A detailed examination of how food processing and nutritional science have transformed natural foods into complex products, leading to a disconnect between people and their traditional food culture. This industrialization has replaced wholesome foods with 'edible foodlike substances' that prioritize convenience and profit over health.

The book critiques the ideology of nutritionism - the reduction of food to its nutrient components - and how this oversimplified approach has created confusion among consumers while failing to improve public health. This reductionist thinking has led to ever-changing dietary guidelines and health claims that often contradict one another.

An exploration of how traditional food cultures and age-old eating practices often provide better guidance for healthy eating than modern nutritional science. The author advocates for embracing cultural food wisdom and returning to real, whole foods as the foundation of a healthy diet.