I finally, months later, got around to reading this astounding, and very long article in the NY Times on healthier eating, called "Unhappy Meals" by Michael Pollan. For those who don’t have the patience to wade through 12 web-pages of text (i.e. my girlfriend), here’s the quick summary of his nine main recommendations:
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- Eat food.
- Avoid food products that come bearing health claims.
- Especially avoid food products containing ingredients that are a)
unfamiliar, b) unpronounceable c) more than five in number — or that
contain high-fructose corn syrup. - Get out of the supermarket whenever possible.
- Pay more, eat less.
- Eat mostly plants, especially leaves.
- Eat more like the French. Or the Japanese. Or the Italians. Or the
Greeks. Confounding factors aside, people who eat according to the
rules of a traditional food culture are generally healthier than we
are. - Cook. And if you can, plant a garden.
- Eat like an omnivore.
I find 4 and 5 to be the most challenging for me. Four because going to farmer’s markets and other farm-direct providers is time intensive and a hassle. Five because I am by nature a cheapskate and like to get the most value from my food dollar, even if it means eating lower-quality food.
Still, very helpful advice that gibes with what my doctor and others have been telling me.
I, too, have problems with being a total cheapskate and trying to eat good, healthy, environmentally-friendly food. I’ve found a food delivery service in DC, though, that costs less than Whole Foods per pound (and they also deliver milk, cheese, and farm eggs!) for good, organic veggies. I get a box of stuff a week. It’s not a co-op, so it only has local stuff in the summer, but this means you get a really good mix of fruits and veggies all year round. You can swap out stuff you don’t like for more of what you do like. I find it inspiring to have someone else pick out what I’m going to have to eat in the next two weeks! Maybe there is something like this in NYC? I’d be floored if there weren’t.
Good suggestion! Thanks!
Hi,
I recently purchased a fun product from a company called Simple Memory
Art (www.SimpleMemoryArt.com ) called a 50 Healthy Foods magnet set.
It’s a really cool item actually — it’s a magnet set that lists the
major food groups, has them color coded in rainbow-like colors, and
tells you everything about the food — vitamins, calories, grams of
fat, protein, etc. It’s REALLY helpful and it makes my fridge look
happier too!
This product would be a great fit for a review, and I think those that
browse your site will find it to be a really interesting product!
It’s perfect for anyone who already maintains a healthy lifestyle and
sees it as a great novelty magnet set to add to their fridge, or for
those looking to eat a little healthier. Here’s a direct link to an
image of the product: http://www.simplememoryart.com/shop_MG102.html
Have a great day!
All the best,
Lisa
Nice bog you have here. I pretty much lurk the internet when I’m bored and read all I can about the organic lifestyle, but I really liked you view on things. I’ll bookmark the site and subscribe to the feed!
My doctor, who I trust greatly, really espouses getting completely off sugar, a big culprit in health ailments in our lives.
Oh boy…giving up sugar completely?? That would be almost impossible!!!