The macrobiotic diet has roots in Buddhist practices, where the foods you eat contribute to an overall "great life" -- the literal translation of the word macrobiotic. The diet breaks down into a few key areas: 50 percent whole grains, 25 percent seasonal vegetables, 10 percent proteins, 5 percent sea vegetables, 5 percent soups and 5 percent fruits, nuts or seeds. These percentages can make meal planning for the macrobiotic diet challenging -- but not impossible.
Know the Meal Components
The are basic meal components of a macrobiotic meal, which include grain, protein, sea vegetable, other vegetables, pickles and an optional dessert. Knowing these six chief components can help you create a mental checklist of the foods you should have at every meal. Start by planning your protein source, then work your way through the remainder of the list. When you have every food chosen, you have planned a macrobiotic meal.
Know What's in Season
The macrobiotic diet emphasizes eating fresh, whole foods that are seasonally appropriate for the area where you live. Do some research at a local farmer's market or grocery store about the fresh fruits and vegetables that are seasonally available and when new foods are coming into season. For example, in the winter, you may eat winter squash as your vegetable while spring brings an opportunity to incorporate fresh lettuce and wild greens into your menu planning.
Create Balance
Another principle of macrobiotics is the balance between sweet, sour, bitter, salty and sharp foods. Working on creating this balance can facilitate meal planning. Your vegetables are typically the sweet portion of your meal, then you can choose a sour food -- like a salad dressing or pickle. Sea vegetables are typically salty, while proteins can become sharp by preparing them with ginger or mustard. Before preparing your meal, check to ensure that each taste is represented.
Use Soup as a Catch-All
If you review your meal plan and find you have a few holes, a soup preparation can help you incorporate the missing variables. You can add sea vegetables, grains, beans or regular vegetables to a soup should you not have them in your meal plan already. Also, you can use seasonings to change the taste of a soup taste to bitter, sharp, salty or sweet. Save planning your soup for last, so you can add any missing ingredients into the dish for a complete macrobiotic meal.
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