Response to Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma Food #6

Michael Pollan's argument about the way Americans eat made me realize how caught up everyone is in fads about dieting, losing weight, and getting skinnier. Which none of these "goals" ever happen. I completely agree with the idea/argument that Americans basically eat unhealthy foods, an excessive amount, or little to no food at all. They, we, do not have a healthy eating habit.

The American Paradox perfectly describes the ways of the Americans: for example, diets such as the Atkins Diet, people think going on a diet and not eating certain foods will make them healthier and slimmer. They are trying to lose weight my dieting, not eating carbs. Meanwhile people are thinking they are living and eating in a healthy manner when in actuality the diet is making them less healthy. Instead we 'Americans' should be eating all types of food in moderation of course. Beneficial foods should also be eaten as well and not so much the pure sugar types. Americans have no food culture, no tradition. America has a National Eating Disorder, there is a violent change in this cultures eating habits and it has become extremely unhealthy.

Another Paradox I enjoyed reading about was the French Paradox: I have been to France and for dinner my host family would make all kinds of food and eat of a lot of it. Usually all very traditional food, lots of cheese, bread, and salad. A type of meat and a side dish, all very rich in salt and butter. Their food was delicious but at the same time, I felt like I was either eating too much of it or the food itself felt fatty and not too healthy to eat. But my host family seemed okay with everything they had on the table for dinner, whether it looked or tasted like it had been cooked in a lot of butter they still ate it and did not care. It was food and they were hungry, they food tasted good and they ate it. So when I read the Pollan's argument stating the French Paradox: eat unhealthy and happier and be healthier. It make a lot of sense, the French ate whatever they felt like eating and because they were happy with themselves and with whatever they were eating, they in turn may be healthier. Although there is the other part that makes this situation a paradox, if you eat all you want, you may feel happy and comfortable with yourself but it does not mean that you are nutritionally healthy. It all depends on what and how much you eat. Think in moderation, small portions and eat a balanced meal, not just protein, and don't skip out on the carbs. They are good for you too.

My family and I pay a lot of attention to articles in health magazines. We tare out recopies from the magazines and replicate them in our own kitchen. We try to make new dishes, to try new things and to try to eat healthier meals. Although my brother and I both watch a fare share of television neither of us are remotely interested in any of the diet plans offered on tv. Then look fake and not too appetizing. I would not want to go on a diet like that because you never know how you body may react to only eating the pre-packaged food from a company. Being on a diet change make positive and negative changes appear on your body. We do however watch the Food Network Channel a lot. We like to watch people cook and come up with different ways of eating foods that don't always seem tasty to us, it is a creative way to eat healthier foods. We learn from the chefs on Food Network, how to make meals in our own home that are affordable, taste good, and are healthy, well-balanced.