Macro Breakfast: Barley, daikon miso, steamed collards

Although hulled barley is more nutritious because it only has the outer hull removed,  pearl barley cooks much faster and is less chewy.

It's midterm week!!! So make sure you start off your morning with a good macro breakfast to jumpstart your brain ;)

Soft Barley
Pressure cooker:  Place 1 cup barley, 5 cups water, and 1 kombu (6 inches) in pressure cooker.  Turn flame to high and bring cooker up to pressure.  Place flame deflector under cooker and reduce flame to medium-low.  Cook for 50 mins.
Rice cooker:  Place 1/2-3/4 cup barley and 1 kombu strip (1 inch) in rice cooker and fill with water up between the 0.5-1.0 line for porridge.  Cook rice on porridge setting.  If there is still a lot of water still left over transfer all contents to a pot and boil for another 5-10 mins until it thickens.

Miso Soup with Wakame and Daikon
Place 2.5 cups water in a pot and bring to boil.  Add 1 cup of daikon quartered and thinly sliced, cut on a diagonal.  Add 1-2 shiitake mushroom (soaked, stems removed and sliced).  Reduce flame to medium-low, cover, and simmer 3-5 mins until daikon is tender.  Add tbsp wakame and simmer 2-3 mins.  Reduce flame to very low, add 2 tsp barley (mugi) miso diluted in water and simmer 2-3 mins more.  Place soup in individual serving bowls and garnish with chopped scallions.

Recipe courtesy of The Macrobiotic Way by Michio Kushi & Stephen Blauer

Restaurant Review: Lemonade Restaurants

2 portion order split:  Quinoa with cucumber, radish and ginger orange vinaigrette, Beets with pickled onion and hazelnut vinaigrette, snap peas with edamame and sesame, and green beans with peaches. 

Lemonade Restaurants LA is popping up everywhere!  From Pasadena to the campus of USC.  It is a modern cafeteria that serves seasonal southern california food.  Although they are not completely vegan they have a huge selection of vegan and macro options in their marketplace section:

Pay $4 for each item or order 2 portions for $7.50 or 3 for $10.  You can split your order!  So if you order 2 portions and split each you can get 4 different choices (like what I did above), or you can split the 3 and get 6 different choices!

The atmosphere at Lemonade can get a little intimidating when you first enter, more than likely it will be pretty busy.  But don't worry, the line moves fast because it's like a grab and go and quick serving cafeteria style.  There are a lot of workers and all you do is point out to them which ones you want and they'll give it to you in no time.  Be sure to ask them which items are vegan. Probably one of my favorite marketplace selections is the spaghetti squash with farro and pomegranate vinaigrette.  What's amazing is that they released their recipe!  Check out Lemonade LA, you will not be disappointed.

Happy Valentines Day!!!!-2012

Made these this morning!  Bake some sweet macroness for your loved one or even for yourself ;)

Macro Thumbprint Cookies

• 1 cup(s) of rolled oats
• 1 cup(s) of almonds
• 1 cup(s) of spelt flour

• 1/2 cup(s) of corn or safflower oil
• 1/4 cup(s) of maple syrup

• 1/4 cup(s) of brown rice syrup
• 1 jar of Fruit-sweetened jam of your choice


1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Combine the oats and almonds in a blender or food processor and blend until they have the consistency of flour.
3. Pour into a large bowl, and add the spelt flour.
4. In a small, separate bowl, mix the oil, maple and brown rice syrup together.
5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix well.
6. Make 1 inch balls with your hands and press flat onto a cookie sheet.
7. Make and indentation with your thumb in the center of each cookie.
8. Fill each cookie with a teaspoon of jam.
9. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes

Cool and enjoy!


Note:  If you're like me who doesn't like their cookies too sweet, just use either maple syrup or brown rice syrup.

Kick the coffee bean and go with the grain!

Inka and Pero make great grain coffees with all natural ingredients and macro sweeteners such as Barley Malt.  

Why is caffeine bad for you?

Because caffeine overstimulates the adrenal glands and the heart, macrobiotics says that eliminating it from your diet is best to help balance your emotional and physical well being.  It has also been tied to mineral loss, breast cysts, gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular stress, and nutritional deficiencies.  Although non caffeinated coffee may be better for you it is usually processed with chemicals and other unwanted additives.

What is grain coffee?

Teeccino is the most popular with a variety of flavors like vanilla hazelnut and mocha.   Although it is less macro because it contains carob,  dates and nuts, I definitely recommend this to those just weaning off coffee because it tastes amazing!  Also comes in travel tea bag ;)

Grain coffee is a ground up mixture of roasted whole grains that provides a nourishing alternative to regular or decaffeinated coffee.  A variety of grain coffees are available in natural food stores (look in the coffee or tea section).  Those made with 100% cereal grains, wild grasses beans, and other vegetable-quality ingredients and containing no honey, molasses, or other strong sweeteners and fruit powders are suitable for occasional consumption and a great dessert alternative.

How do you prepare grain coffee?

Because Inka and Pero grain coffee is instant, all you need to do is add 1 heaping tsp in water and mix well.  Teeccino on the otherhand should be treated like brewed coffee.  Use drip coffee makers, french press, or get even more creative with an espresso maker.  

Grain coffee is a great treat and really helps beat the coffee addiction, it did for my dad! He loves to make the Teeccino mocha flavor with almond milk froth on top.  You'll find that drinking grain coffee is so much more relaxing for your mind and body.