From Chad on Thu, April 21, 2011

Love the new rules Michael - I want you to know I heard an interview with you on NPR the year I got married and it completely changed the way we think about what we eat.

From Scott Smith on Thu, April 21, 2011

Hahahaha. Not funny. I’m not humored by Mr. Pollan’s silly remarks, to wit:
Eat Pringles only with diet soda. (Why, so the cause of death can be more easily diagnosed? Pringles are a wild concoction of all sorts of genetically mutant ingredients. Diet sodas are sweetened with nerve toxins. I guess that’s what one can expect when the company’s former CEO goes on to become the Secretary of Defense.)

The French fries you pick off someone else’s plate carry no calories. (Frence Fries made with genetically modified canola. Wow! A double whammy of cholesterol and genetically mutant ingredients. Clog your heart and mess with your DNA all in one sneaky bite!)

White bread is only good for picking up glass or cleaning typewriter keys. (totally agreed). 1 out of 3 is good by baseball averages but extremely unhealthy by my eating standards.)

From Carla Kane, RN, CCM on Thu, April 21, 2011

Hi Michael, just wanted to take a minute to thank you for your wonderful writing and teaching. I have recommended your books to SO many people including alot of my patients who are suffering from chronic diseases related to their diet. I reference your books or other writings at least a couple of times weekly to someone somewhere. My kids have both read your books (ages 20 and 24 but read them at ages 15 and 19). My youngest has written papers for school on your books. Botany of Desire chapters were mandatory outloud reading on the beach to the kids during summer months in So. Cal. Now in KY there is a whole other world more like a scene from The Omnivores Dilemma. Bottom line: you have made a huge contribution to human health and it is much appreciated.

From mercedes on Thu, April 21, 2011

HFCS by any other name is just as dangerous!

From Phillip Beazley on Thu, April 21, 2011

Wow, Scott, could you have less of a sense of humor?

Looking forward to more, Michael.  Love your work, your wisdom and your sense of humor.

Thank you.

From Laura Crain on Thu, April 21, 2011

October cannot get here fast enough!  Cannot wait to meet you at the Progressive Forum lecture!  You are my food rock star!

From Snookie on Thu, April 21, 2011

Scott Smith- please take a reading comprehension course before you start complaining. Mr. Pollan was obviously joking with these “rules” to showcase the ridiculous things people sent in. Don’t be an ass.

From Ken Leebow on Thu, April 21, 2011

Scott’s words are beautiful ... it demonstrates that our food epidemic is a very emotional one.

Ken Leebow
http://www.TheMainStreetDiet.com

P.S. I’ll pass on the fries, diet coke, and Pringles.

From Katy Davidson on Thu, April 21, 2011

Dear Scott, the ‘only eat Pringles with Diet Soda’ comment is tongue in cheek - no-one in their right(slow food)mind would imbibe diet soda, therefore by simple deduction only eating Pringles with it means the consumption of either ain’t going to happen at all. There-in lies the joke. :o)X Perhaps it’s actually a foray into British humour…

From April on Thu, April 21, 2011

Thank you Michael!  Your book has changed my life! My family is all losing weight, discovering GREAT new foods, and best of all my 2 year old is learning good eating habits from an early age—we hope they will stick with her!

From Ferguson on Fri, April 22, 2011

Thanks for the platitudes Michael, but “...the conversation of culture has more to teach us about how to eat healthily and happily than all the nutritional studies, government advisories, and food industry promises.” is simplistic and ignorant.

From Kenny on Fri, April 22, 2011

@scott smith

How do you even get through the day with that low of a level of comprehension?!?!

Let’s go back…first of all, the article is about *other people’s suggestions* for new “Food Rules”.  Further, he explains “There were many other interesting and provocative rules, though some of them were less useful or scientifically verifiable than entertaining. Three of my favorites:”
Did you skip that part?
My head is going to explode.
Signing off.

but before I do, thank you Michael Pollan for your wonderful books.  You have truly, and very positively, impacted my life.

~Kenny F.

From Lisa Bee on Fri, April 22, 2011

I love Scott Smith’s response it is the response EVERYONE should have as our food is no joke unless you call up Monsanto, Dow Chemical, or Dupont can’t forget the pharm whore company Syngenta. TO THOSE people our health and food is a joke as they continue to commit mass genocide on the behalf of our country. I understand where Scott is coming from our government is corrupt and becoming an Evil entity that we used to consider Russia…

From shaun fletcher on Fri, April 22, 2011

Really? That’s the best of what came in?

From Beverly on Fri, April 22, 2011

@Scott Smith - I believe you misread what Michael wrote. Those were 3 memorable submissions from readers that he thought were entertaining. He doesn’t believe them to be true.

From David on Fri, April 22, 2011

I would like to congratulate the 3 winners selected by Mr. Pollan. 3 great new rules to live by.

From Richard on Fri, April 22, 2011

Enter this great free competition with absolutely no amazing prizes by rearranging this phrase to form a well known expression “Life Scott a get”.

From Adrienne on Fri, April 22, 2011

Thanks for all your work Michael! You have a wonderful way of distilling confusing facts and theories into language that anyone can understand. I don’t adhere to the principles 24-7 since I’m on a very tight budget, but have made a lot of positive changes since reading Omnivore’s Dilemma years ago (which also helped me get over my guilt for abandoning vegetarianism)

From Doug Page on Fri, April 22, 2011

Too bad this discussion turned into a joke. The subtext is; We’re not serious, just treat the whole thing as trivial. Boo!

From Amy Nelson Hahn on Sat, April 23, 2011

Hi Michael,
Your books have always been an inspiration, and I teach them in my composition classes! Students read them alongside David Ehrenfeld and Jane Brody. Very controversial!
Our home canning is about to bound into big business, and we look to you as inspiration—thanks for making slow foods such a landmark movement.

From Diana Ferriter on Sun, April 24, 2011

Hello Michael,

We, the people, need to stay vigilant and to continually fight the government on how our food is processed.  To listen to or allow the government to regulate food and then say that their decisions are safe for humans is to make us run in the opposite direction.  No genectically engineered food is ever good for us, no overly processed fish or meat is ever good for us.  No government decision regarding our food is good for us - their decisions are based on what is good for the decision makers and for the big business companies who look to make their money quickly.  No one worries about the long term health and safety of the American people - no one worries about the health and safety of our resources for tomorrow’s generation.  Reading Jared Diamond’s book, How Societies Choose to Fail is a good example of what will ultimately happen in the U.S. if we don’t begin to “care” right now!

From Lisa Diaz on Mon, April 25, 2011

The Diaz Food Rule: Eat with your family & friends. Your plates & conversation will be colorful & fresh!

From Mike Alan on Tue, April 26, 2011

I am totally agree with Mandy Gerth’s saying that When you eat real food, you don’t need rules. I am also following this simple rule and its producing the best for me.

Health Tips
Beauty Tips

From Anne V on Thu, April 28, 2011

Anne’s corollary to the “bouquet” rule? Light the candles, too!

From Chris Rodger on Thu, April 28, 2011

Yes, Michael Pollen’s Food Rules are simple and sometimes obvious but then again, you have to consider how out-of-touch with food, many American’s have become.  Very few every day, ordinary people are up on the latest findings in the scientific field of Nutrition or medical research on a healthy diet.  They are inundated with ads for processed foods, junk food, faddish diet plans and weird health claims.  Most have forgotten or never learned how to cook real food.  Trying to figure out the right way to eat or how to cook healthy food is a very scary prospect for many people who don’t know where to start and have no confidence in their own ability to sort good information from bad.
Pollen is reminding people that it isn’t that hard and that possibly they know more than they think.  In the past, ordinary people like you and me used common sense and advice from their moms and grandmothers, and managed pretty well.  With a light tone he points out that good nutrition is nothing to be afraid of. When we pool our knowledge, we have what we need to eat much better. It can be done and it can be fun.

From Samantha Bailey on Sun, May 01, 2011

get a Life Scott. Did I win?!?! No really this is my 1st time here with all of you and forgive me for playing along I believe in being the sweet treat not eating the sweat treat or not so poetically I’m a no-sugar no-sweetener girl. I hope to read this book and his 1st soon.

From Mark Steele on Sun, May 01, 2011

With my tongue in my cheek I find it impossible to eat Pringles OR drink Diet Coke. In fact, I slightly injured myself trying.

From Harlin Savage on Mon, May 02, 2011

Make eating dinner by candlelight a daily ritual.

From fatima on Wed, May 04, 2011

this rules are extrmemy simple but yet so hard to follow for a lot of people. even if they want to make the right choices when it comes to food a lot of them are already predisposed as of an early age. my friends daughter is only two and the kid can eat! she can eat from cabbage to anything infront of her. which is great but there is also the soda and the process foods that her mom’s feeds her, even when she knows is no good. she is of the believe that all food is good just bc is food. too bad she is not a reader, if not i would give her a michael pollan’s book.

From Susan Will on Thu, May 05, 2011

Be sure you know that bouquet was local. Most of the flowers we get come from the international market - NOT good.