From the award-winning champion of culinary simplicity who gave us the
bestselling How to Cook Everything and How to Cook Everything
Vegetarian comes Food Matters, a plan for responsible eating that's
as good for the planet as it is for your weight and your health.
We are finally starting to acknowledge the threat carbon emissions pose
to our ozone layer, but few people have focused on the extent to which
our consumption of meat contributes to global warming. Think about it
this way: In terms of energy consumption, serving a typical
family-of-four steak dinner is the rough equivalent of driving around in
an SUV for three hours while leaving all the lights on at home.
Bittman offers a no-nonsense rundown on how government policy, big
business marketing, and global economics influence what we choose to put
on the table each evening. He demystifies buzzwords like "organic,"
"sustainable," and "local" and offers straightforward, budget-conscious
advice that will help you make small changes that will shrink your
carbon footprint--and your waistline.
Flexible, simple, and non-doctrinaire, the plan is based on hard science
but gives you plenty of leeway to tailor your food choices to your
lifestyle, schedule, and level of commitment. Bittman, a food writer who
loves to eat and eats out frequently, lost thirty-five pounds and saw
marked improvement in his blood levels by simply cutting meat and
processed foods out of two of his three daily meals. But the simple
truth, as he points out, is that as long as you eat more vegetables and
whole grains, the result will be better health for you and for the world
in which we live.
Unlike most things that are virtuous and healthful, Bittman's plan
doesn't involve sacrifice. From Spinach and Sweet Potato Salad with Warm
Bacon Dressing to Breakfast Bread Pudding, the recipes in Food Matters
are flavorful and sophisticated. A month's worth of meal plans shows you
how Bittman chooses to eat and offers proof of how satisfying a mindful
and responsible diet can be. Cheaper, healthier, and socially sound,
Food Matters represents the future of American eating.
