Julie Guthman’s book Weighing In: Obesity, Food Justice, and the Limits of Capitalism marks a paradigm shift in our approach to the “problem” of obesity and related topics like farm policy, the “alternative” food system, and food-centered social justice movements. Guthman takes on the mainstream foodie media and writers like Michael Pollan, who, she argues, … Continue reading Weighing In
Books
Exotic Appetites
In Exotic Appetites, philosopher Lisa Heldke reflects on her behavior as a “food adventurer” and interrogates her fascination with the foods from foreign places. She considers this behavior, which in her experience is most often perpetrated by fellow white, Western folks in search of “novelty” and “authenticity” in an effort to make their diets more … Continue reading Exotic Appetites
Pressure Cooker
A study of home-cooked meals and the elusive (mythical) family dinner In their book Pressure Cooker: Why Home Cooking Won’t Solve Our Problems and What We Can Do About It, Bowen, Brenton, and Elliott challenge seven “foodie maxims” that have that have become mainstream in food discourse over the last few decades. These mantras, often … Continue reading Pressure Cooker
