Food And Its Influences In In Defense Of Food By Michael Pollan
analytical Essay
1158 words
Food and its Influence on Us For many of those who have come across the book In Defense of Food Michael Pollan, the readers may already have been influenced in many ways that have changed their lives forever. In most cases there are quite a few people who read this book and have no influence at all, these are the ones who are just left hanging and even more confused as they were before even reading the book. The book is written for a wide variety of audiences that have to comment on everything Pollan includes in his book, because his words are so powerful it makes people think deeply about what’s really going on with our food and who is to blame for it. For example, he cites, scientists, politicians, chemists, farmers, nutritionists, journalists, …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how michael pollan's in defense of food is written for a wide variety of audiences that have to comment on everything he includes in his book.
- Analyzes how pollan's book demonstrates how many people are not sure of what they decide to eat is healthy or unhealthy for them, which comes to the outburst of confusion with foods.
- Analyzes how pollan's book shows that american food isn't for everyone or every culture — a study showed that ten middle-aged, over-weight, and diabetic aborigines had developed type 2 diabetes, signs of insulin resistance, heart disease risk factors and much more western diseases.
- Explains that americans tend to feed into all of the snacks and portions of foods that are around them at a cheap price always, and for them it's hard to stay away from them.
- Analyzes how pollan's words in in defense of food: an eater’s manifesto demonstrate his purpose in reaching the audience he intended.
Pollen cites Rozin’s study in which she presents a scenario to a group of Americans they don’t know which food will help them survive better (79.) By including this he is showing to us a real and very accurate study of how Americans confuse food today. Therefore, he wants us to see how hard it is for people to pick out the things that are really healthy for us, and not just processed foods or junk food. He pointed out how only two Americans in the group knew what would be healthy enough for them to survive and the others picked out all the wrong unhealthy foods. The relationship we have with food is unavoidable, and most of the time we don’t realize how it connects to all of the things around us. This is because of all the food chains we have that are constantly going on, and not to mention the fact that we need food to survive and be able to live. In Pollan’s book he writes “In nature that is of course precisely in systems we call food chains, or food webs, that reach all the way down to the soil.” (102). With this being stated by Pollan we can verify that the relationship we have with food goes far beyond survival, it’s much more than that and not just strictly for profit like it’s made to be seen in America. One thing that Pollan has made clear with sufficient …show more content…
The fact that this book contains a lot of things that we pay not be aware of can be very overwhelming to read for the first time, it can leave any reader partially sadden to know that they may not be eating the right type of foods their whole life, or maybe even blame their confusion of food choice on why they have a certain disease. All of Pollan’s words in this book successfully demonstrate his purpose in reaching out the audience he
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- Nutritionism Essayopinion essayWhat is nutritionism? Nutritionism is an ideology that believes that the nutrients in foods are the key to understanding them. Nutritionism believers are so focused on the nutrients that food contains that they forget about all other aspects of food. The problem is that consumers rely on packaging to tell them what nutrients a food provides, since nutrients cannot be obviously seen, and they rely on science to tell us what nutrients are good and which are “evil”.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that nutritionism is an ideology that believes that the nutrients in foods are the key to understanding them. the problem is that consumers rely on packaging to tell them what nutrients a food provides.
- Explains that michael pollan discusses two categories of food: one is real food, while the other is edible food-like substances.
- Explains the pitfalls of believing that it is important to know which nutrients a specific food provides.
- Analyzes dr. wansink's research on the extent to which the average person is aware of their food choices.
- Explains that dr. wansinks research tells us that people are making decisions that are "unconscious" to themselves.
- Explains marion nestle wants the government's role in food policy to promote healthier people in a healthier environment.
- Opines that many americans don't realize the extent of which food industries influence or socially engineer our food choices.
- Explains that if americans were well-informed about how both industry and government socially engineer our food choices, would they be more tolerant of one influence than the other?
- Opines that people would be more tolerant of the industry controlling our food choices than the government.
- Analyzes how the two california communities, richmond and berkeley, had different experiences in levying a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
- Compares the french and american approach to food, stating that french eat a lot of fatty, rich foods, but smaller portions than in the u.s.
- Describes the concepts and ideas presented in the documentary that they want to learn more about moving forward as a health promotion professional.
- Describes the reasons why americans choose to eat processed food when they know the health effects it has on one's body.
- Opines that the documentary's idea of putting fruits and vegetables first affects what people choose. they would be interested in learning more about other experiments on that subject.
1615 wordsRead More - Mary Maxfield And Michael Pollan's Escape From The Western Dietanalytical essaySynthesis Essay There are many different beliefs about the proper way to eat healthy. People are often mislead and live unhealthy lifestyles as a result. Both Mary Maxfield and Michael Pollan explain their own beliefs on what a healthy diet is and how to live a healthy lifestyle. In the essay, “Escape from the Western diet” Michael Pollan writes about the flaws of the western diet and how we can correct these problems to become healthier. In the essay, “Food as Thought: Resisting the Moralization of Eating”, Mary Maxfield criticizes Michael Pollan’s essay about eating healthy, and explains her own theory on how to be healthy.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how mary maxfield and michael pollan explain their own beliefs on what a healthy diet is and how to live healthy lifestyles.
- Explains that michael pollan believes that the food consumed in the western diet has led people to have a very unhealthy lifestyle. the food industry and medical community take advantage of this.
- Argues that michael pollan believes that the types of foods we eat and where they come from have an impact on our health. mary maxfield believes all of this information is irrelative.
- Compares the opinions of michael pollan and mary maxfield on the proper way to eat healthy.
- Argues that pollan's argument is more logical and that if we spend more time preparing and eating our food, we will be more conscious of what we eat and make better choices.
- Opines that michael pollan and mary maxfield disagree on the proper way to be healthy. they argue that being conscious of what you are eating and treating yourself can put you on a healthy path.
1065 wordsRead More - Rhetorical Analysis Of Michael Poll Escape From The Western Dietanalytical essayMichael pollan is an American journalist, author and activist, and he is currently working as a professor of Journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate school of Journalism. He completed his B.A. in English from Bennington in 1977 and an M.A. in English from Colombia in 1981. Michael pollen is author of many food and eating related books For Example, The omnivore’s dilemma, A natural history of four meals, Food rules, In defense of food and many others. In 2010, Michael pollan was named one of the top magazines top 100 most influential people. As we know obesity is common in Unites States and its rate is increasing day by day, this is the reason pollan made this argument to make people aware regarding this issue that what are the causes of obesity and many other
In this essay, the author
- Explains that michael pollan is an american journalist, author, and activist. he is currently a professor of journalism at the uc berkeley graduate school of journalism.
- Analyzes how pollan used the technique of ethos to appeal his credibility to his audience.
- Analyzes how pollan used the technique of pathos to persuade his audience. he used direct and open tone while introducing his ideas and view.
- Analyzes how the quote made them realize how we are unconscious about our health and diet as we don't know that the food we eat is made in a healthy environment.
- Analyzes how pollan used descriptive language to persuade the audience to listen to his ideas, rules, and beliefs.
- Opines that americans spend less than 10 percent of their income on food, and a half an hour preparing meals and enjoying them.
- Argues that processed western diet is the main cause of diseases and appeals to the audience that 's argument is logical.
- Agrees with as he used all 3 techniques to persuade the audience that in order to live healthy life we should have to prevent from serious illness.
1148 wordsRead More - “Food as thought: Resisting the Moralization of Eating,” is an article written by Mary Maxfield in response or reaction to Michael Pollan’s “Escape from the Western Diet”. Michael Pollan tried to enlighten the readers about what they should eat or not in order to stay healthy by offering and proposing a simple theory: “the elimination of processed foods” (443).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes mary maxfield's "food as thought: resisting the moralization of eating" in response to michael pollan’s “escape from the western diet”.
- Explains that food is a substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. pollan tried to answer this question in his article.
- Explains pollan's focus and aim is on getting rid of the western diet or processed food in the united states and guiding americans to start eating healthy and maintaining good eating habits.
- Opines that pollan is right about how processed food or western diet is affecting our health negatively.
- Opines that pollan is against trusting your body with virtually everything you eat and digest. maxfield countered his idea by saying that the human body cannot always be trusted with the ability to accept different kinds of foods.
- Explains that being fat or thick does not mean you are unhealthy and doesn't stop you from being healthy. being fat can also become unhealthy if the person constantly consumes whatever they want without exercising.
- Summarizes pollan's article in a single sentence, "eat food. not too much. mostly plants." stop eating western diet, instead eat diets rich in plants.
- Concludes that the western diet is not just an individual concern but it has become a national issue in the united states.
795 wordsRead More - When we think of our national health we wonder why Americans end up obese, heart disease filled, and diabetic. Michael Pollan’s “ Escape from the Western Diet” suggest that everything we eat has been processed some food to the point where most of could not tell what went into what we ate. Pollan thinks that if America thought more about our “Western diets” of constantly modified foods and begin to shift away from it to a more home grown of mostly plant based diet it could create a more pleasing eating culture. He calls for us to “Eat food, Not too much, Mostly plants.” However, Mary Maxfield’s “Food as Thought: Resisting the Moralization of Eating”, argues differently she has the point of view that people simply eat in the wrong amounts. She recommends for others to “Trust yourself. Trust your body. Meet your needs.” The skewed perception of eating will cause you all kinds of health issues, while not eating at all and going skinny will mean that you will remain healthy rather than be anorexic. Then, as Maxfield points out, “We hear go out and Cram your face with Twinkies!”(Maxfield 446) when all that was said was eating as much as you need.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how pollan's "escape from the western diet" suggests that everything we eat has been processed to the point where most of could not tell what went into our food. maxfield argues that people simply ate in the wrong amounts.
- Analyzes how pollen and maxfield offer interesting perspectives on eating food and how it affects us. they both are right and wrong at once.
- Opines that pollen's argument that americans simply eat beyond their needs is agreeable, but mass consumption of the food only helps build it up in our system.
- Opines that most people would choose the homemade meal as healthier if the person making it knows what they are doing.
- Explains that when we overindulge in our eating, there is also the issue of not getting the proper amount of nutrients.
- Opines that the biggest problem is the dependency on preserved foods, which are drowned in preservatives that have a negative long-term effect on our bodies.
- Explains that our health issues don't stem from overeating and processed foods, it comes from a lack of attention. we eat without knowing what was truly in that burger and side of fries.
1160 wordsRead More - The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollananalytical essayIn the book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan challenges his readers to examine their food and question themselves about the things they consume. Have we ever considered where our food comes from or stopped to think about the process that goes into the food that we purchase to eat every day? Do we know whether our meat and vegetables picked out were raised in our local farms or transported from another country? Michael pollen addresses the reality of what really goes beyond the food we intake and how our lives are affected. He does not just compel us to question the food we consume, but also the food our “food” consumes.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how michael pollan challenges readers to examine their food and question themselves about the things they consume. he addresses the reality of what goes beyond the food we consume and how our lives are affected.
- Analyzes how pollen discusses the ingredients of a popular fast food chain, mcdonalds.
- Analyzes how pollen's neutrality is fascinating because he doesn't try to convince one to turn into an all-organic health freak, nor persuade you to stray from fast food chains.
- Analyzes how pollen's readers are challenged to think about how much we care for the quality of our food.
- Analyzes how pollen discusses a vegan utopia and its unlikeliness in his book.
- Analyzes how pollen lightens up the book with his own personal experiences that attempt to be humorous.
- Opines that pollen seeks out to inform not just the misinformed or the health conscious folks, but just anyone who is willing to listen.
836 wordsRead More - How Junk Food Can End Obesity?analytical essayMichael Pollan and David Freedman are two reputable authors who have written about different types of food and why they are healthy or why they are damaging to our health. Michael Pollan wrote “Escape from the Western Diet” and David Freedman wrote “How Junk Food Can End Obesity”. Imagine Pollan’s idea of a perfect world. Everything is organic. McDonald’s is serving spinach smoothies and Walmart is supplying consumers with raw milk. The vast majority of food in this world consists of plants grown locally, because almost everyone is a farmer in order to keep up with supply and demand. How much does all this cost? What happened to all the food that is loved just because it tastes good?
In this essay, the author
- Explains that michael pollan and david freedman have written about different types of food and why they are healthy or harmful to our health.
- Analyzes how pollan's "escape from the western diet" and freedman’s “how junk food can end obesity” contain many flaws.
- Argues that processed foods contain calories, fats, sodium, and carbohydrates, but organic foods aren't healthy. freedman's "inner peas" snack contains six times as much fat as protein, along with loads of carbohydrates.
- Opines that processed food versus organic food is not calories, fats, sodium, or carbohydrates. pollan agrees that we should avoid processed foods because our bodies are hypersensitive to chemicals and antibiotics.
- Analyzes how freedman is focusing too much on obesity rather than on the general health of americans when he condemns the dish as unhealthy because of the bacon fat and bacon added to the corn.
- Explains that many medical conditions can go undiagnosed for a long time. if people only ate processed foods it may result in more serious medical problems or even death.
- Explains that obesity is not the main issue in this processed versus organic food fight. once americans learn how to eat healthier, weight loss will come naturally.
963 wordsRead More - Obesity In Michael Moss's Escape From The Western Dietanalytical essayEscape from the Western Diet describes Pollan’s primary occupation as an author of food and eating books, not a food scientist, however, Pollan bases his entire article off of his opinion of how Americans should eat (Pollan, 420). Pollan 's rules, “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants,” might serve as a fine setup for a fad diet, but these rules don’t necessarily provide a reasonable solution for America’s obesity problem. The rules don’t provide a solution because they are too vague; you can’t solve a nationwide issue using a system that fails to acknowledge any other factors besides what Americans should supposedly eat. Logical fallacies pop up throughout Escape from the Western Diet and stunt its credibility, such examples being the False Dichotomy, Begging the Question, and the Hasty Generalization. In Pollan’s quote, “people eating a Western diet are prone to a complex of chronic diseases that seldom strike people eating more traditional diets” (Pollan, 421), the Hasty Generalization fallacy is apparent, as not every person who eats a Western diet is prone to chronic diseases. The quote, “the healthcare industry...stands to profit more handsomely from new drugs and procedures to treat chronic diseases than it does from a wholesale change in the way people eat” (Pollan, 422) is a prime example of the Begging the Question fallacy, as this
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how american health, specifically our obesity epidemic, has grown into a trending media topic. pollan's attempt to provide an explanation pales in comparison to moss' reasonable discussion and viable solution.
- Analyzes how pollan asserts that americans have become obese due to their diet of mainly processed foods, and that for us to once again become healthy, we must return to eating "whole foods".
- Analyzes how moss uses the experiences and anecdotes of those who have worked closely with numerous snack food companies to build a case against junk food.
- Analyzes how moss and pollan's articles highlight the american obesity issue, suggest reasons as to why obesity has exploded into an epidemic, and offer solutions and answers to alleviate the problem.
- Compares moss and pollan's opinions on who takes the most blame for a growing obesity rate.
- Analyzes how moss's article shines as the better of the two, as his real-life examples appeal to readers and his perfect combination of ethos, pathos, and logos in the stories justify his case.
- Analyzes how pollan's article, escape from the western diet, is an appeal to authority. the false dichotomy, begging the question, and the hasty generalization stunt its credibility.
- Analyzes the false dichotomy and begging the question fallacies in pollan's article about the western diet.
- Concludes that michael moss' article is superior to pollan's because he uses authentic stories from credible people to support his opinion.
1217 wordsRead More - The American Paradox, By Michael Pollananalytical essayAccording to Pollan the question “what to eat” is complicated but “to guide us we have culture” (The American Paradox). Culture influences food likes and dislikes. Culture creates food preferences which make patterns of food choices, making everyone 's selection different. Whoever the influence of our culture has been changing throughout the years, with the food industry taking over the markets. Now we do not necessarily eat what our grandparents or even what our parents used to eat, instead we have this new massive produced packaged products. This is the reason why Americans food habits are changing, now more than ver we see people consuming products not because hey are part of their culture but because is what the media tells you to consume. The 21st century has a new obsession which is body image, now more than ever people is caring about the way they look due to all the advertisement about having a perfect body. Now America is obsess with making every product beneficial to your body but how many chemicals do they use to make that diet yogurt so it can be fat free, sugar free and still have some natural ingredients in it. This is the exact point pollan is trying to make in his article we are obsess with being healthy that we forget to check what are we really eating and where ir comes
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how michael pollan's "the american paradox" argues that our unhealthy population is preoccupied with nutrition and the idea of eating healthy than their actual health.
- Analyzes the 20th century trend of convenience food, stating that it must be tasty and high quality, while meeting consumer expectations in terms of ease of use, safety, variety, packaging, nutritional value and product appeal.
- Opines that affordability is a big part of our food choices, and that we should change the way we eat.
- Analyzes how america's food habits are changing, with the food industry taking over the markets. the 21st century has a new obsession which is body image.
- Analyzes how the food industry has a huge influence on our culture. the article by peter jaret "reading the ingredient label: what to look for" shows us how misleading food labels can be.
- Opines that convenience, affordability, and social influences are the biggest reasons why our eating habits are changing. the food industry and nutrition science are responsible for making everything more desirable due to their good use of consumers needs for something easy affordable and beneficial.
1071 wordsRead More - The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollanexplanatory essayIn the Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan talks about 4 different models that we consume, purchase, and add it to our daily lives. Michael Pollan travels to different locations around the United States, where he mentions his models which are fast food, industrial organic, beyond organic, and hunting. I believe that the 3 important models that we need to feed the population are fast food, industrial organic, and beyond organic. Fast food is one of the most important models in this society because people nowadays, eat fast food everyday and it is hurting us in the long run. We need to stick to beyond organic or industrial organic food because it is good for our well being. Ever since the government and corporations took over on what we eat, we have lost our culture. In the introduction of the Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan states that we have lost our culture:
In this essay, the author
- States that michael pollan's omnivore’s dilemma talks about 4 different models that we consume, purchase, and add it to our daily lives.
- Explains that we are a confused society not knowing what to eat, which is why they have chosen to talk about their model on feeding america, so we can get our culture back.
- Explains that fast food consumption is taking america by a storm because it relies heavily on industrialized corn because of how cheap and easy to grow it is.
- Explains that industrial organic food has many benefits for consumers everywhere in america, but how reliable is it?
- Explains that they would like to combine polyface farm and fast food together as a model to feed america.
- Opines that the combination of farms like polyface and fast food restaurants like mcdonalds can be possible because there are restaurants that use organic products.
- Opines that people need to start shopping at more farmers markets because the quality is better and cheaper than supermarkets around the us.
- Opines that people should spend more on the quality of food than the quantity because they have the right to know where their food comes from.
- Explains that their model is a dream that may never come true because of many drawbacks.
1761 wordsRead More