The
Senior submissions Living, pages 10-11
Vol. 112, Issue 24
Celebrating senior memories Living, page 7-11
P. 7: Four years in review P. 10: Get a ‘Jump Start’ P. 11: Department traditions
BEACON The University of Portland’s student newspaper
Thursday April 21, 2011 www.upbeacon.net
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M r i o f c hael Pollan The botany of desire . . “This little mantra: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. And that’s really all you need to know.”
Photo by Alissa White | THE BEACON
Will Lyons Staff Writer lyons14@up.edu Armed with two bags of groceries from Fred Meyer, Michael Pollan took the stage to give the keynote address at the Food for Thought conference in the Chiles Center to more than 4,500 students, faculty and community members Saturday night. He laid out a variety of what he called “food-like substances” such as an Eggo Real Fruit Pizza, Oreo sippers and Splenda with fiber, and then, for contrast, an apple to illustrate the rising prominence of processed foods in America and the industrial world. Reiterating the mantra from one of his best-selling books, “In Defense of Food,” Pollan ultimately left the crowd with a simple, practical message. “I’ve boiled down everything I’ve learned about nutrition down to seven words,” Pollan said. “This little mantra: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. And that’s really all you need to know.” Pollan had harsh words for
what he called “nutritionism,” or marketing ploys based on sketchy science that deceive consumers with bogus health claims. “We have gotten to the point in food where we need a priesthood of experts, whether in industry, or medicine, or the nutrition establishment or government to mediate our relationship to food,” Pollan said. “I submit that that is a very peculiar idea when you look at the long history of eating in our species.” Despite his criticism of the state of American health and the industrial food system, Pollan ended on a positive note, asserting that it’s possible to improve the environment and personal health at the same time. “Here is the missing – and I think marvelous – link. It turns out that what’s best for our health is best for our agriculture too,” Pollan said. “There’s no tradeoff between healthy eating and a healthy agriculture.” Pollan left a deep impression on faculty and students. “I thought it was inspiring after reading his books to see him in person,” English professor Cara Hersh said. “I loved his simple rules that anyone can
follow.” “I really liked how he had just an apple on stage after pulling out a bag of processed foods,” sophomore Hannah Fink said.
“I liked the bit about the priests of nutritionism being the ones to tell us how to eat,” sophomore Ian Clark added. Conference organizers were
pleased with the turnout. “I was thrilled to see how many people came on Saturday,” See Pollan, page 5
Kevin Kadooka | THE BEACON
Students congregated in The Bauccio Commons Friday evening to enjoy local milk and chocolate. The Food for Thought conference began Thursday and ended Saturday evening with the closing keynote address by Michael Pollan, the New York Times best-selling author.