Food: we all love it. Food is essential for life, yet is so enjoyable for the soul. Food brings humanity together, is an act of fellowship, and is a staple of culture and ethnicity for people all over the world. There are not many who do not enjoy eating food. However, has food become too large an aspect of our culture? Or has food lost its significance and merely become what is making us as Americans sick for a few moments of gratification? The average consumer would reply that he simply does not care; food is food and it should taste good. Yet, Americans should be more aware of what is going into their bodies. In the article Escape from the Western Diet, Michael Pollan makes his case for what he believes Americans’ diets should look
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To Pollan, there is one simple idea that he believes will answer every issue associated with the health of Americans today; “stop eating a Western diet” (421). Pollan explains in his article how it is he believes that we can escape this Western diet. He does have one major point that he seems to put much emphasis on; the idea that humans need to go back to the way they once ate in previous centuries. He also states the idea that even the products we are eating are not completely clean, and shows that through the example of a steak. “The steer has itself been raised on a Western diet, and that diet has rendered its meat substantially different – in the type and amount of fat in it as well as the vitamin content – from the beef our ancestors ate” (424). Therefore, it is causing meat to cost less where more of it is being consumed than ever was designed for mankind to ingest. Pollan proposes one simple solution he believes is the bottom line for escaping the Western diet; “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants” (426) meaning we should be eating food that is authentic and real, know when enough food is enough, and make sure we are eating plenty what what grows …show more content…
He goes on to state that maybe the problem with the amount of teenagers starting a lifetime of obesity “isn’t just theirs—its all of ours” (463). Zinczenko discusses in his article the two main issues of the rapid rate of obesity and diseases in our country: the lack of alternative options and the failure to let consumers know what the are really ingesting. I do agree with the point Zinczenko is making, yet I do believe that Americans are more to blame than he suggests. Any individual with common sense knows that fast food is not nutritious. Many eat it mostly for that reason that is tastes good and is prepared quickly. The value of food has gone down so much that Americans are settling for food that is made quickly, cheaply, and is leading many to obesity and other diseases. Food serves many purposes. It is necessary to sustain life, but is meant to give consumers energy and nutrients that is needed for an active lifestyle. Food also should be a pleasurable experience, yes, but food should be prepared with effort and enjoyed with time to actually taste flavors. The laziness of our country has driven away the true meaning and experience of food. Americans know what they are eating when
To Pollan, there is one simple idea that he believes will answer every issue associated with the health of Americans today; “stop eating a Western diet” (421). Pollan explains in his article how it is he believes that we can escape this Western diet. He does have one major point that he seems to put much emphasis on; the idea that humans need to go back to the way they once ate in previous centuries. He also states the idea that even the products we are eating are not completely clean, and shows that through the example of a steak. “The steer has itself been raised on a Western diet, and that diet has rendered its meat substantially different – in the type and amount of fat in it as well as the vitamin content – from the beef our ancestors ate” (424). Therefore, it is causing meat to cost less where more of it is being consumed than ever was designed for mankind to ingest. Pollan proposes one simple solution he believes is the bottom line for escaping the Western diet; “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants” (426) meaning we should be eating food that is authentic and real, know when enough food is enough, and make sure we are eating plenty what what grows …show more content…
He goes on to state that maybe the problem with the amount of teenagers starting a lifetime of obesity “isn’t just theirs—its all of ours” (463). Zinczenko discusses in his article the two main issues of the rapid rate of obesity and diseases in our country: the lack of alternative options and the failure to let consumers know what the are really ingesting. I do agree with the point Zinczenko is making, yet I do believe that Americans are more to blame than he suggests. Any individual with common sense knows that fast food is not nutritious. Many eat it mostly for that reason that is tastes good and is prepared quickly. The value of food has gone down so much that Americans are settling for food that is made quickly, cheaply, and is leading many to obesity and other diseases. Food serves many purposes. It is necessary to sustain life, but is meant to give consumers energy and nutrients that is needed for an active lifestyle. Food also should be a pleasurable experience, yes, but food should be prepared with effort and enjoyed with time to actually taste flavors. The laziness of our country has driven away the true meaning and experience of food. Americans know what they are eating when