More good thinking from Michael Pollan
January 10th, 2010 | 
Author: The New York Times has an interview with Michael Pollan linked to his new book, Food Rules. This is a great example of a Long News story as food, nutrition, and the eating habits of Americans certainly has changed over the long term and affects us all in very direct ways.
The idea here is that we could all use a set of easy-to-remember rules that would help us eat more wisely. I almost said “simple rules” but of course if they were simple we would all follow them without thinking. One of the problems Pollan highlights is that much of our challenge is about psychology: how do we convince ourselves to do the right thing, when the not-good thing is so easy to do?
One of the rules he likes is “Eat all the junk food as long as you cook it yourself”. The idea here is that things like potato chips and french fries are too easy and we would seldom take the time to invest to make them if we had to make them ourselves; the benefit would be is that we would eat better things instead. Right now I am trying to figure out how I could make my own M&Ms . . . .
Another longer article by Pollan that is certainly worth reading is “Out of the Kitchen, Onto the Couch”, about why cooking shows on TV are gaining in popularity while actual cooking is decreasing. If you have seen the recent movie “Julie and Julia” you’ll find this particularly timely.
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America is the only country that eats and lives like it does, except possibly Australia. Cooking shows are now our food “porn,” which is more than disturbing. Even countries with somewhat unhealthy diets are more inclined to cook at home, take public transport or eat reasonably at restaurants.
From living in Asia, here’s my input: I think we need to a) eat a LOT less at mealtimes b) eat at least twice the amount of fresh veg and fruit that we do now c) eat high fiber snacks d) drink clear, homemade bone stock soups a few times a week e)prepare teas from mint, cassia seed, lotus leaf, ginseng or other combinations to help digestion f) exercise in some way daily, even if it’s light g) elimate ideas of “diets” and “cheating” on those diets.