Seasonal Cooking

The essential concept of seasonal cooking includes nutrition and lifestyle as keys to creating nourishment for the mind, body and spiritual health in balance with nature's cycles.  There is much to be aware of within ourselves as there is around us (our environment).  If you adapt yourself to the changes that come with the seasons, this will help you to maintain your health.  In Chinese Medicine, each season represents a cyclic change in nature as well as in the body.  Eating seasonal foods will help to strengthen your body as well as your connection to nature.

CSA Cooking (Community Supported Agriculture)

Subscriptions to CSA boxes has been becoming a healthy trend as well as a way to support local farmers and eat more local seasonal foods.  You can find many farmer's in the Pittsburgh area who offer subscriptions for shares and each week or bi-weekly (depending on share you buy) you receive a "box" of fresh picked vegetables and fruits (some may offer a few other goodies as well).  I have cooking clients who call me with their "ingredients" for the week and I make up a menu, shop and cook in their homes.


Macrobiotic

Macrobiotics is considered an approach to life rather than a diet.  It emphasizes whole grains (such as brown rice), legumes, vegetables, seaweeds, fermented soy products, miso soup with a smaller focus on fish and seafood; seeds, nuts and nut butters; seasonings; natural sweetners and fruit.  Other naturally raised animal products may be included during dietary transition or according to individual needs.  The composition of foods are adjusted according to season, climate, activity, gender, age, health condition, transition in one's diet and any other personal considerations.


Vegetarian / Vegan

Some people follow a vegetarian diet, but there are no single vegetarian eating patterns.  The vegan or total vegetarian includes only foods from plants: fruits, vegetables, legumes (dried beans and peas), grains, seeds and nuts.  The lactovegetarian diet includes plant foods plus cheese and other dairy products.  The ovo-lactovegetarian (or lacto-ovovegetarian) diet also includes eggs.  Semi-vegetarians don't eat red meat but include chicken and fish with plant foods, dairy products and eggs. 

Vegetarian diets can be very healthy and nutritionally sound if they are carefully planned to include essential nutrients and individual constitutions and current health conditions are considered.


Raw Foods

Raw foodism is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet.  Raw foodists typically believe that the greater percentage of raw food in the diet, the greater the health benefits.  If anywhere from 60-75 to 100% of a person's total food consumption is raw food, you can be considered a raw foodist.  A raw food diet is usually equated with eating only raw plant foods but other raw foodists may consume raw meat and other raw animal products.

Like in a Vegetarian Diet, a Raw Food diet can be very healthy and nutritionally sound if they are carefully planned to include essential nutrients and individual constitutions and current health conditions are considered.