The Nutrition Elite Rather than celebrate the success of the U.S. food supply system—the safest, most inexpensive food supply in the world—the nutrition elite degrade it. Current discussions instead are focused on “food deserts,” sustainability, and farmers' markets. Although these are all important, they are not top-of-mind topics for U.S. consumers who are trying to get by on less money amid rising health care, food, and housing costs. The DGAC, which is supposed to take an evidence-based approach to nutrition and dietary guidelines, seems focused on supporting many popular ideas despite questionable evidence. Every culture is different, and any food system is complicated. In the end, working together will lead to a more successful outcome for everyone. To accomplish this, activists need to depoliticize the “alternative food” movement and squarely address the intersection of poverty, class, gender, and race with issues such as nutrition, food access, environmental toxins, environmental racism, and obesity. Food principles suggested by other cultures, good taste, good manners, and conviviality (not eating alone) all are more closely linked to health outcomes than are restrictive rules. |