Another Question about Ohsawa Pot, please

[SaintsValentine]

I have not yet begun to live the macrobiotic lifestyle, but I would like to, so i'm doing some research. I plan on buying a pressure cooker, and I use a gas stove. Since I will be using gas heat, is the Ohsawa pot still recommended? I am on a very limited budget - my boyfriend and i are both students with little money. But if the OP is the way to go, I would rather make the investment and do it the right way. If anyone has any thoughts on this I would very much appreciate your feedback!! Thanks so much,

S. Valentine

[Klara]

S Valentine,

One of the most difficult challenges is letting go of what is right or wrong - I truly believe ANYTHING you do in the direction of eating healthier will have an effect - trying to be perfect won't serve you - just start slow and keep going.

I have been practicing mb for 12 years and do not own an OP - I don't believe it's a must (obviously) - I have heard great things, but you definitely can begin your mb journey without it. You will have many many options, choices to make - buy a book or go for consultation? take a cruise or take classes, travel to find good teacher or learn any way you can - lots and lots of choices - I'm sure alot depends on your situation, your state of health, your personality (how you learn, what you need for support) and of course, money does come into play. One of the bigger decisions I think will have an effect is the quality of the food you buy - on a consistent level - organics do cost more, so if you want to save money, see if you can find local organic farmer's market or any kind of group buying that might save you some money.

Are you in the States? Have you checked out the store on this site? You can buy in bulk and also save money, but be sure the items you buy are either stored correctly or can last quite a while without any harm (such as umeboshi, many dried foods, seaweed). Grains and beans do need to be stored correctly.

A big way I found of saving money is planning and cooking only that which I will need to eat, not more, not having left overs go bad and needing to be thrown out. and of course, not going out to eat!!!!

Good luck to you both.

Klara

[SaintsValentine]

Klara - I think this is very good advice, thank you! I also did not consider that I could buy many foods online. I do buy organic foods from Whole Foods, but I'll be moving soon to a city where they do not have anything like a natural foods store, I think. It is more expensive, but I have peace of mind this way. I also think you're right about maybe not trying to be so strict or hyperfocused all at once - i am already feeling a bit overwhelmed (I spent more time than I'd like to admit today trying to choose between a cast iron wok and a carbon steel one. [ i went with the cast iron ] ) Thank you for the encouragement - it means a lot! You have a very pretty name by the way!!

Sincerely,

Samantha

[Klara]

Hi Samantha,

Where are you moving to? What do you mean by peace of mind?? which of course is a good thing, I was just being curious.

I'm from Hungary, I was named after my mother's sisters who died during the Holocaust - that's the Hungarian spelling. I also love my name.

I know you're not asking, but telling you from experience, are you familiar with how to treat cast iron before you even start cooking in it? there should be details available on line, or at least from where you bought your wok - also certain foods change color in the cast iron - I don't think it's anything to be worried about, probably the reaction of the iron on the food, just not as aesthetic, so make sure food doesn't sit in the wok after you cook it.

Cast iron is very heavy, and that will make you strong!!!!!!

btw, I am sure you already have cooking utensils, so you don't have to be that quick to throw them all out (unless everything is aluminum or has that non-stick coating). If you're still purchasing cooking equipment, the most precious thing I own is a good mac knife - I can't even use anything else - have you checked out the store here? here's a picture of the knife:

http://www.simply-natural.biz/Mac-Utility-Knife.php

again, take your time, use what you have, but when you're ready, this is an invaluable tool.

both your pressure cooker and your cast iron wok will last you a lifetime - which pressure cooker did you get? Be careful with both of them, do NOT walk away from your kitchen when cooking, or even get on the phone - being distracted is the biggest danger in cooking. I think other than the distraction is being careful not to drop them, and cleaning right after using so food won't get stuck - especially in the rubber gasket part (seal) of the pressure cooker - that might be the only part you'll have to replace, but I'm sure it won't be for ages.

btw, I'm not sure about your pc, but with mine, I can cook just regular, don't have to use the pressure part, which is what I do during the hotter months.

Now, go enjoy the food!!!!!!!

where/how are you learning??

Klara

[SaintsValentine]

Hi Klara,

Wow - I have only been reading books on the subject - I purchased "the Macrobiotic Way" by M Kushi, another book on cooking by his wife Aveline, "the Self-Healing Cookbook" by Kristina Turner, and right now I'm reading "the Hip Chicks Guide to Macrobiotics." Otherwise I'm just reading articles online - some helpful, some not -so-helpful. I did read that I would need to "season" my cast iron. Some say use vegetable oil, some peanut oil, some say lard. I'm a vegetarian, so i'm thinking I'll pass on the lard. Any suggestions? I also purchased a Presto pressure cooker - i hope it's a good one. But i didn't know i needed a heat diffuser, so now i'm mulling over those choices: there's a cheap tin one or the more costly iron one... this really is quite a change for me - but i'm really excited and glad to be going in this direction. I've also been reading books on mindfulness meditation and becoming more aware of your intuition. I suffer from a great deal of worry and anxiety, and I would like to remedy this. I do feel better when I'm buying and eating organic food because I think it's better all around for everyone involved when I consume foods grown locally. I'd also like to think that these foods were grown with care and consideration, you know? I'm going to check out that knife you mentioned - i do need some decent utensils! I was going to try to buy some wooden ones. Overall i would just like to feel more peaceful and healthy and, even more than that I would like to create this kind of atmosphere for my loved ones - my household consists of my boyfriend, my boston terrier(whose name is Clara! i always liked that name and since i cant have it, and I don't have children... ), a cat and three corn snakes. I'm thinking i need more plants! The Taoist concept of yin and yang energy is really intriguing and i can't wait to learn more. But, there's so much to know, i feel like i haven't really been living all this time. . . it seems macrobiotics can lead to such a better quality of life... it's really helpful and inspiring to discuss this with others. Thank you for your advice.. i'm really glad i found this forum.

[SaintsValentine]

Oh, by the way - i'm moving to New Mexico from salem, ma. A city called Farmington, 2 hours south of Albuquerque I think. My boyfriend went there to check things out, and said the nearest Whole Foods or anything like that is, of course, in Albuerquerque. It may be worth driving all that way to stock up on supplies, but otherwise, i don't think there's much there. We have to go there for flight training. By the way, do you still live in Hungary?

[Klara]

Hello again Samantha,

Good luck on your move - we have an expression here - change of location, change of luck - may this move bring you much peace and great health.


As long as you're anywhere in the States (except Alaska and Hawaii, I believe) Gary from the shop on this site can send all items to you - as I posted before you can buy in larger amounts and save quite a bit - again, making sure you have good storage conditions. Also save the time and gas from the two hour drive.(or would that be 4, going both ways?)

I was only born in Hungary, tho I go sometimes to visit family. We moved to America when I was 4, raised there, then in my early 20's went to Israel - back to America to start a family, and brought my family to Israel in 1992 and still here.

The books you have are wonderful - and can be reread many times and always more gets soaked up. As far as advice from anyone, whether from the books or articles or even the forum, consider the source - we are all just trying to struggle with our own challenges - SOMETIMES your path may be similar to someone else's, and you can gain from their experience - but I think you do have to pick and choose alot - that's why Kristina's advice to experiment and see how you feel is better than someone else saying ah, that is yang so don't do it, or any other "rules." otoh, alot of us do go through alot of similar experiences, that's why it's a pleasure to smile at Jessica Porter's experiences - we can see the folly and laugh at it, and share her struggle. I love how she makes the whole experience both serious and hilarious. Counselors are like having lots of experience condensed in one person - he/she has seen many people and many situations - and hopefully has learned from them all, and that learning can be helpful to you.

sorry, not an expert on flame diffusers - somehow I don't remember having that many choices, and not sure equipment which is not in direct contact with the food is as crucial. otoh, quality may affect how well it works or how long it lasts. also not that knowledgeable on which oils to use for cast iron, we use olive only because we have so much of it.

might be of interest to you to think about yin and yang - if moving causes you pressure (yang) then what kinds of food can balance that? always keep in mind good quality - yin can be sweets (not that great to have too much of) or lightly cooked leafy vegetables or sweet vegetables soup or drink - it takes effort at the beginning, but you know, practice is what it's all about. We practice macrobiotics.

The best of luck in your adventures.

Klara

[SaintsValentine]

Thank you Klara, I am thinking about this also. . .