I mention his book in the TV Diet article—but it’s worth its own posting. If you haven’t already, head to your local bookstore and pick up Michael Pollan’s Food Rules.  It is not a diet book, it is an “eater’s manual” with wonderful suggestions that address these three questions: what should I eat (eat food), what kind of food should I eat (mostly plants) and how much should I eat (not too much).

That’s it. No complex plans or systems. Just the kind of advice our grandmothers probably heeded. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but so simple and well written that some of the rules are sure to stick. My older daughter and I went through the book and picked some rules for us to follow as a family; ones that would involve all the family. I think every month we’ll add a few new ones to focus on. But for February we chose the following:

#7 Avoid food products containing ingredients that a third grader cannot pronounce.

#12 Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle.

#32 Don’t overlook the oily little fishes

#51 Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it.

#60 Treat treats as treats.