Food Rules…Even For Bariatrics

I have just finished reading the amazingly short but easy to follow and intelligent book called ‘Food Rules’ by Michael Pollan.

His principles for healthy eating…based on eating real food in reasonable amounts , stems from looking at folk wisdom, science and commonsense. It is probably the only book of rules you will need to eat healthily, dine happily and live well.

There is only one rule, as a bariatric patient, I disagree with and that relates to supplements (because I do need to take mine due to a compromised digestive system through my ‘replumbing’. However I just love his final rule…and something I repeat all the time….COOK! Cooking for yourself is the only way to take control of your diet and to guarantee that you are eating real food and not edible-like substances, with their unhealthy oils, high-fructose corn syrup and surfeit of salt.

Here are some of his rules:

* Eat food…not highly processed concoctions

* Avoid foods that contain high-fructose corn syrup

* Avoid foods that have some form of sugar (or sweetener) listed among the top three ingredients

* Avoid food products containing ingredients that are hard to pronounce

* Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle…processed foods dominate the centre aisles

* Sweeten and salt food yourself

* Don’t eat breakfast cereals that change the colour of the milk

* Stop eating before you’re full

* Eat when you are hungry, not when you are bored

* Eat slowly

* Buy smaller plates and glasses