"Eating Right"

The article "Our National Eating Disorder," by Pollan, introduces the idea that American's unhealthiness is due to focusing too much on nutritional value and not enough on what just taste good. Pollan makes that argument that compared to France, Americans are far more unhealthy, yet Americans focus more on the nutritional value of foods than the French do; while the French focus more heavily on eating as a cultural and social activity. Because the French focus on eating as a social activity, they often eat less and only eat when eating with others. Furthermore, Pollan argues that what the body craves is what the body needs. Evolution has hardwired humans to stay away from foods which make them sick, and to migrate towards foods which taste good.

I know that in my personal diet, I tend to focus more on what is (or appears) to be a healthy well balanced choice, over what sounds to be a tasty choice. Whenever I go to Safeway, my shopping basket is often filled with organic foods, and numerous "Eating Right" choices. I know that often I could cook a far more delicious meal, but it is much easier to have prepacked food that I can eat on the go. Perhaps if I were to start eating by what taste good (excluding processed foods) and eating socially I would be an even healthier individual.