The Quick and Natural Macrobiotic Cookbook

by Aveline Kushi, Wendy Esko

"Anyone watching his or her weight can profit by using these 150 recipes and 30 menus.... Foodstuffs blend old and new tastes, ...each recipe includes nutritional and exchange information."

Genres: Cookbooks, Food

306 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1989

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book was a concise account of the main principles of macrobiotics. The second half is a carefully planned out week-long menu that is designed to provide you with an understanding of how macrobiotic meals are put together. It also shows how you can save time making breakfasts and lunches by using leftovers from dinner as a starting point.

The recipes look relatively simple for anyone used to working with whole foods, and several look quite delicious. The book does a really good job of showing you how to plan ahead and how to make intentional leftovers to use as a building block for the next day's breakfast and lunch.

Unfortunately the book really doesn't do a very good job of explaining how to put together your own macrobiotic menu--or even explain how to make appropriate substitutions for ingredients you don't have or like, or that aren't currently in season. While you can get a general idea by studying the pre-planned menus, the book would greatly benefit from a meal planning template--or even just a better explanation of why certain dishes go best with other certain dishes.

But, overall I liked the book and enjoyed the authors' voice(s). While it could be a bit dogmatic at times, it didn't feel preachy or judgemental.

[Margarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book... to help you provide quick and nutritious meals for even the most picky... don't give up on those picky ones... if one way doesn't work, try another way! :) Easy read, some really yummy recipes, interesting philosophies of how to look at life... Directions on staples to make ahead and 8 days of meals planned out... Our next family goal.. to eat Macrobiotic for 8 days straight... to do first week in November. :)

[Saleris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I bought this on a whim. It was on sale and I was seriously thinking about what being macrobiotic (in the mid 1980's) meant, so I got it. I'm not sure it's a good book, but once in a while, I want something very "clean" and minimal, and I'll look in here. I might find something, but in all the time I've owned it (I got it in 1986) I think I've made roughly a dozen things out of it.