Review and discussion of 'In Defense of Food' by Michael Pollan

“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.” This seemingly simple message is Pollan's mantra. His arguments and explanations are so clear and thoughtful, that it's a message you may find yourself repeating when you're in the grocery store or farmer's market. Rather than detailing a diet plan, Pollan asks readers to challenge some of the most basic things we all know to be 'true' about food.

For example, what is food? Pollan suggests that as a culture we tend to eat “foodlike substances” - not food. He challenges us to ask ourselves what we really know about what we're putting in our bodies.

Does your food have ingredients? Remember that tomatoes and chicken don't. Can you pronounce all the ingredients in what you eat? Do you recognize them? How long would your food last on a shelf? It's an odd thought that we have foods in our pantry that will still be edible when my toddlers are ready for college.

Pollan also challenges what we 'know' about health foods. Actually, he suggests we shouldn't eat anything that has a health food label. His assertion is that health food labels are a mark of highly engineered foods. As a culture, we've adopted a belief that nutrients are like food Lego pieces. We often opt for crackers 'rich in calcium' or bread 'fortified with iron' – but what does that mean? Adding one nutrient usually equates to adding conditioners, coloring, texturizers, etc. in order to cover the appearance and taste of what was added.

These examples are just the beginning of the education a reader can find in 'Defense'. Pollan moves quickly through science, research and popular opinion with a style that makes the information accessible and interesting. Above all else, Pollan is optimistic for us. It doesn't take extreme changes, just a new perspective and a little time in the kitchen. After all, our relationship with food shouldn't be so complicated - “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.”

Suggestions for a book to be reviewed or discussed?  Thoughts on this book?  Let me know!