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hjpixx's review against another edition
5.0
I finally got around to reading this quick-read, excellent little book simplifying some key rules to healthy eating.
becca_g_powell's review against another edition
2.0
Eh. basically the condensed vresion of his In Defense of Food. If you've already read the other, don't bother with this one - it's basically a big cut and paste job. If you haven't, read In Defense of Food instead of Food Rules, because taking the time (and measly hundred pages) to understand the background of the arguments that lead to these conclusions is worthwhile.
buffstbookslisa's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely and concise way to make us think about food differently. Maira Kalman's illustrations always make me smile. My favorite rule? #83...break the rules once in awhile. "Obsessing over food rules is bad for your happiness."
nina_rod's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve read a few of Michael Pollan’s books. Most recent, I read the Omnivore’s Dilemma. While not a vegetarian, I’m sympathetic to the cause. But I don’t want to be an asshole vegan, hence the dilemma. Michael Pollan was great in navigating such modern food politics, but I came out of the book thinking, well, what the heck do I eat? He had to add on an afterword to do that with the simple instructions, Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants.
I’ve taken that to heart over the years, joining a CSA and actually cooking nightly. So, when I found the Food Rules on the shelf at the Goodwill, I thought I might get more answers to the very basic three rules outlined in the afterward of The Omnivore’s Dilemma.
And that he did. He elaborates on the three basic rules in three parts with sub rules in each corresponding part.
For example.. Eat food (Not foodlike substances) Rule #10 Avoid Foods that are pretending to be something that they are not. Plant based people can fall into a rabbit hole on this. For example, replacing meat with fake meats. I’ve never found any valuing in replacing a chicken breast with a slab of mock chicken. Or a roast with a field “roast.” Some of the fake meats have nasty ingredients in them. Granted, my vegetarian daughter appreciates some fake chicken patties every once in a while, but we aren’t replacing a meat eating diet with a mock meat diet.
But where I fail on this rule is replacing the sugar in my coffee with “Skinny Syrups” full of chemicals that are zero calorie sweeteners. He really hammers this home: Rule #7 Avoid foods with ingredients a third grader can’t pronounce. #2 Avoid food like substances your grandmother wouldn’t recognize. Rule #5 Avoid foods with ingredients no human would ordinarily have in their pantry. Rule #6: Avoid foods with more than five ingredients. Rule #50 Avoid ingredients that lie to your body. Geez. I get it.
So while there are a lot of rules, it’s just hammering home the three basic rules. For example, Rule #13 Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and avoid the middle. This is just a rule that helps you eat real food as the meats, produce and bakery tend to be at the edges of stores while the foods with lots of ingredients and a longer shelf life are in the middle. So basically Rule #24 If you are eating real food, you don’t need rules.
I’ve taken that to heart over the years, joining a CSA and actually cooking nightly. So, when I found the Food Rules on the shelf at the Goodwill, I thought I might get more answers to the very basic three rules outlined in the afterward of The Omnivore’s Dilemma.
And that he did. He elaborates on the three basic rules in three parts with sub rules in each corresponding part.
For example.. Eat food (Not foodlike substances) Rule #10 Avoid Foods that are pretending to be something that they are not. Plant based people can fall into a rabbit hole on this. For example, replacing meat with fake meats. I’ve never found any valuing in replacing a chicken breast with a slab of mock chicken. Or a roast with a field “roast.” Some of the fake meats have nasty ingredients in them. Granted, my vegetarian daughter appreciates some fake chicken patties every once in a while, but we aren’t replacing a meat eating diet with a mock meat diet.
But where I fail on this rule is replacing the sugar in my coffee with “Skinny Syrups” full of chemicals that are zero calorie sweeteners. He really hammers this home: Rule #7 Avoid foods with ingredients a third grader can’t pronounce. #2 Avoid food like substances your grandmother wouldn’t recognize. Rule #5 Avoid foods with ingredients no human would ordinarily have in their pantry. Rule #6: Avoid foods with more than five ingredients. Rule #50 Avoid ingredients that lie to your body. Geez. I get it.
So while there are a lot of rules, it’s just hammering home the three basic rules. For example, Rule #13 Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and avoid the middle. This is just a rule that helps you eat real food as the meats, produce and bakery tend to be at the edges of stores while the foods with lots of ingredients and a longer shelf life are in the middle. So basically Rule #24 If you are eating real food, you don’t need rules.
uditnair24's review against another edition
5.0
Let's just call this book the manifesto for healthy food regime. The author needs to be commended for packaging the information precisely and succinctly. Most of the rules mentioned in the book are highly scientific and backed by research. Along with that there are many food wisdom which has been passed on since generations. I was sold at the start only when author pointed out that nutrition science is still an emerging field and as a result many of the food wisdom are yet to be tested. But it is important to know that the food wisdom has been tested over generations and hence might be more sound when seen in the light of evolutionary science.
The author describes the whole concept of the book in seven words that is Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Now why he says this can be explored throughout the rules mentioned in the book.
Some of my favourite rules from the book are -
1. Avoid food products that make health claims. Most likely they are processed foods.
2. Eat only foods that will eventually rot. The more processed a food is, the longer the shelf life and the less nutritious it typically is.
3.If it came from a plant, eat it ; if it was made in a plant,dont.
4.Eat wild foods when one can. Because the fields and forests are crowded with plants containing higher levels of nutrients and phytochemicals.
5.Dont eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk.
6.Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself.
7. Eat less because we as humans eat much more than what our body requires and the excess wreaks havoc.
The author describes the whole concept of the book in seven words that is Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Now why he says this can be explored throughout the rules mentioned in the book.
Some of my favourite rules from the book are -
1. Avoid food products that make health claims. Most likely they are processed foods.
2. Eat only foods that will eventually rot. The more processed a food is, the longer the shelf life and the less nutritious it typically is.
3.If it came from a plant, eat it ; if it was made in a plant,dont.
4.Eat wild foods when one can. Because the fields and forests are crowded with plants containing higher levels of nutrients and phytochemicals.
5.Dont eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk.
6.Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself.
7. Eat less because we as humans eat much more than what our body requires and the excess wreaks havoc.
mhoechsmann's review against another edition
3.0
Extremely quick read-- because there is not a lot of information in this "book". This is literally a list of "rules" with limited explanations. The "rules" are great-- 5 stars-- but only 3 stars because nothing is revolutionary. I don't feel any more knowledgable after reading this, nor was I surprised by anything.
The author kinda gives that away in the introduction. Curious if Pollan's In Defense of Food is any better....
The author kinda gives that away in the introduction. Curious if Pollan's In Defense of Food is any better....
jsem's review against another edition
2.0
An ok recap of the advice in "In Defense of Food." It's a good reminder or primer, but unnecessary if you've read the other book.
tracyk22's review against another edition
2.0
Nothing new or particularly earth-shattering in this book, unless you really are unaware that you shouldn't eat processed food. However, what this simple, straight-forward book does do is inspire us to take back control of our eating habits and stop turning over that control to the corporations who mass-produce our food, or I should say edible food-like substances. If every American adopted just one rule from this book, perhaps it would start to change things. I would particularly like to see the high fructose corn syrup removed from foods that just don't need it, especially foods designed for kids, like yogurt and applesauce. I was surprised to learn just how much meat our society consumes. I guess since I don't eat meat every day, I just assumed others didn't either, but apparently I'm in the minority and I think I'm going to cut back even more now. What is refreshing about Michael Pollan is that he doesn't say this is an all or nothing deal and that these rules, if they aren't for you, shouldn't be followed obsessively. He just wants us to be aware of where our food is coming from and make an informed decision for ourselves.
mvanhar's review against another edition
4.0
Quick read - enjoyable and well structured, but sadly confirmed that knowing the right things to eat, is much easier then eating the right things.