First of all: apologies to Michael Pollan, the author of Food Rules, for cutting his name off my photo. I must have been distracted by Maira Kalman's terrific illustration!
Michael Pollan is also the author of five previous books including "In Defense of Food", "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "The Botany of Desire", all NewYork Times bestsellers.
I liked his idea of collecting our ancestors' wisdom about healthy and happily eating,which, in fact, is so much more helpful and more humorous than the recommendations of science or industry.
Food Rules is not a diet book, but a very enjoyable tribute to tradition and culture, to daily practice, experience and intelligence.
My favourites are
- Don't eat anything your grandmother wouldn't recognize as food
- Avoid food products that make health claims
- Avoid foods you see advertised on television
- Buy your snacks at the Farmer's market
- If it came from a plant, eat it - if it was made in a plant, don't
- Treat meat as a flavouring or special occasion food
- Sweeten and salt your food yourself
- Eat all the junk food you want, as long as you cook it yourself
- Pay more. eat less
- If you're not hungry enough to eat an apple, you're probably not hungry
- Cook
- Break the rules once in a while!
