Minutes October Book: In Defence of Food by Michael Pollan

Minutes October Book: In Defence of Food by Michael Pollan

(chosen by Fairlie)


In memory of our friend, S



Fairlie chose this book because she heard Michael Pollan speak at the Sydney Writers Festival and he was very impressive. He has a science/journalism background and as a result has done a lot of research into nutrition. Fairlie saw and heard him speak another time (also at the Writers Festival) and this clinched it for her - it was a book for her bookclub!

Michael Pollan is the author, most recently, of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. His previous book, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (2006), was named one of the ten best books of 2006 by the New York Times and the Washington Post. He is also the author of The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World (2001); A Place of My Own (1997); and Second Nature (1991). A contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine, Pollan is the recipient of numerous journalistic awards. Pollan served for many years as executive editor of Harper's Magazine and is now the Knight Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism at UC Berkeley. His articles have been anthologized in Best American Science Writing (2004); Best American Essays (1990 and 2003) and the Norton Book of Nature Writing. He lives in the Bay Area with his wife, the painter Judith Belzer, and their son, Isaac.
(biographical details sourced from the author's website.)

What the publisher says about the book:

"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." These simple words go to the heart of Michael Pollan's In Defence of Food. Humans used to know how to eat well, Pollan argues. But the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused, complicated, and distorted by food industry marketers, nutritional scientists, and journalists – all of whom have much to gain from our dietary confusion. Indeed, real food is fast disappearing from the marketplace, to be replaced by "nutrients," and plain old eating by an obsession with nutrition that is, paradoxically, ruining our health, not to mention our meals. Michael Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we might start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives and our palates and enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy.

What we discussed about the book:

• The message of the book was simple and it was not rocket science - we knew or suspected the message but having it in black and white really brought it home.
• When you take out all of the fat in foods what do you put back in?
• Is what manufacturers put back in "good" for human consumption?
• Food lobbying - is it as strong in Australia as in USA and other countries?
• Is corn syrup in everything?
• Why has the meat industry changed so dramatically in Australia in last 5 yrs - with increased use of antibiotics and hormones?
• National Heart Foundation health tick - what do companies have to do (or not do) to get the tick?
• Upsizing of meals - is this tied to commodity prices? Are supermarkets downsizing their packaging whilst increasing price of manufactured food items?
• Lengthy discussion regarding full fat (yogurt, cheese etc) versus skim or low fat products and number of eggs that are now considered healthy in daily diet.
• Chemical processes to produce powdered egg or a substitute product (eg fruit flavours) - is it as healthy as using fresh egg or fruits in manufactured products? Does this apply to whole host of other products - eg milk, yogurt?
• Are we losing our sense of community due to shopping in supermarkets - no longer knowing local butcher, baker etc?
• Are the range of products available in Australia declining? Is this a positive development? Is it squeezing smaller (perhaps organic focused) manufacturers out of the market?

And then we were sidetracked into:

• Are the burgers really bigger and tastier at Hungry Jacks'?
• What sort of food colouring and "make up" for the food do advertisers (via professional food stylists) use in those gorgeous photos of succulent food?

And in other news:

• Muck up days - why was a whole Yr 12 Grade suspended at a prominent boys school in Melbourne?
• Boarding school in Perth - one member reminisced about a headmistress who had a really strict view of life and really enforced the rules but deep down had a soft spot in her heart.
• We discussed the rumour that there may be a document dating back to the late 90s regarding the "rules" of our bookclub. Some members will search their archives and report back - this drew great peels of laughter....and led us into a discussion that there may also be a "briefing document" that was provided to one new member with a run down of the personalities of other members!
• Type 2 diabetes - explanation of the difference between this and Type 1. Symptoms - thirsty, loss of concentration, tiredness. We had a look at an insulin kit and explanation of what a person with Type 2 diabetes has to do each day to maintain their insulin level.
• And then we decided that we really should stop chatting at 11.00 pm so the host can get us out of their home...

On a very sad note:
We discussed the funeral arrangements for our dear friend and previous administrator and minute secretary - S. She was loved by many and will be so greatly missed. Our love and thoughts go to her husband, her daughter and their families.

Ratings:

Ratings range: 6.5 to 8.5

Ratings average: 7.43

Next book: The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Thank you to Domestic Goddess for compiling these minutes!