Deciding What to Consume

American citizens have always been concerned with what to eat. We cling to the newest diet told by nutritionists, doctors, or magazines. Pollan says this clearly: “Humans deciding what to eat without expert help […] is seriously unprofitable if you’re a food company, distinctly risky if you’re a nutritionist and just plain boring if you’re a newspaper editor or journalist” (2). Even though nutrition is the key topic among the latest food trends, starting advice was based off of religion and angels. As time passed, scientists and professionals gave advice over newly discovered vitamins, germs, and calories.

Our ancestors chose what to eat when it fell out of a tree; there were no added preservatives or fats in their food items. Overtime, food values and views have changed to what is healthy and popular to eat. During the 1800’s, meat was a “sign of white citizenship” (Dupuis 40). Consuming red meat was popular and the latest trend, and thus the American diet became a meat-centered diet. This diet also consisted of eating more, shifting focus to optimum health rather than the cheapest meal one can consume by World War I.

Overtime, faith has been lost in religion and science as guiding us to what we choose to eat. We, as Americans, rely on the latest magazine article, written by any doctor or professional, to guide our decisions. As long as the author holds a doctorate degree, a common citizen considers their opinion and advice credible. It was once popular to eat meat, but now large consumption is condemned due to the large health risks. We no longer make our own decisions of what to eat; we choose to eat based off of what others tell us and what is healthy.