Michael Pollan’s new little book, called “Food Rules” is such a great idea, I am putting a link to it right here for you so you can buy it right this second. Here’s the deal. I get asked all the time, by all kinds of people, the dubious question that seems to have everyone stumped: What do I eat? I think no one so far has answered this question as well as Pollan. His manifesto? Eat food, not too much, mostly plants. His reason? Food confuses people, and he wants that to stop. “Food Rules” makes eating simple- like so simple it’s kinda like maybe that’s how it has always been…

The way I see it, it’s not food that make your choices confusing, it’s the companies that stand to profit from your confusion that have messed it all up for you. So, the food producers tell you one thing, the diet companies tell you something else, and the stores where you buy your ingredients feed you with even more illusions. Then there’s the media, the ‘experts’, your mother, your religion…. wow. That’s TMI for sure, and not enough real food on your table.

In “Food Rules”, Pollan has distilled years of investigation and research down into a few basic ideas, and they are so simple that my seven year old (although brilliant for seven) can understand them. “Don’t eat food from the same place you get your gas….that makes sense,  Mommy. Gas station food must have lots of junk in it to keep it fresh” she says to me one day after reading a page out of the book. “And you can’t get fruit or veggies at a gas station. Gross!” Yah. So if she gets, you, grown up that you are,  can too.

So here’s MY bold advice (because you had to know it was coming). Allow simplicity around your idea of food. Stop counting out your “daily allotment” of Pringles and start eating food that comes from the earth.  Throw away the ‘inconvenient’ shiny boxes and your identity around food along with them- vegetarian, carnivore, too busy, on a diet, emotional eater- doesn’t matter. Eat real food, that comes from the earth. If you don’t know what to do with it, find out. Call me, or check out www.whfoods.com or other great whole food recipe sites. Eating real food makes life simple and joyous. Just eat food- the really good stuff- and allow it to nourish you and bring harmony to your body.  Food is powerful, and majestic. Believe it that.
Here’s a simple, seasonal recipe to get you started, from World’s Healthiest Foods.

Super Energy Kale Soup

This quick and easy version of potato kale soup has extra vegetables for more flavor and nutrition and takes little time to prepare.

Prep and Cook Time: Prep and cooking time: 40 minutes Ingredients: 1 medium onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, chopped 5 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 medium carrot, diced into ¼-inch cubes (about 1 cup) 1 cup diced celery 2 red potatoes, diced into ½-inch cubes 3 cups kale, rinsed, stems removed and chopped very fine 2 tsp dried thyme 2 tsp dried sage salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Chop garlic and onions and let sit for 5 minutes to bring out their hidden health benefits.
2. Heat 1 TBS broth in a medium soup pot.
3. Healthy Sauté onion in broth over medium heat for about 5 minutes stirring frequently.
4. Add garlic and continue to sauté for another minute.
5. Add broth, carrots, and celery and bring to a boil on high heat.
6. Once it comes to a boil reduce heat to a simmer and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Add potatoes and kale and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 more minutes.
7. Add rest of ingredients and cook another 5 minutes. If you want to simmer for a longer time for extra flavor and richness, you may need to add a little more broth.

Serves 4

This entry was posted on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 7:57 pm and is filed under Real Food. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.