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Have you ever thought about applying Feng Shui to what you eat? Such is the topic of a new book called Feng Shui Food by authors Steven Saunders and Simon Brown. While once perhaps only the subject of interior designers and organizers, now the art of natural energy principles moves to food in this fascinating cookbook.
Packed with education about the yin-yang of the culinary world, the book starts out with describing chi energy, what is yin and yang, what are the five elements, and the basic premise of Feng Shui food. In fundamental Eastern terms, chi is the energy that flows through the sun, planets, air, all objects, and all living beings. And everything in your environment affects that flow of chi.
The authors describe two types of chi energy -- yin and yang -- and use that as a basis for describing yin and yang foods, cooking methods, flavorings, lighting, colors, and much more. Yin foods are explained as more passive, promoting reflection, relaxing, and creative, such as liquids, sugar, fruit, and vegetables. Yang foods are more energetic and stimulate movement, progress, and activity, such as meat, eggs, and hard cheeses. All in all, the authors want you to either balance yin and yang or be selective when you want to induce a certain mood or bring about a health benefit.
The cookbook promotes the use of the most healthiest and organically grown foods, as well as taking the time to prepare food using traditional fire or stove cooking methods, instead of processed foods and the microwave oven.
A limited set of yin or yang menus follow, such as Pumpkin Soup with Celery and Bok Choy (yin). Says Brown, “The (pumpkin) soup would be especially comforting if you suffer from tension, enabling you to feel warmer and more relaxed. Eaten on a regular basis, it will increase the strength of your stomach.” The soup includes, among other ingredients, onion, celery, fennel, cubed pumpkin, tomatoes, and bok choy leaves.
A yang recipe, Sweet and Sour Braised Cabbage with Raisans and Cinnamon, is primarily cooked in the oven. “Cabbage is a hearty yang vegetable,” says Brown, who was the director of London’s Community Health Foundation for seven years. “The longer it is cooked, the more yang it becomes, especially if you braise it in the oven. Braised cabbage is one of the ideal winter vegetable dishes that can help you to become more hardy and resistant to cold weather.”
The remainder of the book is devoted to special occasions and companion recipes, with a final section on choosing the best restaurants based on Feng Shui principles. For example, the section on how to create fun and healthy mealtimes for children weaves in traditional Feng Shui principles in choosing surroundings and food choices, giving a mealtime example of tomato soup (calming yin), baked bean croquettes (protein, yang), and baked bananas (yin and yang, sweet but baked) with orange and maple syrup. “It is amazing what you can do quickly and easily with fresh ingredients -- busy moms and dads really don’t have to rely on pre-prepared or convenience products if they know a couple of quick recipes,” says Saunders.
Additional sections educate and provide recipes for charging your evening with passion, uniting the family with harmony, creating relaxation, inducing romance, picnic lunch and party tips, and much more.
Finally, a small section in the back of the cookbook gives guidelines for how to eat out yet still maximize your Feng Shui options. For example, a late-night supper is best at a restaurant that has low ceilings, low lighting, soothing water features, and seclusion or privacy. Tables arranged in an irregular format allow more yin energy, allowing both the customers and servers to meander.
I think Feng Shui Food is an interesting education in color, the affect of foods on your body and mind, and how to change energy and mood with the design of your eating areas. There are many, easy take-away tips that make you more aware of everyday human behavior and food. And while one could get too caught up in always trying to balance yin and yang or control every energy or element, the cookbook is a useful addition to your wellness lifestyle kitchen library.
© Copyright 2005 Terra Wellington
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