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There are currently 54 responses to “Tell Michael Pollan your food rules”

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1. 1 On March 9th, 2009, Alyssa (The 39 year-old) said:

   OK, some of mine are:

   “There are no “bad” foods.”

   “Eating is not evil. Food is a blessing, meant to be savored and enjoyed.”

   “Do not eat your mother’s ‘dinner experiments.’ They will make you hurl.”

   posted on March 9th, 2009 at 12:27 pm

2. 2 On March 9th, 2009, Alyssa (The 39 year-old) said:

   Sorry, I just realized that my second one is almost exactly the same as your last one. Didn’t mean to copycat!

   posted on March 9th, 2009 at 12:29 pm

3. 3 On March 9th, 2009, Rachel said:

   By all means! I wish more people would have that rule!

   posted on March 9th, 2009 at 12:43 pm

4. 4 On March 9th, 2009, Eve said:

   I try not to buy foods (or anything) that has a lot of packaging. So I won’t get things like individually-wrapped little candy pieces and whatnot.

   There are no good or bad foods. Foods can, however, be more or less nutritionally useful for my body. They can also be more or less likely to make me ill.

   As a caveat to the no good or bad foods, I think food can have a certain moral component when it comes to the larger impact of our food choices: eating some foods is better for the environment, being a vegetarian/vegan as an ethical choice, etc.

   Home-cooked (by me) anything is generally better than store-bought (pre-made) foods. Taste-wise and also nutritionally. I also have a very delicate digestion, and food I cook myself is less likely to hurt it. HOWEVER:

   Sometimes I just don’t have time or energy to cook food. In that case, it is PERFECTLY OK to buy something microwaveable, or get take-out. I work a lot.

   posted on March 9th, 2009 at 1:08 pm

5. 5 On March 9th, 2009, Rachel said:

   I should have probably clarified that while I don’t believe food itself is good or bad, we are capable of making good/bad food choices or having good/bad food habits. And I agree that we should perhaps replace the “good/bad” mentality around food with “healthy/less healthy” rubric. Heck, even drinking too much water can kill you.

   As a caveat to the no good or bad foods, I think food can have a certain moral component when it comes to the larger impact of our food choices: eating some foods is better for the environment, being a vegetarian/vegan as an ethical choice, etc.

   Oh, absolutely. As a vegetarian, I can’t deny the fact that I think vegetarianism to be the most ethical, humane, environmentally- and socially friendly dietary dietary choice one can make. Likewise, I’m sure that many Jewish people believe eating kosher to be the best dietary choice. But food itself is neither good nor bad — all foods, to a degree, contains nutrients used by the body in some way or form.

   posted on March 9th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

6. 6 On March 9th, 2009, Karen said:

   I like something I read on another FA blog…

   Eating is a morally neutral act.

   I try to remember this when I’m hearing the food police in my head. Not really a food rule, more of an eating rule, but there you go.

   posted on March 9th, 2009 at 1:27 pm

7. 7 On March 9th, 2009, K. Moth said:

   It’s not a rule per se, but I don’t feel right unless my meals include something from each food group…I can’t eat just meat/protein or just veggies or just grains.

   I already have to heavily restrict my food choices because of sensitivities, so I try not to pile on any extra rules.

   Except one: don’t waste time eating it if it’s not delicious!

   posted on March 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pm

8. 8 On March 9th, 2009, Jamie said:

   I found it interesting that a lot of people’s food rules tend to be in the format of “if the food is _____then don’t eat it.”

   1. If the “food” is in a color that is not found in nature, then it is not actually “food”, but is in fact an “edible product.” (Thanks Marion Nestle for that one!)
   2. If an ingredient is expressed in a chemical name and not a Latin name, I don’t eat it.
   3. No food with a face.
   4. No food that has made me sick that one time when I ate too much of it.
   5. I do not eat any of the 4 things my mother knew how to make when growing up (chunky spaghetti sauce, pork chops, lasagna, mac & cheese.)I ate them for 20 years and I never have to eat them again…because I’m a grown up.
   6. Refined carbohydrates only make me want more refined carbohydrates….which make me eat to the point of being uncomfortable. I won’t have to stop if I don’t get started.
   7. I *H*A*V*E* to explain how food has no intrinsic moral value when I see someone deliberating over choices in a vending machine.

   posted on March 9th, 2009 at 1:58 pm

9. 9 On March 9th, 2009, Bree said:

   The one and only rule I would list is that food should never be a moral issue. We need it to keep us alive and functioning. And if one day, you decide to choose a McDonald’s value meal over a salad for lunch, it’s PERFECTLY OK! Your diet is nobody’s business but your own.

   posted on March 9th, 2009 at 2:22 pm

10. 10 On March 9th, 2009, Godless Heathen said:

    Never shop when you’re hungry is a good one. Not only do you end up with more groceries, you end up with more ready to eat stuff because your body is telling you to eat NOW.

    I don’t eat lamb. I don’t know why, but the idea of eating lamb and mutton freaks me out. It’s not that they’re cute, because I find a lot of edible animals cute (especially ducks…mmm, duck).

    If you have to ask what the meat is, don’t eat it.

    Insects are for birds, not dinner. (Crawfish, known affectionately in the south as “mudbugs” are on this list for me.)

    Blue food isn’t.

    Pasta should always be al dente.

    And finally: don’t fill up on rice, you’ll just be hungry in an hour.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 2:28 pm

11. 11 On March 9th, 2009, Living400lbs said:

    I *H*A*V*E* to explain how food has no intrinsic moral value when I see someone deliberating over choices in a vending machine.

    Personally I find the vending machine as a reminder to bring snacks as well as lunch – because I don’t find the vending machine choices satisfying AND I find waiting 7 hours between lunch and dinner to be TOO long

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

12. 12 On March 9th, 2009, Miz H said:

    My huband’s family has a rule that you should not eat anything bigger than your head.

    I like the In Defense of Food idea that you should try to avoid anything your great-grandmother would not recognize as a food (hummus, while exotic to her, is still recognizably food. mac and cheese powder, less so).

    I also adhere to the “Just try it” ideology. Even if it’s a food I have not liked in the past, I’ll give it a shot if it’s offered, anyhow (with a few exceptions) just to see if my taste has changed/the last one was just poorly prepared, etc.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 2:52 pm

13. 13 On March 9th, 2009, Rachel said:

    I work from home mostly, but each time I go into the office and need a snack, I’m reminded of the dismal choices offered by our vendor. Yet if they put healthier options in there, they don’t sell as well.

    I find interesting the comments here thus far. Do you think it to be entirely possible for food NOT to have any kinds of moral associations? The more I read, the more I don’t think this to be possible.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

14. 14 On March 9th, 2009, sarah said:

    In addition to some of the aforementioned “rules” (eg. “nothing with a face,” “your food choices do not reflect your worth as a human being”), I would like to add:
    - If you can’t/don’t like to cook, that is not a moral failing, either. I wish that I enjoyed cooking, but anything more involved than (canned) beans and (instant) rice, I find tedious and stressful. And I don’t think that’s the end of the world.
    -Also, I try my best to get adequate protein/fiber/calcium/fruits and veggies everyday. But, sometimes, it doesn’t work out, and that’s ok. It will balance out in the long run.
    -Don’t let yourself get too hungry. It makes me feel sick and cranky. Anticipate hunger when going on long walks, day trips, etc. I usually bring a Clif bar or some trail mix or something with me.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 2:56 pm

15. 15 On March 9th, 2009, Kate said:

    Eat 3 real meals. (I went too long trying to pass off hummus and carrots as lunch only to eat a ton of crap later, when I got hungry.)

    You can have dessert, but eat some meal-type food first.

    Go on, put some fat on it, it’ll fill you up (especially olive oil.)

    Storebought cookies / cake are not worth it.

    Try to eat a fruit / vegetable at every meal, or 5 in a day.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 3:27 pm

16. 16 On March 9th, 2009, Alex said:

    Don’t eat fake food in place of a nutrition-dense meal!

    I never look at foods as good and bad, more like: what will get me through the day with the most energy?

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

17. 17 On March 9th, 2009, Ceka said:

    Be generous with yourself at the grocery store.

    Pack a satisfying lunch.

    Make treats.

    Eat snacks.

    A good meal has a grain, a protein, and a fruit or vegetable.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

18. 18 On March 9th, 2009, Lori said:

    I don’t think I have any real “food rules.” If I was pressed, I guess they would be:

    1. Try new things. I have a tendency towards being a very, very picky eater, so I need to consciously encourage myself to try unfamiliar foods. And,

    2. Food is for sharing. I will admit to a tendency to get kind of possessive about my food, coming from a family (and then marrying a husband) that would eat what’s on your plate if you turned your back for too long. I’ve been known to get pouty if somebody eats the last of my ice cream or finishes off the milk. I try not to. Food is for sharing, and if I’m mad at somebody for eating the last cookie or taking the last piece of cornbread, then I’m not viewing the cookies or the cornbread in the right spirit. Besides, I could always make more.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 4:59 pm

19. 19 On March 9th, 2009, Stephanie said:

    I only have a few, and they’re usually about specific foods. Like, if I get bored and try to count food groups per day, then potatoes without skin are treated as a grain, and potatoes with skin are treated as a vegetable.

    Also, as mentioned above, putting fat on vegetables doesn’t actually remove the nutritional value, but does make some of them taste better. (Same with salt, as I don’t have issues with it.)

    Oh, and last, but not least? Whatever it is that you’re eating is NOT making you fat. I didn’t eat peanut butter for years, because I was sure that was what was giving me a big butt. And then I looked at my mother and all of my dad’s sisters, and realized that, uh, no — genetics was giving me a big butt. Peanut butter was just tasty.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 5:32 pm

20. 20 On March 9th, 2009, Emmy said:

    Don’t eat anything you would have made friends with when it was alive. (That is, I am not a vegetarian, but I won’t eat duck under any circumstances, or several other things.)

    A meal consisting of just one food is not a meal and will probably make you sick. If nothing else, add some leaves. Or some bran flakes. (I have touchy digestion. Too much of any one thing is bad for me.)

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 5:40 pm

21. 21 On March 9th, 2009, meerkat said:

    Vegan, always. Organic/fair trade, often. Avoid corn syrup 99.9% of the time. Avoid hydrogenated oils when in countries that actually label them on the ingredients labels. X(

    For amount, I’ve been told to leave a bit on my plate (wasteful!) or make sure I am always a little bit hungry (yay eternal discomfort?) but in practice I clean my plate unless it is a horrible cooking experiment of mine that is just not edible enough, and if I am still hungry afterward I get dessert.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 7:03 pm

22. 22 On March 9th, 2009, Louisa said:

    Don’t feed yourself something on a regular basis that you wouldn’t dream of feeding your dog…and vice versa.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 7:11 pm

23. 23 On March 9th, 2009, Bekbek said:

    My big rule is more or less your first rule stated another way around. “I don’t eat anything which poops.”
    Takes the wind right out of people’s sails BEFORE they start arguing that clams and shrimp have no faces.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 8:32 pm

24. 24 On March 9th, 2009, CassandraSays said:

    Food is supposed to provide sensual pleasure. If you find it boring or utilitarian or otherwise unappealing, eat something else that you actually enjoy instead.

    Don’t eat anything where the principle ingredients are not actual food items (ie, the rule mentioned earlier about not eating things your grandparents wouldn’t have recognised as food, but tweaked for the fact that my Scottish grandparents would probably have balked at things like edamame and beansprouts that I love).

    If it’s a color not found in nature it’s not actually food.

    Test for freshness and safety to eat by using your own senses – does it look and smell OK? – rather than how it’s labelled. This is a result of growing up in a Third World country, but frankly I don’t trust supermarkets not to just change their labels in order to extend the shelf life of their products.

    Try to make sure that over the course of a day you get a bit of everything – protein, carbs, veggies, fat. So, if all I eat for lunch is sushi or a grilled chicken sandwich I’ll make sure to have something with more veggies for dinner.

    Try to vary the color of the produce you consume as much as possible for maximum nutritional benefit.

    Buy organic or free range as much as budget allows – not because it’s good for me, because it’s good for the environment. Also buy from small family farms as much as possible so that they can stay in operation and not get shoved out by agribusiness.

    In terms of grains, default to the least processed form when cooking for yourself (brown rice and pasta, wholegrain bread). However, don’t be unreasonable about this – white rice is not actually going to kill you, and sometimes it really does taste better with the dish you’re eating (ie brown rice sushi is nasty, there’s a reason they use a very specific kind of rice for it, and that’s the best kind to use). Also the choice to use whole grains when possible is a personal choice – lecturing other people about their preference for, say, white bread is obnoxious.

    Eat lots of beans and lentils, because I feel better when I do.

    Treat a cold with brothy, spicy soup rather than with OTC cold medicine.

    If you’re craving a certain food, eat it – you won’t be satisfied with anything else, and you may well be craving that food for a good reason (ie I crave beef sometimes, and I honestly think it’s because I tend to get anemic easily).

    Variety is good.

    Assume that when people try to tell you any given food is “unhealthy” what they actually mean is “high in calories”. Ignore them, and remember that people on Atkins think CARROTS are bad for you. Eat what makes you feel good.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 8:59 pm

25. 25 On March 9th, 2009, Entangled said:

    I already saw that and the terminology drives me nuts. Though while I tend towards the sort of Pollan/Bittman mostly whole homemade foods habits, I cannot stand the attitude. (I think I was with Pollan for “eat food” and “mostly plants.” But “not too much”? He lost me there. It’s been a hard struggle realizing that it’s okay to eat enough food to sustain me and I do not tolerate the “less is more messages.”)

    Basically? Eat when hungry, stop when full. Eating too much generally makes me feel gross. Eating too little makes me feel even worse. Assuming food choices (particularly those to eat less food) have moral value is not very healthy and incredibly annoying.

    But the most important rule remains no rules. If there’s no moral judgment and no absolutes, it’s a lot easier to gravitate to feeding myself well.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

26. 26 On March 9th, 2009, GoingLoopy said:

    (1) No pink food.

    (2) No making food choices based on what someone else will think about them. (For example, the Small Lunch Olympics that takes place in a lot of office breakrooms at lunch – with someone picking at a dry salad or lean cuisine for half an hour and saying “oh, I’m just too full to finish this,” all the while looking at your fat ass and your delicious sesame chicken with disapproval and longing.)

    (3) Always keep a few food items in the house. (This is an inherited neurosis from my mom.)

    (4) Don’t go to the store hungry, you’ll end up with a cart full of random items, none of which are actually components of a meal. (Several others said this, and I wholly agree.) Also, conversely, don’t go to the store when you’re stuffed to the brim. Nothing will look good and you will come home with two frozen entrees and a bunch of makeup you don’t need.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 9:47 pm

27. 27 On March 9th, 2009, Brandy said:

    Personally I would say the number one ‘rule’ for me is listen to the body, whether i’m craving pudding for breakfast or salty green beans for a night time snack, i try not to listen to the rules that put foods into slots around certain times of the day, amounts, combinations, etc.

    Other than that I always try to not engage in discussions about food choices with strangers/coworkers/etc. I really hate all the office conversation of ‘how can you eat so much when you’re so small’ (i’m hungry, thats why) or ‘you need to eat more’ or ‘i wish i could eat like you’ blah, blah, blah. I don’t evaluate others choices and I don’t get sucked into discussion about mine.

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 10:36 pm

28. 28 On March 9th, 2009, rkr4cds said:

    Just 4:
    1- Eat what you like – ANYTHING.
    2 – Eat ONLY when you’re hungry.
    3 – Eat CONSCIOUSLY.
    4 – STOP when you’re SATISFIED

    More detail -
    1 -(Most adults know the difference between broccoli & brownies and maintain a balance.)
    2 – Don’t eat just because it’s 6AM, Noon and 6 PM.
    3 – Chew every bite; put your fork down & don’t pick up more food until you’ve swallowed the last. TASTE your food! Do your stomach & intestines a favor & chew up your food instead of swallowing it half-chewed…
    4 – Not FULL, just Satisfied, even if you have just 3 bites left. It will be there later. Or make more.
    I’ve lost 54 lbs since 1 June, I eat what I like – I’m never hungry, and only 46 more to go!!!

    posted on March 9th, 2009 at 11:22 pm

29. 29 On March 10th, 2009, Godless Heathen said:

    Sorry to double post, I remembered two more:

    Keep the candy in the kitchen, not next to your desk. If you want candy you can get up to get it, if it’s just sitting there you will eat it without realizing that you’re actually hungry for food.

    And the big one: once you are full stop eating! I was raised to believe that the world would end in famine if I didn’t clean every last bit off of my plate, so when I take food I will eat past the point of comfort in order to clean my plate. I have to remember that my husband will eat anything I don’t, and that we frequently cook in bulk specifically so we will have leftovers. If it goes into the fridge to be eaten tomorrow, the world will not end.

    On moral food choices I give you:
    http://catandgirl.com/?p=1094

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 12:21 am

30. 30 On March 10th, 2009, lilacsigil said:

    If you are able, buy food at independent shops, not the supermarket. The food will be fresher, better quality and tastier. I have to plan my shopping so I can get it all done in a single trip, once a week, 60km each way, to do this, but the quality is so much better.

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 1:11 am

31. 31 On March 10th, 2009, keshmeshi said:

    I don’t really have a rule, but I hate throwing food away. So, while friends or family might throw away popcorn or fries that are cold or toast that’s slightly burned, I eat it anyway. I make some exceptions for food that I find revolting, food that resembles charcoal, and food that’s spoiled (of course).

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 2:56 am

32. 32 On March 10th, 2009, Lenore said:

    Well, I think almost all of my “rules” have been said already, so I’ll just add this one “rule” that applies to me only:

    Only shop when hungry! If I’m not hungry at the grocery store, I nothing looks good, I won’t buy enough and later that night when I’m going to make dinner, I’m looking in my nearly-bare cupboards and wondering why the hell I don’t have any food in the house!

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 3:30 am

33. 33 On March 10th, 2009, meerkat said:

    I try not to shop when hungry because then I’ll end up with a bunch of stuff that doesn’t look nearly so appetizing now that I’ve eaten something.

    “4 – Not FULL, just Satisfied, even if you have just 3 bites left. It will be there later. Or make more.”

    No it won’t. Unique food exists. Home cooked food is different every time. Not all restaurants make doggie bags.

    I question your pro-weight-loss tone. Are you recovering from a binge eating disorder? Or are you just revealing the secrets that we’ve all heard before to how I CAN TOO stop being a stupid fatty McFattersons if I just ate like a reasonable person AND put down my fork between bites?

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 4:48 am

34. 34 On March 10th, 2009, meerkat said:

    Sorry for sounding defensive there, because they are perfectly good personal rules (even though 4 isn’t strictly always true) for yourself. Just the “you” language (while totally reasonable for phrasing rules even if they are directed at yourself) combined with the weight-loss testimony made it sound A LOT like weight-loss advice.

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 4:58 am

35. 35 On March 10th, 2009, Jill said:

    I also thought “sounds like diet talk!” halfway through rkr4cds’s comment, and then when I got to the weight-loss testimonial at the end I was absolutely confirmed.

    Leaving aside the diet talk issue (note: diet talk is not welcome here), I also find that one of the rules given is particularly not good for me. I’ve discovered that on the whole it’s better for me to arrange three meals a day and eat something around those times whether I’m particularly hungry or not. But then, I have a history of working through hunger and finding myself shaking, confused, and overemotional several hours after my normal mealtime, having been unproductive for a long time while hunger built and built as I tried to stay focused. Someone who doesn’t have that tendency might find that rule helpful in staying in touch with appetites, but I’ve found that it’s best for me to eat at mealtimes, though obviously how much I eat depends on how hungry I am. But then, my goal is to take good care of myself and avoid old patterns of letting myself deny my body, not to eat the minimum I can get away with so I lose all that superscary ooga-booga weight.

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 8:23 am

36. 36 On March 10th, 2009, Christine said:

    My primary food “rule” is the exact opposite of, “Never shop for groceries when you’re hungry.” I understand that people do that so they won’t come home with a huge amount of food they don’t need. But mine is, “Never shop for groceries when you’ve just eaten.” That’s because, when I do, nothing looks appealing to me so I come home with dishwashing liquid, cat litter, and maybe a bottle of cooking oil. Then I look around my kitchen and say, “I just went grocery shopping! Why isn’t there any damn food in the house?”

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 10:08 am

37. 37 On March 10th, 2009, Christine said:

    Oops, I should have read all the comments before replying. Lenore, we’re soul-mates!

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 10:10 am

38. 38 On March 10th, 2009, rkr4cds said:

    SO sorry for using the ‘D’ word! I just found this forum and answered the question posed: what are ‘your’ (meaning mine/my) food rules. I’m 66 and I’ve built up to an 100 extra lbs since having had our children 40 years ago.
    After 2 new knees I’ve also had back surgery in the past 2 years, (none having been due to carrying extra weight) and I need to take off weight to help my back, though I don’t look that heavy. I’m 5′ 9″ tall- wish this forum had the capacity to post images… ‘Nuff said!

    I also apologize for the use of the word ‘you’. ‘I’ would have been much more appropriate.

    Jill, as you’re training yourself to actually eat regularly to avoid the shakes and confusion that low-blood sugar brings (a son is diabetic and I’m quite familiar with this action), I’m training myself to eat smaller more frequent meals throughout the day. We’re all just trying to live healthier! Exercise is a huge part for toning – new joints need to be moved daily!

    As to needing to arrange meals around set times, I do cook with my husband and we do eat the 3 main meals, but I eat smaller amounts than I used to, as I’ve also had nuts, fruit and other small foods during the day. That’s the “Eat ONLY when you’re Hungry part.” I may have had half a slice of bread with peanut butter between regular meals, then a quarter cup of each of the foods we’ve cooked at the regular meals have me SATISFIED. I actually feel ill now if I eat until Full. On a scale of 1 – 10: from Starving to Thanksgiving stuffed, I aim for between 4 to 6, until, as I’m chewing, I realize that the sensation of hunger has passed. I stop then and put away whatever’s left.(I think many foods taste BETTER the next day!!) We don’t eat out that often and when we do the restaurants will bring a carrier to the table for whatever amount we wish to take out with us.

    Also, we’re life-long homemade, cook-from-scratch. We plant green beans, cucumbers tomatoes, peppers, etc among our perennial garden beds and continue to freeze/can our own peaches, corn, chili sauce condiment etc because we grew up on those food flavors and cannot match them from ANY purchased food sources.

    I’ll always maintain my curves, I just want to bring them into the lines that my heart & head want rather than letting my mouth determine them.

    Thx for letting me explain further.

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 10:31 am

39. 39 On March 10th, 2009, Caitlan said:

    If I don’t want something I should toss it; it isn’t wasting.

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 10:35 am

40. 40 On March 10th, 2009, Alyssa (The 39 year-old) said:

    Just want to add

    “Thou shalt not comment on others’ food, diet, physical appearance, etc.”

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 11:45 am

41. 41 On March 10th, 2009, Cat said:

    I’ll veer from some of the above in saying that I do think food has moral dimensions; it’s just that we can’t extrapolate one universal moral. When vegetarians or vegans choose not to eat meat or cheese, it’s often though not always related to a profound moral desire not to be complicit in causing suffering (though that’s certainly a tough one. Suffering is everywhere and we are all complicit to some degree.) When people speak a blessing or say some equivalent of “thank you” over food, that gratitude has a moral dimension: the recognition that it’s good to have enough food, and that not everyone is so fortunate. When we do eat meat, we’re making the moral decision that it’s not immoral to participate in the omnivore’s food chain.

    To get down to rules based on our various morals, though, I’m not a vegetarian (though I’ve thought a lot abobut it) and that comes from working out the moral principles I apply to food: that all non-plant life lives at the cost of other life, and that animal life is not inherently more sacred than plant life. That said, keeping the meat to a reasonable minimum is a moral choice, too, based on the belief that it’s both immoral to trash the environment for short-term pleasure and undesirable to eat too much food which leaves others hungry (given the resources it takes to raise a cow versus a field of soybeans.) I don’t expect these beliefs to be universal, but they work for me–and you can see why I say food choices tend to be moral, whether we acknowledge that or not. Eating’s what we do several times every day, one of the few things: it almost has to be moral.

    Other “rules” for me: try to enjoy it. Try not to take more than you really need or want. Go for the least processed and least transported option most of the time. Accept food that is offered with love, even if you’d have cooked it differently yourself, but don’t feel any need to get sick on it. And–this one really has religious dimensions for me–DO NOT WASTE FOOD, so costly to produce and transport, so fraught with misery no matter how you get it. This does not mean eating what you don’t want; it means doing what it takes to avoid putting the scraps in the landfill, where they will be locked away from the biosphere for a thousand years, festering. It means composting (possible all through suburbia, believe it or not), making soup from carcasses, putting out meat and fat scraps for the crows or possums, taking in to work that gift cake or jam or jar of honey that you don’t really want to eat by yourself. Treat food as the sacred source of life that it is, and be thankful–despite not being Christian, I think “saying grace” is among the world’s most beautiful and meaningful rituals. So is thanking the cook. Here’s a shout-out to the many, many people who have fed me so long and so well.

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

42. 42 On March 10th, 2009, Caitlan said:

    I am also learning not to be grossed out by Costco. My parents are very snobby about food stores, but now that I live with roommates I am branching out and there are a lot of delicious things there. Also some things that are kind impractical for one person, such as 80 cookies worth of Nestle cookie dough. (definitely have to use both hand to lift the tub!) Ah, well.

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 1:24 pm

43. 43 On March 10th, 2009, Sharn said:

    I try not to have any rules for eating, because that’s kind of a slippery slope into food obsession and disordered eating and I definitely don’t want to go there. My only real rules are “Eat whatever you want whenever you want it and never apologize for it” and “If you aren’t enjoying it, don’t eat it”.

    The Mister and I are also serious dairy snobs, meaning we don’t use margarine, non-dairy creamer, or any kind of YOSPAC (that’s Yellow-Orange Slop Posing As Cheese) in the house, but I’d never give someone else shit about eating those things if that’s what they choose.

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

44. 44 On March 10th, 2009, CassandraSays said:

    Oh, another one! Any time I have the opportunity to try an unfamiliar cuisine, do so, just because you never know, you might love it. Who could have predicted that Tibetan food would become something I love? Not me, until I saw that there was a Tibetan restaurant and decided to try it just because I’d never had it before.

    Note – this rule does not apply to individual dishes/food items that for whatever reason just aren’t appealing. Sorry, I’m not eating thousand year eggs, no matter how much of a unique experience they might be. I don’t even like regular eggs.

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 6:56 pm

45. 45 On March 10th, 2009, rkr4cds said:

    Thank you Cat, you put some of my thoughts & inner feelings, that I implied but left unwritten, onto a higher plane.
    ~ We were taught to try a “No, Thank You” helping at table: half-a-teaspoon; one might actually like it!
    ~ We don’t put more food on our plates than we’ll eat: it’s better to have a second small helping than throw half of one large one away. Not starving-children-in-wherever-mentality, just plain don’t waste earth’s resources!
    ~ Along with gardening right in the midst of our suburban gardens, where we plant our vegetables, we also compost, as Cat agrees with. This is the only way we’re going to keep our soil from going sterile. EACH of us must do all we can to engender optimum health in our patch of property: to keep it strong against the chemicals coming from many sources outside our control.
    ~ There was never a wider breach between the type of stores where ppl shop than there is now: those who frequent Dollar General and call WalMart a treat and those who think it’s slumming to step into a ‘chain’ like Nordy’s and prefer the upscale small boutiques and private labels.
    ~ For bulk shopping of certain goods there’s no comparison like Costco and their ilk. Does anyone still replace their printer cartridges, at $30 to $50+ each?
    Did you know that you can purchase bottles of the same ink in pint and liter/quart bottles for the same price and refill your own? The printer companies tells you that this will not work, the inks will ruin your machines, negate your warranties, etc..etc… Hogwash… I work mine to death, printing my own small company’s brochures and patterns and get more than 2 years out of a $100 machine. That is extremely cost-effective for me, but t wouldn’t be if I bought into ‘being a shopping snob’ and didn’t comparison shop and learn to do things for myself.

    So too with cooking, we MUST learn to do more than punch numbers on a microwave. Learn what food tastes like, in its most natural state, as unprocessed as it can be.
    Putting ingredients into a crock-pot in the morning before leaving for work or starting our busy day or into a 170° oven overnight (tomorrow’s soup/stew is already in my oven, prepared while I was fixing tonight’s supper) is one of the easiest ways in the world to have effortless cooking, with enough food for 2 or more meals.

    posted on March 10th, 2009 at 8:42 pm

46. 46 On March 11th, 2009, Luminous said:

    Rules from my childhood:
    1. When you’re a guest, always eat what is served to you without complaint, no matter what.
    2. Always eat breakfast.
    3. If you’re going to have donuts for breakfast, you must also have a glass of milk or a piece of cheese. (To avoid, and I quote, “the owlie growlies.”)
    4. Broccoli will make you live forever. (!! Now you know.)
    5. Eat at least three bites! (Usually in reference to vegetables.)
    6. Never eat anything bigger than your head. (This one was a running joke.)
    7. [At my grandparents' house,] always finish your beverage and never, ever waste food.

    Cultural rules (the somewhat unspoken ones):
    1. ALWAYS offer your guests food. Several times!
    2. Always be generous with food.
    3. Always make too much food.
    4. Always save the leftovers (because somebody will finish them later).
    5. Vodka is always appropriate. (What?)

    The first and last cultural rules are from my Lithuanian side. In Lithuania, you have to offer your guests food at least three times because they will refuse the first two times out of politeness. (And the vodka? Well, it gets cold over there. Or maybe my extended family just likes vodka. Both?)

    As for the rest of the cultural rules – Southern hospitality? Big family? Not sure exactly what to chalk those up to.

    Today, I try not to hang onto too many rules. Since I’m encouraging myself to cook, I keep telling myself that food should be beautiful — my little way of making sure I’m appreciating both the food and the process. “Should” is sort of a loaded word, but since this particular tropism is helping me eat actual meals, I’m not going to worry about it.

    posted on March 11th, 2009 at 1:15 am

47. 47 On March 11th, 2009, Lenore said:

    Christine – My long lost sister! Seriously, you are the only other person I’ve ever “met” (so to speak) who has to shop while hungry. I’m not a freak! Yay!

    posted on March 11th, 2009 at 4:13 am

48. 48 On March 11th, 2009, SteveD said:

    Everything tasks better with “Hot Sauce”.

    Organic Harvest Chipotle Habanero Pepper Sauce is what I have been using for a few years.

    Makes everything better. U end up drinking lots of water too!

    SteveD

    posted on March 11th, 2009 at 7:18 am

49. 49 On March 11th, 2009, rkr4cds said:

    LOL – as LUMINOUS said – I forgot about this one…

    >>>I keep telling myself that food should be beautiful — my little way of making sure I’m appreciating both the food and the process.<<<

    I almost insist that my family stops for at least 3 seconds to just look at their plates before digging in – and APPRECIATES the arrangement of colors, textures, shapes, smells – everything that I (or that day’s cook) put into creating an attractive, appetizing meal.
    Yes, that’s one Good Rule! Appreciate – and Thank the Cook!

    posted on March 11th, 2009 at 11:28 am

50. 50 On March 11th, 2009, Rachel said:

    Keep in mind, folks… these are our own personal food rules. Please don’t feel pressured to follow the rules anyone else has set for themselves.

    posted on March 11th, 2009 at 11:32 am

51. 51 On March 11th, 2009, SteveD said:

    So True. It has to look good. I wonder if that’s why Italian is so popular? What’s not to like about It.

    Ok the Carbs. Which reminds me to cook up a batch of Sicilian Spaghetti.

    http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sicilian-Spaghetti/Detail.aspx?src=rss

    Sort of a family tradition in my house when I grew up (Can you say 1/2 Italian).

    That along with some nice red wine.

    SteveD

    posted on March 11th, 2009 at 12:36 pm

52. 52 On March 12th, 2009, Wogglebug said:

    Of course food has a moral dimension!

    1) I will not buy or use instant mashed potatoes. I have some pride.

    2) Crunchy pita bread is an abomination against nature.

    Some of my non-moral rules:

    3) Most recipes don’t need salt added, especially if they involve cheese or you’re using salted butter, or if it’s something like brownies where salt is not the dominant flavor.

    4) They’re not ‘leftovers’, they’re ‘food ready to be eaten’, and a valuable convenience. They are, in fact, why God gave us microwave ovens. I don’t want to cook every day.

    5) You can probably cook something from what you have on hand. It may not be your usual style; it may in fact be something like onion-pineapple rice; but the onion-pineapple rice was surprisingly okay, and whatever you make will probably be tastier and more nourishing than whining because the stores are closed and you wanted something you don’t have.

    6) Bell peppers and celery are for eating raw; they should not be cooked.

    posted on March 12th, 2009 at 5:55 am

53. 53 On March 12th, 2009, Mia said:

    I’m hesitant to criticize, because it’s obviously not my blog, but the original quote sounds really close to diet talk to me. Maybe I’m just oversensitive.

    Anyway, I wish you’d put some sort of warning on this post. Again, maybe it’s just me, but…yeah. It made me feel like shit to come across this in a place where I don’t expect that kind of trigger.

    posted on March 12th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

54. 54 On March 13th, 2009, Rachel said:

    Mia: I’m sorry you feel that way, but I don’t see how Pollan’s quote above can be equated with “diet” talk in the sense that such rules are to foster weight-loss. Michael Pollan isn’t writing a diet book; he’s writing a book on the ways in which different cultures and traditions across time and space perceive, interpret and respond to hunger and satiety. And the food “rules” listed here are all made in regards to one’s personal moral, ethical, cultural, socio-economic, spiritual and ethnic influences and/or out of concern for health apart from and perhaps even including healthy weight management.

    I hope you dig deeper and try to understand better why you feel Pollan’s quote and this post were so triggering for you. As a general rule, I try to write posts in a way that won’t prove triggering for readers, but I also have no way of knowing what will or will not trigger someone. As well, this blog is also a place where I share my research in food culture as is clearly stated in my “About” page and Pollan’s upcoming compendium certainly fits well with that theme.

    posted on March 13th, 2009 at 9:28 am