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1. garyd
   Member

   So I read Omnivore's Dilemma and since then I have considered picking up Micheal Pollen's follow up book, In Defense of Food. I have had a couple people tell me good things about it, then the other day Kate wrote a post titled:

   Real Food Tastes Good

   It lead us to discuss the book briefly, so I finally went out that night and bought the book. I am only through the first third, but it is already creating a lot of discussion with my clients and ideas within my head.

   There is one thing that we often forget and that is where and why the science behind our ideas come from. (Believe it or not the researchers do have financial interests in their studies but that's another subject.) Nutrition is no different. I find it incredibly interesting that as a culture we look to our government to tell us how and what to eat. Often we don't even know it...

   Right now Pollen is discussing why our popular culture developed fat phobias... which lead to large of amounts of trans fats in our food supply.... which is now being taken out of foods and in New York City (among others I imagine) we are looking to our government again to help remove the trans fats from our foods.

   Pollen calls this whole scenario "nutritionism" - as an individual that has many nutrition courses under my belt at the undergraduate and graduate level, I can understand why nutritionism is so attractive. If the population is confused about what to eat, then they'll seek help... surprise, that could just happen to be me or a Registered Dietician that I may refer them to.

   I'll update this thread as I keep reading, but wanted to share some thoughts early on.

   [side note] Just in the time of typing this, I have seen two related issues on CNBC. One - High brass at Heinz talking about all the new Katchup products they are putting out and Two - a story about if govt. or private industry should be in control of food safety.... when a culture's food supply is so controversial, it creates scary scenarios for me. [end note]

   Posted 9 months ago #

2. Kate
   Member

   Thanks for starting this thread Gary. I found what I learned from the book to be inspiring and also empowering. We all know how to eat and survive, but we've been given messages since birth now of what to eat, when, how and why.

   We've been sold on thousands of ideas, diets and the like. Our mom's have been too, that is why we've gone so far down this pike. I have been truly inspired by Pollan's suggestion: "Don't eat food that your great-great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food." I think 90% of what I've eaten just this year in January my great-grandma wouldn't recognize!

   The book gives some practical tips in the last third. My husband asked if there wasn anyone writing to counter this author and I told him: "The whole food industry counters what he states."

   It's almost like Pollan's book comes out with the idea that, gee we should be eating whole, natural, unprocessed foods. Just like so many people know we should exercise for our health, but rarely do people do it. (Obviously our community is a big exception to the rule!) It's just sad to see so many people that buy into the diet ideas, instead of spending that money on better quality food. It's a shame that everyone does not have the same available option to education and also its a shame that we have to be so educated about what to eat of all things! This should come naturally!

   I just found the book to dispell many myths about our diets. I shouldn't have had to read a book to explain this to me, it should have been ingrained in my mind naturally that fruits, veggies and occasional meats were what food really is. I love how Pollan talks about how we can't trust our instincts anymore, because of food colors, additives, scents, smells, etc... They have engineered an entire industry to trick our senses! This makes big money for some while the rest of us get sick and are stuck in hospitals with no healthcare.

   I am interested to read what others think and if it has changed anyone's ways of eating. I have found in the past week that I have eaten more natural, whole foods and have had better energy, digestion and even moods. I basically try to eat anything that doesn't have a healthy claim, and even found having an orange at night to kill my sweet tooth tasted really good! That's a first for me! (I'm a big chocaholic!)

   I just wish so many others would realize these things and not fight the idea. My husband isn't really on board, but he's learning about it slowly. Over time, he'll understand I hope. I also look at any health report, study or claim with a lot more skepticism than I did before. Don't forget to read the fine print of who actually funded the study!

   Ohhh... and I'll stop now, but one last thing... I saw ads this week in a magazine that showed POTATO CHIPS as a HEALTH FOOD!! Lays advertises that their chips are from the good earth, showing healthy potatoes and children frolicking in a field. It claims they are natural, healthy and full of vitamins/omega-3's... I'd rather eat the potato mashed, or baked the slices myself!

   Posted 9 months ago #

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