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Welcome aboard Dawn.
Generally speaking macrobiotic means making balance by eating whole foods from ones native environment. As stevia is a plant from South America and Rooibos a plant from South Africa both should be used very sparingly. In addition, USUALLY these two plants are highly refined.
If you are new to macrobiotics, however, you should consider yourself TRANSITIONAL to macrobiotics, meaning that you do not get too rigid too fast and stop eating everything you (and your body) has been used to for so long. It is a good idea to take about 1 year and GRADUALLY phase into macrobiotics.
During this transitional phase it is ok to be very flexible with different and new foods, but later all foods must be taken in moderation and selected by season and yin/yang judging, as well as seasonal preparation methods.
The older Ohsawan model of macrobiotics did not uphold the law of GRADUAL CHANGE when it was introduced to Americans during the drug culture in the 60's and as a result everyone became too YANG and later went on binge crazes. After Ohsawa's death macrobiotics started to get more flexible and many of ideas about macrobiotic practice were modified. So go slow, have fun and experiment a little with these other foods during your transitional phase.
Most important during the transition to macrobiotics is too eventually stop eating those foods on the EXTREME end of the yin/yang spectrum, such as drugs, chemicals, refined sugars
(yin side) and red meat and excess salt on the yang side side. Try to always eat at least 1 cup of whole brown rice (cooked) every day. You will notice a big difference in you life after 1 month just by following these small changes.
I hope this helps.
In peace, Roy
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