I keep promising posts to y’all that never materialize. In an effort to catch up a bit, today I’ll feature a couple of articles sent by friends-of-the-blog over the past month with my commentary.
First, you’re familiar with Dole bananas, right? (No, this is not political commentary) The Chair of the Dole Food Company, David H. Murdock, wrote this piece a while back about his path to healthier eating. It’s important to note that this is a particularly wealthy person, with essentially unlimited food options, including, one assumes, somebody to do his shopping and his cooking. So what’s realistic for him may not work for the rest of us.
But it’s actually quite sensible. Very much like the oft-mentioned (here at least) Michael Pollan‘s practice, “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” He advocates lots of fruits (hey, put that skepticism away), vegetables and nuts, as well as fish. And the guy’s an 88-year-old who doesn’t even take aspirin, so who’s to argue with his prescription? This post is his “the healthiest foods on earth” list.
The thing I like most about Murdock’s approach is that he points out – up front – that he hasn’t always eaten this way, but that he’s been committed to it for decades now. That’s a model I can support.
Second, I offer this article at your own risk. You may find it helpful, but I have a bone or two to pick with it. It’s a “foods to avoid” article, and I have no problem with that … as regular readers know I have plenty of foods I’d rather you and I both avoid as well. I just disagree with this list.
It’s right about fried food. You’re not going to lose weight eating the Colonel’s drumsticks or anything else that comes out of a deep fryer. But that’s where we part ways. We need flavor in our food. Without flavor we’re not likely to eat much – or well. You just have to use common sense and moderation. No, don’t eat rich sauces and pork shoulder at every meal, but if you cut them out of your diet, well, you’re just “on a diet.” And that’s going to fail.
But read the article. At the very least it helps keep you thinking critically – intentionally – about your nutrition.
Skipping Dessert 