It’s been awhile since I’ve recommended a book (mostly because I’ve been reading pure crap or self-help books I’d never, ever want anyone to know I’ve been reading) but I’m so obsessed with this book that I must recommend it, immediately.
One of the questions I’m asked most frequently is what diet I’m on. My reply is always the same: I’m not. I’ve changed my eating habits, but there’s no meal plan or “list” of foods I’m eating from. I don’t like meal plans or eating certain things at certain times or any of that strict business.
That said, if I did have a specific list of guidelines I was eating from, it would be this book, Food Rules, by Michael Pollan. The main takeaway from it is to “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Makes sense, right?
The rest of the rules are equally simple:
#19: If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t.
#6o: Treat treats as treats.
It’s a light read — at most, it takes an hour or two, but is definitely worth a re-read. Michael Pollan is a brilliant writer, especially when it comes to food, and he knows his stuff. He adds a paragraph or two after each rule to explain it in detail. Best of all, the rules make sense. There are no gimmicks or strict diet rules. Just healthy, plant-based, reasonable eating.
And don’t worry, if the idea of having rules of any sort on your eating makes you upset, you can always heed the advice of Rule #64:
Break the rules once in a while.
Do you have any favorite books about food?
i have a serious crush on mr pollan. i really loved in defense of food best. it is the richer in detail cousin to food rules.
i’ve enjoyed crazy, sexy diet by kris carr – lots of getting healthy using a plant based diet tips.
my current favorite cookbook is the supermarket vegan. quick, easy vegan recipes.
I like Pollan. I really enjoyed his Botany of Desire, although Omnivore’s Dilemma was good, but a bit preachy. I will have to check out Food Rules though.
I haven’t read any of Pollan’s books yet, though this one has been on my Goodreads to-read list for quite a while. I do remember skimming through it one day at the bookstore—I liked that it was a quick read and easy to understand. I’ll have to pick it up sometime!
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book about food, probably Fast Food Nation. But, I’ve had Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Eating Animals” on my nightstand for a few months.