As mentioned in my last book review, I cannot rave enough about Michael Pollan. His latest book, Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual
Here are my top 5 favorite “Food Rules”:
- Rule #3: Avoid food products containing ingredients that no ordinary human would keep in the pantry. When I cook a dish, I use ingredients such as fresh ground pepper, extra virgin olive oil, whole grains and fruits and vegetables, such as pears, onions and tomatoes. I wouldn’t know where to start if our fridge or pantry had ingredients such as ethoxylated diglycerides, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup and xanthan gum. When you cook for yourself, you have the confidence and security of knowing what is in your dish. You don’t need to be a detective or a scientist to understand your meal. For goodness sake, this is your meal not a chemistry project!
- Rule #8: Avoid food products that make health claims. Often, I find the louder the health claims, the more the food manufacturers are trying to hide something from you. The “healthy” ingredients may indeed be good; however, do they outweigh the risks of the “not-so-good” ingredients that are also in the food? I don’t think so… I urge you to call their bluff! I have an example of these health claims from a package of tortillas in my previous blog post. Fresh fruits and vegetables do not need to prove themselves; they have nothing to hide.
- Rule #13: Eat foods that will eventually rot. I don’t know about you, but if I have so-called “food” that is still “good” after sitting on the shelf for not only months but even years, I’m thinking this may not be “food.” Real food should rot as it has done for centuries. My husband and I go to the grocery store and/or farmer’s market all the time. This is because we strive to eat actual food that rots, which provides us with healthy vitamins and minerals. We look at every shopping trip as a fun adventure and a great way to spend time together. We enjoy picking new fresh foods with vibrant colors that are rich in nutrients. Imagine if your leftovers never rotted… It might seem great at first, but really, isn’t it a bit scary?
- Rule #18: Don’t ingest foods made in places where everyone is required to wear a surgical cap. I am always baffled by the food in hospitals. It’s just shocking to see that the very food that led many patients into the hospital is actually fed to them as they are trying to recover. What?!?! Additionally, the food that is available to the visitors is basically stepping stones to their next doctor’s appointment. I would love to see fresh organic fruits and vegetables infiltrate places with surgical caps. These foods work with the doctors not against them.
- Rule #27: Eat animals that have themselves eaten well. This rule is so incredibly important. Not only should the animal be eating well, but it should also be living a healthy lifestyle. Just like humans, if we are eating junk food without exercising while living in poor conditions, we will more than likely become extremely ill. The same goes for animals. If they are fed hormones, antibiotics and an unnatural diet that accompanies incredibly unsanitary and unhealthy conditions, they too will become ill. Thus, we are eating unhealthy food, which will make us unhealthy. Strive for animal products that come from animals enjoying the good life on a pasture, not in a factory farm.
After reading these rules, you may think, “yes, these all makes sense, but how do I put these rules into action?” That’s where I come in! As a certified health coach, I can help you make tiny step-by-step additions to your diet and lifestyle that will help you slowly transition unhealthy foods and lifestyle choices out of your life. Contact me today to set up an initial consultation. Together, we can put together a plan that is fun, exciting and educational!
What are your favorite “Food Rules?” Please share your thoughts and comments below.