What makes up a macro-bowl?
There is no exact way to create a macro-bowl. The idea is to ensure that your meal is versatile. Here are some suggested portions for a balanced macrobiotic bowl:
1. Start with a whole grain which makes up about 20 to 30 percent of your plate. You can use quinoa, brown rice, or millet for example. You may also swap the grains and include noodles instead like buckwheat soba or udon noodles.
2. Vegetables can make up about 40 to 60 percent of your plate or bowl. Within this group it is recommended to include all three categories of vegetables—round (like onions or squash), leafy (like kale), and root veggies. The vegetables can be prepared in either one of two ways : cooked quickly via steaming or sautéing, and cooked longer, like stewing.
3. Beans, soy protein, and sea vegetables should make up about 5 to 10 percent of your bowl. Some good options can be either tempeh or tofu. Sea vegetables include nori, hiziki, a wild Maine kelp, and dulse. These categories are generally overlooked but can be a valuable source of nutrients.
4. It’s important to also include fermented foods, like naturally fermented pickles, which contain probiotics.
5. You can also make your macro bowl into a soup. You could consider adding miso soup or kombu soup broth to your macro bowl to create a stew.