○The Way of Food [1]

     Next, let's explore the concept of macrobiotics, a particular approach to food. The distinctive features of macrobiotics include utilizing ingredients in their entirety without discarding skins or roots, prioritizing locally sourced produce that aligns with the seasons, avoiding the use of food additives and pesticides, minimal preprocessing during cooking, and employing traditional Japanese seasonings and cooking methods such as miso, soy sauce, and salt. The basic proportions of a macrobiotic meal are as follows:

・Grains (staple food): 40% - 60%
・Vegetables: 20% - 30%
・Legumes and seaweed: 5% - 10%
・Miso soup and others: 5% - 10%

    Furthermore, individuals who completely abstain from consuming animal-derived foods and wearing animal-based clothing are referred to as vegans. Vegans exclusively consume grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, and seaweed, while refraining from animal meats such as pork, beef, and poultry, as well as seafood, eggs, dairy products, and honey. Vegans live a lifestyle devoid of all animal-derived items, be it for food, clothing, or any other purposes, without causing harm or suffering to animals.

    There are various other approaches to food around the world. These include vegetarians who abstain from meat and focus on grains and vegetables, natural hygiene that emphasizes consuming food enzymes and avoids excessive cooking, raw foodism, Ayurveda (a vegetarian-based traditional Indian medicine that also incorporates cooking methods), Chinese traditional medicine's medicinal cuisine (utilizing wild vegetables and herbs like pine nuts and mugwort), fruitarians who primarily consume fruits as their staple, and liquidarians who obtain nutrition solely from liquids such as water and fruit juices.