In defense of food

How a "slow food" approach can bring us back to ourselves

Growing up on a small urban farm in Western Michigan, I was immersed in a world where food wasn’t just sustenance – it was a connection to the land, family, and the environment. We grew organic fruits and vegetables, raised animals, and made nearly everything we ate from scratch. “Junk food,” as my parents called it, was not allowed in the house, although my dad did have a special relationship with root beer floats, and that was our one treat, of course, accompanied by homemade ice cream.

In the 1970s and 80s, my family already practiced many of the principles Michael Pollan discusses in In Defense of Food, from eating whole foods to fostering a mindful, sustainable approach to eating. Every breakfast and dinner was eaten together as a family around the table, no television, the phone was taken off the hook, and we had only conversation.

When I moved away from home for school and became a competitive athlete, I adopted a more scientific, macro-driven approach to food, focusing on rati…