Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants.

Michael Pollan is a widely followed lecturer and writer on the American diet and the subject of many party and water cooler discussions. His advice on nutrition is simple and can be synopsized into the seven words shown above. 

Eat Food. What he means is that we should eat the foods that are closer to the way we would encounter them at their source. In other words, we should eat less highly processed foods and more fruits, vegetables and nuts. While some are comfortable with 100% vegetarian diets, others can't give up give up meat or processed foods; they just need to continually make better choices. 

Not Too Much. Most of us know when we've eaten too much. If we were better at limiting our intake, all of the popular diets would go out the window! We also know that if we eat more nutrient and fiber dense foods, including whole grains,  we will become more easily satiated with less food. The opposite tends to hold true when we consume those sugar and starch laden desserts and snacks. 

Mostly Plants. Don't worry. Michael Pollan doesn't insist that you become a vegetarian. He is just suggesting that you eat more plants and fruits and less starchy, sugary products as well as less meat. Plant foods are among the richest and most bountiful sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals on the planet and are really good for you. 

Summing this up,  Michael Pollen is suggesting that we each do a little better than we did yesterday  - - -  that we don't have to be perfect. It's easier than we think!