I just finished Omnivore's Dilemma, which was really interesting. I'm also in the process of taking a bio class, so as many reasons as he outlined for not eating processed food, when you look at it on a molecular level there are dozens more reasons that he never touched on as most people would have lost interest.

AM
The Dinner Chronicles

I'm toward the end of "O.M." I'll have to pick up the next one.

I meant O.D.

Sally

I meant OD also. Typing when I just got out of bed. Ugh.

I've read neither book..but have been pulling my family away from processed dependancy..LOL It's a gradual change or I'd have a revolt..They didn't realize that when they got to have fastfood Monday, that it was the first time in over 3 weeks... Next time I'll stretch it further..
I'll have to check out the books above.

Eating whole foods is a whole lot more work! As a single working mom, daily food prep can become a challenge. I tend to make food in batches in marathon kitchen sessions and then it can be warmed or assembled as Alice and I want. Not an elegant way to dine daily but it is expedient. We rarely eat at the table together in a sit-down fashion but we do eat together. Sometimes we aren't eating together but one is eating, one is there for company.

I've lost five pounds by eschewing carbs and processed foods over the past few weeks. So there are benefits. I'm much less "hungry." There are a lot of empty calories in processed foods, they taste good but fail to nourish. So you eat more...

I'm already on the no-processed foods train, LOL. And DH and I have decided that we eat too much, and that most of our food-related health issues in the modern age stem from simply eating too much.

We've scaled down our portions and stopped going to restaurants where the portions are mind-boggling. Actually we've cut down greatly on going out to eat. With ping pong practice taking so much time, we don't have time anyway.

I think if we go back to seeing restaurant dining as an occasional treat, and not a regular part of our routine, it will go a long way towards healthier eating.

I also noticed that I was not cooking enough vegetables for a couple of months. Now I make an effort to ensure that vegetables are the main part of each plate, and to do more meal planning so I notice what we're eating weekly and monthly. Instead of just pulling something out of the freezer - which meant meat, meat, meat!

On a recent visit to in-laws in Florida, I was happy and hopeful to see such active and healthy 80 and 90-somethings. When dining with these folks I noticed that they did not overeat (no seconds) and eschewed desserts. They eat to live, not live to eat!

Lacyvail, I am so glad you mentioned this book. I haven't read it yet but intend to. Pollan was interviewed on Radio Times and he was fascinating. I have read his book called Second Nature, his musings on gardening.

Can't wait to get to this one and I hope it inspires me to adopt better eating habits. Since I only cook for myself, I have a tendency to go for the processed stuff. I wonder if there is any nutrition at all in a Lean Cuisine??

Here is a link that might be useful: Scroll down for interview with Pollan

Sally I thought maybe you had just finished meditating, lol!

I highly recommend Michael Pollan, he is one of the best popular science writers out there, and particularly about food issues. I recommend his books to my college students and they really like them. Highly readable. The book of his that I am most familiar with is called "The Botany of Desire." That one's not just about food plants. Marjuiana and tulips are covered too.

I've read half of Botany of Desire, and thought I'd save the last half for later. It's been a few years now, maybe I need to go back and finish reading it. If this new book is short and concise, then that will be a plus for him. I do like reading his books, but he tends to go on way past the point sometimes. I can't wait till the library gets his new book.

Sally

So glad to hear so many of you have read Michael Pollan. And yes, In Defense of Food has a great deal of new information; it's not a rehash of The Omnivore's Dilemma. Both are worth reading, but for a person who may not be a reader, the critical reasons for changing one's diet are laid out in the new book.

Pollan admits that eating properly takes more time, and he discusses our need to change our entire relationship with food.
Thanks for the links too.

Pollan was here for his interview with Marty Moss-Coane. A food reporter from the Inquirer (NOT the Enquirer!)reports on what he ate while he was here. I've got to get this book.

Here is a link that might be useful: What Pollan ate while in Philadelphia

Gosh, I never have eaten much in the way of processed food. I think I'm too cheap! Prepackaged, processed, convenience foods are so much more expensive. I do generally have a couple of jars of Classico spaghetti sauce around for emergencies, a can or two of Campbells chicken noodle soup in case I get sick (a habit from childhood) and a few cans of pre cooked beans for when I'm in a hurry. That's about it, really, although I admit I have a taste for the occasional Top Ramen. :D

But otherwise, I cook from scratch and always have. I did switch to buying bread, because when I make it myself we eat too much (hot bread out of the oven, dripping with butter is ambrosia, but quite fattening). But I could never see buying a single-meal box of noodles with a seasoning packet for the same amount of money that I could buy noodles & meat enough for a couple of meals at least, or pay as much for a 8 oz bag of pre cooked chicken strips as I would for a whole chicken just so I wouldn't have to throw it in the oven.

The convenience foods available just get more and more bizarre too. The one that really cracked me up was the disposable bowl of cereal that came with a spoon and a little carton of milk. It didn't last long, I guess even the most harried, busy parent figured that pouring some cereal in a bowl didn't really take that much time!

Of course, I never had kids, so I must remind myself that others don't really have as much time as I...so maybe if I were more strapped for time, microwave lasagna might take on more appeal. ;)