Thought provoking and compelling, The Omnivore’s Dilemma will make you re-evaluate everything you thought you knew about the food you eat.

Did you know that much of the food we eat can be traced back to corn? – everything from a fast food meal to what you find in the supermarket aisles. Not only are we consuming corn and its derivatives at an astonishing rate, but we are also causing environmental destruction, poverty and ill health along the way.

Moving beyond modern industrial farming, Pollan also takes a look at organic farming, a somewhat unregulated, although considerably improved option over the industrial food chain.

Most heartening was Pollan’s stay at Polyface Farm, a traditional farming operation. At Polyface animals are allowed to do “animal” things – forage, eat off the land, exercise and socialize. Crops are grown without artificial fertilizers – animal waste fertilizes the land. Every system of the farm works in perfect synergy.

You might feel like it’s impossible to avoid the industrial food chains surrounding us. But visiting farmer’s markets, gardening, cooking your own food and avoiding pre-packaged food can go a long way to solving the Omnivore’s Dilemma.

Borrow The Omnivore’s Dilemma (available in original format or young readers edition) from your local Vaughan Library today!