Ever since Michael Pollan and his books have been in the spotlight, I’ve felt fortunate that such important issues on food production, health and sustainable living were taking center stage.  It’s also meant that I’m now viewing my world with Pollanized eyes. In reading Henry David Thoreau’s Walden for one of my classes, I couldn’t help but notice a similarity between Thoreau’s suggestions for living “deliberately” and Michael Pollan’s “food rules.” Here are some quotes I’ve stolen from Walden and my translations:

“There is a certain class of unbelievers who sometimes ask me such questions as, if I think I can live on vegetable food alone; and to strike at the root of the matter at once,–for the root is faith,–I am accustomed to answer such, that I can live on board nails.” Translation: When it comes to being vegetarian? I think I can, I think I can.

“What is the pill which will keep us well, serene, contented? Not my or thy great-father’s, but our great-grandmother Nature’s universal, vegetable, botanic medicines, by which she has kept herself young always, outlives so many old Parrs in her day, and fed her health with their decaying fatness.” Translation: Remedy up with natural stuff — just say no to drugs.

“I did not use tea, nor coffee, nor butter, nor milk, nor fresh meat, and so did not have to work to get them; again, as I did not work hard, I did not have to eat hard, and it cost me but a trifle for my food; but as he began with tea, and coffee, and butter, and milk, and beef, he had to work hard to pay for them, and when he had worked hard he had to eat hard again to repair the waste of his system.” Translation: Eating like crap has financial and physical tolls.

“No humane being, past the thoughtless age of boyhood, will wantonly murder any creature which holds its life by the same tenure that he does. The hare in its extremity cries like a child.” Eating no meat is best, but if you’re gonna — eat less and eat sustainably.

“The repugnance to animal food is not the effect of experience, but is an instinct. It appeared more beautiful to live low and fare hard in many respects; and though  never did so, I went far enough to please my imagination. I believe that every man who has ever been earnest to preserve his higher or poetic faculties in the best condition has been particularly inclined to abstain from animal food, and from much food of any kind.” Question what is “natural” in your diet. Eating less meat and less in general will make you smarter!

“Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.” Translation: Ditto.

I don’t necessarily agree with Thoreau’s food rules (dude, he advocates abstaining from wine! he also seems to advocate a sort of ascetic abstinence from food), but I do find he was way ahead of his time and, friends, I just plain appreciate his genius.

Do you feel that food issues are taking center state these days in a productive manner? Do you think the important issues are getting their fair share in the media lime light?

In the News

• Check out this article on epigenetics in Time Magazine called “Epigenetics, DNA: How You Can Change Your Genes, Destiny,” Jan. 06, 2010 here — Did you think the debate ended at nature vs. nurture? Did you think your genes were to blame and you had no control over it? Think again1
  
• If you’re interested in eating less meat, check out these “7 Painless Ways to Be an Almost Vegetarian” here — I fully advocate half-ass vegetarianism or veganism. Baby steps are way underrated!

Alright, guys — I’m off to finish some major assignments.

<3,

The Cranky One