Says Michael Pollan, journalist and author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, as well as his newest book, In Defense of food. These seven words are his guidelines for a healthy diet, but, as he said, his publisher was looking for 60,000 words not a post card.

Fortunately, it is a lot more complicated than that. At the talk I went to which took place on UBC Farm, Pollan pointed out how people who eat for health and are obsessed with their health are less healthy than people who eat for community or identity or pleasure. He also pointed out the connection between healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy animals and healthy people. The same things that make our environment healthy also are beneficial to our own health. Industry tries to make us eat more so they can sell more food, but in almost any culture you can find some ancient saying warning against this; eat until you are 80% full, eat until you are 75% full, etc. Even the prophet Muhammad said that a full belly is one that is one third food, one third drink, and one third air.

Things you can do to make a difference with food are:

Buy from farmers markets.

Eat food for the food not for the nutrients.

Show corporations that you care by voting with your fork. (making good choices as a consumer when you buy food)

Show your political leaders that you care by voting with your vote too.

Read the book to find out more!

This post is identical with one published on the CAN website.