Food Rules

Common sense and easy to read, I don't really like Maira's art style in the revised edition so it took some away from the book for me.

This is a quick book that includes a set of simple “rules,” or really guidelines, for eating practices. It's the next step from Pollan's In Defense of Food, with his basic guidance of “Eat Food, Mostly Plants, Not Too Much” expanded. For example, for “eat food,” this includes “eat only foods that will eventually rot” (rule 14). It's such a quick read that I don't think I fully absorbed all the rules, but I would like to get myself a copy so I can reference it from time to time.

Quick read - enjoyable and well structured, but sadly confirmed that knowing the right things to eat, is much easier then eating the right things.

A very interesting compendium of food wisdom across the ages, it gives clear tips on how to eat better and more healthier through conventional grandmother's wisdom. An easy and quick read giving you a lot of tools to change your eating habits.

Educational and whitty enjoyed this short read very much!

Short, straightforward, commonsensical. I didn't think there was anything especially new or thought-provoking about it, but then again I follow quite a few of these rules already (e.g. only shopping the edge of the supermarket, eating colors, avoiding HFCS, stuff like that). There's some unexamined privilege here (rules like “cook”, “shop at farmer's markets” and “spend more on food”), but hey, Pollan is attempting to tackle personal changes, not systemic ones.

I wouldn't spend money on this book, since it's tiny and mostly a predictable expansion of “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” But hey, you can read it in like half an hour so there's not much to lose, and maybe you'll pick up a couple new mnemonics for healthy eating.

We don't eat well here in America. Is that a surprise to you? I think not.

And our terrible food choices contribute to our overall terrible health.

Pollan is out to change that with a few (well, 83) simple rules.

The rules are simple. “Don't eat anything your great grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.” That is simple, right? And it makes good sense. “Eat mostly plants, especially leaves.” Of course. “Stop eating before you're full.” Definitely.

And with illustrations from my fav Maira Kalman, how can you go wrong?

It's a book that's everything...nutritious and delicious.

Turns out I break most of the rules in the book. Explains a lot although no snacking is the one rule I follow.

Nothing especially groundbreaking, especially if you've read anything else by Michael Pollan, but still good. Very clear ways of thinking about food, things that seem obvious but aren't anymore because of the way we Americans tend to get our food these days.

This is a short book and a quick read, although I have a feeling I'll read it again. The “rules” make so much sense for healthy living and eating, and I'm already trying to implement them. Highly recommended for everyone.