eating
What we eat is so important. For our health, our politics & economics, for nature, for culture, for our future. And the more we know about where it comes from, how it’s made, who it benefits or harms, what it’s made of and what we make of it, and why we eat this (not that)… the more we can make educated decisions and act in a way that can help shape better futures for all.
things to listen to
It’s hard read a book or watch a show while cooking, but one can most definitely listen to music or radio without much difficulty — for me, a podcast is even better. Here are some that I like about eating and food.
↠ A Thorough Examination, by BBC Radio 4
Is learning more about ultra-processed foods the best way to find them less attractive?
↠ The Food Programme, BBC Radio 4
This is one of those podcasts that I will clear my listening queue for if a new episode has just been released. As host Sheila Dillon reminds listeners regularly, the show explores all things food — “from culture to cooking, from politics to pleasure”.
↠ The Chefs’ Manifesto Podcast, by the SD2 Advocacy Hub
This podcast brings the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to life by inviting chefs and relevant experts to have conversations about SDG2: ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture.
↠ The Food Chain, by the BBC World Service
Reminiscent of the Food Programme in some ways, the Food Chain’s focus lies more on the business side and the science side of food, as well as its cultural significance.
a selection of episodes
(in English, French, or Norwegian)
last updated April 2022
EN Removing unhealthy messaging in children’s advertising, The Current
NO Ultraprosessert mat, fordøyelse og helse. Med ernæringsbiolog Marit Kolby, Leger om livet
NO Delås Gård: Dyrk mat, ikke plen! Ren Mat
FR Qui a peur des aliments ultra-transformés?, Révolutions alimentaires !
EN How The Food Industry Created Today’s Obesity Crisis, With Marion Nestle, Big Brains
EN How did ultra-processed foods take over, and what are they doing to us?, The Guardian Science Weekly
things to read
I think it is wise to be well-informed on matters that, well, matter. I also think it is sensible to seek out information from many different people, whom each have a lot of experience or done a lot of research on the matter you seek to know more about. Hopefully the reading materials listed below meet that standard.
↠ The Way We Eat Now, by Bee Wilson
If you are interested in food beyond eating it, you should get acquainted with Bee Wilson’s work.
↠ In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
Even if you haven’t read this time-honoured classic, you may well be familiar with its fundamental premise: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
↠ Sustainable Diets, by Pamela Mason and Tim Lang
This is one that I look forward to reading soon. Professor Tim Lang is most definitely acquainted with the subject of food (at least, at an academic level).
↠ Let’s Ask Marion, by Marion Nestle
If anyone can explain what food has to do with politics, it is Marion Nestle.
↠ How to Eat, by David L. Katz & Mark Bittman
With so many food- & health-related headlines popping up on our screens every day, one can easily get confused. A doctor and a food writer get together and clear things up.
some articles and other books
(in English, French, or Norwegian)
last updated April 2022
articles
EN Commercial determinants of health, The Lancet
EN How ultra-processed food took over your shopping basket, The Guardian
EN Agriculture has changed the planet – now we need to change our diet to protect it, Big Issue
EN The world is hooked on junk food: how big companies pull it off, The Conversation
books
EN Nutritionism — The Science and Politics of Dietary Advice, Gyorgy Scrinis
FR Mange et tais-toi: Un nutritionniste face au lobby alimentaire, Serge Hercberg
NO Hva og når skal vi spise? Marit Kolby
FR Sauver la planète une bouchée à la fois, Bernard Lavallée
EN Slow Food Nation: Why Our Food Should Be Good, Clean, and Fair, Carlo Petrini
FR Pourquoi tout compliquer ? Bien manger est si simple !, Anthony Fardet
EN Brain Changer: The Good Mental Health Diet, Felice Jacka
EN Salt, Sugar, Fat: How The Food Giants Hooked Us, Michael Moss
FR Halte aux aliments ultra transformés ! Mangeons vrai, Anthony Fardet
EN Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind the Food That Isn’t Food, Chris Van Tulleken
EN Eating to Extinction: The World’s Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them, Dan Saladino
EN Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health, Marion Nestle
EN Why We Eat (Too Much): The New Science of Appetite, Andrew Jenkinson
FR Big Food & Cie – Comment la recherche du profit à tout prix nuit à notre santé, Mélissa Mialon
EN Ravenous: How to get ourselves and our planet into shape, Henry Dimbleby and Jemima Lewis
EN We are the Weather: Saving The Planet Begins at Breakfast, Jonathan Safran Foer
EN Feeding Britain Our Food Problems and How To Fix Them, Tim Lang
EN Sitopia: How Food Can Save the World, Carolyn Steel
EN Soda Politics: Taking On Big Soda (and Winning), Marion Nestle
EN Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, Michael Pollan
EN How To Build A Healthy Brain, Kimberley Wilson
things to watch
Sometimes academic research is better communicated in a presentation. And sometimes it’s easier to digest difficult or abundant information when it has been carved up into an easy-to-consume program.
A few of the for-the-public documentaries below can be a bit shallow and/or sensationalistic, so I would recommend using them more as a launching pad into a deeper dive on the topic, rather than taking them at face value or viewing them as the complete story. That’s why I also included for-academics-and-professionals viewing materials. Still, let’s not let perfection become the enemy of progress.
All of these various resources provide good motivation for thought, discussion, and action — and, while we cannot do everything at once, something must be done… at once!
a bit more in-depth
FR Rôle de la nutrition dans la prévention des maladies chroniques – Mathilde Touvier (2023)
EN The Nova Food Classification System: rationale, description and applications — Columbia University
EN Eating in the Anthropocene: Healthy, Sustainable & Equitable Food on a Systemic Level
FR Comment le design urbain influence l’alimentation des citoyens avec Bernard Lavallée
EN Ultra-Processed Foods (Kevin Hall)
EN Food Politics 2019: “Nutrition Science Under Siege” with Marion Nestle
EN Accelerating veg consumption: What more can we do to change diets? -Veg Summit Series
somewhat superficial (sometimes sensational) viewings
EN Farmworkers: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
EN What Are We Feeding Our Kids? (BBC)/ NO Vet du hva barnet ditt spiser? (NRK)
FR Pays émergents, de la famine à l’obésité (Investigations et Enquêtes)
FR Les aliments transformés qui nous tuent (100% Docs)
EN Cheap food (ARTE) / FR La grande malbouffe (ARTE)