Mark Bitman, writer on food and all things related, published an interesting viewpoint on eating 'real food'.
At the heart of the matter is the ongoing, increasing obesity epidemic in the USA. Dietary patterns in much of the developed world is characterized by energy rich, nutrient poor, high fat, processed foods. There is a tremendous marketing and lobbying by agribusiness to ensure that their products are consumed and profitable. As such, it is no surprise, per Bitman, that the 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans are a watered down version of nutritional best advice.
Although there is a message to eat more refined grains and fewer solid fats and added sugars (SOFAS), there is the implication that eating manufactured, processed food that is low in SOFAS is a healthy alternative. The reason, the agency's mission as nutrition experts is at odds with its other mission: to promote agriculture and food manufacturing.
Bitman's nutritional message can be partly simplified as follows: eat fresh food, as close from the source as possible, and prepare it at home.
Perhaps another way to approach individual food choices is to follow Michael Pollan's mantra: 'Eat food, not too much, mostly plants'
.......I am going to eat breakfast now.
PS: for additional reading, here are few titles off my bookshelf:
Food Matters by Mark Bitman
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Food Rules, an Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Food Fight by Kelly Brownell
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| Veggies- as photographed by the blogger, somewhere in rural Virginia |
Although there is a message to eat more refined grains and fewer solid fats and added sugars (SOFAS), there is the implication that eating manufactured, processed food that is low in SOFAS is a healthy alternative. The reason, the agency's mission as nutrition experts is at odds with its other mission: to promote agriculture and food manufacturing.
Bitman's nutritional message can be partly simplified as follows: eat fresh food, as close from the source as possible, and prepare it at home.
Perhaps another way to approach individual food choices is to follow Michael Pollan's mantra: 'Eat food, not too much, mostly plants'
.......I am going to eat breakfast now.
PS: for additional reading, here are few titles off my bookshelf:
Food Matters by Mark Bitman
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Food Rules, an Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Food Fight by Kelly Brownell
