Seaweed, rice, & Coffee Substitute Questions

[lilmizcheezcake]

I am very new to macrobiotics so I will apologize ahead of time for questions that may be in "left field."

I went into an Asian food store the other day and found some seaweed used to wrap sushi but wasn't sure if it was a good type or brand to by. I wasn't necessarily going to use it for sushi but things like soups, or other dishes. It just says roasted seaweed on the front of the package and the brand name is Shirakiku Brand, Distributed by Nishimoto Trading Co., LTD. a CA business but says at the bottom Product of China. The ingredient list just says seaweed, so there is nothing added at least.

The reason I ask is because I read something somewhere that says that some seaweed has been harvested from unsafe waters or not really the best areas. Is there anyway of knowing this information or does a person only buy from a known company that states information like this?

Another question I had is in regard to coffee. I know that coffee and other caffeine things should not be consumed but I was wondering if there was anything that could be substituted for caffeine. You see, caffeine has a big affect on me and with only one cup in the morning I feel so much more awake and I have to admit, happier. Coffee is something I can live without and luckily do not experience headaches or other addiction feelings when I don't have it, but sometimes I crave that burst of "awakeners" or happy creativity. It is as though I just can't get my motor running in the morning and would really like any suggestions or thoughts on this. I have never been a morning person even in my childhood because of this dragging, sluggish, icky feeling I have in the morning. Coffee was my cure for that, but now I understand how unhealthy it is but still wishing for a substitute of some kind to get rid of this morning sludge. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Something else I was wondering about is rice options. I need to read more about this, but from my understanding at this moment, brown rice is the most nutritional rice and best for you. (Please tell me if I am wrong.) Brown rice is good but I enjoy white rice more and do really enjoy wild rice also. I would prefer to eat white or wild rice majority of the time and brown rice occasionally. Can you please give me some insight on this or share your thoughts on, if this is, or is not, a good idea.

Thank you so much for any information or help you can provide. I know for me macrobiotics is not going to happen over-night but sometimes it is hard to be patient and be thankful, actually seeing what has been accomplished so far. One thing I can be thankful for is that- I feel I have enough stubbornness to keep at it and one day be a strong macrobiotic person because I do believe this is the way to a much better lifestyle and am so tired of feeling unhealthy all the time. Again thank you for your help.

Lil Miz Cheezcake

[Klara]

Hey there lil miz (notice what I left off)

You ask some terrific questions and I just feel your excitement - that's the best part of it all - whether you get "right" answers right away or not, just keep up that wonderful sense of excitement.

so, tho I'm not sure I have such great answers for you, I want you to know that your questions at least deserve an attempt on my part.

Yes, I also have heard there are better places to harvest seaweed - from what I remember Mendocino is one, and also Maine, but I"m not positive. I think you can rely on the shop on this site to give you good quality, so try starting there - I think you'll find a great selection. Also I would trust a health food store more than Asian markets (I found some miso in an Asian market that I was thrilled to find, til I realized it had msg), but even in health food stores, not all is healthy.

For coffee, and anything else that you are presently attached to, just slowly diminish the amount, and perhaps mix it with coffee substitute drinks that may be more acceptable on the mb diet - I think like everyone else who transitions to mb, all those things that you think you can't live without change as your diet changes - and in turn, as your body changes.

As for rice, yes, short grain organic brown rice is the most recommended, but again, for transition, try some other kinds, and also mix the rice with other grains or beans, (brown with wild rice is fantastic) as you wish - feel free to experiment. Basmati (whole) is a great rice to have now during the summer months and may be more to your liking. Also how you cook the rice can have an influence on how you're liking it. Perhaps you'd like the rice softer (add more liquid), or perhaps add more interesting ingredients (almonds, fresh corn, sweet vegetables - don't limit yourself to the same old, same old). Ditto with getting your family interested, perhaps just add one new dish, or one new ingredient in an old family favorite.

Or just slowly substitute something a little more healthier for the not so healthy things, like whole wheat for white. For the veggies, just add some into a dish, the dish does not have to be all veggies. Patties are great way to incorporate veggies, also any kind of rolls (like enchiladas, blintzes, tacos) with an interesting filling inside. Also for transitions, sauces make dishes amazing.

The fact that your husband doesn't verbalize any objections in front of the kids is a wonderful start. Try to find cooking classes in your area - it opens a whole new world.

Enjoy!!!!! That's the most important.

Klara

[lilmizcheezcake]

Hello Klara, and thank you for your much appreciated reply. I had to smile when you wrote, “Hey there lil miz (notice what I left off).” I knew when I picked that user name I might get some raised eyebrows, and maybe should have used lil miz tofu cake.

You are correct on the excitement assessment, I am really exited but often that exited turns in to a bit of impatient-ness. When making such a large life transition it can be very frustrating, irritating, with a feeling things just aren’t happing right, or fast enough. I know I have to go about this one step at a time for success but sometimes it feels as if I am making one step forward and two steps back. I am sure that is normal though. The one thing that does relax me about macrobiotics is that there is a lot of flexibility, especially in the beginning, and I can take a deep breath and say, “Its ok-better luck tomorrow.”

I have been having difficulties finding local stores in my area that are not a very far driving distance, and then when I am in those stores finding ingredients and supplies that I need, but…I suppose that is one of the non-benefits of living farther out, (live in sticks.) I try and be positive though, and although there is a lot of frustration driving around it is nice to find new places and explore things that I have never knew existed. I think that a lot of this frustration comes because I also have two small boys in tow who do not especially enjoy shopping.

On the subject of coffee, I was wondering that myself, “I think like everyone else who transitions to mb, all those things that you think you can't live without change as your diet changes - and in turn, as your body changes.”

I have noticed since I have been eating more grains, brown rice and oatmeal, and vegetables, that I have fewer cravings already, and often when a meal choice of lets say, pizza or other, it does not appeal to me or sometimes doesn’t even sound yummy. I think this is a combination of eating better and also reading more about different foods, dairy, meat, ect. This morning I woke up after a good night rest and didn’t feel like I needed coffee to “wake up” but felt a lot better than I have in awhile. (Good sign!) So I am hopeful that this coffee feeling I have will hopefully be gone with better diet and some exercise.

I have only cooked brown rice one way, boiled, so I suppose many different options will make it much more appealing, and I love wild rice so that will be great to try. I have been hunting around for a nice stainless steel presser cooker but amazingly enough most regular stores do not carry them at all and if they do they are in these gigantic sizes made for canning. I am going to hunt down some specially cooking supply places and if I have no luck then I will be ordering one from on line. It will be really interesting cooking with a presser cooker because I have had no experience with them or have never even seen one in action. My mother swears against them because of one of those bad -pot exploding, lid sticking in ceiling, food splattered everywhere, experiences her mother had. It seems presser cookers have come a long way since then.

Even with the little bit of frustration and not feeling as though things are coming together fast enough, I am having fun and enjoying transitioning into macrobiotics. I feel the rewards are greater than suffering a little frustration here and there, and I am just so thankful I accidentally came across macrobiotics. Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply and I hope you find yourself well today.

Lil Miz Tofu Cake (he he har har)