy Turtle.

A Free Toy (for Young Kids):

• Chewy, the turtle toy

Contests for the next great burger recipe or sesame seed bun.

Promotional visits to group events like baseball games or community socials to distribute free mini-samples.

A brochure that lists all the Burger Number Seven diners across the country.


Seven-Part Proposal:

1. Burger Number Seven — Concept For A Unique Diner
2. The Face of Burger Number Seven — Its Logo, Design, and Name
3. Burger Number Seven — A Menu For All Seasons
4. Promotional Ideas And Kid Appeal For Burger Number Seven (A Free Toy)
5. The Special Staff Of Burger Number Seven (And Their Uniforms)
6. Ten Recipes To Health And Happiness — Burger Number Seven’s Special Burgers
7. The Seasonal Shopping List For Burger Number Seven

HOME — My Dream Diner — “Burger Number Seven”

3. Burger Number Seven — A Menu For All Seasons

Strawberry shortcake!

In general, the menu for my dream diner, Burger Number Seven, will feature ten different types of burgers that correspond to George Ohsawa's Ten Ways To Health And Happiness, each with its own unique name (such as "Burger Number Seven"). You can get the burger with or without the bun, lettuce, or pickle, and choose from a variety of sauces/spreads. Condiments will be available on a separate counter.

In addition, side orders will include single servings of rice or other grain-of-the-month, cooked vegetable, soup, fresh fruit (seasonal), and a simple dessert (like a cookie or brownie or applesauce).

The rest of the menu is TBD...


Seven-Part Proposal:

1. Burger Number Seven — Concept For A Unique Diner
2. The Face of Burger Number Seven — Its Logo, Design, and Name
3. Burger Number Seven — A Menu For All Seasons
4. Promotional Ideas And Kid Appeal For Burger Number Seven (A Free Toy)
5. The Special Staff Of Burger Number Seven (And Their Uniforms)
6. Ten Recipes To Health And Happiness — Burger Number Seven’s Special Burgers
7. The Seasonal Shopping List For Burger Number Seven

HOME — My Dream Diner — “Burger Number Seven”

2. The Face of Burger Number Seven — Its Logo, Design, and Name

Name: “Burger Number Seven”

Possible slogans:
“A happy burger diner”
“A happy burger place”
“Home of Chewy, the Happy Turtle”

Company Logo: Circular pictures of a whole grain patty and a green head of lettuce placed within the shape of a yin/yang black and white symbol.

Mascot: Chewy, the Turtle
Chewy is a turtle who takes his time eating his food. He’s a slow-moving, thoroughly chewing, happy guy!

Design and color themes:
The interior and exterior designs of the restaurant diner use simple, clean lines, and a balance of materials such as wood, metal, clay, glass, plaster.

The black & white color theme is reminiscent of a 1950’s Black-and-White Diner with accents of reds & greens, or blues & yellows. Incorporating some life into the interior design would be good too, such as potted plants or a fish aquarium, or screened windows that can be opened and look out onto trees, a garden, or flower beds.

Shibui:
simplicity,
implicitness,
modesty,
silence,
naturalness,
everydayness,
and
imperfection.

The staff uniform is a black or white cotton top (t-shirt and/or chef jacket) with the company logo above the breast pocket. The rest of the outfit is personal clothing (pants, shorts, or skirts) in the opposite black or white color than the top.

Food is ordered and served from a counter that separates the dining area from the kitchen; customers carry their food on trays to the table of their choice (first come, first served).

Yes or No music? (too personalized and distracting?)

Notes:
Wikipedia information on "Diners"
Little Augury interior design blog article "thinking Shibui" talks about House Beautiful's August 1960 magazine article called "Discover Shibui: The Word for the Highest Level in Beauty."


Seven-Part Proposal:

1. Burger Number Seven — Concept For A Unique Diner
2. The Face of Burger Number Seven — Its Logo, Design, and Name
3. Burger Number Seven — A Menu For All Seasons
4. Promotional Ideas And Kid Appeal For Burger Number Seven (A Free Toy)
5. The Special Staff Of Burger Number Seven (And Their Uniforms)
6. Ten Recipes To Health And Happiness — Burger Number Seven’s Special Burgers
7. The Seasonal Shopping List For Burger Number Seven

HOME — My Dream Diner — “Burger Number Seven”

1. Burger Number Seven — Concept For A Unique Restaurant Diner

Here, at last, is a “fast food” diner where people can get a simple meal that’s based on healthy macrobiotic principles, while passing through town on their travels. That means the menu is dynamic, includes all-organic, GMO-free, seasonal foods (locally grown whenever possible), and offers whole grains as the principal food ingredient. The format is a variety of burgers that correspond to George Ohsawa’s Ten Ways To Health & Happiness, along with beverages and simple side dishes, such as soup, salad, fruit, and desert. (Sesame seed buns and condiments are optional.)

The restaurant can start out small, as just one diner, and is designed to multiply into a chain of many diners, individually owned and operated by other people. A common theme is visible throughout the chain that defines and complements each diner’s individuality.

The atmosphere is neutral, calming, and refreshing — a place to eat and rest before continuing on your journey.



Seven-Part Proposal:

1. Burger Number Seven — Concept For A Unique Diner
2. The Face of Burger Number Seven — Its Logo, Design, and Name
3. Burger Number Seven — A Menu For All Seasons
4. Promotional Ideas And Kid Appeal For Burger Number Seven (A Free Toy)
5. The Special Staff Of Burger Number Seven (And Their Uniforms)
6. Ten Recipes To Health And Happiness — Burger Number Seven’s Special Burgers
7. The Seasonal Shopping List For Burger Number Seven

HOME — My Dream Diner — “Burger Number Seven”

What Is A Macrobiotic Diet, Really?

Some might say that it’s a strict diet with rigid rules, limiting you to only a few foods and depriving you of all the foods that you love — this is not true! Others might say that it’s a very specific diet containing very specific foods that you can eat only and nothing else — also not true!

A macrobiotic diet could be either one of those diets, at any given moment in your life, but really what a macrobiotic diet is, is a diet that you create for yourself based on macrobiotic principles and on what you need, given your current condition and situation, which is always dynamic. The diet is dynamic, changing every day, as you change every day and adjust it to what you need accordingly.

A macrobiotic diet is based on the following principles:

• Eat natural, organic food.
• Eat foods that are necessary for humans to sustain life — good air, water, sunshine (the three most important foods), whole grains, vegetables, beans, sea vegetables, and fish.
• Eat foods that are traditionally eaten, locally grown, and seasonal in your particular location.
• Eat whole grains as your principal food, that is, daily and at every meal. Eat all other foods and beverages less frequently, in smaller quantities, and with care. For example, pasta and flour made from organic whole grains are also eaten, but they are not the same as what Nature provides — the whole grain.
• Eat vegetables and seaweeds to supplement the whole grains, but in smaller amounts and less often.
• Eat fish (fresh) and other animal products in even more smaller amounts and less often. (Fertilized eggs are recommended over non-fertilized eggs, which are biologically lifeless.)
• Dairy products, fruits, and nuts are eaten as pleasure foods, in smaller amounts and less often than animal products.
• Drink, if possible, only what your body requires and no more. Water, bancha tea, or undyed natural teas are recommended. Do not drink coffee if you are sick or in a weakened condition. (Coffee is extremely yin, as is being sick or weak.)

In terms of yin and yang, whole grains form the foundation of a macrobiotic way of eating because they are a combination of both a seed and a fruit, abundant on this earth, economical, ecological, and a most nutritious food.

Related Articles:
What Is The Macrobiotic Centering Diet?
My Notes On The Macrobiotic Centering Diet
The Yin And Yang Of Acid And Alkaline
Diet #7 By George Ohsawa
The Importance of Chewing
What Is True Fasting?
Adapting Our Diets To The Situation
Diet #6 By George Ohsawa (What Is Nitsuke?)
Re-Reading "Zen Macrobiotics"
The Benefits of Whole Foods

Books About Macrobiotic Theory—Food For Thought

Many books have been written about the “theory of macrobiotics,” the “Unique Principle,” and the “Order of the Universe,” by George Ohsawa alone, not to mention all the books written by his students and disciples. The George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation provides an extensive list of these books, and they are in the process of adding more as they bring the older books back into print.

Although these books are mainly about the philosophy or theory of macrobiotics, they also serve a practical purpose, whether it be guidelines for choosing what foods to eat, learning how to read and understand your body’s signals, or providing positive inspiration and encouragement.

These are my favorite books on macrobiotic theory, ones that I like to read over and over again:
1. Zen Macrobiotics, by George Ohsawa. (I’ve found this book to be the most practical and very inspirational. See my related article, Re-Reading "Zen Macrobiotics.")
2. Cancer and the Philosophy of the Far East (formerly called MACROBIOTICS: The Way Of Healing), by George Ohsawa. (I’ve found this book to be the most inspirational.)
3. Acid and Alkaline, by Herman Aihara. (This book provides a much-needed tool for dealing with illness and hazards today. See also, "The Yin and Yang of Acid and Alkaline.")
4. Acid Alkaline Companion, by Carl Ferre. (Less theory, more practical — a very helpful, useful book indeed. See also, "The Yin and Yang of Acid and Alkaline.")
5. Essential Guide to Macrobiotics, by Carl Ferre. (Formerly called Pocket Guide to Macrobiotics. This is like the “Cliff Notes” of Zen Macrobiotics. It’s very handy to carry around and gives you a quick refresher course instantly. Easy to understand; it puts everything into immediate focus.)
6. Essential Ohsawa, by George Ohsawa and compiled by Carl Ferre. (This is a grand compilation of the works by George Ohsawa, Philosopher, that includes the principles of macrobiotics as well as a sampling of his many other ideas. The book is arranged in three parts: 1) Foundations of the Body, 2) Principles of the Mind, and 3) Dreams of the Spirit. This is another book that is very inspirational to me. I especially like the sidebars containing the recollections of people who knew George Ohsawa personally.)
7. Philosophy Of Oriental Medicine: Key to Your Personal Judging Ability, by George Ohsawa. (This book, previously published as “The Book Of Judgment,” is the most comprehensive book on macrobiotic theory, including a thorough explanation of the Unique Principle, the Order of the Universe, and the Seven Stages of Judgment. It holds a lot to think about and ponder over. Keeping this book at the base of your macrobiotic studies gives you the key to your own independence and freedom. You are in control of your own life!)

Related Articles:
Guidelines For Classifying In Terms Of Yin And Yang
The Color Classifications of Food
The Importance of Chewing
The Yin and Yang of Acid and Alkaline
What Is Macrobiotics? (January 2, 2011)
What Is Macrobiotics? (January 23, 2011)

The Yin and Yang of Acid and Alkaline

Herman Aihara and Carl Ferre have given us a wonderful set of tools to use for our health. Mr. Aihara’s book, Acid and Alkaline, explains in a clear, textbook style how specific foods (as well as a lot of other factors in our lifestyles) can lead to acidosis, the underlying cause of most illnesses today, while other foods that are more alkaline-forming can help us to get better. This book is the theory of macrobiotics in action, a true application of George Ohsawa's Unique Principle.

Carl Ferre has written a followup book, Acid Alkaline Companion, that provides a practical, easy-to-understand synopsis of what causes acid and alkaline conditions in our bodies. In addition, it contains a remarkable set of detailed food tables that show us specifically which foods are more acid-forming, more alkaline-forming, or more neutral. He also provides a list of references to several other books on the subject of acid and alkaline, along with a brief description of each.

Herman Aihara’s Acid and Alkaline contains easy reference charts that organize foods into four groups: Yin/Alkaline-Forming, Yin/Acid-Forming, Yang/Alkaline-Forming, and Yang/Acid-Forming. A well-balanced meal will contain a food from each of these four groups. Once I clearly understood the differences between these four food groups, it was easy for me to memorize the broad categories in his “Four-Wheel Chart” (page 88, Acid and Alkaline) and now it’s almost second nature for me to remember that:

1) Honey, coffee, herb tea, bancha tea, fruits, seeds, and vegetables are Yin/Alkaline-Forming.

2) Chemical drugs, pills, sugar, soft drinks, alcohol, nuts, and beans are Yin/Acid-Forming.

3) Radish pickle (dry), soy sauce, miso, umeboshi salt plums, certain sea vegetables, and sea salt (unrefined) are Yang/Alkaline-Forming.

4) Meat, animal foods, and whole grains are Yang/Acid-Forming.

From there, I just need to figure out details and quantities — how much yin is in this certain food, how much yang? — so that I can balance it with its opposite. Classic examples of food balancing: meat and potatoes, minestrone soup & croutons, or salty pork & beans with thick, rich coffee on the wagon train!

Although these examples are balancing foods from each of the four groups, they are on the more extreme ends of the yin-and-yang scale. To achieve an ideal balance, foods that are more towards the center of yin and yang as well as from the four groups would be better — that is, a meal that contains a vegetable, a nut or bean, a whole grain, and miso or a sea vegetable like wakame.

Notes:
Both of these books, Acid and Alkaline, by Herman Aihara and Acid Alkaline Companion, by Carl Ferre, are available on the George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation website.

Related Articles:
No More Sugar
Hummingbirds and Seaweed
What Is The Macrobiotic Centering Diet?