The Daily Meal Hall Of Fame: Michael Pollan

The Daily Meal is announcing the inductees into its Hall of Fame for 2016. The Hall of Fame honors key figures, both living and dead, from the world of food. We are introducing the honorees, one per weekday. Today's inductee is Michael Pollan.

Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food. The man who wrote those memorable words, Michael Pollan, has essentially led the conversation on rethinking the way this country eats.

I want to highlight two things about Michael Pollan: First, his humility. Every time I hear him speak, he applauds those of us in the field, doing the work. He often says, "I just write about it." And indeed he does, which brings me to my second point... His brilliant writing. His writing is brilliant not only because it is beautiful and eloquent and is well researched, but, most of all, because it is easily understandable. He reaches a wide range of audiences by simplifying tough subjects and making them very real. His cause is just, his thinking is clear. He shines a light on what we should be thinking about when we make food choices.

As executive chef of Wellness in the Schools, I work with children starting at five years old. They know not to eat anything their great-grandmothers wouldn't have recognized as food — and not to get their fuel the same place as their car does — because of Michael Pollan. Thank you, Michael, for teaching us at every age.