In Defense of Food

Too many generalizations and not much science.

The doctor that found TMAO in beef (which causes cancer) said that he still eats meat. Hmm...

If you're already a plant-based eater, this documentary might make you frustrated.

This is like one of those pseudo-infomercials they play Saturday nights on PBS (to pace out the golden oldies shows with Nick Clooney & Peter Marshall).

The few interesting points are not pursued to any depth, having mostly to do with the role of fiber enhancing the production of beneficial microbes that fight bad bacteria. OTW there's not much new here, same old stuff about how sodas & breakfast cereals are bad for you & vegetables are better than meat (but the only meat they show is always a big piece of something that looks like prime rib).

Also annoying & borderline dishonest (IMO) are the gratuitous plugs (after Pollan has knocked Nutritionism) by nutrition propagandists: One raving about converting school kids/borderline delinquents into salad eaters without ever showing them in the act of actually eating lettuce greens. (I wanted to see what kind of sugar & carb-drenched dressing they used to wash the raw veggies down & if not that then what they used.) The other was some genius from Cornell who revolutionized high school cafeteria eating habits by putting healthy foods like raw carrots first in the cafeteria line so the kids would load up on those. (I just wanted to see what was left on the trays at then end of the meal.)

Sorry if I seem cynical, but this is pretty lightweight stuff. Pollan seems like a likable guy & I'm sure he's very bright & has a lot of good ideas, but what come across here looks like a promo for a book. Maybe that's all it is.

A continuation and in the vein of Food, Inc, Michael Pollen's In Defense of Food explores what we are eating, and we can change our habits to eat healthier.

For those familiar with Pollen, the movie proposes a common sense how to eat better; we should be eating smaller portions of healthier foods, eat more greens, and watch our fat, salt, sugars and meat. Also, food manufacturers, restaurants, food retailers and advertising do all they can to steer us away from healthy eating habits/options.

If you are the type of person who wants to see this film, you probably already know much of what is espoused here; nothing much new here.

I also felt about this similarly to the book Fast Food Nation; both explore interesting different aspects of how we eat and about our food; however both follow each topic with an overkill of minutia data, statistics and analysis, which winds up reducing topics' impact.

Lastly, I realize that this movie is about Michael Pollen's work and philosophy, but there is so much of him that it comes off somewhat pompous and self indulgent.

All that being said, I generally agree with this lifestyle and find it challenging to adhere to due to all the good tasting bad food out there.

This is to be shown on PBS stations in December