Thank you Mr. Pollan

He’s at it again. Michael Pollan has a new book out, it’s called Food Rules. He has actually given rules to live by on how to choose what you eat. It can’t get easier than this. I do not have the book but I have been following the reviews closely and here are some interesting rules:
#11 Avoid foods advertised on TV. Reasoning: Only the biggest manufacturers can afford to advertise their products on TV. These manufacturers have simply reformulated their food-like substance into the trend of the moment (no HFCS, fortified with grains, low-sodium, etc). Avoiding TV food is avoiding food-like substances and not paying for the advertising in the price. It makes sense to me except for Kashi. Darn it, I love that company (even if they are owned by Kellogg’s, I always imagined them different than others). He has a point though; there are LOTS of other good things out there.
#19 If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made from a plant, don’t. High-fructose corn syrup, enough said.
#39 Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself. I love this. If you have to clean up the mess, you are going to eat a lot less often, but you still can eat it. There are also so many things that taste so much better homemade: cakes, ice cream, doughnuts. If you do happen to break this rule, just remember french fries, chips, and cupcakes are TREATS, not food.
#47 Eat when you are hungry, not when you are bored. This is where I struggle the most and my thighs are finally taking notice. I am trying so hard with this one.
Oldies but goodies from Pollen (I am sure they are in the book, but I don’t have the number):
Don’t eat anything that won’t rot. Snack cakes, cereal, etc.
Don’t eat anything you can’t pronounce: sodium caseinate, dimethylpolysiloxane, calcium pantothenate.
Don’t eat anything your Grandma wouldn’t eat or recognize (while that’s true for my grandma, I think he meant his, so go back another generation)

There is a difference between food and food-like substance and there is a difference between food and treats. Please know this difference.

While we are on the subject, Chuck and I have joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Every week we pick up a load of meat, cheeses, produce and condiments (jellies, butter, salsa’s, etc) all produced and grown from small local farms in the area. I pick up my first load tomorrow and I am excited to see what I get. I will keep you posted.