In Defense Of Food

I finished the book, "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan yesterday and I have to say that it really opened my eyes.  It talks about the industrialization of the American food supply and goes on to make the case that putting our food choices and habits in the hands of scientists who tell us "Low Fat", "High Fiber", "Low Cholesterol", "No Butter", etc... is a foolish thing to do.  Most of the book is spent dispelling myths about food studies purporting new understanding of nutrition and then the food industry rushes to reformulate the processed foods to include that ingredient.  Think about it, high fiber, antioxidants, omega-3's?  What will the new health flavor be for 2009?  I saw a talk show the other day that recommended replacing regular onion rings with new and improved onion rings which had less calories and high fiber.  High fiber from onion rings?  I don't think so!  It wasn't until the end the Pollan got into rules of thumb for eating.  I'm going to save you some time by listing them here, but be warned, most of them are not exactly as the bullet points make them sound.  For example, the bullet point that says "Eat Meals" has a lot more to it than face value.  If you want any detail or explanation you are going to have to read the book.  So the rules are:

• Don't eat anything your great grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.
• Avoid food products containing ingredients that are A) Unfamiliar, B) Unpronouncable, C) More than 5 in number or that include D) high-fructose corn syrup.
• Avoid food products that make health claims.
• Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle.
• Get out of the supermarket whenever possible.
• Eat mostly plants, especially leaves.
• You are what what you eat eats too.
• If you have the space, buy a freezer.
• Eat like an omnivore.
  
• Eat well-grown food from healthy soils.
• Eat wild foods when you can.
• Be the kind of person who take supplements.
• Eat more like the French, or the Italians, of the Japanese, or the Indians, or the Greeks.
• Regard nontraditional foods with skepticism.
• Don't look for the magic bullet in the traditional diet.
• Have a glass of wine with dinner.
• Pay more, eat less.
• Eat meals.
• Do all your eating at a table.
• Don't get your fuel from the same place your car does.
• Try not to eat alone.
• Consult your gut.
• Eat slowly.
• Cook and, if you can, plant a garden.