Is It Superhero?
I’ve noticed there’s some confusion in the forum about when you should eat superhero and how strict you need to be.
What is “Superhero”?
The Superhero plan is loosely based on the macrobiotic diet on top of a vegan foundation. That means, fresh whole foods, grown locally and in season… revolving around whole grains, vegetables, beans, and lots of other good things. White sugar, white flower, and processed junk should be avoided entirely. For detailed information about the difference between the superhero diet and a vegan diet, go to page 97 of The Kind Diet and be sure to check out the transcript of my live chat all about the superhero diet.
How strict should you be?
First of all, I always feel better when I eat superhero. Overall, I’d say I eat superhero about 80% of the time and the rest vegan. This is a good approach for people who are generally healthy. When I’m getting ready for a role or an event, or I feel a little tired or off, I eat a very clean, as close as possible 100% superhero diet. A more strict superhero diet is also ideal if you are trying to lose weight or heal a specific illness or condition, like a bad cold or more serious illnesses like cancer. In the latter instance, I recommend seeing a macrobiotic counselor.
Is the Superhero diet only for sick people?
Many of the foods a sick person might eat on a strict superhero diet are delicious for healthy superheroes too! I eat healing foods like brown rice, beans, steamed bok choy or kale, and miso almost everyday. I just dabble in the vegan flirty world from time to time too. I generally don’t deprive myself of the occasional treat, like a vegan cookie, slice of vegan pizza, or a half glass of wine, sometimes more. Whenever I indulge, I know how to help my body recover. If I ever feel less than great, a cup of my healing tea or a good superhero meal usually brings me back to feeling my best.
That said, once you taste the glory of eating superhero and feeling so clean, balanced and pure, it’s hard to want anything else. But I still play a little with the flirty vegan stuff. The rest of the time, I’m macrobiotic/superhero, and I love it.
When I was in New York, the vegan food was way too delicious to resist! It was the holidays, and I wanted to try everything. I will say I was feeling way more tired, grumpy and weird, all because of the sugar and the excessive use of salt at restaurants. I was cooking to balance it out, so I wasn’t going too crazy, but now it feels so great to go back to serious superhero times. Even Christopher is being more superhero with me right now… Yay! So join us!
I hope this helps!
Do you have more questions about the superhero diet?
Share in the comments below.
Photo source: flickr.com / Patrick george is taking a break from photography, flickr.com / jules:stonesoup , flickr.com / The Delicious Life
28 comments
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I think the hardest part of making the change to a plant based diet is finding the education to help you on your journey. Now there's an online course that shows you the way.
http://rouxbe.com/cooking-courses/plant-based-cooking-level-1/details -
What kind of miso is everyone using, mone nevers tastes good, to mellow and watery
Is there a substitute for ginger in recepies. I hate it! -
Alicia, I saw your a video you did, it got me thinking, I never have been fond of a standard diet.
I live in San Clemente ca. Where could I find vegan diet products. I would be interested in trying it for a month or so. John -
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Whenever I feel like I have indulged too much over the weekend, I make a big pot of miso soup with tons of veggies. I have it for breakfast Monday morning. Its keys me feel so soothed and cleansed. It helps me get back on track the rest of the week.
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Dear Alicia (hopefully you read these!), I am a great fan of your lifestyle and outlook and think you seem like an all-round wonderful person. Your book, this website and other info I've read on you all inspire me to be both vegan and a better person. The only thing that makes me raise my eyebrows is when (like here) you link diet directly with healing serious illnesses like cancer.
Yes, there is anecdotal evidence and perhaps some scientific studies too that may suggest dietary choices have correlated with conditions of recovery, and healthy eating is certainly encouraged to *complement* prescribed treatments. However, this does NOT mean diets alone "heal cancer", and for you- a popular and influential figure- to even hint at this, raises the chances of sufferers denying themselves conventional medicine and treatment: in short, this is potentially harmful and highly irresponsible behaviour. Which really doesn't suit you! -
Jean-Michel,
This is for the most part a food blog, that is why it is mostly a question of food. I realize from this and other comments you've posted that you feel vegans take life and food much too seriously. That is why I was wondering why you felt the need to continue reading this blog and posting comments. It is a blog about vegan food. Perhaps a cinema blog would interest you more if that is what you are looking for. -
I have been struggling lately with my vegan diet. Thanks for the post it inspires me to get back to healthy living.
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Are you concerned about Brown rice? do you give it to your boy? I have a two year old and I was strict with no brown rice for a while, but I've slacked a lot. I just don't know if I should avoid it but it doesn't sound as though you do.-
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because of the whole aresenic scare. I've relaxed on it, because really, every food is deemed dangerous these days, but then I wonder if I really should stop. I guess there is evidence that aresenic leads to tumors and other problems
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this is a great blog thanks for posting Alicia!Thanks to all for the comments too. This has motivated me again -- I'm vegan ... sometimes a flirty vegan unfortunately... but feeling like becoming more and more superhero would be good for me. I'm going to read the superhero part of your book tonight :) thanks again. hugs to all from slovakia! xx
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Being superhero makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER! I had eaten so much sugar around the holidays so on December 26th I went superhero and I had been eating about 95% superhero until this week with vegan cupcakes and vegan ice cream and I can definitely see how BAD IT MAKES ME FEEL. The sugar makes me cranky the next day and I feel tired and run down. Back to superhero I go!! It's so worth the good feelings. -
I'm just a normal vegan who sometimes dabbles in superhero stuff. I find it too limiting, and I'd have to cut out too many of the foods I love (which is a hard sacrifice on top of all the other food I've cut out to be vegan). I'm vegan for animal rights, not health, reasons, so I have no problem indulging in the so-called "naughtier" vegan foods. -
To go 'full superhero' would need a lot of work and dedication in an everyday life, Alicia, but if you do 80%, you're doing very well, Miss Silverstone!
'Vegan flirty world', Alicia? A little treat now and then never did anybody any harm.
Have a good weekend, Kind Lifers, and especially of course, the gorgeous Alicia Silverstone! xo. -
Brendan Brazier talks a lot about a macrobiotic diet in his book Thrive and all the recipes I've made have been superhero. I only wish my small town had better food establishments to make those tired nights easier!-
agree, my husband likes to go out to eat and I always feel icky after, more and more so as I've cleaned up my diet more.
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