Eat, Drink, Read: Dwight Garner's Obsession with Word and Table
Jan 5, 2024
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Dwight Garner, a New York Times book critic, shares amusing food insights from cherished authors, including John Updike's lunch habits. Manvir Singh, an anthropologist, discusses the phenomenon of 'meat-fluencers' and extreme carnivorism. The conversation also highlights the cultural significance of shared meals, like a nostalgic peanut butter and pickle sandwich, and dives into the art of cooking biryani with a focus on spice intricacies. Additionally, they explore Old Norse roots in culinary language, uncovering the etymology of kitchen words.
Dwight Garner shares food-related insights from renowned authors, highlighting the cultural significance of culinary experiences in literature.
The rise of meat influencers showcases a simplified, all-meat diet that overlooks the historical diversity of human dietary practices.
Nutritional studies advocate for whole, unprocessed foods, emphasizing that quality and variety are crucial for lasting health management.
Deep dives
The Rise of Meat Influencers
The phenomenon of meat influencers, particularly figures like the Liver King, has gained traction in the dietary community. Advocates promote all-meat diets, claiming health benefits tied to returning to ancestral eating habits. This grassroots movement emphasizes a simplistic view of diet, focusing solely on meat consumption while potentially overlooking the complexities of traditional human diets. An anthropological investigation reveals that while these influencers highlight certain historical diets like that of the Inuit, many ancestral diets were actually more diverse and not as meat-centric.
The Myths of the Paleo Diet
The paleo diet is portrayed as an idealized return to eating like our ancestors; however, its parameters are often overly simplified. Proponents suggest eliminating processed foods to achieve better health through a diet that mimics paleolithic eating. Yet, studies show that ancient diets varied greatly depending on location and availability, debunking the notion of a uniform diet. Research indicates many hunter-gatherers consumed a wide variety of foods, including significant plant-based components, underscoring the limitations of a strict carnivorous diet.
Challenging Dieting Studies
Recent studies laud the benefits of carnivore diets, boasting success rates among participants; however, such studies often rely on self-reported data from unverified sources. Findings indicate high numbers of anecdotal health improvements, but scrutiny reveals methodological flaws, including non-compliance with the diet. This raises questions about the validity of such studies as concrete evidence for dietary success. Instead, a nuanced understanding of diet should consider individual lifestyles and dietary components rather than adhering strictly to one model.
Whole Foods vs. Processed Foods
Insights from nutritional studies emphasize the importance of whole foods in managing dietary health. Research indicates that diets filled with unprocessed foods allow the body to effectively gauge nutritional needs, leading to better appetite regulation. The consumption of highly processed snacks may disrupt this natural tendency, promoting unhealthy eating patterns. This indicates that education around food quality, rather than strict dietary rules, could foster healthier eating habits and choices.
Holistic Approaches to Diet
A more holistic perspective on health suggests that diet is only one part of a larger system influencing well-being. Factors such as food quality, variety, emotional health, sleep, and exercise all contribute significantly to health outcomes. The emphasis should not solely rest on the specific food groups consumed but rather the overall lifestyle and choices made. This intertwines with the understanding that ancient diets were complex and influenced by broader environmental and social elements, making the pursuit of a one-size-fits-all diet impractical.
We’re joined by New York Times book critic and author Dwight Garner. He presents food quips from his favorite writers, as well as John Updike’s lunch routine and Hunter S. Thompson’s party tricks. Plus, anthropologist Manvir Singh helps us digest the world of “meat-fluencers” and their all-meat diets; A Way with Words give credit to the Old Norse words lingering in our kitchens; and we prepare a Pakistani-Style Chicken Biryani.
Get this week’s recipe for Pakistani-Style Chicken Biryani here.
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