Shiffrin Blog Post 6 (Pollan)

Taylor Shiffrin

Blog Post 6

WRIT 1133

I could not agree more with Michael Pollan’s assessment of American eating and his diagnosis of “Our National Eating Disorder.” Pollan absolutely hits the nail on the head by saying that Americans have become desperate in their attempts to
“eat healthy.” As a result of which, many have turned to outlandish dieting fads that fade as fast as they were brought to light be the nutritionist aspiring to make their mark. Pollan makes a hilariously ironic comparison to the eating habits corresponding with the level of health of Americans, in contrast to the eating habits that correspond with the level of health in virtually every other country in the world in particularly Europe. He referred to this as the “French paradox” describing that for a country that has such a healthy populous the French certainly eat a lot of cheese and wine. As oppose to Americans who believe they eat healthily and yet they are far less healthy than the French. “Maybe what we should be talking about is an American paradox: that is, a notably unhealthy people obsessed by the idea of eating healthily.” (Pollan) It most certainly is an American paradox because Americans are the most conscientious in their decisions of what food to eat but because they are concerned with meeting the current social status quo and what ever dietary fad that may bring. Whereas the French simply choose what to eat based upon the level of enjoyment it will bring them to eat a certain meal. A study conducted by Paul Rozin and Claude Fischler depicts thoughts of Americans versus those of the French, Japanese, Flemish, and Belgians though word associations when a type of food was mentioned. The following results were found. “Americans associated food with health the most and pleasure the least. Asked what comes to mind upon hearing the phrase 'chocolate cake,' Americans were more apt to say 'guilt,' while the French said 'celebration'; 'heavy cream’.”

            Pollan also discuses in his article about the fact that humans no longer have a biological basis for the decisions on what food to eat because of how processed and regulated food manufacturing has become. We are no longer concerned with whether or not a food edible and therefore have filled the interpretational void with our perceptions of what is healthy to eat. The decision of what food to eat is no based upon statistical analysis and comparison of what we think are significant facts that pertain to what we consume.  As Pollan puts it, “So we've learned to choose our foods by the numbers (calories, carbs, fats, R.D.A.'s, price, whatever), relying more heavily on our reading and computational skills than upon our senses.” This aspect of Pollan's article is what really hit home for my personal opinion entirely because that describes my culinary decision making habits perfectly. While I certainly factor in the taste and mood of a meal I almost always rely on a data drive statistical analysis to decide upon what I eat. However the topic of Pollan's essay does not entirely apply to me because I am indeed very healthy and fit which is contrary to Pollan's argument that americans are unhealthy almost as a result of trying to eat healthy instead of enjoying their meals. This contradiction led me to think over why his claim only described 50% of my eating culture. Then I cam to the revelation as to why Americans try to eat what they believe is healthy. It is because they want to look and be like those who quite frankly, look like me. Someone who is fit and strong.