Wabi-Sabi Eating

Now maybe the term wabi-sabi, in a traditional sense, can not be applied to diet, but I am trying to apply it to all areas of my life and believe me eating is a big area.  Let’s face it – I love to eat.  I think I am basically a Carbatarian.  I do love my daily bread! 

Last fall my family began to simplify our diets.  I read through “The Raw Food Detox Diet” by Natalia Rose.  http://www.detoxtheworld.com/books-the-raw-food-detox-diet.php   I also re-read a book which I had studied and followed in the past, The Hallelujah Diet” by George Malkmus http://www.hacres.com/hallelujah-diet

We began by cutting out all meat.  We focus on foods that are easily digested and as close to their natural state as possible.  Our goal was to eliminate processed foods and eat more fruits and vegetables.  We try to follow the food combination table but we are still working with that.  Here I have summarized what I got from the Raw Food Detox diet information.

RAW FOOD DETOX DIET
A fun, fresh and delicious way to eat and live!
GOALS	*  To restore our diet to foods that are absorbed more efficiently by our digestive system.		QUICK EXIT HIERARCHY OF FOODS
	*  Eliminate processed foods		1	Raw fruits and vegetables
	*  Promote the intake of more fruits and vegetables			Raw honey
				Stevia
HOW	Step 1	Stop poisoning your cells	2	Lightly steamed, low-starch vegetables
	Step 2	Eat quick exit foods in quick exit combinations		Pure maple syrup
	Step 3	Infuse your body with live enzymes		Agave nectar
	Step 4	Take the garbage out - cleanse	3	Raw nuts and seeds
	Step 5	Determine your raw food transition number	4	Cold pressed plant oils
			5	Cooked starchy vegetables
REMEMBER			6	Raw unpasteurized dairy
Rule 1	Eat foods that are the easiest to digest		7	Whole grains
Rule 2	Eat in quick exit combinations
Rule 3	Eat light to heavy throughout the day
QUICK EXIT COMBINATION TABLE
Never mix these 4 categories with one another with a few exceptions
1	STARCHES		NEUTRAL FOODS
		avocado		all raw vegetables
		brown rice		70% chocolate
		cooked corn		spices
		legumes		almond milk
		pasta		raw honey
		sweet potatoes		pure maple syrup
		whole grain breads
		young coconut	TIPS
			*	Foods in different categories should never be mixed in the same meal, but foods in the same category may be enjoyed a the same meal.
2	FLESHES		*	Fruit should only be consumed on an empty stomach
		Raw cheese	*	Fruit can be eaten 3 hours after food
			*	You can eat other food about 30 minutes after eating fruit
3	NUTS/SEEDS/DRIED FRUIT		*	Ideally eat fruit for your morning meal
		Raw nuts	*	Wait 3-4 hours after eating before switching food groups
		Raw seeds	*	Nuts, seeds and dried fruits go better with raw vegetables than cooked vegetables
		Raw, unsulfured fruit	*	Beginners can get away with mixing starches because there are plenty of enzymes to help digestion
4	FRESH FRUIT
		Citrus	*	1 - 2 - 3 may be mixed with unlimited amounts of RAW vegetables
		Bananas	*	1 - 2 may be mixed with raw or cooked vegetables
		Plums
		Berries

Here is what we eat now on an average day.

Breakfast – smoothie made with frozen fruit or fresh in season fruit.  Toast with almond butter.

Lunch – veggie salad

Snack – almond nut bar and fruit

Dinner – More salad, a variety of cooked foods usually using: lentils, beans, rice, pasta, fresh veggies on pizza dough, home made vegetarian soups.

We have not completely given up eggs or cheese.  I buy only organic eggs and we stick with the less fat harder cheeses like parmesan.  We also have not kicked the white sugar habit yet, but that is a goal!

Both my DH and I have felt so much better.  My twelve year old son loves it too!  Most people automatically think that eating more fresh fruits and vegetable is expensive, but leaving off the meat makes a huge difference on your grocery bill!  Twice a week, my DH and I spend about 45 minutes chopping up all sorts of fresh veggies for a huge salad.  We then pack our lunches and fix are dinner salads from this.  We like to add sunflower seed and craisins as toppings!

It really has simplified our life.  I am in the kitchen less and outside tending the gardens more!  We are more satisfied after a simple, nutritious meal and have more energy then ever to enjoy life!  That to me is Wabi-Sabi!