Forks Over Knives written and directed by Lee Fulkerson
rating *** 1/2
I first got tuned in to eating less meat as a way to better health after reading Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma and the documentary that followed called Food, Inc. Michael’s book was an eye opener. The topic of his book, however, was more about the industrialization of our food, and especially the meat that we eat.
This film promotes abandoning meat and dairy almost completely and switching to a plant based, whole foods diet. And they make some pretty valid points.
While Michael Pollan’s book deals a lot with the moral dilemma of eating meat, this film provides data that indicates that eating meat is a major contributing factor of many of the health problems facing all of us, from obesity to cancer to a string of other ailments that the filmmakers claim can be eliminated with a simple switch of diet
The filmmakers don’t rely just on anecdotal evidence. They back up their claims with several different scientific studies. And the evidence they put forward is pretty convincing. It was convincing enough to both my wife and I that we have decided to drastically cut back on the amount of meat we consume.
The problem I have is simply a matter of convenience. I do the majority of the cooking. I would estimate that 75% of the meals I prepare include some portion of meat. So if I’m going to start eating less meat, I need to come up with a new plan. The food has to be convenient, easy to prepare, and, most importantly, taste good.
I’m guessing that the process is going to require a transition period. I’m going to have to try different recipes until I find the ones that work for me. And I’m going to have to look at menus at restaurants with a different eye now. The bottom line, though, is that less meat and more fruits and vegetables is a worthy goal.
I would have given the film a higher rating had they provided some practical solutions to meal planning. I need someone to hold my hand like they do in the film.