By Stephen Ornes

Defensive Eating With Randy Pendergrass

By Stephen Ornes

At his monthly “Defensive Eating” seminar, nutritionist Randy Pendergrass offers quick tips about food, farms and nutrition to attendees. Here’s a sample:

• EAT REAL FOOD. “Look at the ingredients in your food,” he says. “If you see words you can’t pronounce, you shouldn’t be eating it.”

• DON'T DRINK SOFT DRINKS. “To me, they’re the worst thing you can drink,” Pendergrass says. He recommends tea instead.

• SPEND TIME PREPARING YOUR FOOD. “The more time you spend in the kitchen, the more time you spend on Earth,” he says. “We’ve traded our health for convenience.”

• BUY PRODUCE FROM A FARMER'S MARKET OR GROW YOUR OWN—AND ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO SOIL. “If the soil is garbage,” he says, “you’re not getting any nutrients.”