This month marks my 10-year anniversary as a @WashingtonPost columnist.
To celebrate, I wrote about 10 things I'd love to be able to convince you of.
And here they are, in one convenient π§΅
washingtonpost.com
To celebrate, I wrote about 10 things I'd love to be able to convince you of.
And here they are, in one convenient π§΅
washingtonpost.com
1. Genetic modification can be used - and is being used - for good.
The shadow of Roundup-Ready crops is long, but when you think GMO, think disease-resistant cassava or a resurgent, blight-resistant American chestnut.
The shadow of Roundup-Ready crops is long, but when you think GMO, think disease-resistant cassava or a resurgent, blight-resistant American chestnut.
2. Diet soda is fine.
But there's a larger point here. The nutrition community doesn't want diet soda to be fine, and they jump through hoops to try and prove it isn't.
Nothing good.
But there's a larger point here. The nutrition community doesn't want diet soda to be fine, and they jump through hoops to try and prove it isn't.
Nothing good.
3. Farm subsidies didn't create our crap diets.
Yes, we subsidize corn but not broccoli.
But a serving of broccoli costs 10x what a serving of corn costs to grow. The price difference is inherent.
Also, we subsidize lentils & chickpeas but there's no run on them.
Yes, we subsidize corn but not broccoli.
But a serving of broccoli costs 10x what a serving of corn costs to grow. The price difference is inherent.
Also, we subsidize lentils & chickpeas but there's no run on them.
4. Vegetables are a luxury product.
They use more of every resource - land, labor, pesticide, fertilizer - than row crops (those lentils & chickpeas, for example).
The diet good for people and planet has some veg, but it's mostly staples: whole grains, legumes, fruits, tubers.
They use more of every resource - land, labor, pesticide, fertilizer - than row crops (those lentils & chickpeas, for example).
The diet good for people and planet has some veg, but it's mostly staples: whole grains, legumes, fruits, tubers.
5. Organic is not the answer.
I'm a fan of organic, but only as a niche (which it is destined to be, because of price). There is a persistent, uncloseable yield gap of about 20%, which means it needs 25% more land.
That's an environmental loser.
I'm a fan of organic, but only as a niche (which it is destined to be, because of price). There is a persistent, uncloseable yield gap of about 20%, which means it needs 25% more land.
That's an environmental loser.
6. Food deserts don't cause obesity.
They're still bad! I want everyone to have access to decent food. But when you bring a supermarket into a food desert, nothing appreciable changes.
They're still bad! I want everyone to have access to decent food. But when you bring a supermarket into a food desert, nothing appreciable changes.
7. All eggs taste the same.
And if you haven't done a blind taste test (literally blindfolded, so you can't see color differences), I don't want to hear from you. Unless you're @kimseverson in which case it's OK.
And if you haven't done a blind taste test (literally blindfolded, so you can't see color differences), I don't want to hear from you. Unless you're @kimseverson in which case it's OK.
8. Tilapia is fine.
It tastes like other mild fish, and nobody can pick it out of a line-up.
It tastes like other mild fish, and nobody can pick it out of a line-up.
9. We don't know jack about nutrition.
The tools we have - nutritional epi & RCTs - don't have the power to suss out any but the most obvious links between diet & health.
Eat a wide variety of whole-ish foods you enjoy.
The tools we have - nutritional epi & RCTs - don't have the power to suss out any but the most obvious links between diet & health.
Eat a wide variety of whole-ish foods you enjoy.
10. Which I should leave out because it's such a dog whistle, but carbs aren't uniquely fattening.
There are reams of evidence. Reams.
There are reams of evidence. Reams.
Many of you have been sources for me, and have offered up thoughtful, interesting comments & criticism over the years.
So it is with profound gratitude that I say ...
Thanks for listening
π
So it is with profound gratitude that I say ...
Thanks for listening
π
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