I wanted to introduce one of my favorite foodies, Michael Pollan (click here for his bio), author of four New York Times bestsellers: Food Rules: An Eaters Manual (2010); In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto (2008); The Omnivores Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (2006) and The Botany of Desire: A Plants-Eye View of the World (2001). He is at the forefront of a wonderful food revolution, the revival of real food. This is food that has not been tweaked and chemically modified in a laboratory, contains the original nutrients Mother Nature intended, and has ingredients we can all pronounce!
His main motto, Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants, sums it all up. By eating ..food, he refers to real food, not pre-packaged, processed edible-food substances.
Not too much focuses on moderation, the 90/10 rule, and
mostly plants, which are the foods that contain vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, anti-oxidants, and fiber that help us feel full with fewer calories.
In his book, Food Rules: An Eaters Manual, he outlines 64 memorable rules in a purse-size manual that may lead to meaningful changes and better eating habits. Below are some of Pollans rules as well as other great food bits that are hard to get out of your head!
1) Dont buy food where you buy your gasoline ~Michael Pollan
2) Dont buy cereals that change the color of the milk ~ Pollan
3) The whiter the bread, the sooner youll be dead ~ Pollan
4) Never work before breakfast; if you have to work before breakfast, eat your breakfast first. ~Josh Billings
5) Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself ~ Pollan
6) If it came from a plant, eat it. If it was made in a plant, dont ~ Pollan
7) Its not food if its served through the window of your car ~ Pollan
8) Its not food if its called by the same name in every language. Think Big Mac, Cheetos or Pringles. ~ Pollan
9) The banquet is in the first bite ~ Pollan
10) It’s bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children’s health than the pediatrician. ~Meryl Streep
11) We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons. ~Alfred E. Newman
12) Did you ever stop to taste a carrot? Not just eat it, but taste it? You can’t taste the beauty and energy of the earth in a Twinkie. ~Astrid Alauda
13) Eat when you are hungry, not when you are bored ~ Pollan
14) Only eat animals that have themselves eaten well ~ Pollan
15) Break the rules once in a while ~ Pollan
2) Dont buy cereals that change the color of the milk ~ Pollan
3) The whiter the bread, the sooner youll be dead ~ Pollan
4) Never work before breakfast; if you have to work before breakfast, eat your breakfast first. ~Josh Billings
5) Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself ~ Pollan
6) If it came from a plant, eat it. If it was made in a plant, dont ~ Pollan
7) Its not food if its served through the window of your car ~ Pollan
8) Its not food if its called by the same name in every language. Think Big Mac, Cheetos or Pringles. ~ Pollan
9) The banquet is in the first bite ~ Pollan
10) It’s bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children’s health than the pediatrician. ~Meryl Streep
11) We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons. ~Alfred E. Newman
12) Did you ever stop to taste a carrot? Not just eat it, but taste it? You can’t taste the beauty and energy of the earth in a Twinkie. ~Astrid Alauda
13) Eat when you are hungry, not when you are bored ~ Pollan
14) Only eat animals that have themselves eaten well ~ Pollan
15) Break the rules once in a while ~ Pollan
For more details about his book, explanations of some of the above quotes, and to learn more about Michael Pollan, read this wonderful interview in the New York Times or visit his website.
What are some of your food “rules”? Please share!
Krista L. Haynes, R.D.