Super Short Summary

The American Way of Eating by Tracie McMillan is a 2012 non-fiction book that explores the American food system by focusing on three key areas: farm labor, supermarkets, and family restaurants. As an undercover journalist, McMillan investigates the challenging conditions faced by farm workers in California, examines the food distribution practices in Walmart, and reveals the processing and preparation methods in an Applebee’s kitchen. Throughout the book, McMillan highlights the economic and systemic barriers to accessing healthy food and argues for seeing nutritious food as a human right rather than a market commodity. Sensitive topics in the book include labor exploitation and economic disparity.