The Balanced Meal
Nisha,
"Whole grains and vegetables" is just the short hand way of describing the macrobiotic diet. It is best to have the entire balanced meal of: whole grains, vegetables, soup, beans, sea vegetables, fish, nuts, seeds, and other in the percentages recommended. For those interested in weight loss, the balanced meal, with the recommended percentages, can be served on a smaller plate with smaller portions (i.e. a salad plate rather than a dinner plate). This is the optimum way to eat for health the macrobiotic way.
The beans/legumes provide abundant protein. The recommended percentage of beans/legumes per plate is 5%. Americans get far away and above more protein than is needed, through all the meat and dairy consumed. Japanese people, even meat eaters, eat more whole grains with small bites of meat (stir fry). This is a more reasonable picture of the protein needs of human beings.
Whole grains, beans/legumes, fish, nuts and seeds, nut butters, are all excellent protein sources.
Nancy
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"Self-restraint and self command, consideration for others, politeness, fairness, generosity, tact, discernment, good taste, and the art of friendly conversation -- all learnable and practiced at the table -- enrich and enoble all human life."
-- Leon R. Kass, M.D. The Hungry Soul
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