This article was written in the opinion section of the NY Times as part of a debate series on whether we need more advice as a country on how to eat well. It was written by Marion Nestle who works in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University. She has also written a book and has a blog about food politics. She wrote this piece so people would be motivated to try and do something about what foods are available. When it comes down to it these are things that policymakers and government officials need to start looking at and doing something about.
She believes that Americans definitely need more information about eating well and that our obesity problem is proof of that. Often times people get conflicting advice because everyone wants their product to sell so they say it is the best. Food companies want to sell as much food as possible so they can make the largest profit possible. It is hard for people to resist food when it is sold everywhere they go. The basic principles for healthy eating are easily said, but hard to actually follow.
She believes we need to change the environment that food is available in so people can make healthier decisions. One of the problems is that fresh produce is so expensive making it hard for people to afford to eat healthy. She emphasizes that the farm bill needs to be fixed so these things can happen.