michael pollan

The holidays have come and gone, and January means a new year and possibly, a new you! Whether you're hoping to build new eating habits, or are trying to figure out what to do with your holiday gifts, one of our must haves will likely fit your needs.

• Michael Pollan, author of the Omnivore's Dilemma returns with his new book In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto ($13.17). In it Pollan offers advice on how to eat in a healthy way.
• If you're hoping to bring your lunch to work on a regular basis, you may want to invest in a Mr. Bento Stainless Lunch Jar ($40-$60). You'll be able to pack your lunch and tote it around too!
• If you're looking for great thank you cards, try these adorable Scratch n' Sniff Cards ($8). They come in ice cream, gumball, chocolate and mint.
• If you've got a few bottles of wine sitting around in your kitchen, invest in a fun wine rack like this Wine Knot ($98). It's decorative and useful too.
• Eating yogurt is good for you, and if you already love eating it, then you'll enjoying making your own with this Automatic Yogurt Maker ($50).

The Omnivore's Dilemma was one of last year's most talked about food books and yet it didn't have a single recipe in it. In fact, it didn't have any kitchen tips either. So what was it about and what made it so popular?

Author Michael Pollan uses his tome as a way to explore the way we deal with food, or actually, the way we don't deal with food. As he travels up and down the food chain, it is obvious that he clearly believes our society has become greatly distanced from our food. The meat we purchase in the grocery store is shaped like a slab, not an animal. His disgust at the factory farming industry is very clear and his words are sometimes frightening to digest. Whether you're a full-fledged meat eater or a long-time vegetarian, The Ominvore's Dilemma will definitely make you think twice about how you consume food.

Have any of you read it? If so, what did you think?