My take on: Food Rules

After reading Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan I will never look at a bowl of cereal the same way. Why is this? It has to do with rule No. 39, "Don't Eat Breakfast Cereals That Change the Color of the Milk." Come on who of us is thinking that when we're eating in the morning? Most of the time when we eat breakfast, we're in a hurry. Who has time to take examine their food? But I have to admit, this book is full of a lot of common sense. Perhaps if we follow just a few of these rules, society would be much healthier. This new edition of the book comes with beautiful illustrations by Maira Kalman.

"Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Hmmm......

Sounds like good advice, but just a  few days ago I ate roasted turkey, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, yams, cranberry sauce, quiche, peas and rice, banana pudding, blueberry pie and...I'm probably forgetting something. I'll probably have to wait until after the holidays to follow any of these rules.

The book is a short and practical guide on how to eat. Eat mostly plants and vegetables. Cook the food yourself because you're in control of the salt and pepper in the food. If you cook, you're also less likely to put riboflavin or niacin in your food. What are those things? I have no idea, but I see those ingredients in a lot of things. Ever look at what goes into a twinkie? It's not pretty.

Rule No. 26, "Treat Meat as a Flavoring or Special Occasion Food." I'm in trouble because it's a special occasion for me five days out of seven when it comes to meat. How about I change that to "beef" instead of "meat?" I haven't eaten beef in nearly eight years it's pretty easy for me to treat that as a "special occasion food."

Rule No. 7, "Avoid Food Products Containing Ingredients That a Third-Grader Cannot Pronounce." Does this mean I'm not smarter than a third-grader? I decided to take a look at the ingredients on this package of Little Debbie Donut Sticks (I just happened to be eating one). "Baking Soda, Sodium Acid Propylene Glycol Monostearate, Mono- and Diglycerides)" Baking Soda, Ok. Sodium Acid P - R - O - P...Oh I give up. I have no idea what those last couple of things are. I guess Donut Sticks are off the list, but they taste so good.

I could go on forever. This is so much good stuff in this book. If you've got a couple of hours, sit down and read it.

Rating: O.M.G!!!


Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Penguin) as part of a blog tour with TLC Book Tours