An Interview with Dr. Daphne

This morning, TGP interviewed Dr. Daphne, whose new book "The Jungle Effect" is a fascinating read. According to Dr. Daphne, the four common features of successful diets around the world ("diet," as in the way people eat, not "diet," as in the way people try to lose weight), are: eating local grains, using local spices, eating fermented foods, and...get this: communal eating. Sharing meals together. Not watching TV when you eat, not eating in the car, not throwing a frozen pizza at the kids on the way to soccer practice. People whose traditions insist that they do these four things live longer and stay healthier, period, no matter which part of the globe they inhabit.

It has little to do with low fat or high fat (the diet in urban Iceland varies drastically from the diet in rural Indonesia), or meat or no meat, or lots of carbohydrates or few. What it does have to do with is minimizing processed foods and foods with additives, and avoiding cooking with processed oils (yup: olive oil works great. But Dr. Daphne, who was born in Israel, keeps a small container of lard by her stove, and uses a little from time to time. Wha-huhh? Well, she knows where the pig came from and she knows what it ate. Go figure.)

As far as The Great Plotnik is concerned, Dr. Daphne's most important statement is the one about joy. You have to enjoy your food. That's where communal eating comes in. What could be more pleasurable than preparing and sharing food with your family and friends?

Plotnik has long been a passenger on this train. It's nice to hear it's good for you too.

Of course...those veal chops last night probably contained more meat than a week's meals at Dr. Daphne's house. But, mmmmmmm. Garlic and rosemary from the garden! Olive oil from...well, Italy. Lettuce from, well, Modesto. Strawberries from, well, Watsonville. But the raspberries were from the back yard! Happy Plotties! Healthy Plotties!

("Plotties," not "Pilates".)