Define Food

As humans, we are easily influenced by others. This is not necessarily a negative quality however when it comes to dietary issues, Americans seem to be among the easiest to persuade to follow the newest health trend. Throughout the course of history we have altered the ways in which we eat based on the amount of crops produced, government regulations, health magazines, television shows and much more, but the real question is: what is actually healthy?

Michael Pollan discusses this very issue in his article Unhappy Meal. In today’s age, there is a chasm that has formed between food and “edible foodlike substances (Pollan).” The majority of the food in the supermarkets is processed to stages so far away from the natural form it cannot be considered real food. Pollan suggests that even the foods that claim to be healthy and have additional benefits to support heart health or rich in certain nutrients are “apt to be heavily processed, and the claims are often dubious at best (Pollan).” As a whole, Pollan really focuses on keeping the foods we eat in their natural state and being willing to pay more for a higher quality, and in turn, consuming less.

On the other hand, Melanie DuPuis highlights the need for a dietary ‘guide.’ She suggests that “we have lost our faith in both religion and science as guides to eating, [so] we rely on these popular writers to steer us through a welter of confusing and contradictory information (DuPuis 11).” Additionally, both articles touch on dietary customs in other countries which as a whole have a great health quality.

I think when it comes down to it Americans like the idea of being healthy yet refuse to put these thoughts into action. I admit, I am guilty of this as well. Choosing the cereal that says it’s going to improve my health makes me feel good, but that does not mean that I indulge in a fresh mango instead of an Oreo. There are certainly flaws to the way Americans think about nutrition and food as a whole, because like Pollan said, most of what we consume here is not really food. Though his ideas are inspiring and I believe for the most part true, for many that type of lifestyle is not practical. In order to alter the way Americans eat, we must first change the way in which Americans live. With our demanding cultrure it is almost imposible for the low-wage family to afford real food.