In an earlier blog post I wrote about how I struggled to find the “right” diet » Eating Disorders vs Loving Your Food . I’ve researched and adopted different Food Philosophies over the years and have found that a modified diet integrating principles from the various traditions works well for me. So, I wanted to share with you some highlights of the Food Philosophies that I find to be the most healthy (and some that are the most trendy). I’d love to hear your feedback!

This morning I had breakfast in a hidden little local restaurant near Barton Springs in Austin. And when I say hidden, I mean it is tucked deeply away into a Japanese garden path with barely any visible signs from the street, just a red adobe entrance set away from the road. It is a pristine oasis for health and wellbeing, serving fresh and organic vegetarian meals with a Macrobiotic focus.

It is called Casa De Luz. When I had just finished University and was beginning to teach Yoga and going to Massage Therapy school, I worked here as a hostess for over a year. I recall my health and vitality skyrocketed with rejuvination from eating nearly all of my meals here. Yet, I at some times I also suffered from low levels of iron which I mentioned in the earlier post.

This is also where I hosted my first public Yoga classes. The Auditorium (entrance pictured below) is along the Japanese Gardens on the way to the entrance to the restaurant, and was my first rental space for a Sunday morning yoga class. It was such a sweet and open space.

The Restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner everyday. While there is a menu, there are not options for various entrees, as the chef and assistant cooks prepare the same meal for everyone who comes to dine! That’s right, it is a ONE MEAL MENU that I find to always be delicious. The offering changes day to day, and meal to meal, but is standard with these basic foods which are served at every meal. Read further for information about the 7 foods included in each meal.

Here are picks from my breakfast, with Violet (my puppydog) being adorable nearby:

• Kukicha Tea – This tea is naturally very low in caffeine and supports healthy digestion. It has a mildly nutty, and slightly creamy sweet flavor. It is made of four sorts of stems, stalks and twigs of Camellia sinensis.

• Vegetable or Miso Soup – Have you ever had soup for breakfast? It is so tasty, quick, and easy!

• Leafy Greens with Tahini Sauce – Leafy Greens can include Collards, Bok Choy, Carrot Tops, Mustard Greens, Kale, etc. While the leafy greens are a significant source of Iron, the Tahini sauce adds higher levels of protein and iron to a vegetarian diet.

• Black Beans, Tofu, and Sea Vegetables – Supports protein levels and vitamins & minerals. The most suitable beans for regular use are azuki beans, chickpeas, and lentils. Other beans may be used on occasion. Bean products such as tofu, tempeh, and natto can also be used. Sea vegetables such as nori, wakame, kombu, hiziki, arame, dulse, and agar-agar are an important part of the macrobiotic diet as they provide many vitamins and minerals.

• Short and Long Grain Brown Rice (or Oats for breakfast) – Macrobiotics promotes grains for 40-60% of a person’s diet. This can also include barley, millet, oats, corn, rye, wheat, and buckwheat. While whole grains are recommended, a small portion of the recommended percentage of grains may consist of noodles or pasta, un- yeasted whole grain breads, and other partially processed whole cereal grains.

• Sauteed Vegetables – Local and organically grown vegetables are recommended, with the majority being cooked in various styles such as lightly steamed or boiled, sautéed with a small amount of unrefined, cold pressed oil, etc.  A small portion may be used as fresh salad, and a very small volume as pickles.

• Kimchi (Lunch and Dinner – Fermentation supports healthy digestion

For more details about eating with a Macrobiotic approach, please refer to my previous posting » Food Philosophies | Macrobiotics.

When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.

(Thought I might as well take a picture of myself walking through “memory lane” after a nutritious and delicious breakfast)

Would you like to meet to owner of Casa de Luz?

He said he would be happy to go on camera and speak to you about his Food Philosophy!