Omnivores Dilemma

In Michael Pollan's Omnivores Dilemma, Pollan is trying to say that Americans do not have a food culture. He is trying to say that Americans follow whatever the next fad is, such as the fad of the Atkins diet. Whenever a new diet comes out, Americans will flock to it like it is the Holy Grail. We eat what Corporate Media tells us to eat, because we value thei opinions to such an extenet that they control not only our lives, but our eating habits also. If corporate media was to tell us that eating only carbs were healthy for us, Americans would do just that. Our diets are also based on what grocery stores tell us. Grocery stores market their food so that the most interesting products (and sometimes highly unhealthy) products are what we first see when we walk in, so we pick those stuff up right away. Pollan is also trying to say that unlike other cultures, like the Italian and French cultures, we are always trying to listen to what experts say is best for us. The Italians and French eat what they want, because they know what is good for them. They don’t rely on someone else to tell them what to eat.

When it comes to my family, I don’t think we follow what experts say. Nobody in my family has ever tried out a fad diet, and we eat what we want. My mother cooks what she wants to, but she always makes sure she incorporates healthy food also. One thing I noticed about my family though this unit is that we rarely ever eat fast food. It is frowned upon by my mother, as it is unhealthy and disgusting. The only diet one of my family members (my aunt) is on is not exactly a diet, but a way of life. My aunt is a vegan, and has been for over 20 years. Instead of succumbing to what experts say, my aunt sticks to her vegan regime. Although my mom does like to attempt to make some of the food we see on the food channel, she tries to also add special ingredients to make it her own.