In Defense of Food

Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, has written another book about the food we eat that will definitely linger in the mind of the reader, especially when one reaches for processed food. In Defense of Food is an account of the evolution and ramifications of the Western diet, which encourages one to return to the real, well-grown and unprocessed food for healthy eating. As Pollan says, ”Don’t get your fuel from the same place your car does.” By reporting how our culture has been immersed in “nutritionism” for the past thirty years and has become progressively sicker and fatter, he makes a good case for his basic conclusion- “eat food, not too much, mostly plants”.

Pollan further states that the habits that surround our eating seem to be very important to the health benefits of food. Eat meals and do so at the table instead of devouring snacks on the go. Eat slowly and not alone. The act of cooking is more than a task; it is a ritual that claims healthy eating as a way of life. Michael Pollan’s books have certainly influenced the choices we are making in our food consumption and I encourage others to consider his compelling case for good eating.