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A while back I read a very interesting interview with the New York Times best selling author Michael Pollan who had just written a new book titled In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto. Now, whether or not you agree with all he has to say- it’s still a very interesting and informed point of view. But what struck me most about this interview was how he closed it.
He said, and I quote:
“I think, that the rule to end all rules should simply be, don’t eat anything you’ve ever seen advertised on TV.”
Since that time, he has released a documentary titled “FOOD INC” – a must see! As well as a new book titled “Food Rules” where he has rules like:
- Don’t eat anything your great grandmother would not recognize as food. For example- Yogurt tubes
- Eat all the junk food you want, as long as you make it yourself. – He reminds you what a pain in the butt it is to make cakes and things like french fries. So when you do spend the time to make something – it’s a real treat.
He stresses the cost of food versus the cost of heath-care. How when his parents were growing up, they spent twice as much on food than they did on health care. Now that we live in a society of processed, cheap and mass produced food – we spend double on health care and 1/2 as much on food.
What we put into our bodies REALLY does effect our health. Wouldn’t you rather spend the money on feeding yourself yummy, wholesome food then on medication for diabetes and high cholesterol???
Let’s go back to his original challenge – ‘Don’t eat anything you’ve seen advertised on T.V.” A challenging (all be it a tough one to follow.) And I’m sure even he has his moments- you can’t be 100% good 100% of the time. In fact, he was eating a basket of fried something or other while he was being interviewed. But if you can try to accomplish something like this 80% of the time, your way better off then either never doing it or only trying 10 or 20% of the time!
Try to keep this in the back of your head the next time you go grocery shopping. Best way to accomplish this is to shop the perimeter of the store. This is where majority of the fresh food lives. Or check out local farmer’s markets. You’re pretty much guaranteed to find fresh, local organic fruits, vegetables and protein!
P.S – If you have not done so already- go out and rent FOOD INC. It’s a real eye opener into what we are putting into our bodies everyday.
Tags: feeling good, healthy, healthy eating, healthy living, Heart Health
