A Joosr Guide to… In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Eating right is not a complicated science, evidenced by the simple dos and don’ts elucidated on here—if in doubt, stay mindful of the three golden rules: eat real food, in moderation, and mostly plants.

Bombardment by food marketing, pseudoscience, nutritionists, and journalists makes deciding what to eat a daily source of anxiety and confusion for many people—and it needn’t be like this.

Pollan’s impassioned plea for us to derive more pleasure from eating, along with the suggestions, guidelines, and examples he uses to illustrate his points, truly puts the Western diet to shame once and for all.

Pollan traces the evolution of food, elaborating on when our focus began to be drawn to the nutrients contained within, and shines a critical light on many of the scientific practices involved in the cultivation and creation of so-called “superfoods”, as well as the consequences we face if we don’t question them.

Think of the French lifestyle, where pleasure and rich (but real) food coexist in harmony without any of the guilt, anxieties, or life-threatening consequences for health that we often associate with the modern Western diet.

When choosing what to eat, remember the three simple rules—real food, in moderation, and mostly plants—and you won’t go far wrong.

The industry’s response to the fast food nation was to focus solely on the nutrients in food and push scientifically altered products into the market as alternatives, leaving people clinging to so-called expert advice for guidance on what to eat.

With so much conflicting information out there, it’s not surprising that many of us are confused, even anxious, about what to eat.

The pervasive influence of scientists, nutritionists, and food marketers can feel confusing, and their advice overwhelming and contradictory.

Humans are not scavengers, yet often we eat like we are: on the move, in secret, in a hurry—whenever we can fit it in.