Let's eat Grandpa!

Read because: I read In Defense of Food and liked a lot of the principles. Plus, I’m on a slow descent into Hippie-land. Oh, and I heard Michael Pollan speak a few months back — interesting guy.

Borrowed from: my friend Carolyn

Rating: 7 out of 10

Synopsis: Humans were clearly designed to eat all manner of meats, vegetables, fruits, and grains. But, as Pollan points out, America’s farmers have succeeded so wildly that today’s fundamental agricultural issue has become how to deal sensibly with overproduction. The result of this surfeit of grain is behemoth corn processors, who have commoditized the Aztecs’ sacred grain and developed ways to separate corn into products wholly removed from its original kernels. This excess food and Americans’ wealth and rapid-paced lifestyles now yield supersized portions of less-than-nutritious eatables. Pollan contrasts the technologically driven life on an Iowa corn farm’s feedlots with the thriving organic farm movement supplying retailers such as Whole Foods. Pollan also addresses issues of vegetarianism and flesh eating, hunting for game, and foraging for mushrooms. Throughout, he takes care to consider all sides of issues, and he avoids jingoistic answers. Although much of this subject has been treated elsewhere, Pollan’s easy writing style and unique approach freshen this contemporary debate.

My review: It took me FOREVER to read this book. I think I borrowed it in February and have slowly been working my way through it on and off for months. I don’t know why that was — it’s not like it was difficult reading or anything. Anyway, I learned a lot. I can’t believe the amount of corn we consume. It’s absolutely nuts. Because of this book (and several other reasons) I’ve been making many different decisions about the things I’m eating — more fruit and veggies from the farmer’s market and much less meat that has been industrially raised. I haven’t purchased regular eggs since I hit the chapter on hens (shudder). I also gained a new respect for hunting — we’re so removed from our food sources these days. After reading about the industrial food chain, hunting seemed one of the best ways to go about getting meat. I think you can be more thankful for it if you’ve killed it yourself (not that I’m going to put that particular principle into practice — but I get it!). I also learned about mushrooms — I had NO idea what they were. I still don’t really have any idea what they are. But the chapter was interesting. (Finished 9/14/09)