Blog 1: Michael Pollan's Opening Arguments

     “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants,” are the first words of Michael Pollan’s controversial book In Defense of Food. In the introduction and first section, Pollan focuses on the complex issue of what humans need to eat in order to be healthy. Even with the technology to manipulate and improve foods, being so focused on health and proper eating habits have arguably caused more health issues than ever.

     In his introduction, Pollan defines the Western diet as “lots of everything–except vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.” He blames the diet for the billions that America spends on health care for preventable diseases but fails to make a connection between the Western diet and the amount of physical activity performed by the average person. Nearly 1 in 3 children are obese in the United States, an astonishing number that can be blamed on the lack of knowledge surrounding the benefits of real food. Michelle Obama’s new campaign to decrease childhood obesity levels is one of the first national efforts to teach families the importance of eating right and being physically active.

     Following his debut of the Western diet, Pollan designates a term to describe the desire to perfect the Western diet: nutritionism. Nutritionism focuses on the nutrients in the food and not the food as a nutrient-packed whole. Many food companies boast their products have added nutrients and less fat or sugar. However, many consumers are unaware that these items can have detrimental health effects, contribute to preventable, and are inferior to their whole food counterparts.
     Consumers need to take responsibility of their food choices, understanding the benefit of real foods versus synthesized products. There is no doubt that choosing to eat healthy foods and getting regular physical activity has positive health benefits. The challenge now is how to inform people to make the right decision.