Eat Food, But Not Too Much

The following post is a contribution from guest blogger Liz Lewis, a freelance travel and health writer currently blogging over at Healthbolt and Alzheimer’s Notes.

Author Michael Pollan argues that what we are eating these days is not really food (he calls it edible foodlike substances) and how we are eating it – alone, in the car, or in front of the television – is not really eating. Instead, he suggests that we should follow three simple rules – Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly plants. This is the whole premise of his new book In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, which is due for publication this month.

Here’s some of his tips on how to find and eat ‘real’ food…

Shop the peripheries of the Supermarket and stay out of the middle – apparently processed food products seem to sit in the middle of most supermarkets and fresh foods sit on the outsides.

Avoid supermarkets wherever possible – head for the farmers’ markets for fresh foods without additives

Wine with dinner is good – a little wine every day, especially with food, is a good bet.

Pay more but eat less – better foods, unfortunately, unfortunately cost more. So the answer is to pay more for a little less.

Eat meals – in other words, don’t eat on the run. Sit at the table, make it family time, create an occasion with every meal.

Know what you’re eating – avoid foods with unpronounceable ingredients, unfamiliar ingredients, more than five ingredients, or have high fructose corn sugar. Remember, you want to eat real food but edible substances.

Listen to your gut – if your gut feels full, simply stop eating. Don’t feel obligate to continue.

Grow your own and cook it too – regain control over your food.

Want to know more? You can read the introduction to ‘In Defense of Food’ here.