P6: Our National Eating Disorder

In his article “Our National Eating Disorder,” Michael Pollan addresses the skewed attitudes that Americans have toward food. He characterizes our ‘eating disorder’ as an obsession with what’s in food, how many calories it has, etc., rather than on the actual taste of the food. We go through fad diets, like the no-carb phenomenon Pollan mentioned in the article, during which restaurants, consumers, and producers completely change the foods that are eaten or offered. We do this readily and a new fad is always replacing the old one, spurred by governmental regulations, new studies, or simply an obscure trend. The most interesting part of the article is Pollan’s analysis of American eating habits as compared to those of the French. French people eat cheese, drink wine, and are generally less health-conscious about their food than Americans, preferring instead to eat or drink for the company of family and friends and the simple pleasure of eating good food. But yet, the French are healthier and thinner overall than their calorie-counting American counterparts. Pollan traces this difference to a very different set of food values between the two populations. The French rarely eat alone, and they have long, communal meals that are just as much a social time to catch up with loved ones as they are a time to have their beloved wine and cheese. He also notes that the French don’t snack, eat small portions, and don’t have second helpings. Americans, on the other hand, may be conscious of the fact that excess fat or carbs are unhealthy, but that doesn’t stop them from eating them, usually in excess, and feeling guilty about it afterwards. Pollan even states that many Americans go to the gym simply to justify eating more.

This article was especially engaging because it made me realize that most of us, including myself, have this American eating disorder, whether we realize it or not. It’s not really our fault on a personal level as much as it is an ingrained cultural value. For example, if a restaurant has the number of calories in each dish printed next to their names on the menu, I’m more likely to go for a lower calorie option than the decadent dish that actually sounds the best to me, because knowing just how bad it is nutritionally makes me feel guilty. I also tend to justify my unhealthier food choices by rationalizing that I went to the gym earlier in the day, so therefore it must be okay. Pollan’s analysis was very thought-provoking, and to me, a life where taste trumps calorie or carb counts sounds pretty great.