STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Elle · Hermes

Eat food. Stuff you like. As much as you want.

Boots · Gucci

Very interesting. I also liked reading the comment sections (the blogger answered most of the comments so it was almost like a conversation.) I've never read Michael Pollen and honestly, don't plan on it. I agree that on the whole, people today know what to eat nutritionally. They understand that they are not eating healthy by consuming a diet high in junk food. And if they choose to do so, well no amount of rules will make any difference.

However, I think that sometimes guidelines (as opposed to strict rules) can help people make better choices. I lost about 45 pounds and have kept them off for almost 10 years now. And I did this by changing my lifestyle (eating better and exercising.) When I started, I read magazines like Self & Shape for pointers and started cooking from places like Cooking Light. What I learned was to become more aware of what I ate as opposed to following a strict set of "good" and "bad" foods. One order of french fries a month is not going to negatively affect me. One a day will.

I'm a firm believer in the eat in moderation plan. And I think a lot of it is just a simple awareness of what I'm eating. I didn't do a food journal, but I think creating this awareness is the purpose of one.

Suasoria · Chanel

I'm not a huge fan of Pollan, but bashing him for his "celebrity" sounds like sour organic grapes. Sure, he's not an RD - he's a journalist who has been covering these industries for 20+ years. To begrudge him a couple of book deals and TV appearances is out of line. (She does admit it's petty.)

Other than that I agree with her basic rules and I tend to follow them myself - as long as none of it comes from an animal, based on the health, environmental, and ethical ramifications. In fact her description of "freedom" is pretty much exactly why I'm a vegan:

"Being un-free is a fate worse than death to an animal. It means either you will be killed, or you will be tortured and then killed, or your entire life and all of your efforts will be used exclusively in the service of someone else's desires. And that service is probably going to be pretty unpleasant and continue indefinitely, until you die (see: tortured and then killed.)"