‘Lose Weight, Heal the Planet’, announces the cover of Mark Bittman’s Food Matters. In his book, Bittman relates personal tales of weight loss to methods of eating that can improve both the reader’s health as well as the environment.
Bittman recounts his own experience of going from 214 pounds, with high cholesterol, a hernia, and weak knees, to dropping to below 180 pounds and gaining an improved state of health. By enlisting a “50 percent shift,” replacing half of his animal calories with plant calories, and eating vegan until 6pm each day, Bittman is vigilant during the day and indulgent at night.
Food Matters is most engaging when Bittman lets readers know that he can relate to their struggle: eating healthy is hard work. It takes planning, dedication, and fine-tuning. He does allow flexibility, however, and admits that meat tastes delicious. So it’s okay to have a piece every now and then, as long as you gorge on some vegetables along the way.
The book pushes a ‘sane eating‘ agenda, insisting that it is possible to follow a personal menu that is globally responsible, but not based on deprivation (since deprivation leads to rebellion). The ultimate goal is to eat less of some foods, most specifically animal products, and, no matter what, not to reach for junk food. There’s no calorie counting involved and it’s not necessarily about shedding pounds — just making sure to eat more plants, fewer animals, and as little highly processed food as possible.
His discussions on the overproduction of meat and the role of agribusiness in climate change are certainly motivating, although no radical ideas are presented. Most readers know by now that it is necessary to consume foods that require less processing, packaging, and transportation in order to reduce our impact on the environment.
The last half of the book consists of 77 healthy recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snacks. A few of these are intriguing, but most of them seem commonplace. More inventive recipes focus on reducing carbs — but Chicken Not Pie just sounds sloppy — and vary from complicated (Paella) to simple (Roasted Vegetables).
The Orchiette with Broccoli Rabe, My Style calls for broccoli rabe, Italian sausage, and surrounding ingredients such as chopped garlic and fennel seeds. The recipe is easy enough to prepare and the whole wheat pasta is a healthy alternative to regular pasta meals. Â But, aside from the direction to use fennel seeds, the recipe is less than extraordinary and the final outcome felt too…healthy.
Part-memoir of poor health, part-diet guide, and part-cook book, Food Matters is too sprawling in its conquest. However, it could serve a purpose in educating the overweight. Eating vegetables might seem common sense, but for those who didn’t get the memo, Bittman teaches about serving sizes, consumption, and the influence of eating habits on the environment. And sometimes you need that extra push.
CATEGORIES: Global Health, Uncategorized
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Sounds like a good read for those just getting used to the idea of changing their lifestyle. I like how he doesn’t go overboard like some dieters, and the idea that deprivation leads to rebellion and the concept of “sane eating” make a lot of sense. But still, why does he have to cover so much? Recipes, the environment, healthy lifestyles in general…seems like he should have chosen one area to focus on.
FIRST!
When I reach 180 lbs again, I will thank Mark Bittman.
Great explanation of the book, and if I pick it up, I’ll bypass the recipes…
While it sounds all fine and dandy, it seems like a lot of the things he is advocating is pretty common sense, and I’m curious to see how he is different from the all the other ex-fat authors out there who preach living a healthy lifestyle. I’m also curious to see if he’s got that same ex-fatty holier than thou tone to his writing. Yes we all want to achieve the same goals but are you going to tell me something I already don’t know?
Man, I love Mark Bittman. I relish his sensible mythbusting: Diets don’t work, you can’t cut certain things out your life for forever, and food is goooooddd.
How to Cook Everything is one of my desert island cookbooks for sure.
Generally I like it, but going vegan until 6 PM? It doesn’t make much sense to me to eat the fattiest foods of the day in the hours right before you go to sleep.
Everyone should eat more veggies. Bittman gives compelling reasons why its great for our health and the environment. If going from 214 pounds down to 180 isn’t reason enough think about the effect of meat production on the environment. I love his idea of sane eating and how we all should eat more responsibly.
Think that I’ll forgo the book. The review seems to just bout cover every base. Besides….I can’t imagine the lack of discipline involved in ever getting to 214 pounds, so am not sure how or why I’m supposed to relate to the guy.
i think my diet of red wine and popcorn is pretty sane. i make sure to have a ratio of four cups of popcorn:one glass of wine:one episode of top chef.
Sane eating sounds good especially when the chick from Housewives of NYC is telling people to eat 3 bites of each meal and drink cocktails all day long if they contain mostly liquor.
I am generally not a fan of eating healthy. That is just what annoying liberals do so they can look down on others.
Healthy food is as important as healthy eating habits. Check out my thoughts about healthy eating habits at http://www.sikantisblog.com/wp/?p=372
Seems everyone has missed the fact that so-called ‘healthy’ food can taste great. If you don’t think so, you don’t know how to cook. On the other hand, that’s not surprising considering that standard cooking is so narrow and boring when it comes to the vegetables. No wonder people actually think eating meat and dairy three times a day is (1) delicious (2) healthy. If all you can do with your veges is boil them or cover them in cream and cheese, then it’s hardly surprising eating vegan sounds like it requires discipline (not to mention that you weigh hundreds of pounds).
If you’re ever brave enough to check out what it is you’re actually eating, vegan will suddenly be the easiest thing in the world! Of course keeping your eyes closed is way easier.
I like the idea of trading out, and just being reminded to use what’s around you.
i don’t get all these books on food and dieting. isn’t it common sense by now to just eat healthy and exercise? i mean, come on - “stay away from junk food?” why doesn’t he just tell us to drink water and breathe air while he’s at it?