| m-link"> | | | | The Metal element is associated with foods that |
| Now that you’ve completed the Are | | | | are described as biting, hot, pungent, spicy and |
| Your Meridians Balanced’ Quiz, below are | | | | aromatic’. This means a diet of tougher |
| some simple recipes to help you address any | | | | veggies and longer, more energetic cooking |
| imbalances that the quiz highlighted. | | | | methods like pressure-cooking and heavier soups, |
| Fire Element Imbalance | | | | stews and curries. Great foods for the a Metal |
| The Bitter Taste of Power & Creativity | | | | imbalance include; carrots, rice, walnuts, button |
| The Fire element is associated with the bitter | | | | mushrooms, crab apples, olives, pears, garlic, |
| taste. The bitter flavour is thought to enter the | | | | radishes, wine, chestnuts, tangerines, green |
| heart, helping to cool it if it has become | | | | onions, peppers, leeks and chives. Dairy foods and |
| overheated. Foods that support the Fire element | | | | orange juice should be avoided. |
| include: slightly bitter greens - endives, rocket, | | | | Baked Brown Rice |
| chicory, mustard greens, chives, shallots, Chinese | | | | 1 cup brown rice |
| greens, the lighter grains - rice, corn or polenta | | | | ½ onion |
| and fruits such as; apricots, peaches, plums, | | | | Few fine slivers of ginger |
| oranges, strawberries and raspberries. | | | | Sliced almonds |
| Chilled Pumpkin and Orange Soup | | | | 2 cups water |
| 1 onion — sliced thinly | | | | Sea salt |
| 1 pumpkin — cubed | | | | Combine all ingredients and place in a casserole |
| Sea salt | | | | dish. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 1 hour. |
| 2 tablesp chopped basil | | | | Water Element Imbalance |
| Juice of 2 oranges | | | | The Salty Taste of Drive & Will Power |
| 1½ litres water | | | | The Water element is associated with heat and |
| Bring water to boil. Add pumpkin and cook for a | | | | salt. Long cooked stews, thick soups and heavier |
| few minutes. Add onions & salt. Cook until | | | | grains with sea salt feed your body and help |
| pumpkin is soft. Add basil. Puree the soup. Adjust | | | | address a Water element imbalance. Great foods |
| seasoning. Add orange juice and let the soup cool | | | | for a Water element imbalance include; celery, |
| before serving. | | | | miso, mung beans, sea vegetables, tamari, trout, |
| Earth Element Imbalance | | | | adzuki beans, kidney beans, buckwheat, millet, |
| Sweet Foods For Nourishment & Awareness | | | | barley, rice, beetroot, cranberries, walnuts, ginger, |
| The Earth element is associated with sweet | | | | cinnamon, nutmeg, dill, fennel seeds, lamb, chicken, |
| flavour. This however refers to naturally sweet | | | | garlic and onions. |
| fruit and vegetables rather than sugar or | | | | Kidney Bean Stew |
| processed foods that actually cause an Earth | | | | 1 cup kidney beans soaked overnight |
| imbalance. Great foods that address an Earth | | | | 1 onion — chopped |
| element imbalance include; millet, sweet potatoes, | | | | 1 cup carrots — chopped |
| apricots, pumpkins, yams, yellow squash, parsnips, | | | | 4 cloves garlic |
| apples, chickpeas, cherries, courgettes, | | | | 1 teasp mustard seeds |
| cucumbers, dates, lamb, lettuce, mung beans, | | | | 1 teasp cumin seeds |
| oats, peaches, pears, plums, pork, rice, spinach | | | | 4 cardamom pods |
| and walnuts. These will not only satisfy and | | | | Black pepper |
| nourish you but will also improve your energy | | | | Sea salt |
| levels. | | | | 4 cups water |
| Chickpeas and Vegetable Casserole | | | | Add beans, onion, carrots, garlic and mustard |
| 1½ cups chickpeas — soaked overnight | | | | seeds to water. Bring to boil and simmer for 3 |
| 1 stick Kombu (from Asian grocers/health food | | | | hours. Season with salt and pepper. Serve |
| shops) | | | | garnished with chopped chives or shallots. |
| 1 tablesp cold pressed oil | | | | Wood Element Imbalance |
| 1 onion — finely chopped | | | | The Sour Taste For Vision & Order |
| 1 sweet potato - chopped | | | | The taste for the Wood element is sour. Foods |
| 2 carrots - chopped | | | | that support the Wood element include; lemons, |
| ¼ pumpkin - chopped | | | | sauerkraut, pickles, green beans, beetroot, |
| ¼ cauliflower - chopped | | | | dandelions, endive, fennel, kale, mustard greens, |
| ½ cup green beans - chopped | | | | parsley, olive oil, radish, watercress, buckwheat, |
| Sea salt | | | | artichokes, lecithin, sesame seeds, turmeric, |
| Tamari | | | | amaranth and fatty fish. Watercress Soup |
| 3 tablesp dry roasted sunflower seeds | | | | 1 bunch watercress - chopped |
| Water | | | | 1 bunch bok choy - chopped |
| Cover chickpeas with water. Add kombu & bring | | | | 2 pieces wakame |
| to the boil. Cook on medium heat until chickpeas | | | | Sea salt |
| are almost cooked. In another pan, heat oil, saute | | | | ¼ soy milk |
| onion, add other vegetables. Add ¼ cup water, | | | | 1½ litre water |
| salt and cooked chickpeas. Cover pan with lid and | | | | Bring water to boil. Add watercress and bok choy |
| stew until vegetables are soft. Add tamari and | | | | to water. After a few minutes add salt and |
| sunflower seeds. Serve. | | | | wakame. Simmer for 8 minutes. Add soy milk. |
| Metal Element Imbalance | | | | Puree mixture, adjust seasoning and serve. |
| Pungent Tastes For Vitality & Self Expression | | | | |