In the section of “In Defense of Food” by An Eater’s Manifesto, Pollen has claimed several rules for people’s eating. I agree with most of his opinions; but I would like to point out, from my experience reminds me, that all of his rules that he has defined in this section can only apply to certain group of people, who have good enough economic conditions. There are big portions of people in the world who are unable to go to farmer’s market and build a garden on their own. They grow their own food not in the purpose of getting wealthy, but seeking to just feed themselves and their families.

For example, many people in the United States see McDonalds as ordinary fast food while my family in China and my host family in Nepal see McDonalds as a luxury. I recorded back my cherished feeling when I was celebrating my 6-year-old birthday at 6 at McDonalds in China. It was very special to me at that time. Instant noodle is another example; seen as unhealthy and junk food in many American and Chinese eyes, in the village in Nepal, my host family sent their daughter-in-law to the only store in the village to buy instant noodles and cook for us as refreshment before our meal. It tasted very good with my host mom’s kind heart and good cooking skills, but we all know it is unhealthy. Pollen insists on how to choose food and what ingredients of food that we should look at, but not many people in the world have received such nutrition education. The meaning of Farmer’s Market in the perspectives of people who have fewer resources, such as my host family and their village, is different from people in the city who have higher income and do not live by farming. My host dad works hard in the field, collects crops and brings them to sell at the farmer’s market in the town at 5 in the morning, can hardly feed himself, his wife and his one-year-old son. Choices of food are certainly limited, not by people’s choice, but by the environment that they live in.