Food Rules: Stick To Your New Year’s Resolutions
Tis the season for New Year’s Resolutions!
Many resolutions people devote themselves to are to better their health. At the top of many lists are:
to lose weight…
to exercise more…
to quit smoking (do it!!!)…
to drink less alcohol…
…you get the picture!
Many of these resolutions are grand ideas lacking the details of HOW to accomplish these goals. I wrote about resolutions before, and many of mine are vague ideas without a detailed to-do list accompanying them. For some health-oriented resolutions, however, I think having a game plan is a great way to put an idea into action!
I want to introduce an inspiring food journalist Michael Pollan. If you read the New York Times or are up on all things health you may have heard his name before. As a New York Times best seller (more than once!), he has been included on several “most influential” lists and has provided some interesting opinions for people to think about when it comes to food.
In his 2010 book, Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, he presents 64 rules of how to eat healthfully and happily. If “losing weight” or “eating healthier” top your resolution list (or even if they’re not!), his book is a great resource! His general philosophy is to
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
Some of his rules are obvious and highlight ideas we’ve heard before, while others phrase what we may already know in a new way that suddenly clicks. Here are some of my favorites that may help you stick to your resolution past Valentine’s Day:
“Avoid food products containing ingredients that no ordinary human would keep in the pantry. Cooking should not be like chemistry class…you wouldn’t use chemicals in your kitchen, so why buy them from someone else’s?!”
“Avoid foods that contain more than 5 ingredients.” As Mr. Pollan states, ingredient lists are listed by weight, so if sugar is towards the top of the list, skip it!
“If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t.” Avoid processed and packaged foods…simple!
“Eat sweet foods as you find them in nature.” Mr. Pollan’s emphasis here is on eating fruit versus drinking fruit juice. It’s better to eat a full fruit (it still has fiber) rather than drinking the natural sugar from juice (even if it has no added sugar). Ween yourself off of liquid calories.
“Stop eating before you’re full.” It takes 20 minutes for your brain to recognize you’re satiated. Eat slowly and wait.
“Have a glass of wine with dinner.” Cheers! 
“Try not to eat alone. We’ve all done it, but it’s better to eat with someone.”
“Break the rules once in a while.” (Everyone needs to live a little!)
To read more of Pollan’s rules (and I highly suggest it!!), check out his book, Food Rules.
Try incorporating one rule a day or week so you don’t overwhelm yourself at once and eventually clean eating will be the norm for you!
Happy New Year!!!!!
Sounds like a great book, I dig all those rules *thumbs up*