Heralded by New York magazine as one of the city's most popular diets, macrobiotics has become the latest trend in dieting, thanks to high-profile supporters like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Speaking to the generation of young women looking to extend their healthy lifestyles beyond yoga and Pilates, macrobiotic chef and instructor Jessica Porter offers fresh, contemporary, and accessible insight into one of the world's oldest, yet most popular, diets. She explains that by eating good quality whole foods, any woman can experience physical, sensory, emotional, and intellectual freedom.
The effects of eating a macrobiotic diet can extend beyond basic health to weight loss, beauty, better sex, and peace of mind. Cooking tips and recipes are combined with Jessica's no-nonsense philosophy and witty anecdotes to create a lifestyle book that will inspire women to hit the kitchen with an understanding of how to strengthen their minds and bodies through food.
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"My favorite book on Macrobiotics to date. I like how the author mentioned that men and women have to adapt the diet differently. Men get 50-60% grains and women get 50-60% veggies and only 20% Grains. I also like how flexible the diet is. You have to clearly avoid some things for maximum health benefits, but you don't have to be so strict about it. You can slide every once in a while. My mom is now adapting her lifestyle to Macrobiotics Diet/Principles after reading this book too : )"
— Jeanette (4 out of 5 stars)
" I am someone who is generally prone to jump on health food bandwagons, I practically eat a vegan diet as it is. But this woman is nuts. Wacko. For instance, the idea that celery "balances" carrots because one grows skyward, and the other earthward ... and that, well, "macro people generally don't eat potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant, because they leech vitamins from your system" (not an exact quote but that was the idea). Macrobiotics looks to me like a constructed, fictionalized justification for what would be a vegan, traditional Japanese diet - and I currently enjoy traditional Japanese dishes with sea vegetables & such - it's the bullshit about chewing each mouthful 100 times, that I can't buy. Wacko. "
— Amy, 2/18/2014" There is something to be said for this fad, I think, given the fact that there is so little food in our food today, and so much toxic sludge. If you want an introduction to macrobiotics, I would recommend this book. If nothing else, it educated me about many different foods I had never even heard of. It was fun going to Whole Foods afterward and spotting things I otherwise would not have noticed. Kale is yummy! I'm looking forward to trying out some of the recipes. The author is pretty funny, and I like the spiritual lessons herein, the explanations of yin and yang with regard to food and more. I would never be able to go whole hog with this (no way I'm giving up dairy), but feeling very yang this morning...maybe I'll go eat a carrot top, hold the carrot. "
— Ellen, 2/14/2014" By "I liked it," I mean this book totally depressed me, but it gave me the kick in the butt I needed to re-commit to my resolution not to have refined sugar. And to venture into the world of sea vegetables... The funny writing style made it an accessible introduction to macrobiotics. If that's something you're looking for, I'd pick this up. "
— Ãine, 2/10/2014" This book seems like it might be a Sex and the City approach to macrobiotics, but it isn't really. Lots of information about the macrobiotic philosophy (yin and yang) that guide the diet. I'd recommend it if you're interested in macrobiotics specifically or just being healthier. "
— Yasmin, 2/6/2014" This was a dollar at a book store. The title is awful, but I glanced to see what the recipes were like and bought it. I'm glad I did because I think this is a good and needed reminder of the powerful positive effects of a whole grain based diet & the negative effects of excess. "
— Stephanie, 1/29/2014" super inspiring, makes macrobiotics extremely easy and fun "
— Kathleen, 1/22/2014" awful title. excellent resource. highly recommend it. "
— Emily, 1/16/2014" Food for thought, though far from practical at this point in my life. "
— Kristen, 1/2/2014" my love for this genre knows no bounds. despite the fact that she uses "hip chick" in the title, it's actually fun, funny, and informative. "
— citizen, 12/22/2013" I started out not knowing what to think, it seemed along of the lines of new agey talk, I kept reading through it it peaked my interest and I am anxious to try some of the recipes. by the time I finished the book, I want to buy it and put it into practice, I am intrigued. "
— Sabrina, 12/14/2013" I was intrigued... then came to realize I wouldn't be able to stick to a macrobiotic diet. I mean, seriously, no tomatoes??? "
— Jamie, 12/9/2013" I read this to learn what Macrobiotics is and I *think* I got the jist of it. I know enough to admire those who can live and eat by the rules and to know that isn't me! - at least right now. "
— Amy, 12/7/2013" Yeah, yeah, this has a dumb name, but it was a super helpful intro to the almost always confusing macrobiotic lifestyle. Oh, and also, I feel like a trillion clams, so I'm not sweating it either. "
— Susan, 11/15/2013" Good information and a recipe for the perfect way to cook brown rice! "
— Grace, 8/10/2013" this book makes getting the yin and yang down easy- frees the concept up- makes the path not so restrictive and more of a fun adventure! great information, up-to-date (for now) cultural references and a fun, easy and creative attitude. "
— Lillian, 8/7/2013" great introduction to macrobiotics- a little hippy dippy but a good read. Recipes are delicious! "
— Shanna, 6/24/2013" Interesting read. Some good ideas, some kind of "far out", and some do-able and not so do-able for me. "
— Carrie, 5/31/2013" The author does a wonderful job of explaining macrobiotics in a way that's hip and easy to understand. "
— Robin, 8/29/2012" Fun way to learn about macrobiotics - much more interesting than the other serious macro books. Love the rice crispy treats! "
— Monika, 5/5/2012" stupid stupid name, but nice, fun, easy to follow intro to macrobiotics. "
— Anna, 3/30/2012" Ms. Porter is a friendly read but, at times, verges on being "too hip." I also have a really hard time agreeing with anyone who encourages people not to drink a lot of water. "
— Steph, 11/6/2011" I'm not ready to go "whole hog" macrobiotic, but the suggestions to start with adding more grains to your diet and eating more balanced meals really helps. This book made the concepts behind the macrobiotic diet more accessible. "
— Christine, 10/1/2011" Loved it! And it's true to its word, I feel great when I eat macro. The rice avocado and corn salad (p87) is mine and my family's favorite dish. "
— Ildiko, 5/15/2011" Really good introduction to macrobiotics. The author is funny, irreverent. Good recipes. "
— Diane, 3/26/2011" Jessica Porter makes it fun --> I will continue to use this information "
— Paige, 2/23/2011" Read in August 2010 <br/> <br/>I did not like the layout or overall style of this book. For its size, it did not offer many recipes, especially not many recipes unknown to macrobiotics. There are much better books available on not only the macrobiotic lifestyle but recipes as well. "
— Nikki, 8/31/2010" Yeah, yeah, this has a dumb name, but it was a super helpful intro to the almost always confusing macrobiotic lifestyle. Oh, and also, I feel like a trillion clams, so I'm not sweating it either. "
— Susan, 3/25/2010" This book seems like it might be a Sex and the City approach to macrobiotics, but it isn't really. Lots of information about the macrobiotic philosophy (yin and yang) that guide the diet. I'd recommend it if you're interested in macrobiotics specifically or just being healthier. "
— Yasmin, 2/12/2010" great introduction to macrobiotics- a little hippy dippy but a good read. Recipes are delicious! "
— Shanna, 4/14/2009" I was intrigued... then came to realize I wouldn't be able to stick to a macrobiotic diet. I mean, seriously, no tomatoes??? "
— Jamie, 12/19/2008" this book makes getting the yin and yang down easy- frees the concept up- makes the path not so restrictive and more of a fun adventure! great information, up-to-date (for now) cultural references and a fun, easy and creative attitude. "
— Lillian, 11/5/2008" Good information and a recipe for the perfect way to cook brown rice! "
— Grace, 11/2/2008" awful title. excellent resource. highly recommend it. "
— Emily, 10/29/2008Jessica Porter is a macrobiotic chef, cooking instructor, and hypnotist. She completed her macrobiotic training at the Kushi Institute in Beckett, Massachusetts. She hosts a weekly radio show in Portland, Maine; has written and appeared in Zen Comedy, her own one-woman show; and has been featured in Simon Doonan’s book Wacky Chicks: Life Lessons from Fearlessly Inappropriate and Fabulously Eccentric Women.
Dan Bernard is an audiobook narrator known for his reading of The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics by Jessica Porter.