We were lucky to have Michael Pollan speak in our community last night on the importance of our health. Americans are so obsessed with weight control and nutrition and yet we are one of the unhealthiest nations on earth. Why is this? This was one of the main discussion points in Michael Pollan's lecture last night. Author of "The Omnivores Dilema" and "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto", he has a great understanding of the importance of eating wholesome, locally grown foods, that support our health and our communities. Why is it that we think imitation food is better then the real thing? Why do we think we get better nutrition out of a vitamin then the real source of vitamins/minerals in the food themselves?
He had some good words of advice when confronting choices of what to eat:
• Quality is better then quantity. You get more nutrition (& taste) out of an organic tomato then you would out of a commercially grown tomato that is filled with pesticides/chemicals to make it bigger and grow faster. The price might be more for the organic tomato but it's likely going back into your community instead of a corporations pocket.
• 5 ingredients- Anything more is probably not food
• Do you know what all the ingredients are? Can you pronounce them?
• Food is perishable. If it doesn't mold or rot it probably isn't good for you, i.e. Twinkies
• Eat around the perimeter of the grocery store. This is where the produce, dairy, whole grains live.
• Sit down to a meal. Eating on the run causes us to eat more of things that are not good for us.
• Would your great-grandmother recognize that as food?
• And finally, enjoy eating- eat with friends, family, and neighbors. Make it the social and cultural experience that is suppose to be and you will find you eat smaller proportions and slower, while enjoying the company of those you love. Isn't this why Europeans are so skinny?
I appreciated hearing Michael Pollan speak and am encouraged to support our health and well-being in our own community through co-ops like Idaho's Bounty and starting a garden next summer!
2 comments:
Yes, Sarah, those are good things to go by in picking foods to eat. Thanks for the tips. I loved reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It helped me in my resolve to eat locally. I must admit that it isn't always possible but at least I am more aware. xoxo
Sarah, I remembered your blog entry yesterday when we were grocery shopping and it is IMPOSSIBLE to buy a cart-full of food that only has five ingredients. It's crazy to think about how much ?? (who know's what) we are putting into our bodies.
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