Eating shouldn’t be so hard. I don’t think our ancestors “labored” over what they were going to eat, when they were going to eat or how much to eat like we do today.

It wasn’t this hard when I was a kid. The choice of foods wasn’t so plentiful. Certainly the fast food industry was in its infancy. Heck, I remember when going to McDonald’s was a treat because we only did so on a Friday night. Most every meal other than this “special” occasion was eaten at home and prepared from “scratch” using fresh fruits, veggies, and having small portions of meat. We seldom had bread nor potatoes or pasta and we never had dessert at our family dinners. The result – none of my family members have weight issues.

Well, if you are confused by all the literature “out” on eating, I would suggest you consider this simple little book ($5 on Amazon) that I picked up while browsing the other day at Barnes and Nobles. Michael Pollan of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food, and The Botany of Desire, has written a book you can “tuck” into your pocket to remind you of simple ways to choose foods. It’s title…Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual.

I try to keep in mind in my own life that “things” should be kept simple. I don’t like details or lots of directions or volumes of minutia. I like simple! Pollan does a terrific job of just that when he divides this 140-page book into three sections with 64 easy-to-put-into-practice “rules” for eating. I’ll give you some ideas of “rules” that “grabbed” me!

The first part is: What Should I Eat? (Eat food.)

1. Avoid food products containing ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce.
2. It’s not food if it arrived through the window of your car.

Part two is: What Kind of Food Should I Eat? (Mostly plants.)

1. Eat animals that have themselves eaten well.
2. Don’t eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk.

The third part is: How Should I Eat? (Not too much.)

1. Do all your eating at a table.
2. Plant a vegetable garden if you have the space, a window box if you don’t.

I consider myself healthy and fit. To me that means I get adequate sleep (7-8 hours/night), eat primarily fresh fruits and veggies with meat maybe once a month, and have relationships that are positive, stimulating, and growth-producing. I am active everyday whether stretching, weight training, jogging, hiking, biking, taking a pilates or cardiokick class, or walking. I have a positive attitude toward life and I feel purposeful in my profession (teaching). I am virtually the same weight today as I was in college (30 years ago). I am happy!

All of these factors contribute to the quality and outlook of my life. I’ll leave you with this quote from Deepak Chopra (Ageless Body, Timeless Mind: The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old) “At every stage of spiritual growth, the greatest ally you have is your body.”

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