In Defence of Food

In Defense of Food - An Eater's Manifesto reads, especially at the end, as an extended version of Food Rules. Really that should be the other way around given that Food Rules came out more recently, but the similarities (as in whole pages copied from one book to another) were apparent.

Not that that should be a bad thing. The underlying message of In Defense of Food is that Food itself, as in natural food, should be the main part of one's diet, and not all this processed, nasty junk. To be honest, I do that anyway, but this is a very interesting account of the state of the food industry in the US and how the government doesn't really do much on behalf of the consumers. Of course if the majority of people in this country were not impulse eaters it would be a different story...

I found myself quoting different examples from this book to friends etc, which is a sign of how good it is. It is definitely a book I will want to lend to my friends. Although if I have friends who think packaged food is the best, I will be very sad.

So. We must stand up in defence of real food and leave behind the Western Diet (read American Diet). And read this book - it really will make you think (and if you are like me, eat more salad).

Sorry this is a crap review, I am just so tired at the moment...

Food Rules

Food Rules, An Eater's Manual is a short book comprised of a number of rules which should in theory result in the reader leading a more nutritious and healthier life. It certainly makes a lot of sense. I'm not one for those wacky diet books that come out a lot of the time, but I refuse to eat microwave meals and cook for myself a lot of the time so I would describe myself as food-aware. The rules in this book definitely struck a chord with me, and I will be trying my hardest to follow the majority of them, including:

• If it comes through a car window, it's not food
• Cook
• Eat as much junk food as you like, as long as you make it
• Eat foods with 5 or fewer ingredients (NOT RECIPES, things like sauces etc)
• Only eat foods with ingredients you can picture
• If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant; don't
• And the most important of all... break the rules occasionally!

This book has already had an impact on me, as I am trying to eat more salads and fish. I would recommend reading it - and try to find fault with the rules if you can.