What to Eat and Why – Wisdom from Nina Planck & Marion Nestle

The daily dilemma of what to eat each day continues to spark debates between nutritionists, culinary professionals, and food writers around the world. Nina Planck is the author of Real Food: What to Eat and Why, a commentary on the state of the world's industrialized foods, and suggestions on what to eat instead. The book addresses the need for slowing down and savoring real food, instead of turning to the processed and commercialized Western diet that many of us adhere to. Marion Nestle has released What to Eat, a definitive aisle-by-aisle overview of the real stories behind everything on that shelf. If you're looking for some fresh insights on the world of food, pick up either of these books for some enlightening facts about the American food business and what to expect in today's average supermarket.

Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck

In Real Food: What to Eat and Why, Nina Planck turns to a traditional and even holistic approach to food selection and preparation. The author encourages making rounds at the farrmer's market, adopting a menu that is inline with the season's harvest, and turning to natural ways to improve our health. Real Food is about authentic, traditional food, taking us back to the original goals of early agrarian farmers at the turn of the 20th century. The book is filled with the history of food cultivation and its impact on culture, and how today's average Western diet has become so far removed from authenticity.

What to Eat by Marion Nestle

Marion Nestle is the author of What to Eat, an overview of the supermarket that reveals the nutritional truths and myths about everyday foods. Nestle discusses today's food production industry in great detail, offering guidelines on how to consume less calories by selecting natural foods, and a discussion on prepared foods and supplements. The book takes the reader through a supermarket aisle by aisle; from the meat section to the dairy department, readers can find out exactly what goes on behind closed doors at the grocery department. The author sheds some light on other cultures' reactions to Western foods and brands, along with some interesting facts about artificial sweeteners. Being responsible about your food choices is much easier after reading What to Eat; this book serves as a navigator for any modern supermarket or grocery store, serving up some fresh insights on the food industry itself.

The Bottom Line:

Eating a wholesome and nourishing diet is becoming everemore challenging in today's fast food culture. While some people turn to organic and nature-based diets, adopting vegan or vegetarian practices in order to eat healthier, others are finding supplements and natural herbs valuable for improving health. Still, the Slow Food movement and other ‘natural eating' styles are becoming prevalent as more people look turn to ‘back to the basics' ideal of eating.

Both Real Food: What to Eat and Why and What to Eat offer insights and commentary on the real truths behind today's commercialized and processed foods. If you're looking for an enlightening read with commonsense tips for your weekly shopping trip, pick up either of these for a fresh take on the most common foods at the supermarket.