the almond daughter is ahead of us all

number your days big protein

"Clean eating" is a distinctly American invention. In the rest of the world, it's simply called eating. But America has transformed basic nutrition into a complex industry of supplements, specialized diets, and marketed "wellness."

this biz of food in america

Food in America is a massive business first, nourishment second. The evidence is everywhere:

Protein manufacturers inject supplements into every possible product. Dairy corporations have convinced Americans they need milk products in ways no other culture considers normal. The "health food" industry has transformed basic nutrition into an exclusive lifestyle brand.

The result? A pervasive belief that health must be purchased. That nutrition requires special packets, branded products, and engineered versions of normal food.

health propaganda

Each generation faces its own marketed version of "healthy eating":

1970s-1980s: The "fat-free" revolution coincided with soaring diabetes rates

1990s-2000s: South Beach and Atkins dominated the conversation

2010s: Keto and paleo took over

2020s: "That Girl" wellness culture on TikTok

Every generation believes they've discovered revolutionary nutrition secrets. In reality, they're being sold repackaged versions of what humans have always known: eat real food.

the industrial food complex

The food industry keeps creating "healthy alternatives" to real food, ignoring that real food was always the healthy option:

• Cauliflower transformed into every possible carb replacement

• Snacks fortified with protein powder

• Milk manufactured from every available nut and seed

• "Superfoods" marketed as miracle solutions

• and the worst of them all, protein fortified, everything

when it comes down to it

All actual food is food. Not food products. Not food innovations. Just food.

Real food:

• Doesn't require health claims on packaging

• Exists without marketing campaigns

• Lacks a corporate budget

• Doesn't need defending on social media

• Has been nourishing humans for generations

You can identify real food by its simplicity:

• Single-ingredient items

• Recognizable in its natural state

• Perishable

• Unbranded

• Unpatented

every time i leave the country

Every time I travel outside the United States, something interesting happens. I completely forget about my elaborate supplement routine - the morning greens powder, the digestive enzymes, the probiotic capsules, the protein shakes. And guess what? I feel amazing.

Eating fresh Mediterranean food in Italy or traditional dishes in South Africa, I never once think about my macros or whether I've had enough superfoods. I'm just eating real food, prepared in traditional ways, and my body thrives.

This experience reveals the absurdity of how we approach food in America. The "clean eating" movement has overcomplicated the simple act of nourishing ourselves. We're analyzing macro ratios, tracking micronutrients, and optimizing meal timing while ignoring the obvious: humans thrived for thousands of years without any of this.

The food industry has created problems to sell solutions:

• Marketing "protein-enhanced" products when regular food contains protein

• Selling sugar-free alternatives instead of suggesting less sugar

• Creating gluten-free versions of processed foods instead of promoting naturally gluten-free whole foods

• Manufacturing vitamin-fortified products rather than encouraging vitamin-rich natural foods

let’s keep it simp(le)

You don't need to:

• Optimize your eating patterns

• Biohack your nutrition (honestly just get a blood panel instead)

• Follow trending diets

• Purchase specialized "health" products

You need to eat what humans have always eaten before corporations got involved in our food decisions:

• Whole fruits and vegetables

• Unprocessed grains

• Natural proteins

• Traditional fats

going forward

The solution to modern nutrition isn't more complexity - it's a return to simplicity. Instead of asking what new superfood you should buy or which diet trend to follow, ask yourself: Would your great-great-grandmother recognize this as food?

Real nutrition isn't found in packages promising health benefits. It's found in markets, gardens, and farms. It's found in the simple act of eating real food.

The next time someone talks about their clean eating journey or the latest TikTok food trend, consider this: What if we just ate food? Not products marketed as food. Not engineered nutrition. Just food.

Because the truth about nutrition hasn't changed in thousands of years: Real food nourishes. Everything else is just marketing.