7 Levels of Judgment

Have you ever noticed how macrobiotic theory likes to classify things? Here are the 7 levels of judgment according to one's approach to eating.

At what level(s) do you tend to be? (They say that most of us never reach the 7th level!)

1. Physical = "I eat to stay alive"
2. Sensorial = "Mmmmm. It tastes good"
3. Sentimental = "This food reminds me of something good/bad from my childhood"
4. Intellectual = "This food is nutritious"
5. Social/Moral = "I don't believe in killing animals", or "This food is grown organically"
6. Ideological = "My religion says to eat/avoid this food"
7. Supreme = "I eat or drink whatever I want because I am free and know how to balance my health according to universal principles (and this includes all the previous levels)"

Where would you classify Homer Simpson, for example? (Comments welcome!)

Spicy? Harmonious? Balanced?

We always have a choice what we eat and when we know how it affects us, then we can decide if that is appropriate for our condition. Nothing is categorically "good" or "bad". It just has an energetic effect. For example, we had several spices like curry powder, cardamom, cumin, coriander, and mustard seeds, in the Indian food class.

The Macrobiotic Path to Total Health says, "In a hot, humid climate, spices serve to cool the body, stimulate the mind and nervous system..." So this cooling and stimulating effect could be beneficial for some people since we live in Hawaii, and it's currently summer so that would be even more appropriate. We also talked about how it could create a lively party atmosphere when people eat spicy appetizers.

However, spices may also contribute to excitability, hyperactivity, cooling and weakening effects. A person might get emotionally upset or experience allergies. It all depends on our own particular health condition at the time. If you are feeling nervous already, and spices theoretically contribute to that, becoming mindful and asking yourself, "Self, even though I like this taste, is it going to benefit my current health condition if I eat this right now?" Of course, this is always a personal choice and it's never up to anyone else to say what is right for you or to judge you. Your body will tell you its answer.

The vegan brown rice sushi class is Sept 3rd!

See my website for all the details:

http://www.macrobiotichawaii.com/2010/07/08/brown-rice-sushi-making-cooking-class/

Yin and Yang Mental Disorders

The other night in the Indian food cooking class, we were talking about extreme foods and how according to macrobiotic philosophy, they can tip us out of balance. Here are the foods and the resulting characteristics.... True? You decide!

Yin Mental Disorders

Over-consumption of sugar and other sweeteners, fruits, fruit juice, chemicals, most medications, drugs, alcohol, hot spices, ice cream, some vegetables of tropical and semitropical origin, excessive liquid, and other strong yin substances produce

1. General mental fatigue, which manifests as complaining and as gradual loss of clear thinking and behavior
2. Feeling of melancholy gradual loss of ambition, and self-confidence; the beginning of forgetfulness and vague memory
3. Emotional irritability and fear, prevailing depression; a defensive attitude.
4. Suspicion and skepticism, misconceptions and misinterpretations, general attitude of retreating from life.
5. Discrimination and prejudice based upon an inferiority complex
6. Loss of self-discipline; chaos in thinking and attitude; schizophrenic symptoms
7. Yin arrogance characterized by total inability to adapt to the environment and the creation of a world of fantasy and illusion

Yang Mental Disorders

Over-consumption of meet, eggs, poultry, cheese, and other hard dairy food, other animal quality food, salt, baked and burned food, and other extreme yang substances, as well as insufficient liquid intake, produce

1. General mental fatigue, which manifests as frequent changing of the mind and gradual loss of steadiness in mind and attitude
2. Beginning of rigidity, gradually developing into stubbornness and insistent attention to trivial matters.
3. Excitability, short temper, prevailing discontent, and an offensive attitude
4. Conceptualization, leading to adherence to various “isms” and delusional beliefs
5. Discrimination and prejudice against others based upon a superiority complex
6. Exclusive indoctrination, egocentric thinking and attitude, and paranoid symptoms
7. Yang arrogance characterized by total inability to accept others and self-righteous attempts to control or coerce others

Satisfying a craving for pizza

Somehow I got stuck on the idea of pizza and just kept thinking about it. I just gave in and created one for myself (all vegan, of course). My all time favorite pizza has always been with Greek ingredients like feta cheese, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, basil, and yes, tomatoes..... I have some blanched collards on the side.

Gourmet Ethnic Cooking Series: Indian

The last place I enjoyed really tasty Indian food was in Japan where there were numerous places to eat out. Every once in a while, I crave this type of cuisine, but have a hard time dodging eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes, which don't always agree with me. The following menu was created when the Macrobiotic Community Dinner was still happening, and I decided to teach it as part of the 3-week Ethnic Gourmet series. Some of the recipes are adapted from World of the East Vegetarian Cooking.

For the class, the menu was :

Red Lentil Dahl
Quinoa and Veggie Samosas
Apricot Raisin Chutney
Spiced Basmati Rice
Carrot Halwa


Ruth took numerous photos of me assembling the samosas and the group that I can share with you (thanks Ruth!).
We had a engaging time talking about macrobiotic principles, including yin and yang foods, what is moderate and extreme, the effects on the body, and why it's important to eat variety that is better quality yin/yang.

Of course, the best part is dishing up and eating!!


We finished the meal with this carrot pudding and a spoonful of vanilla soy ice cream on the side.

Testimonial:

"Leslie, the class was fabulous! I totally enjoyed watching you cook as well as learn more about yin/yang and the energetics of different foods. The Indian menu was such a treat. I've gotta try rolling out those samosas (you make it look so easy), and seeing if I can duplicate that yummy dahl and apricot chutney. I was pleasantly(!) surprised at some of the food combination, eg, rice and shredded coconut, and carrots for dessert with ice cream. The exotic, complex flavors were outstanding. You can bet I'll be trying all of these recipes soon! You did it again! Mahalo nui, R"

Growing My Own

One day just a month or so ago, I got inspired to grow my own food and threw some seeds into a planter. Just a relatively short time later, I have a wonderful salad blend, including red russian kale, mizuna, and arugula. My other veggies and herbs are growing nicely, but the turnips and radishes are getting munched by very hungry caterpillars. Have to figure this out naturally!

Windward Farm Tour July 24, 2010

On July 24th, I met about 40 other people via Kokua Market to take a farm tour to the Windward side of the island. The point of the tour was to get to know the farmers on the island and learn all about who is producing our food. The very lovely Susan Yamada jumped in with me so we could ride out there and took some amazing video (you'll see the links to her videos just below).

The first stop was Waiahole Poi Factory on Kamehameha Highway where we all made sure everyone was together before heading up to Reppun Farm. Here is the storefront for the Poi Factory (video). From there we drove up into the valley and crossed a stream to get to the farm (next video). You can see how absolutely lush the valley is on the windward side of the island.

We made our way up to the farm and learned about their incredible shangri la including the battles for water, a precious resource on the island; their bees and how to keep them healthy and thriving; their coffee beans and roasting process (a VW bug windshield wiper motor runs their roaster); and a fruit eating piranha that is part of their aquaponics system. The Reppun's are entirely off the grid, using solar and hydro electric power. Everywhere you look, they have food growing, high and low! In the following photos you'll see the coffee roaster, lilikoi, evidence of bees and honey, and the achiote tree. Some of the women who were with us were from the Phillipines. They call this the lipstick plant because you can break it open and use it for lipstick. The colors were stunning!

We wound around the land and came upon their taro field. All of the farm is incredibly beautiful, but the taro loi (patch) in specific was breathtaking and idyllic. They pump the river water in with the hydroelectric power and flood the patch. This taro is known for being hard from the cold water, and apparently the people are also rumored to be hard headed (this is what one of the Reppun brother's said.....).


One of the most surprising things to me there was the cashew tree. I've never seen how this nut is grown until now, and I love learning new things. The fruit itself is sweet and juicy, and has a flavor and texture much like starfruit. The nut grows out of the bottom of the fruit.

We took a break by having lunch at Sweet Home Waimanalo where Kevin Vacarello told us about their farm-to-table efforts. (I enjoyed the tofu and black bean burger with a sweet potato salad and mango dressing, as well as 'nalo greens with a vegan BBQ dressing. Mmmm...)

The last part of the tour took us to Palaka Moon Farm where we saw the farm in its very initial stages of preparation. They plan to grow everything possible to serve in their restaurant and to make the farm itself zero impact on the Earth. It was interesting learning about the physics behind engineering a farm that is not only sustainable but leaves no footprint on the earth and simultaneously seeing it in action at Reppun's. It was a great contrast to see what it takes to establish a farm that can provide food for the community.

We all had a simply fabulous day. I know I did!

Gourmet Ethnic Cooking Series

The Gourmet Ethnic Cooking Series is underway and there have been rave review for the Tempeh Tacos, Spanikopita, Dolmas, Baklava, and Mexican Chocolate Cake, among other tasty treats.

What I'm hoping to get people to embrace is that there is no need to ever deprive yourself of good, tasty, food. You get all the flavor, all the fun, and quality of life.

What makes me feel good is that in eating a diet that is plant-based, local, and organic whenever possible that we are doing good for our bodies, for the Earth, and fighting the corporate food system. When we choose to avoid processed and refined ingredients that lead to chronic illness we feel so much better, physically, emotionally, and morally as well.

The next class will focus on Indian cuisine. When I traveled to Barcelona, Spain, I went to a Hindu Vegetarian restaurant that served the most amazing samosas I have ever tasted. My love and memory was so strong that I recreated them for one of the last Macrobiotic Community Dinners that we served before they ended. I'll be teaching my super yummy recipe for the samosas!

Cheers to good health, empowered people and communities, and to fair food.....

Blueberry Kanten

One of the main emphases in macrobiotic cooking is harmonizing your cooking style with the seasons. We're in the thick of summer right now in Hawaii, and coming home, one of the most refreshing snacks that I love is kanten.

The main ingredient in kanten is agar agar flakes, an odorless, colorless sea vegetable which contains no calories. Kanten is made from fruit and fruit juice of your choice, agar agar flakes, brown rice syrup, and a pinch of sea salt.

One of my favorite books

This book by Carol Adams is the first one I happened to find that got me to look at food in a whole new way. Reading this was the seed that was planted and has now grown and been integrated into my current food philosophies. A must read!!

Testimonials from Hiroyuki's Visit

My teacher, Hiroyuki Naka, was here on July 7th to hold health consultations. We were fully booked, and I wanted to share a couple of the testimonials from the participants:

"Naka-san is focused, perceptive, present and kind - qualities needed to make someone feel special and important. He allowed me to feel the importance of health; I so appreciated his sharing his knowledge of foods and how to prepare them to enhance my health. I truly appreciated him focusing specifically on my needs.

I know he has the gift to help increase people's health through food, nature's own medicine to heal our own bodies. He is a reflection of his own authentic, genuine and healthy lifestyle - a true inspiration for me!

I felt honored and blessed to have had the opportunity to be evaluated and assisted by Mr. Hiroyuki Naka and I would highly recommend his health consultations to everyone IF their highest priority is health.

I look forward to my next health consultation with Mr. Hiroyuki Naka!" M. Kosasa

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"I had a 90 minute consultation with Hiroyuki Naka and it was definitely worth every penny! It truly was a powerful and life-changing experience. Everything he said resonated with how I've been feeling and I loved that his advice for healing incorporated both food/physical and prayer/spiritual. When he encouraged me to pray for my inner self, I had chicken skin. He not only gave me the foods I should and should not eat but the words to use in my prayers. He understood me on so many levels and I strongly feel that if I follow his direction, my life will change dramatically for the better. It already has. He is a gifted soul and anyone would be blessed to have an encounter with his kind and knowing spirit. I will definitely follow-up with him again. It was crucial that I receive his guidance on my journey to wellness!! Mr. Naka was able to take everything I've learned so far from Dr. Shintani and even Macrobiotic Cooking classes and individualize a health plan specifically for me and my growth. This experience took everything to another level, a more personal level. We are all on our own journeys with our own issues and Hiroyuki Naka is the most gentle and wisest guide that can help each soul follow their own path to light. DO IT!!!" ~~ K. Loebl

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"Hiroyuki Naka is a truly gifted counselor with insightful knowledge. He gave me invaluable advice and guided me to make healthy changes in my diet, cooking, and busy lifestyle. He possessed a keen sense of intuition about my health, and I was amazed that he understood and analyzed my condition so thoroughly within the hour I spent with him. I would highly recommend Hiroyuki Naka to anyone who wants to move toward a macrobiotic path of vibrant health!" F. Nishimoto

Kauai Cooking Class Travelogue

On Friday, July 16th, I flew over to Kauai to meet Sharleen and Arthur Isoshima who generously hosted my first cooking class on Kauai. The two of them are genuine ambassadors of the aloha spirit.

They secured a perfect place for the class, the Jam Room at Kukui Grove in Lihue. In addition to the wonderful students, I was surrounded by late greats, which I found comforting. (Did you know that John practiced macrobiotics?)

Shar and Art helped me gather the ingredients for the class from Papaya's Natural Foods in Kapa'a. I always enjoy seeing what other stores have to offer outer-island and this is a well-stocked one. The majority of the produce we were able to find local and organic. Later that day, I was very blessed to meet Kim Thich, a long-time macrobiotic practitioner who recently moved from the east coast with his wife to Kauai, and we all sampled a few of the items from his very beautiful and healthy organic garden.

The Introduction to Macrobiotics class was incredibly fun and I am grateful to all who came and spent their Saturday morning learning. (below is Shar's photo)

The following day, Shar and Art treated a few of us to a whirlwind adventure on the west side of the island! We went to a salt loi to see how Hawaiian families traditionally harvest sea salt, Hanapepe for taro and sweet potato chips, the Kauai coffee plantation, to Waimea Canyon, and to Koke'e State Park. Everything was breathtaking!

(the last photo here is April's)

On the way back to drop me off at the airport, we had pupus and drinks at the Grand Hyatt. This is a photo of the lettuce wrap I ordered.

I'd really like to thank Art and Shar again for their generosity and hospitality in inviting me over

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July 7th Health Consultations with Leslie's Teacher

My macrobiotic journey all started for me one day when I sent an email to Hiroyuki Naka (pictured on the left, with Reni Schuh, Michio Kushi, and me) and asked him for a health consultation. During this one hour, I was able to explain to him what was going on with my health and how I wanted to work on this naturally, without surgery or drugs. He explained to me what I had been eating was creating the problems, and that if I avoided those food items and instead ate a macrobiotic diet tailored to my condition, that I could get better. I diligently followed his recommendations, and not only did it work, but I also had my whole life path change in so many positive ways.

Hiroyuki (pictured here with his wife Mie) will be in Honolulu on July 7th to offer health and life destiny counseling.

What is a health consultation?

Health consultations are one-on-one meetings between you and a macrobiotic counselor to discuss your particular needs and to receive individualized recommendations for how to strengthen or regain your health. The recommendations will touch upon many aspects of diet and lifestyle from specific foods or dishes that will help to improve your health to daily practices such as walking, sitting down for regular meals or doing a body rub. Your recommendations are specific to you and based on macrobiotic principles of health and well-being. Health consultations with Hiroyuki also include a visual diagnosis.

Life destiny counseling includes how to reach your dreams through food, including items such more money, the relationship you desire, and the job you’ve wanted to achieve, for example. It can also include how to heal from painful events in life. (When I wanted to get an important job, for example, Hiroyuki told me what I should eat for the days leading up to my interview. He did the same for a marathon runner in Japan so that he could win the race – and he did win! Everything is energy, so when you match your vibration to exactly what you desire, you can achieve it!)

If you are ready to get serious about your health and your dreams, a consultation is the fastest route.

For prices, see my website

For questions and to set up a time, please contact me directly.

4 coaching sessions for the price of 1

Do you want to eat and live healthier but feel like you:

lack time?
worry about the cost?
worry about your family's reaction?
wonder how to integrate new ingredients into what you're already doing?
experience fear about getting your feet wet?
lack confidence or don't know what to cook?
want to learn menu planning?

These items are the blocks that you have to your success, including emotional and in your belief system. (We all have these, no matter where we are in our lives right now.) I would love to guide you through change gently and in a way that is manageable for where you are right now. Too much change at once can be very overwhelming, so I am going to show you how you can break this all down so you can integrate the information step by step in a safe environment. With this, we are going to take a deep inner look at our current belief system.

"It's like having spyware on your computer that slows your system down. You wonder why your computer doesn't run as quickly as it used to."

Similarly, our beliefs are running subconsciously all the time and we are not aware of this. The constant mind chatter uses up precious energy and prevents us from moving forward on our path to health.

Through combining the practical steps with this inner work, you will see yourself LAUNCH! You may have had a belief for your whole life, but once aware of it, you can change it in an instant.

Hope you will take advantage of this course and my discounted coaching services!

See Yourself Doing It, And You Will

The Art of Visual Diagnosis

Warren talks about the class we'll experience on Friday, April 16th, from 7 to 9 pm



See Leslie's website for more details

Myths and Misconceptions about Macrobiotics and Nutrition

Would you like to find a new level of health and vitality? Warren Kramer shares how the understanding of macrobiotic principles can transform your health and lead you to an even more amazing life. This lecture will take place on Thursday, April 15th, 2010. See Leslie's website for more information.

Nature is Connection to Health

Cooking Class: Adjusting to Warm Weather and Tropical Climates

The recipes taught in Saturday's Cooking Class (that's 4/17/2010) will be:

• Corn Chowder
  
• Mediterranean Style Barley Salad
• Fresh Chickpea Salad
  
• Asian Salad with Sesame Dressing
• Red and Green Mixed Veggies
• Glazed Pineapple and Strawberries

Sound good? Come join us!

For more info, and to register go to Leslie's website

Warren Kramer Seminar

After coming for the first time in October of 2009, Warren Kramer, an internationally renowned senior macrobiotic educator and health counselor will be back to teach us more!

Enjoy a variety of ways to participate, including:

Lectures/Cooking Classes The goal of practicing macrobiotics is freedom and happiness. Without our health, we are not free to live our lives as we wish. Macrobiotic education teaches principles we can use to guide our own lives. Yin and Yang, or the complementary and antagonistic aspect of all of life, are at the core of much of macrobiotic education. It is the study of change.

Lectures will include:

1) Myths and Misconceptions About Macrobiotics and Nutrition $30, Thursday April 15, 7 to 9 pm

2) How to See Your Health; The Art of Visual Diagnosis $30, Friday April 16, 7 to 9 pm

3) Application of the Five Transformation Theory to Discharge Past Foods $30, Saturday April 17, 9:30 to 11:30 am

4) Fifty Ways to Love Your Liver $30, Sunday April 18, 1:30 to 4:30 pm

Cooking Class will be:

Seasonal Cooking for Warm Weather and Tropical Climates $50, Saturday April 17, 1:30 to 4:30 pm

Click on the lecture or cooking class title above to learn more and to pay. It will take you to a separate page with the course description and PayPal button.

Health Consultations Schedule a one-on-one meeting with Warren Kramer to discuss your particular needs and to receive individualized recommendations for how to strengthen or regain your health.Your recommendations are specific to you and based on macrobiotic principles of health and well-being. A limited number of personal consultations with Warren are available. They can be scheduled Wednesday (the 14th), Thursday (the 15th), Friday (the 16th), and Sunday (the 18th) and will be held at a private residence in Manoa.

Health Consultation Prices and Details

All classes will be held at Pan American MOA Foundation, 3510 Nuuanu Pali Drive Please see Leslie's website for all the payment and registration details