Customer Reviews

Eat Me Now!: Healthy Macrobiotic Cooking for Students and Busy People

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I've been macrobiotic for over 25 years, and this book belongs to a genus you might call faux macrobiotic.

Macrobiotics involves eating according to the energy, or chi, in foods--because it's the energy that sustains us, rather than the chemical constituents recognized by science. This typically means avoiding processed and refined foods (because they have no chi) and highly stimulating spices, which activate the organs in undesirable ways. However, most people are accustomed to eating exactly those foods as part of the standard American diet (SAD).

Although this book has "macrobiotic" in the subtitle and begins with a long section explaining macrobiotic principles, many of the recipes call for such ingredients as canned beans, frozen peas, fresh and canned fish (tuna), garlic, cumin, chili, cayenne, and pepper. With the possible occasional exception of fresh fish, you would never find these ingredients in a conventional macrobiotic diet.

The book is apparently geared toward younger people, college students, who are on the go and want a somewhat more healthful diet than the usual fast food. I suppose in that respect it's better than Peg Bracken's "I Hate to Cook Book," which was my introduction to the kitchen several decades ago and mostly involved opening cans. But many people who come to macrobiotics do so for health reasons, and if that's you, this book may not be as helpful as you expect. If you're in good health and don't overdo it with the ingredients I mentioned, you probably won't do yourself much harm, but don't delude yourself that you're following a macrobiotic diet.

The rationale for these books is that people are in a hurry, so using canned or frozen sometimes is okay, and that people want variety, so spices are okay. Occasionally, it *is* okay. But this book has many such recipes--they seem to be the rule rather than the exception. Authors of these books sometimes say that macrobiotics is evolving or that you don't want to be rigid, etc. Fine, but there's just no getting around the fact that if you have a serious health problem and hope to get rid of it (or want to minimize your chances of causing one in the future), a clean vegan diet is imperative. Also, part of macrobiotics involves uncorrupting our taste buds, so we can appreciate the taste of the food itself, without a lot of seasoning.

I bought this book sight unseen, thinking it had some new twists on the old macro ideas, and I find that it's basically a popularization. The title and long introductory section imply that it's a macrobiotic cookbook, and to some extent it is. But people often come to macrobiotics to get rid of health problems, and eating canned and frozen foods and fish and spices on a regular basis is not going to help you do it.

This is an incredibly useful and healthy cookbook full of delicious recipies. I am in school now and this is one of the only books about healthy cooking that is aimed toward the busy young person. My personal favorite recipies are the tofu mochi and cabbage, the shrimpy rice, the tuna spread and the chewy crispy crunch. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is doesn't have that much time to cook but would like to be able to nourish their body with amazing food.

I work full time and am a full time student, so my days tend to be very hectic. I try to cook and eat well, but it's difficult to find the time! This cookbook is exactly what I need to cater to my busy lifestyle. The recipes are simple and easy to fallow. There are a wide variety of recipes that enables me to make a quick meal to take with me on the go, or if I have some extra time to make a nice relaxing meal that I can eat at home. I also love all the side notes on health a nutrition that are included! This cookbook has really made eating healthy much easier for me.

Finally, an amazing cookbook with fast easy recipes for busy people who want to eat healthy. Lots of extra's you wouldn't expect in a cookbook like this. The symbol key allows you to customize your meal planning in a jiffy!!! Melanie Waxman's expertise in Macrobiotic Cooking truly shines through in this wonderful cookbook.

This book is a valuable contribution to Macrobiotics. It eases the beginner in leaning how to eat according to its dietary principles without the intimidation one might expect when beginning a new healthy way of eating. This is also a great book to carry in your handbag when cooking away from home. It was difficult to keep the book on our shelf because everyone who saw it wanted to borrow it. A friend told me that it was the first time she was able to remain on the diet due to the simple yet very flavorful recipes and clear explanations Melanie describes in the book. Many of our friends have purchased the book. I refer to it as the Contemporary Macrobiotic book because Melanie presents ideas in a way that others have yet to do. We also noticed that her presentation of the diet is not as rigid as most Macrobiotic books. Another wonderful aspect about the book is that the ingredients for the recipes were much easier to find than with other books on the subject. You may want to order two book because it has a tendency to want to be borrowed. We are extremely pleased with our purchase.

Melanie's new book is my favorite macrobiotic book yet--the format is laid out well, the recipes are easy to read, and don't require extravagent ingredients. I have most of them in my kitchen already! And best of all, there are tons of recipes that you can literally eat in 20 minutes or less! My favorite section is the "Vital Veggies", some dishes and variations that I've yet to see anywhere! The Tofu Mochi Cabbage is a MUST try! Reading this book will tune you in to Melanie's vibrant, free-flowing energy, a definite bonus for you on your cooking path!

As far as I am concerned, this book was a "life-changer". My eating habits, before I read this book, were quite absurd. After I finished the book, I realized that I didn't have to sacrifice flavor or comfort in order to eat well. These recipes, and I am a busy professional, are quick and easy, make me feel as If I am really a cook (which I am definitely not) and I feel healthier and more energetic. As an added bonus, when I go on dates now, or when a date sleeps over, I am able to impress her with my ordering and my cooking. Unfortunately this is generally not enough to overcome their initial impressions.

Seriously, the book is fun AND funny, can be read in an hour or two, and in the kitchen it is easy to follow. Just prop it up and fire away.

In addition, the author give just enough information about Macrobiotics and its history in this country as well as the Yin and Yang of it all and an explanation of why it all matters.

Very helpfully, the books contains easy shopping lists, excellent suggestions for children's and teenager's diets (even an away at college menu guide) and a short, but readable, treatise on the nature of energy and how we use it.

This is a great book for couch potatoes OR triathletes. Don't mean to go on, but it's just that being one way and then being another is usually, at least in my mind, a good thing. And this book just happened to be a catalyst for change as far as I was concerned.

I found this book to be very informative. If you are just starting out with this way of eating, or just want to incorporate some of it in your diet, this is the book to read.
It's very easy reading and Melanie explains everything. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Loved this book. Fab recipes, loads of interesting info on health and cooking, easy to follow and use. It has really helped me to get started with healthy eating and trying new ingredients. Highly recommend this book for anyone who wants easy yet tasty recipes that make you feel great.

This book is a dream come true! I've never "read" a cookbook before, yet couldnt put this one down.. it exceeds all expectations...Even the most simple recipes such as steaming broccoli have a very special flare & all natural of course!
Bravo Melanie!