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Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
By Kate | February 9, 2008
Michael Pollan’s newest book, In Defense of Food, looks like it is quite amazing. I am barely getting started on it. His main premise is that nutritional advice can be summed up into the 7 words of the title. Americans (myself included) fret and freak about what we should and shouldn’t eat. We agonize over our, often, poor decisions that are contrary to our common sense. Should I eat steamed asparagus or should I east cheese fries? This was my actual dilemma last night. Guess which delicious option I chose? The fries + a milkshake. Guess how I feel this morning? Awful physically, and quite lethargic.
I didn’t need any professional advice to arrive at a choice that would have left me a little less… uneasy… intestinally speaking. All I needed was common sense I learned from Captain Vegetable as a child watching Sesame Street.
It is I, Captain Vegetable, with my carrot & my celery.
Eating crunchy vegetables is good for me.
And they’re good for you, so eat them too!
For teeth so strong your whole life long,
eat celery & carrots by the bunch.
Three cheers for me, Captain Vegetable.
CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH!
Tagged with: Captain Vegetable • In Defense of Food • Michael Pollan • Sesame Street • Vegetables
February 9th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Yess….man I totally remember that whole sketch, brought back many memories.
February 10th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Kate, I want to share a culinary experience that you and Captain Vegetable will be proud of. Last night Granpa and I had Asian food, and I ordered tofu (yes!) as my “meat option” with my ginger broccoli. And I ordered it steamed instead of stir-fried. And it was my voluntary free-will choice. And I liked it. This was even before I read your post.
A great way to eat asparagus is roasted with a bit of garlic and kosher salt. A few drops of evoo help, too. Not as good as cheese fries, but delicious.
Love, Grandma
February 10th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Classic clip. Great post.
Although I can’t help but register the fact that I would rather eat razor blades than asparagus blades. LOL.
Does anyone remember that dude from Sesame Street that looked like Richard Simmons in a skin-tight leotard with organs, veins and muscles painted on it? Mr. Body or something like that? Too funny.
February 10th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Mr. Slim Goodbody . . . that’s who I was trying to think of!
Check out this wacky dude: Mr. Slim Goodbody
February 11th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Ok, I agree with you all, with this one exception:
Once in a while (OK- every GREAT while) cheese fries and other such decadent delights have their place. Just as comfort for the soul.
The other day, after a verdict came in in one of my jury trials, I was exhausted - albeit jubilant - with the results. I made my traditional trek over to Baskin Robbins to have my celebratory scoop of Coconut Almond Fudge ice cream. It is a little reward I give myself after every trial. The ultimate comfort food. Aaahhhhhhh. Good for the belly but mostly the soul.
And, I must say to Grandma Hicks: Way to go!!!! Tofu ROCKS!
February 12th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
i read the whole book in one day and really loved it. my only complaint was that michael pollan reused jokes from The Omnivore’s Dilemma several times, which i thought was a cheap shot. i mean, he is such a clever, wonderful writer. why use the same jokes? what is this, a high council talk?
i did like the brevity and, thankfully, few statements of conclusion in the book. The OD just made me feel hopeless, since I was pretty sure the conclusion was not intended to be that i give up my day job to become a wild boar hunter and morel mushroom gatherer in the berkeley hills. this one was satisfying, and i used it as an excuse to eat a very very delicious sandwich today at wild oats, since everything in the sandwich was readily identifiable as food. and organic! pesto on a white roll. no diabetes for me?
i loved the captain vegetable clip, although i think perhaps on the east coast his name was captain microwaved quesadilla? because i’m pretty sure that was what i was snackin’ on while i watched sesame street…
i wish food would disappear and leave me alone sometimes. i have better things to do.
wanna have a potluck next week?
February 26th, 2008 at 1:38 am
I love the captain vegetable song! I haven’t seen this forever. also, he reminds me of John Kerry. mostly his voice. and the way he’s probably right but you just hate to hear it from him.