A bit frustraited about not getting enough fresh food.

[AkiNara]

Hey guys, I think I need some advice here. I'm frustrated.

I had a macro consultation a year ago to help with my Muscular Dystrophy. He gave me a bunch of "have this 2x a week" kind of suggestions. The problem is I can't physically cook my own food. My dad does it, but he has a full time job, and he only has so much free time. As it is, he cooks me two or three new dishes a night, and even with that he's losing sleep and I'm eating later than I should be. And I eat a lot of leftovers, which I doubt is good for my serious condition.

So, I haven't been following his advice too well, and I feel like I might not be getting the nutrition my body needs. I'm also trying to study yin/yang and acid/alkaline, so I can become more balanced, but I'm in bed on my computer about 80% of the time I'm awake. Macro just isn't very easy for someone like me. I want to slow down/stop this disease the best I can, but I'm having difficulty following "the rules".

Can anybody give me any advice on how to straighten myself out? Any time saving things we could do on weekends/the night before? Any good educational resources available online? Heard any good jokes lately?

Thank in advance.

[Klara]

AkiNara,

I was soooooooooo glad to hear from you - I often wondered what's been going on. And I have a big smile on my face with your last line asking for jokes - it tells me even tho you say things are difficult, and I do believe you, somewhere you're doing things right to still have a wonderful sense of life.

Now I'm putting my intentions to find a good joke for you, tho I understand people seem to spend much time sharing jokes on the net - sorry, I'm not one of them.

I agree with you that alot is lacking in the recommendations given during consulations - the details!!!!! I also don't understand why a GOOD counselor would not stay in touch to see how you are managing with it all, or even if his recommendations are still applicable, or if you have changed and need different emphasis. Have you been in touch with this counselor?? Does he realize the situation you're in?

Again kudos to your Dad. And it's totally not fair on my part to give advice, but here I go....if you're Dad is already losing sleep cooking all the foods, can he lose his sleep in the morning, and make your food fresh then?? That would solve the problem of eating late, and perhaps some of the problem of eating left-overs, as the food would be fresh for the day.

The absolute obvious time saver is to put up rice and beans to soak over night. The water for the beans need to be replaced with fresh water, and as far as I know, at least for myself, I don't really measure bean water, just eye ball it. I love drinking extra cooking water, but I'm sure it depends on the bean dish you are making and as far as drinking, I guess that also depends on what the recommendations of your counselor are - I know for myself, for women's problems (I had had a hysterectomy, which I was told does still have an effect on me, tho it was 15 years ago) black soybean broth is excellent, so when cooking black soybeans, I try to have enough water to also drink. Smaller beans, such as lentils, or adzukis, do not need soaking.

For grains, mainly rice and rice combinations with other grains, and barley you can cook it in the same soaking water so it does need to be measured accurately when putting it up to soak.

Also I would, if you are willing, cook grain one day, then a bean the next day - so there's less to cook at once. both grains and beans can last at least two days (maybe more, but not certain for your condition) - also they last better if cooked without other ingredients, so if you want to add vegetables to the dish, do so the second day to "freshen" it up - or only add vegetables to the amount you are going to immediately eat, so what's left for the next day has less chance of "getting old." also ume in any form, paste, plum, not certain re vinegar, may help keep food "fresh."

So all that's left is the miso soup and vegetables to cook in the morning. (I suppose your Dad could also divide up the cooking - making grains/beans in the evening and just vegetables in the a.m.) I do know someone who with organizing, puts all the vegetables she is going to cook in the front of her fridge, so she can almost grab them blindfold in the morning. I wouldn't however cut or wash them the night before as I'm sure some of the energy is lost that way.

Ah, just thought of a joke, tho more for meat eaters, sorry. The new bride is cooking her husband stuffed chicken and she is asked what did she stuff it with. What, she exclaimed, but it already came stuffed (guess that's only good for the old days, when chicken used to come with the giblets, liver and legs inside - and the plastic that held them, too - sorry this is not a mb joke - I'll keep thinking)

How are you studying the yin/yang and acid/alkaline?? Have you changed anything because of the studies??

I fear to ask, but is your mother still around??

OK, here's a quiz for you - is being in bed 80% of the time more yin or yang? and what foods balances it? Anyone else is also welcome to answer.

Klara

[AkiNara]

Thanks so much for your reply.

Well, he was a good counselor (Warren Kramer. He was excellent.), but I guess I haven't been keeping in contact with him. I blame myself more than him, really. I guess I'm just kind of embarrassed about not really using his guidelines. And I've been "cheating" (I was eating chocolate up until a couple months ago)... I think it's mainly my fault. I was shy during our meeting and forgot to request a meal plan and didn't ask many questions. I'll try and email him today.

As for cooking in the morning... Hmm. I'm not sure. He works from 7:00-12:00, comes home for lunch, then comes home at 5:00 at the end of the day. There isn't a lot of spare time until he gets home at five. I usually just have rice porridge or oatmeal in the morning, and leftovers for lunch. But maybe with some organizing we can try it. I'll run it by him.

He tends to be slow when it comes to prep work, and tends to burn things if he does too much multitasking. And he needs to use recipes, even if he's cooked a dish a couple dozen times. A chef he is not. Hehe! It's hard to quickly throw anything together. That's why I was hoping for ways to save time, but I obviously don't want things to oxidize too much.

Another problem is lack of recipes. I'd love to take what we made last night and freshen it up, but when it's rice and beans and root kinpira... I'd have no idea how to do that. I have lots of recipes with fresh ingredients, but not many using leftovers. I'm getting sort of disinterested in my food, sadly.

I'm trying to study yin/yang/acid/alkaline, but other than macrobiotics.co.uk, I'm not finding many good macro resources. And reading books can be awkward for me. I want to do courses on macroamerica.com, but they cost money I don't have at the moment.

My mother is still around, but we're in the process of selling the house and moving to separate apartments, then divorce after that. Things will be much better than they have been very soon. My dad is also planning on going macro when we move. I'm very excited about that.

And I was kidding about the joke thing. Haha! I thought I was being too serious. But thanks for trying! Mighty sweet of you.

And I have no idea what could balance out being in bed with no sun or fresh air... But I'm sure my body needs something it isn't getting.

As for my condition/his advice... Well, it's an overly yang condition from too much poultry, meat, eggs, dairy, and also white flour. Lately I'm feeling cold, weak (my arms don't move easily anymore), stiff (3 of my fingers are bending oddly), and anxious/paranoid.

Our notes of his recommendations were:

"Fried Rice – twice per week
Brown Rice once or twice/day (use barley after that)
Cracked Grains 2 or 3 times per week
Steamed bread with tahini and sauerkraut 2 or 3 times per week
Noodles – 3 times per week in broth
Rice and beans every 7 to 10 days
Soup daily
Creamy sweet veggie soup – 2 or 3 times per week

Nishime 3 to 4 times per week
Squash/beans/kombu 3 times per week
Daikon with veggies and kombu 2 or 3 times per week
Roots and tops 2 or 3 times per week
Steamed greens 4 to 5 times per week
Boiled salad, blanched veggies daily
Pressed salad 4 to 5 times per week
Quick sautéed veggies 3 to 4 times per week
Kinpira 2 to 3 times per week
Stewed veggies with Tofu – 2 times per week
Beans – daily
Umeboshi plums – 2 times per week
Sweet Veggie drink – daily"

Just in case you wanted to know.

Thanks for commenting, Klara! Much love for you.

[Klara]

oh boy - ideal expectations and then guilt for not meeting them - I think it's the best kept secret, nobody admits, and probably EVERYONE does it - and it's so sad, because if everyone knew when getting into mb, that nobody probably does it ideally, we could all just let go of the guilt and get on with business. I am so glad you were brave enough to be honest - when I first started I admitted to a mb group that pizza is my weakness and from their response I felt like crawling through the floor - that is NOT at all productive - I'm not a counselor, not even a teacher, but I'll bet a GOOD counselor has seen it all, and must know from experience that the ones who just jump in and do it all right must be very few.

I'm glad your father does not do multitasking - I am just learning now to finally stop trying to do that. To really focus by only concentrating on one thing and being fully with that one thing.

As far as becoming a chef, I'll bet he can, after much much experience - that's the only thing that makes a good cook. I think he's worried like most of us at the beginning of not doing it right. Pity. But I don't know if there is any right road - it's all experiencing, and each of us come at it with different backgrounds.

I only "know" Warren Kramer from what he's written in Macrobiotics Today - you at least have past a hurdle that many others haven't, you like and respect your counselor. That's a good start!!!! I hope he responds to your e-mail and you get a good on-going working relationship, where you both try to figure things out - not just one sided.

Wow, your Dad starts work very early!!!!!! Now I'm the one feeling guilty trying to put more on him. But maybe just ONE thing he can do, maybe get up just 15 minutes earlier to do only one thing - something EASY - then he will have one less thing to do in the evening. But on rethinking, I wouldn't push it.

You wrote so many details - and so much - so forgive me for being maybe too nosey, but do you have a special keyboard to make it easier for you?? What I'm trying to get to is I wonder if there is anything you can possibly do in bed as far as the food preparation - you have time on your side - if vegetables are put next to you, do you have the ability to slowly cut them??

What you posted re the food you need to eat was indeed a very long and exhaustive list - I'm thinking I should also study it to make my practice better. But this is what I do (not saying it's ideal or anyone else should do it, but it's my lazy woman's way of coping) - I make sure I have a grain, preferably a whole grain - if I'm super lazy and want fancy, I add an amazing chutney that I bought here on this site (look at the store, fantastic items), or if I feel like I need to be healthier, I add another condiment (check them out, lots of good ones that can add variety to the foods), either one of seaweed, or with ume sprinkle. If I'm really being good, I will have on hand gomasio that I was wise enough to prepare (usually I don't get to preparing it, and when I do, I'm so proud and happy to be putting it on my food). Now if I'm being organized and doing things in a more timely fashion, I may add some vegetables to my grain.

the next thing, vegetables I also need to be organized - if I'm not, then I make a quick vegetable, usually greens - if a little more organized, I'll make some boiled vegetables, cut large if no time, smaller if more time. If really really organized, I'll make a sauce for it (love pumpkins in any sauce - also feel good when I make kuzu sauce) but if running short on time, totally happy with vegetables being plain - again if feel like more, go back to the condiments to save me. And only when I'm really really really organized, and have time set aside, I'll make a vegetable dish from a recipe.

But I find I"m totally satisfied with vegetables being simple - either water sauteed or quicky boiled. just try to vary which vegetables you cook.

macrobiotics doesn't have to be complicated to be good and good for you.

I hope I'm not messing things up - I keep going back to the list you posted and realize it's much more extensive - maybe ask Warren about how to actually incorporate it all.

the long cooked vegetables, i believe, can be used for more than one meal - verify that with him - that's what I've been told, also by an excellent counselor.

Leftovers can be put over noodles - can add water and some fresh vegetables (greens are always great) to create a soup - for freshening for beans and rice, again I look to see what quick vegetables I can add. Are you allowed oil? (I see he has tehini so I guess oil is ok) You can mash up whatever leftovers there are, add flour (if you're allowed) or maybe add mashed-up tofu - I see you're allowed bread, so maybe bread crumbs, maybe cornmeal - and sautee patties - I always make sure I add some parsley or green onions to perk them up.

As for weekends when there's more time, I would make a nice batch of pickles and condiments (like gomasio, or wakame with shoyu), and definitely make the sweet vegetable drink - my understanding is that svd can last 3 days - again, I'm sure fresher is better, but I don't think you need to do it every day. If Warren agrees, then making it twice a week should be enough.
And the pickles and gomasio for sure will be for the whole week.


Ah, and weekends should be for desserts!!!!! I didn't see that on your list - are you allowed?? Couscous cake? Rice Pudding? Pumpkin mouse, pie?? Kanten??
I think I should go to bed before I make myself too tempted to go back to the kitchen and scrounge for something to eat!!!!!

Just wanted to add there's alot of great reading on this site, also. Go to the chat section - all of them full of great info - for acid/alkaline, look at David Briscoe's chat - he also has an on-line course available you can sign up for at this site for more extensive study.

also once you start searching, you can find lots of articles here - Gary's done a great job with this site.

Then also there are other sites - actually can get quite overwhelming - I prefer slow and steady, but that's me. I'm discovering that alot of counselors have opened their own sites and again alot of info is available.

Give your Dad a big hug for me - he's doing great. I realize the situation with your Mom is unpleasant, but I expect changes will also bring with it some stress. Keep up with the sweet vegetable drink and the creamy sweet vegetable soup, to help lighten you up. I do hope your Dad sits down with you and shares this wonderful food - good for him, also. And he will be even a better cook when his own condition improves with the food - tell him!!!!

so no jokes, huh?? that's ok, I'm not really good with them

how come no sun comes into your room?????

Klara

[soysycophant]

when i have really busy times in my life what i like to do on a saturday or sunday is make a huge batch of beans and brown rice in the pressure cooker and eat from that for a few days. but you said leftovers werent very good right? maybe your dad can look into some health food shops(if u have any in your area) for some easy and fast to use things liek wholemeal organic crackers? soups and porridges are also fairly fast to make and can be very nutritional and healing when made with good quality ingredients. good luck to you though!!!

[AkiNara]

I can't chop vegetables. The knife would be too heavy, I can't look down too well, and I'd end up cutting myself. I use a graphics/writing tablet and an on screen keyboard to type.

Thanks for the input, guys. I think I may need to eat slightly "unmacro" until I talk to Warren and study more on things. My dad is struggling and I feel guilty about it. He deserves better.

I'll keep everyone updated! Thanks again!

[Klara]

Hi AkiNara,

Hope you didn't go too off mb. Maybe your Dad just needs to simplify for a while, cook a little greater quantity of beans/grains so more time to deal with vegetables (ie., eating the same grains/beans for a couple days) - he sounds like an amazing person.

Sadly, I think too much of mb is presented like an all or nothing deal, and beginners too often are afraid of making mistakes. heck, life is full of mistakes, at least mb is a great direction even with mistakes. Again, I strongly suggest that you look to condiments (try the shop on this site) to add variety to the meals - or just look for different kinds of vegetables that you're not used to eating, and cook them simply. always have some lovely bright green on any brown dishes, like parsley, or chives, or green onions, or quickly cooked leeks or kale, collards, or brocolli. Quickly cooked radishes also add lovely color.

do you and your Dad eat together? I'm still stuck on the idea of jokes :>) enjoy each other's company, laugh, share, happiness adds loads of vitamins to the food that you just can't get even with the best cooking!!!!!!!

I'm rooting for your Dad, and for you. Hope Warren comes through with flying colors for you guys. Hey, maybe he can move in for a while :>) - think big!!!

Love to you both
Klara

[AkiNara]

Oh, I'm not going off it. Just, you know... More fatty foods (nuts, seeds, avocado, maybe}, more pastas... That sort of thing. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression.

[Klara]

Whew! So glad!

Hope you'll share what Warren advises, especially concerning how to make the cooking easier - we all could use that info - looking forward to hearing good news.

Klara