I heart Michael Pollan

He blew my mind with The Omnivore's Dilemma, and he's done it again with In Defense of Food. Michael Pollan's latest book explores the Western diet, which is primarily made up of processed corn and soybeans, white flour and rice and how these foods are causing obesity, diabetes, cancer, etc. (and how the government backs it all). Our culture has become obsessed with Nutritionism, which focuses on the nutrients of food rather than the whole food itself. Packaged foods boast claims of 'loaded with vitamins! omega-3! whole grains!' when in reality these foods break down in our bodies as glucose, and we end up eating more and more because we never feel satisfied. We're busy worrying that we're not getting enough fiber or we're eating too many carbs, when we should be thinking about the food itself, how we eat it, where we eat it and from where it comes.

Pollan delves into the history of processed foods, and it is both fascinating and frustrating. Big money is being made at the expense of the population's health, and the poor suffer the most because the food is so cheap and so unhealthy. Most of the food Americans eat is fast -- either from a restaurant or a box popped into the microwave. We have no 'food culture' in the US that celebrates food (think about the French, Italians, Japanese) where every meal is eaten slowly with other people and savored. He offers suggestions for how we can change our own approach to mealtimes, shopping and cooking.

The book is not long, and Pollan has such an engaging writing style that even a reluctant reader could really get into it. I'm still processing it and trying to figure out how to apply it to my own family. My husband is reading it next, and I'm anxious to discuss it with him. Lucky for Portland, Michael Pollan will be in town next week (thank you, Powell's) to discuss his book: Tuesday, February 12 at 7pm at the Bagdad Theater (SE 37th & Hawthorne). Tickets are $21.95, which includes a copy of the book, and are available through Ticketmaster, the Bagdad or Crystal Ballroom box offices. See you there?!

(And here's a nice, long excerpt from the NY Times.)