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from Natural Life Magazine,
January/February, 2010 As a way of introduction, may I repeat an old cliché and what I consider to be a simple truth? “We are what we eat!” What I discovered over thirty years ago is that the food we take into our bodies, whether it be actual physical food that feeds our bodies, mental thoughts or whatever exists in the visible and invisible environment surrounding us, creates us and all that we are. It always has and always will. Whether we are in great physical and/or mental condition, or poor, we have created this state through the biological and psychological food that we ingest. So developing the knowledge of what to allow into our bodies is one of life’s important practices. The knowledge and practice of eating food that optimally feeds our bodies gives us the biological foundation and the confidence to live in this world without the fear of getting sick! One’s selection, preparation and eating of wholesome and nourishing foods is of vital importance for one’s optimal health and long-term survival on this planet. Where does this begin? Right in one’s own kitchen! The kitchen is our wellness center. It is the heart of the home, the hearth from which we nourish our families, our communities, ourselves. This is wonderful news as it empowers us to take our own health into our own hands. How do we transform our kitchens into wellness centers, thereby creating the health, happiness and peace we all seek? We equip our kitchens with the right tools and supplies: A gas stove, quality cast iron pots, pans, pressure cookers made with stainless steel, a sharp vegetable cutting knife, wooden cutting boards and quality cooking utensils. In clean, glass jars, we store healthy condiments such as high quality sea salt, shoyu soy sauce, umeboshi plum, miso, and bulk foods such as grains, whole-wheat pastry flour, dried beans, seeds and nuts, in all their abundant variety. We store in our kitchen and/or refrigerator organic plant-based seasonal foods, vegetables, fruits and plant-based protein, such as tofu, tempeh, seitan and beans in their own abundant variations. We come to the “service” of cooking in our kitchens with a dedicated, committed and loving attitude. Cooking is an art, a form of meditation in motion and a service to humanity. We develop an understanding of how to select and prepare in our kitchens nourishing wholesome foods that will optimize our health. Because “we are what we eat” and because food provides the biological foundation for our health and well-being, the knowledge and understanding of the cook who selects and prepares our food is paramount to the quality of our health. In essence, the cook must become a “food doctor.” As stated by Hippocrates, “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine thy food.” The way I came to this understanding was through the study of Macrobiotics, which I began in 1977, and by following the laws of Nature, which, based on the Macrobiotic Philosophy, are known as “The Order of the Universe.” After three years of formal study of the philosophy and practical application of Macrobiotics at the Kushi Institute in Brookline, Massachusetts, I came away with what I thought was a brilliantly simple realization: If I eat well, everything will be okay! This was reinforced by my ongoing study, practice and reading of hundreds of books by authors who all conclude that a whole foods, plant-based diet is the best way to eat. The best foods to prepare in our kitchens and then to eat are organic whole grains, beans, land and sea vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. Here’s why . . . To read the rest of this article, including seven recipes for creating simple,
wholesome, nourishing meals,
subscribe to Natural Life Magazine's digital
edition. David Snieckus is a graduate of the world-renowned Kushi Institute and has been practicing macrobiotics since 1977. Currently, he is a Macrobiotic Counselor, Coach and Chef who resides in Newton, MA. Since 1977, David has been helping individuals change their diets and improve their lives. He is an experienced, entertaining and engaging speaker. His passion is to share his knowledge and experience and invoke self-awareness in others so that they may experience optimum health and well being. Contact David at davidsnieckus@hotmail.com or visit his website at www.davidsnieckus.com. |
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