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MACROBIOTICS IN THE UNITED STATES: An Assessment of Services and Activities 

Study Areas in Louisiana: New Orleans

 

New Orleans, LA

Map of New Orleans

Summary and Impressions of the Macrobiotic Community: Wendy LeBlanc brought macrobiotics to New Orleans after she graduated from the Kushi Institute in 1982.  Macrobiotics flourished for 10 years until Wendy moved to Boulder, CO.  The strong macrobiotic community slowly dissipated afterwards. New Orleans' macrobiotic activity now centers around Phyllis Parun, an experienced teacher and cook. The community activities continue at a relatively slow pace.
Paid or Potluck Dinners: No. Once a year Phyllis Parun and Claire Renov arrange a potluck dinner.
Education Centers: Phyllis has been teaching macrobiotics for ten years at the Catholic Church for people over 50--called People's Program--and offers a five lesson series of lectures called How to Create Disease, at a local coffee house.  
Seminars: Teaches macrobiotics at a yoga center at every opportunity.  Phyllis finds it more effective to teach one on one than in groups.  
Newsletter: None. 
Visiting Counselors and Cooking Teachers: Michio Kushi came a couple of times in the 1980's and Lino Stanchich.  
Resident Counselors: Phyllis Parun, Jan Walker from Ocean Springs, MS, Ann Spalding  
Resident Cooking Teachers: Phyllis Parun.  
Professional Cooks or Caterers: No.
Work Study Programs: Phyllis accepts someone if requested  
Other Counselor Interests: Phyllis Parun--Chi Gong.
Promotional Activities: Wellness network organized by doctors who have a speakers bureau.
Publications, Books, Cassettes: Public library has a good selection of books because Phyllis Parun has requested them.  
Web Sites: Phyllis Parun has a website to promote her needs; Foundation for the macrobiotic way http://enjoy-life.com/  
Cottage Industries: None.
Macrobiotic Restaurants: Several restaurants have added brown rice to their menu following the publication of Sugar Busters, a book written by two naturopathic doctors. All Natural Foods and Deli offers a macrobiotic dish.  There are 5 restaurants with vegan options.
Natural Food Chain Stores: Whole Foods.
Independent Natural Food Stores: Eve's Market, All Natural, Family Health.
Natural Food Co-Ops: Phyllis ran one for five years; before she was macrobiotic, Phyllis Parun ran 36 co-ops in her life.
Mail Order Buying Clubs: None.
Macrobiotic Community Assessment: Moderate Services: 2 counselors & 1 cooking teacher; also 1 occasional visiting counselor.  Macro services started in 1982, but not as a center.  Dormant Activity:  Annual pot luck dinner.  Used to be stronger community.  
Area Description: New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana and one of the world's busiest ports.  It is also a leading business, cultural and industrial center of the Southern United States.  New Orleans lies along the Mississippi River about 100 miles north of where the river flows into the Gulf of Mexico.  Many people call it America's Most    Interesting City, and it is visited by several million tourists a year.  Its metropolitan area population is 1,285,300.
Municipalities with Macrobiotic services or community activities: Lacombe, Metaire, New Orleans.
Link to Macrobiotic Practitioners who were interviewed in New Orleans, LA for this project who also earn money by providing Macrobiotic services 

             

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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

15 Medical Park, Suite # 301, Columbia, SC 29203