Author offers simple solution to America’s trouble with food
May 8, 2013, 10:12 AM | Updated: 10:58 am
Writer Michael Pollan will be in Seattle discussing his new book, "Cooked: A National History of Transformation," on May 13. (Image courtesy Michaelpollan.com)
(Image courtesy Michaelpollan.com)
An activist whose books ignited a nationwide movement has a new call to arms out, and his answer to a complex problem is so simple it’s one word: cook.
“We’re in this weird freefall of home cooking in this country which I think explains a lot of our problems both on the farm and in our health,” says writer Michael Pollan who will be in Seattle May 13 discussing his new book, “Cooked: A National History of Transformation.”
Pollan’s 2006 book “Omnivore’s Dilemma” and those that followed, fueled a new consciousness about our food, and he says he’s seen a lot of things progressing in a good direction.
“You do have this wonderful renaissance we see going on in the local food economy with farmers’ markets thriving, CSAs, these subscription farms, local food showing up even in food service and restaurants. All these things are very positive because I think people are reconnecting with the beauty, pleasure, all the things that food does for us.”
The next step in the movement he says is yours. You don’t have to sign a petition, chain yourself to a fence, or trash your local fast food place. All you have to do is cook. Pollan says eat whatever you want, just cook it yourself.
“I’m suggesting that there’s enormous benefits and satisfactions to taking back some control and kicking the food companies and the fast food chains out of our kitchens. Many good things will flow from that.”
Those good things include a ripple effect that could reverse what happened decades ago when Americans started buying fast, mega-processed food and the food industry retooled to keep pace. Change the demand and you’ll change the industry again, and he says the benefits are more than political, they’re personal.
“Reconnecting with your senses, disconnecting from screens and media, reconnecting with your family and then giving them something really delicious that makes them very happy and in fact, is conducive to their health.”
Like they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Pollan says make that first step into your kitchen.
Michael Pollan will be discussing his new book “Cooked: A National History of Transformation” at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall on May 13 at 8 p.m.
