Salt

In Haight Ashbury during the Summer of Love, the third hippie I ever met advised me to avoid salt. I was not prepared to accept health advice from a fellow with a faraway look who called me a juicer, but I probably should have listened to him. It took decades for me to realize that avoiding sodium steers the diet in a healthy direction with no particular effort.

Put the salt shaker away for a few weeks and buy unsalted butter. Soon you’ll be able to taste the subtle nuances of what you’re eating, and you will become aware of the sensory and metabolic assault of sodium on the body. Eat whole grains for a while and then choose meat from sources that use vegetarian feed. It won’t be long before refined sugar holds little appeal.

I’ve never been able to sell this approach to a kid, but I pacified my boy with Saturday junk food. Where food is concerned, I think the most important thing is to avoid power struggles.