Food Rules
June 16th, 2010
Michael Pollan wrote a book called “Food Rules”. Now I must confess that I’ve only perused it while standing in book stores, but I think that there are a LOT of rules. And I’m not really good with the whole “rule” concept, especially when it comes to food.
However, there are few rules that Dave and I have implemented that we fully intend on passing on to our children and grandchildren. Like I said, I don’t function well under the confines of rules, but I think that it’s safe to say that these are hard and fast, do or die Food Rules of this household.
NUMBER 1: Eat healthy food, only make exceptions for ice cream, oreos, pizza, cheesecake, nachos, french fries, Jr. Mints, Wint-o-mint Life Savers, Ritz chips, Pringles, Softbatch cookies, Cherry Coca-Cola, Kraft macaroni and cheese, generic macaroni and cheese, Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese, and homemade macaroni and cheese.
NUMBER 2: Less is more, except when it comes to ice cream, oreos, pizza, cheesecake, nachos, french fries, Jr. Mints, Wint-o-mint Life Savers, Ritz chips, Pringles, Softbatch cookies, Cherry Coca-Cola, Kraft macaroni and cheese, generic macaroni and cheese, Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese, and homemade macaroni and cheese.
NUMBER 3: Quicker is better—time is of the essence, thus why we make exceptions for things like ice cream, oreos, pizza, cheesecake, nachos, french fries, Jr. Mints, Wint-o-mint Life Savers, Ritz chips, Pringles, Softbatch cookies, Cherry Coca-Cola, Kraft macaroni and cheese, generic macaroni and cheese, Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese, and homemade macaroni and cheese.
NUMBER 4: Eat mainly Mexican Food.
This next recipe, copy-righted by Dave, meets all of the above specifications: it’s healthy, it’s light, it’s quick to prepare, and it’s a Mexican inspired dish.
Dave’s Easy Black Bean Salsa
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed
- 1 can Ro-Tel, drained and rinsed
- 1 can diced tomatoes, partially drained
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1 jalapeno, chopped
- ~1/4 cup onion, chopped
- ~1 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
- Juice from one lime
Fresh ingredients…
Not-so-fresh ingredients…
Take the above ingredients and throw them all together! All together now (Beatles reference…)!
I like to let it sit a little until the flavors mingle and then eat with tortilla chips! It’s super easy and a crowd pleaser. In fact, I made it because its presence has been requested at work by my co-workers.
This is also really, really good on salad…
…and ice cream, oreos, pizza, cheesecake, nachos, french fries, Jr. Mints, Wint-o-mint Life Savers, Ritz chips, Pringles, Softbatch cookies, Cherry Coca-Cola, Kraft macaroni and cheese, generic macaroni and cheese, Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese, and homemade macaroni and cheese. 
Do you have any food rules, and if so, what are your exceptions?
I’m always looking for foods to add to my exceptions list 
Categories: Uncategorized
HAHAHAHA!!! I loved this and yes, ice cream will always be my exception… and chocolate…
I agree that ice cream and mac and cheese are the exception to the rule. As are tortilla chips and guacamole. Those are the exception to everything!
my only rule is to enjoy every single thing I eat!
Oh – this is great post. Really made me think about my exceptions – Sprinkles red velvet cupcakes, gingerbread cookies at Christmastime, pumpkin pie and homemade whipped cream, sour patch kids and hot tamales. I guess mine are all sweet!
By the way, I LOVE that Soft Batch cookies is one of yours. Great memories from being a kid.
I was JUST going to make black bean salsa tonight! But opted for chow fun.
Anyway, my food rules = NONE. I’ll eat what I want, when I want. Most of the time, I eat for physical fuel (training) but some of the time, I eat for mental sanity. When I want my ice cream, I’m going to have my ice cream. That way, I don’t go insane and drive myself crazy. Not having a “bad” list makes me so much happier. I’m looking for balance. That is what I believe “healthy” means.
I love black bean salsa…that looks delicious! Ice cream is ALWAYS on my exception list. And there’s always room for wedding cake. And if you pass a bakery, you HAVE to go look…and most likely sample.
And all rules are off when it’s that time of the month….
wait, aren’t rules made to be broken?!
Fabulous rules! That salsa looks incredible!
xo
Hershey Bars will always be an exception. ALWAYS. Also: cookies (preferably your chocolate chip) brownies, frappachinos and the occasional s’more.
Hmm, perhaps I have a bit of a sweet tooth.
And although it’s not even 10 a.m., I suddenly have a hankering for mac n cheese.
Cilantrooooooooooo!!!
Hmmm..exceptions…I’m sure if there was a box of ritz crackers in front of me I would plow right through them. Sometimes I still just love making buttered noodles too..mmmm Lame exception list..I know, lol.
I love Michael Polen’s new book! Great information. want some tuna bread to go with that salsa, hehe? Just kidding!
Food rules? Is there really such a thing? Besides… rules are meant to be broken! My only food rule is to “eat food.”
My rule is when possible eat real food….aka not things full of chemicals.
Hahahahaha, love this so much.
My exceptions are Margaritas, beer, Mexican food, Honduran food, Mexican food.
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