I just finished reading What to Eat by Marion Nestle. Unlike the other food books I’ve read recently, this one focuses on personal nutrition rather than the environment, thouth the two are not mutually exclusive. She summarizes her advice nicely with a 1959 quote by the cardiologist Ancel Keys:

Do not get fat; if you are fat, reduce. Favor fresh vegetables and fruits. Avoid heavy use of salt and refined sugar. Get of plenty of exercise and outdoor recreation. See your doctor regularly, and do not worry

Nestle’s book is largely an indictment of the food industry and its advertising practices. Food is big business, and companies frequently use nutrition claims to distinguish their products from the rest of the field. Though these claims technically have to be backed up by scientific results, Nestle finds that many of these “scientific” studies are funded by the very companies citing them. In fact, many companies add nutrients to foods in order to obscure the large number of calories/cholesterol/etc. that make the food otherwise unhealthy. Instead, look for products with few ingredients.