Recently, I had the opportunity to “meet” (by which I mean shake hands for two seconds before being swept away by other clamoring fans) Michael Pollan at the Naturally Boulder Spring Fling. This site, The Reluctant Eater is the result of my changed relationship with food after reading his books, so I thought it only fitting to give away copy of In Defense of Food signed by the author, Michael Pollan himself, to one lucky reader. Yes, it even has a special message inside (which I will reveal at the conclusion of the giveaway).
To win? Answer the following question in the comments below: What book has had the greatest impact on your relationship with food? If you haven’t read any good food books, comment on what type of food book you would be most interested in reading?
(The winner will be chosen at random at 10am MST on June 11th from the responses posted in the comments. Good luck! Think you won’t win? Just ask Kerry who won a free box food courtesy of Door to Door Organics)
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The first book that got me going towards “real” food was Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. Many other books are much more “uplifting” but Eric’s book convinced me that I didn’t want to rely on Big Business to supply my food. Oh Pick Me, Pick Me! I was at the event to see Micheal speak but was too busy to work my way through the crowd.
During college I took a class called Environmental Biology and the text book for that class is what finally pushed me over the edge to become first of all more aware about my food (where it comes from, what it takes to grow it, and it’s impact on the environment) and secondly to become a vegetarian. Odd to list a textbook, I know, but it was really good! It was called “Living in the Environment” by Miller. After this I read the Omnivore’s Dilemma and I am currently reading a copy of In Defense of Food from the library.
I have always been a conscious and somewhat healthy eater. For years I was vegetarian, then began eating fish and chicken again during my first pregnancy. Red meat was a big no-no: bad for your heart, bad for the environment, cruel for the animals. Then I read The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, and my comfortable and well-established belief system was tossed out the window. Grass-fed beef is good for you?? All my reasons for not eating beef were suddenly invalid. I cautiously began buying and cooking small amounts of local grass-fed beef. I also have tried to reduce my consumption of seed oils; while never a margarine eater, I always believed butter was less healthy than canola oil. Now I use more butter and cook my eggs in bacon grease.
The only food book I’ve read is called Heat - An Amateur’s Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany by Bill Buford. The book follows Bill as he attempts to learn about gourmet food from the source to the table. The book didnt so much change my relationship with food, but it did help build my awareness of the importance of quality ingredients and knowing the source of your food. It was a fun read. I’d like to read more books on food, especially books like the Omnivores Dilema and In Defense of Food. I just need more time! Thanks for the great blog Ryan.
“The 28day Cleanse” by Scott Ohlgren. We went on this cleanse to clean up our diet and in the process learned so much about how our bodies physically responded to simple clean food.
Scott is an acquaintance of mine. It was easy to be inspired as he was always talking about food in relationship to health. Only after we changed our diets were we able to move forward into eating healthier and appreciating food and where it comes from.
Considering all the good things I’ve heard about “Omnivore’s Dilemma,” it’s high time I read one of these two books. The only foodie books I’ve read are sushi related (I <3 raw fish), I should consider broadening my horizons.
*fingers crossed*
I would have to say “Fast Food Nation”. I see some of the others have said the same thing. It kind of hit home because of our location here in Colorado. I have to say that it didn’t really surprise me too much - a little shocking at times - but not surprising.
And I do have to say…it didn’t really change my food habits much because I have never been into fast food. It just sort of made those habits concrete.
Hippo
My favorite food book is probably Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, but the one with the greatest impact was My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki. I think it was the first food book I’d read, and it was quite an eye-opener into the sordid world of the American meat industry.
Love your blog! I’d also love to win!!!
I am mostly vegetarian too.
I agree with the hippo we are the fast food nation.
Not only that, but we probably as a whole do not get nearly as much exercise as most countries. Partly because we drive everywhere and even in the super good mass transit systems in Europe people do a lot of walking.
Joshua
Frances Moore Lappe’s Diet For A Small Planet was ground-breakingly insightful, eye-opening, and prophetic, and just as relevant–and more urgent!–today as when it was published some 4 decades ago. I think she just may have been on to something…Do ya think we’re finally catching on? I sure hope so!…thanks to FML and the Michael Pollans of our shrinking, small planet. Now, put the books down and “just do it”!
While Fast Food Nation definitely got the ball rolling for me, the one book that got me to say “That tears it!! I’m done!! No more industrial food for me OR my family!!” was Catherine Friend’s The Compassionate Carnivore. I recommend the book to anyone and everyone I know anytime I’m talk about food… it’s an amazing book and very well written.
I highly recommend “Domesticity.” Hilarious, full of great seafood recipes and a pretty spectacular love story written by a GQ columnist.