News > The big idea: should we eat like our ancestors?

The big idea: should we eat like our ancestors?

In this period of anxiety about the size of our waists and what we consume, simple dietary rules are appealing. “Eat like our ancestors” is a particularly catchy slogan to live by, at least on the surface.

The paleo fad has a streak of solipsism as well as hubris and fantasy. It is focused almost exclusively on what’s perceived to be good for our bodies, without any concern for the rest of nature.