Yin and Yang in the kitchen

A quick guide to Zen Vegetarian Cooking, using natural and organic foods
by Palma Bellardoni

And One became Two

Yin and Yang are just two expressions to symbolize the complementary and opposite energies that affect and create all forms of life: they are the two opposite poles (negative and positive) that give us the vital spark.

They are the eternal force of expansion and contraction, which must alternate constantly in order to maintain balance. Imagine just expanding without being able to contract…you dissolve! Or imagine just contracting without being able to expand… you implode!

Think of an eternal day without ever getting dark, or an eternal night without seeing the light of day…Without one or the other, there would be no life on Earth.

The different proportion between the two forces is what creates different things in the physical world. Something with more yin than yang will look different than something with more yang than yin.

The first one will be softer and colder and darker in color, while the second one will be harder, warmer and more brilliant in color.

Yin is the force of expansion, soft, cold, damp, night, lightweight, female, vibration, acidic.

Yang is the force of contraction, hard, warm, heat, day, heavyweight, male, matter, alkaline.

It is important to know that these are only terms of comparison in the actual physical world, meaning that something can be classified as yin or yang only in relation to something else.

Taken alone, it is what it is and it manifests because of the interplay of the two forces. But when you compare two things, one can be more yin or more yang than the other, based on their own proportion of yin and yang.

Here are some examples regarding food: a vegetable (clorophyll, cold, not moving) is yin compared to an animal (red blood, warm, moving), more yang. But within the vegetable kingdom a carrot (orange, hard, lasts long) is yang compared to a lettuce (green, soft, spoils quicker), more yin.

Nature always strives to maintain and provide balance, so hotter climates (yang) will grow foods that are more cooling for the body (yin).

Conversely, colder climates (yin) will have more warming foods (yang). A tropical banana is more yin than a temperate apple. This shows also in their different shelf life.

All you need to know for now is that it is crucial to get enough of both energies, in the appropriate combination for the climate you live in.

By applying the principle correctly, you can create great balance within yourself.

If you feel like you are too yang (very active, restless, hot, jumpy) you can add a little more yin to your diet.

If you think you are too yin (sedentary, cold, shy, dreamy) you can eat a little more yang.

Here is a chart with a few guidelines:

Very Yin	Yin	Center	Yang	Very Yang
sugar, honey, chocolate, spices	fruit, fresh vegetables, yogurt and soft cheeses, dairy, soymilk, tofu, oil, nuts and seeds	grains, beans, root vegetables	fish and meat, salty cheeses, eggs, dried foods, seaweeds	salt, miso, soysauce, cured meats

Again, these are general terms of comparison, and the same can be done within each category. For example, fish is yang in general, but white fish is more yin compared to salmon or tuna (red meat). Fresh water fish is more yin compared to salt water fish.

Please note that I included in the chart animal foods for those of you who eat them, so you know how to classify them and how to create proper balance.

Generally speaking, a zen diet is mostly vegetable based, with the optional inclusion of some fish or meat. However, it is important to remember that the principles can be applied to anything.

Here is your homework… do you think you are more yin or more yang? Have fun!

Five easy lessons will give you an understanding of what a Zen Chef is all about. If you want to know about water, the ultimate harmony – and how you can interpret foods as “local” – read next!