Hi friends~
I’m getting this out late today, but holy moly so much is happening, and I wanted to hit a few things all at once. I’d love to get your feedback.
Thoughts on the Washington Post’s article interviewing food scientist Marian Nestle’s daily diet.
Nutrition expert Marian Nestle, 89, just published her most recent book What To Eat Now”. I get it. She’s been writing on food science for decades. She’s aligned with Pollan: “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants”. She was asked what she eats in an interview by The Washington Post to share her daily diet. She sure doesn’t eat very much in caloric quantity, citing a general drop in metabolism with age – which isn’t necessarily true. This Mayo Clinic article states that resistance training could slow and, in many cases, reverse the changes in muscle fibers associated with aging. This is even true in people who don’t start resistance training until after age 70. And it’s never too late to start.
Marian doesn’t mention any physical activity, but without resistance training and no mention of protein in her diet, she might already have osteoporosis, possibly setting herself up for a catastrophic fracture.
She says she doesn’t eat breakfast until late in the morning (which could seem like advice from an expert woman recommending intermittent fasting – beware of intermittent fasting). Her diet is austere – she likes plain shredded wheat for example, and loves salads for lunch and dinner, and sometimes cheese and crackers (yes to cheese!). She’ll have an occasional restaurant dinner at a place that serves lovely salads and pasta. And ice cream is her favorite treat. (I’m on with that!) BUT – where’s the protein?
She’s managed to hang around to 89, sharp and functioning well – but she’s a nutrition authority, and this interview seems like advice for longevity – and it’s concerning because some women might follow it. Her regimen risks nutritional and exercise consequences, and I would warn my daughters, granddaughters, and clients against it.
The NYTimes published an opinion piece implying that women are responsible for mens’ problems.
Ross Douthat’s opinion piece “ruffled feminist feathers” in his conversation with conservative women, “Did Women Ruin The Workplace? Subtitled, “Can Conservative Feminism Fix it?” Then after backlash, he re-titled the article: “Have Feminine Vices Taken Over The Workplace?” And then tried a third re-title: “Did Liberal Feminism Ruin the Workplace? And if so, can conservative feminism fix it?”
Reactions flooded in to say that the conversation was a desperate attempt to build readership and listeners for his platform, while alienating half of his potential followers. Here’s The Wrap: The New York Times Ridiculed for ‘Did Women Ruin the Workplace?’ Op-Ed: ‘Are You Kidding Me?’
Jessica Valenti wrote in her response: “It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the same week Douthat and his guests questioned whether American institutions are being destroyed by women’s presence in the workplace, ultra-conservative religious leaders renewed their call to eliminate women’s right to vote.”And, “Times podcast guest Helen Andrews insists women’s presence in public institutions has been a “pathology,” and that “feminization” will destroy the rule of law, one of our repeal-the-19th freaks declares, “emotions cannot be used to rule and govern a nation.”
And finally the news today (again in the NYTimes)
