In Defense Of Food
A Book Discussion run by rms

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 65 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan

 

In In Defense of Food the author, Michael Pollan, expands on something most of us already know but might have forgotten. We should be eating real food.


His simple seven word diet is a mantra each and every one of us should be repeating many times daily no matter what the scale tells us, or how old we are; Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants. I think this mantra should be spoken before every meal and especially before we head out to a fast food restaurant or reach for that greasy bag of snack food while lounging in front of the television.


Michael defends healthy eating by pointing to someone we should all personally respect when he tells us that we shouldn't eat anything that our great grandmothers wouldn't recognize as food.


Michael's theory in defense of food is that we should all be conscious of the amount of vitamins we are getting, but we should be getting them in "real food", not in something like vitamin enriched Diet Coke or clown-shaped chicken nuggets. He writes in his argument against processed food, "We know how to break down a kernel of corn or grain of wheat into its chemical parts, but we have no idea how to put it back together again."


I have been saying that fresh is best for years at my garden cooking site, Fresh Cooking From Your Garden and am happy that Michael Pollan took a stand in defense of the same concept.



I highly recommend this book as a soft reminder that everyone should be eating more fruits and veggies.

Repeat After Me

Eat food.
Not too much.
Mostly plants.

In Defense Of Food 

Book Description

What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think about health: a manifesto for our times

"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." These simple words go to the heart of Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, the well-considered answers he provides to the questions posed in the bestselling The Omnivore's Dilemma.

Humans used to know how to eat well, Pollan argues. But the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused, complicated, and distorted by food industry marketers, nutritional scientists, and journalists-all of whom have much to gain from our dietary confusion. As a result, we face today a complex culinary landscape dense with bad advice and foods that are not "real." These "edible foodlike substances" are often packaged with labels bearing health claims that are typically false or misleading. Indeed, real food is fast disappearing from the marketplace, to be replaced by "nutrients," and plain old eating by an obsession with nutrition that is, paradoxically, ruining our health, not to mention our meals. Michael Pollan's sensible and decidedly counterintuitive advice is: "Don't eat anything that your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food."

Writing In Defense of Food, and affirming the joy of eating, Pollan suggests that if we would pay more for better, well-grown food, but buy less of it, we'll benefit ourselves, our communities, and the environment at large. Taking a clear-eyed look at what science does and does not know about the links between diet and health, he proposes a new way to think about the question of what to eat that is informed by ecology and tradition rather than by the prevailing nutrient-by-nutrient approach.

In Defense of Food reminds us that, despite the daunting dietary landscape Americans confront in the modern supermarket, the solutions to the current omnivore's dilemma can be found all around us.

In looking toward traditional diets the world over, as well as the foods our families-and regions-historically enjoyed, we can recover a more balanced, reasonable, and pleasurable approach to food. Michael Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we might start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives and enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy.

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

Amazon Price: $13.17 (as of 07/19/2008)

Michael Pollan has put into words what I have been thinking myself for years. Real food has got to be better and healthier for you than any of this processed stuff on the market today.

Be Honest 

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Visit Michael Pollan's Official Site 

A snip of what you will find at Michael Pollan's official website on In Dense of Food:

Food. There's plenty of it around, and we all love to eat it. So why should anyone need to defend it?

Because most of what we're consuming today is not food, and how we're consuming it -- in the car, in front of the TV, and increasingly alone -- is not really eating. Instead of food, we're consuming "edible foodlike substances" -- no longer the products of nature but of food science. Many of them come packaged with health claims that should be our first clue they are anything but healthy. In the so-called Western diet, food has been replaced by nutrients, and common sense by confusion. The result is what Michael Pollan calls the American paradox: The more we worry about nutrition, the less healthy we seem to become.
http://www.michaelpollan.com/
Michael Pollan's official site

Audio CD Version 

Audio CD version of In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Audio CD: 5 pages
Publisher: Penguin Audio; Unabridged edition (January 1, 2008)
Language: English

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 07/19/2008)

What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think about health: a manifesto for our times.

Quick Question 

How much real food are you eating?

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Book Reviews of In Defense of Food 

by Michael Pollan

See what others are saying about Michael Pollan's new book.
Book Review: 'In Defense of Food' - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune Book Review: In Defense of Food
latimes.com Review In Defense of Food
Los Angeles Times Book Review: In Defense of Food
NY Times Review In Defense of Food
The New York Times Book Review: In Dense of Food
NPR : 'In Defense of Food' Author Offers Advice for Health
In his new book, Michael Pollan advises readers to Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. He says that we should make healthy food more of a priority, even if it means spending more time and money, or get used to chronic disease.
Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food. - By Laura Shapiro - Slate Magazine
Buy a hog? An entire hog? Cut it up and put the pieces in a freezer? I'm a fan of Michael Pollan's work, but he does have a tendency to hurtle himself into the stratosphere like an errant missile, then plummet back to earth and casually pick up where he le
Powell's Books - In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
From the author of the bestselling The Omnivores Dilemma comes this bracing and eloquent manifesto that shows readers how they might start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich their lives and enlarge their sense of what it means to be healthy...
Serious Eats: In Defense of Food
Generally positive reviews are starting to trickle in for Michael Pollan's new book In Defense of Food, which officially hit the shelves January 1. Following on the success of The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food picks up where the...
Author Michael Pollan goes 'In Defense of Food' - USATODAY.com
People ask best-selling author Michael Pollan: What should we eat? His answer is inscribed on the cover of his fifth book: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
In Defense Of Food ? Utica Progressive
Utica Progressive Review: In Defense of Food

Doesn't This Look Yummy? 

Real food can be just as appetizing as processed foods as proved by these delicious Flickr.com photos.

Chick Pea and Green Bean Salad in Tahini Dressing by Girl Interrupted Eating

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%u7DA0%u8336%u3001%u5473%u5897%u6E6F%u548C%u6C99%u62C9 Green Tea, Miso Soup and Salad

Real Food or Really Disgusting? 

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Amazon Kindle Edition In Defense of Food 

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In Defense of Food

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/19/2008)

About the Author
Michael Pollan is the author of four previous books, including The Omnivore's Dilemma and The Botany of Desire, both New York Times bestsellers. A longtime contributor to The New York Times, he is also the Knight Professor of journalism at Berkeley.

What's the buzz about In Defense Of Food? 

Foodie Friday: In Defense Of Food
Today's book is In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan. And we're talking...
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
I was surfing around the bookblogosphere today and came upon a review of In Defense of Food. I actua...
REVIEW: Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
InDefenseFood_cover_med "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Michael Pollan's most recent invest...
Book Review- In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
I just finished reading In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. I found it to be an interesting contin...

Do You Agree? Or Disagree? 

Write a review, add a comment, or debate someone who disagrees with you.

Do you think that all processed foods, even the ones that claim to be healthy, (processed with added vitamins and minerals) are really bad for you?

Do you think processed food is unhealthy?

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Yes

jenms says:

I don't think all processed foods are unhealthy, but a great deal of the chemical-laden pre-packaged stuff certainly is. And when you start eating more whole foods, your body can definitely tell the difference and it shows in your skin, energy levels, etc.

Moggy07 says:

Probably.

Seasoned_Chef says:

Yes, I think processed food is unhealthy.

RinchenChodron says:

Obsolutely food "created" by man is bad stuff!!! As they say only God can make a tree.

RyanRE says:

Of course it is, that is why it is so tasty :D

No

Grasshoppa says:

Nahhhhh... I think it depends on what it is processed with. I mean, come one. COOKING is a process, isn't it? Hmm, come to that... as long as it's processed along with at least one kind of meat, it can't be THAT bad... can it?

Alban says:

Is there such a thing as unhealthy outside of what one thinks about himself? Isn't all sickness a decision of the mind? A false identification? When one thinks he is a body, what one eats would not matter, would it?. It's all a means to die. Yet there is no death, because you are not a body.

bazzz says:

Not necessarily. It depends how it has been processed. Simply repeating the mantra "natural good; processed bad" is a gross over-simplification and indicates a severe deficiency in understanding of the underlying scientific principles.

dorobantus says:

No

steve866 says:

I'm not worried, I'm not scared! They can't be all that unhealthy because I'm still alive!

 
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Who Wrote This Book 

Read up on Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, a former executive editor for Harper's Magazine, and author of five books: In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto (2008) The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (2006), The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World (2001), A Place of My Own (1997), and Second Nature: A Gardener's Education (1991).

Pollan received a B.A. from Bennington College, and continued his studies at Mansfield College at Oxford University and Columbia University, where he earned his master's degree in English in 1981.

His recent work has dealt with the practices of the meat industry, and he has written a number of articles on trends in American agriculture.

He has received the Reuters World Conservation Union Global Awards in environmental journalism, the James Beard Foundation Awards for best magazine series in 2003, and the Genesis Award from the American Humane Association. His articles have been anthologized in Best American Science Writing (2004), Best American Essays (1990 and 2003), The Animals: Practicing Complexity (2006) and the Norton Book of Nature Writing (1990).

Pollan is the son of author and financial consultant Stephen Pollan, the brother of actress Tracy Pollan and the brother-in-law of Michael J. Fox, Tracy's husband. He is married to painter Judith Belzer.[citation needed]

In The Omnivore's Dilemma, Pollan describes what he says are four principal food chains in the United States: the industrial, the big organic, the local farm, and the hunter-gatherer. Pollan follows each of these food chains from a group of plants photosynthesizing calories, through a series of intermediate stages, and ultimately to a meal. Along the way, the author suggests that there is a fundamental tension between the logic of nature and the logic of human industry; that the way we eat represents our most profound engagement with the natural world; and that industrial eating obscures crucially important ecological relationships and connections. On December 10, 2006, the New York Times named The Omnivore's Dilemma one of the five best nonfiction books of the year. On May 8, 2007, the James Beard Foundation named The Omnivore's Dilemma its 2007 winner for the best food writing. It is now the book of focus for the University of Pennsylvania's Reading Project 2007. An excerpt of the book was published in Mother Jones.[1]

Pollan's discussion of the industrial food chain is in large part a critique of modern agribusiness. According to , agribusiness has lost touch with the natural cycles of farming, wherein livestock and crops intertwine in mutually beneficial circles. Pollan's critique of modern agribusiness focuses on what he calls the overuse of corn, for purposes ranging from fattening cattle to massive production of corn oil, high-fructose corn syrup and other corn derivatives. He describes what he sees as the inefficiencies and other drawbacks of factory farming, assesses organic food production and what he thinks it is like to hunt and gather food. He blames those who set the rules (i.e., politicians in Washington, D.C., bureaucrats at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Wall Street capitalists, and agricultural conglomerates like Archer Daniels Midland) for what he calls a destructive and precarious agricultural system that has wrought havoc upon the diet, nutrition and well being of Americans. On the other hand, Pollan finds hope in Joel Salatin's farm "Polyface" in Virginia, which he sees as a model sustainable commercial farm. Pollan appears in the documentary film King Corn (2007).

In Botany of Desire, Pollan explores the concept of co-evolution, specifically of mankind's evolutionary relationship with four plants: apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes, from the dual perspectives of both humans and the plants themselves. He uses case examples that fit the archetype of four basic human desires, demonstrating how each of these botanical species are selectively grown, bred, and genetically engineered. The apple reflects the desire for sweetness, the tulip beauty, marijuana intoxication, and the potato control. Pollan then unravels the narrative of his own experience with each of the plants, which he then intertwines with a well-researched exploration into their social history. Each section presents a unique element of human domestication, or the "human bumblebee" as Pollan calls us. The stories in each part are varied, often fascinating, even hilarious. These range from the true story of Johnny Appleseed to Pollan's first-hand research with sophisticated marijuana hybrids in Amsterdam, to the alarming and paradigm-shifting possibilities of genetically engineered potatoes.

Pollan's latest book, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, was released on January 1, 2008.

Pollan has contributed to Greater Good, a social psychology magazine published by the Greater Good Science Center at University of California, Berkeley. His article "Edible Ethics" discusses the intersection of ethical eating and social psychology.
Wikipedia Article

More books by Michael Pollan 

Vote for your favorites, or add any I missed.

Lens of the Day 

January 31, 2008

This lens proudly holds the honor of being Lens of the Day.

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Have you Already Read In Defense of Food? 

Please leave your honest personal review of Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food here.

chefkeem

Super lens! 5*s, fav'ed and lensrolled to 26 of my food lenses. Thank you for your extensive portrait of a great teacher. I'll go and have a salad in your honor! :-)

Posted July 06, 2008

triathlontraining

Excellent lens! The book sounds very good and informative. Adding it to my list of books to read. :) 5*

Posted June 22, 2008

DrRichard

My wife bought In Defense of Food and insisted that I read it. I am glad that I did as it made so much sense and it is such a basic concept that it is actually easy to introduce into your eating habits.

Posted May 17, 2008

CleanFace

Nice lens! 5 stars given! :)

Posted May 17, 2008

RinchenChodron

Yes, I've read this book. Wonderful.

Posted May 07, 2008

Grasshoppa

That stuff ain't food... that's what food EATS!

Posted May 06, 2008

stargazer00

I know processed food is not good but it is so hard to change! I just started this book. Thanks for all the great info on it.

Posted May 02, 2008

Global_Peace

good info....really nice and interesting lens.

Posted May 01, 2008

totalhealth

really nice and interesting lens. eat healthy, be healthy and live healthy.

Posted April 25, 2008

Smurfberry

Loved the lens! I have been researching what I can do to eat healthy. This lens goes right along with what I have found. Google video Dr. Niles to see more on eating healthy.

Thank you,
mymonavie.com/livingstrong

Posted April 22, 2008

jessdayle

great lens is come in help when trying to get healthy again. ive just started working out and looking for the right diet is a must so this comes in handy. trying to find the right diet is like finding the best financial consultant.

http://jacksfinancialconsultantlist.com

Posted April 21, 2008

RyanRE

This is a fun lens. I LOVE the layout and the polls. ***** to ya!

Posted April 10, 2008

Lexi

Super lens! I will have to get a copy of my own to add to The Omnivore's Dilemma.

Lexi

Posted March 11, 2008

John8945

Great lens on dieting, I was able to get quite a bit out of it. I'm mostly interested in a good Candida Free Diet, but they are also good for weight loss.

Posted March 11, 2008

This is a fantastic lens! I appreciate all the information and ability to vote on things and leave an opinion.

Posted March 11, 2008

 
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Postscript of utmost importance 

DonorsChooseIf you buy any of the books recommended above, this page automatically makes a donation to the incredible nonprofit, Donors Choose, which helps provide classrooms and students in need with resources that our public schools often lack.

Wash Rinse Repeat

Eat food.
Not too much.
Mostly plants.