1. Advocating the Consumption of Wheat Products
When there is weakness in both congenital and acquired aspects, one should focus on proper nourishment. If one wishes to rely on food for nourishment, vegetarians should consume more wheat. The strength of wheat is several times greater than that of rice.
Simply eating wheat products leads to robust spirit, ample energy, and a loud voice. Rice can only fill the stomach, lacking this effect.
Wheat is several times more nourishing than ginseng. Wealthy individuals consume ginseng merely as a way to spend their money, not because it truly nourishes.
— From “Wenchao Sanbian, Volume 2, Reply to Cai Qicheng”
Plain Language
Whether congenital or acquired weakness, one should focus on proper nourishment. If one wants to rely on food for nourishment, vegetarians should eat more wheat. Those who regularly consume wheat have energy levels several times higher than those who eat rice.
When consuming wheat, one becomes robust, energetic, and has a loud voice. Eating rice only satisfies hunger without such effects.
The nutrition in wheat is many times greater than that of ginseng.Wealthy individuals consuming ginseng do so merely as a way to spend their money, not because ginseng truly nourishes.
2. Advocating the Use of Soybean Oil
Large-scale sesame oil can also nourish, while small-scale sesame oil, when overcooked, loses half its potency; people only recognize its fragrance, but it is actually burnt.
— From “Wenchao Sanbian, Volume 2, Reply to Cai Qicheng”
Plain Language
Large-scale sesame oil also nourishes, while small-scale sesame oil, due to being overcooked, has lost much of its effectiveness. People only recognize its fragrance, but it is actually burnt flavor.
Yellow soybeans and soybean oil are the most nourishing ingredients and should be consumed regularly. In morning porridge, it is advisable to add ground yellow soybeans. For regular cooking oil, using soybean oil is more nourishing than lard. Why spend money on calamity (as eating meat incurs debts of killing) while seeking nourishment?
— From “Wenchao Xubian, Volume 1, Reply to Bao Hengshi”
Plain Language
Yellow soybeans and soybean oil are the most nourishing ingredients and should be consumed regularly. In the morning porridge, ground yellow soybeans should be added. For regular cooking oil, soybean oil is more nourishing than lard. Why spend money on calamity (eating meat incurs debts of killing) while seeking nourishment? Those who eat meat, if they are willing to eat vegetarian, will definitely experience fewer illnesses and become stronger.
3. Complement with Dried Fruits for Dietary Therapy
Lotus seeds, longan, red dates, fox nuts, and coix seeds can all nourish; must one rely on blood and meat for nourishment?
— From “Wenchao Sanbian, Volume 2, Reply to Cai Qicheng”
Plain Language
Lotus seeds, longan, red dates, fox nuts, and coix seeds can all nourish. Must one rely on blood and meat for nourishment? In any case, none of these are as nutritious as wheat.
Among all evil deeds, killing is the most severe. In the world, there are hardly any who do not commit acts of killing. Even if one has never killed in their life, eating meat daily is equivalent to killing daily. Without someone to kill, there would be no meat to buy, as butchers, hunters, and fishermen all kill on behalf of those who consume meat. Thus, the choice between eating meat and being vegetarian is fundamentally related to our rise and fall, the governance and chaos of the world, and is not a trivial matter. Those who cherish their own lives and love all people should adopt vegetarianism to avoid disasters and calamities, as it is the first wonderful method to restore peace and happiness.
— From “Wenchao Zengguang, Volume 4, Universal Encouragement to Cherish Life”
Plain Language
Among all evil deeds, killing is the most severe. In the world, there are hardly any who do not commit acts of killing. Even if one has never killed in their life, eating meat daily is equivalent to killing daily. Without someone to kill, there would be no meat to buy, as butchers, hunters, and fishermen all kill on behalf of those who consume meat. Thus, the choice between eating meat and being vegetarian is fundamentally related to our rise and fall, the governance and chaos of the world, and is not a trivial matter. Those who cherish their own lives and love all people should adopt vegetarianism to avoid disasters and calamities, as it is the first wonderful method to restore peace and happiness.
“The response of spring qi is the way of nourishing life.”As we transition from late winter to early spring, all things revive, and the yang qi rises, making it an excellent opportunity for dietary nourishment. Cooking some porridge to drink is the best method for dietary nourishment.Spring is a great season for porridge; the Medicine King Sun Simiao mentioned in “Qianjin Fang” that “spring is suitable for eating porridge,” which can nourish the spleen and stomach, eliminate turbidity, and generate clarity. There is a saying among the people that “drinking porridge in spring is better than tonics.”Below, the vegetarian chef recommends these 6 vegetarian porridge recipes that nourish the spleen, support the liver, and eliminate fatigue, greatly beneficial~
Chestnut and Fox Nut Porridge
Ingredients:50g chestnuts, 30g fox nuts, 150g black glutinous rice, walnut kernels, red dates, goji berries, and appropriate amount of brown sugar
Method:
1. Peel and clean the chestnuts, soak them in water for half an hour.
2. Wash the black glutinous rice and place it in a pot, then add the chestnuts and fox nuts, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 20-30 minutes.
3. Once the chestnuts are soft, add the walnut kernels, red dates, and goji berries, and cook for about 5 minutes, finally adding an appropriate amount of brown sugar.
Polygonatum and Millet Red Date Porridge
Ingredients:Polygonatum (Jiu Zheng Jiu Shan) dried, millet, red dates, goji berries, apple, and brown sugar
Method:
1. Peel and dice the apple, chop the red dates, and soak the millet for half an hour.
2. Add the diced apple, chopped red dates, and Polygonatum into the pot with an appropriate amount of water.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 35 minutes, adding a piece of brown sugar and a few goji berries before serving, stirring well and cooking for another 5 minutes.
4. At this point, the thick and smooth Polygonatum and red date millet porridge is ready!
Astragalus and Millet Porridge
Ingredients:Millet, glutinous rice, dried figs, and astragalus
Method:
1. Place millet and glutinous rice in a bowl, soak in cool water briefly.
2. Put millet and glutinous rice in a pot, add 5-10 times the amount of water, and cook until 80% done.
3. Add dried figs and astragalus slices.
4. Simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally.
5. The millet porridge is fragrant and rich, with a hint of sweetness from the figs, and the astragalus nourishes qi, blending all ingredients into a delicious and nourishing dish.
Meiling Porridge
Ingredients:60g rice, 40g glutinous rice, 20g oat rice, 150g yam, 1L soy milk, and 35g rock sugar
Method:
1. Soak rice and glutinous rice in cold water overnight, soak oat rice for 2 hours. Peel and cut the yam into sections.
2. Place everything in a rice cooker.
3. Add soy milk and an appropriate amount of water, along with rock sugar, and select the porridge cooking mode.
4. Once cooked, mash the yam with a spoon and serve.
Four Gods Porridge
Ingredients:10g lotus seeds, 10g fox nuts, 10g poria, 10g yam, 900ml water, and 50g millet
Method:
1. Wash the ingredients and soak for 2 hours.
2. Add the ingredients and water into a blender on the soy milk mode.
Mushroom Vegetable Porridge
Ingredients:Rice, mushrooms, corn, greens, ginger, salt, pepper, and sesame oil
Method:
1. Wash the rice, and wash and slice the ginger.
2. Wash and slice the mushrooms; wash and chop the greens; remove the corn kernels.
3. Add the rice to the pot, add corn kernels, pour in half a pot of boiling water, cover, and cook on high heat for 30 minutes.
4. Add the mushroom slices, stir well, and continue to simmer on medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes.
5. Then add the ginger slices, a little salt, pepper, and sesame oil, stir well to season.
6. Add the greens, stir well, and simmer on medium-low heat for another 5 minutes.
7. Finally, drizzle a little sesame oil to enhance the flavor, stir well, and serve.