Summary and
Impressions
of the Macrobiotic Community:The District of Columbia, and
surrounding Maryland-Virginia metropolis, had an active community until
Michael Rossoff moved to Asheville.Judging by the excellence of the "MACRObiotic NETwork",
there is still a strong semblance of interest in macrobiotics, although
the people we interviewed claimed that the community lacks leadership and
direction.On the other hand,
there are monthly Sunday dinners, Michael Rosoff continues to visit
periodically, and cooking classes are available for those that seek it.Michael Rossoff started
macrobiotics in the District of Columbia area in 1976. After he moved to Asheville, NC in
1989-90 macrobiotic activity became decentralized. There continue to
be monthly
Sunday dinners, Michael Rosoff
continues to visit periodically, and cooking classes are available for
those that seek it.
Paid
or Potluck Dinners:Monthly dinners and
potlucks.
Education
Centers:None; not for the past 7
years.
Seminars:There is a public
lecture once or twice a year.
Newsletter:MACRObiotoc NETwork produced
every two months.
Support
Groups:Health Buddy support
group for those trying to cope with a health problem; Macro buddy
coordinates beginners with experienced macrobiotic persons; Macro Moms for
macrobiotic moms looking to socialize with other macrobiotic parents;
Macro Info for those seeking information about available macrobiotic
professionals and businesses or services.
Visiting
Counselors and Cooking Teachers:Michael Rossoff is
available in the DC area 3-5 days a month.
Resident
Counselors:Heike Albers sometimes;
she focuses mostly on her acupuncture practice.
Resident
Cooking Teachers:Juliette Tahar.
Professional
Cooks or Caterers:Abra Alahouzos, Shahnaz
Erwin, Gail Naftalin, Juliette Tahar.
Work
Study Programs:
None.
Other
Counselor Interests:Heike Albers and
Michael Rossoff have an active acupuncture practice.
Promotional
Activities:Newsletter, notices in
health food stores.
Publications,
Books, Cassettes:At local health food
stores
Web
Sites:NA.
Cottage
Industries:None
Macrobiotic
Restaurants:Vegetable Garden in
Bethesda; vegan menu with macrobiotic dishes; Snowflower in Vienna, VA,
Secret of Nature in DC, Berwyn's Café in College Park.In addition, there are 37 restaurants in DC and the surrounding
area that advertise vegan options.
Macrobiotic
Community Assessment: Moderate Services: 1 part time counselor
& 1 cooking teacher; 1 senior visiting counselor; 4 professional cooks
& caterers.Healthy
Activities:Monthly macro and
pot luck dinners, newsletter, several support groups.Active community from 1976 until Michael Rossoff left in 1989.
Area Description:Washington, DC is the capital of the United States, a beautiful and
historic city, and a popular tourist attraction.It serves as the headquarters of the federal government.Its metropolitan area population is 4,223,500.
Municipalities with Macrobiotic services or community activities:Annandale, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Herndon, Springfield
In VA;Adelphi, Bethesda,
Chevy Chase, College Park, Gaithersburg, Langley Park, Mount Ranier,
Rockville, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton In MD.
This
work was supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number U48/CCU409664-09
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are
solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent
the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Macrobiotics
Research Project:
A
2-year grant sponsored by Centers of Disease Control; October 2000 to September
2002
University
of South Carolina, Prevention Research Center-Special Interest Project, School
of Public Health