Book Review - In Defense of Food

I've been looking forward to reading Michael Pollan's new book ever since I finished his last one. I was not disappointed.
Anyone who has read Omnivore's Dilemma has probably found themselves wondering how they can eat with a clear conscious. What with all the processed food, factory food lots, genetic modification of produce, it seems like nothing is safe or healthy or even ethical to eat. And the stuff that is clearly ethical - local, organic and sustainable - is damned expensive.
Well, Pollan lays out a nice solution to the problems he highlights in his previous book. I don't want to spoil it - if you care about what you eat, you really need to read this book - but since he gives away his game on the cover of the book, I don't think I'm spoiling anything when I say that his solution is simply to "Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants." Now, there are some nuances that he fleshes out, important ones (like avoid food with more than five ingredients) but, in essence, its all about avoiding food that comes in boxes (or those that make health claims). He also pokes huge holes in the whole science of nutrition, calling a lot of issues that most folk consider closed out into the light again.
If Omnivore's Dilemma left you feeling a little guilty, this one will leave you feeling inspired. He gives his readers the tools they need to change their diet for the better, without having to resort to anything complicated or terribly expensive.

One caveat - most Americans don't come anywhere close to paying the true cost of their food. Government subsidies disguise total cost, both out of pocket and to the environment. Pollen's solutions are more expensive than what you'd get at the local mega-mart, but by paying the true value of the food - preferably directly to a local producer - you appreciate your food more, and you eat less of it. Eating less food is something that we Americans should do more of.

So, get this book, read it, and follow its advice as best you can. Your health, your conscience, and your environment will thank you.