Howdy friend. You’ve stumbled across an old article. I believe in real food and support anyone – celebrity or otherwise – in their advocacy of nutritional medicine. This doesn’t mean that I support all of the views they express on their own platforms.

My friend Kim recently brought up something that I’ve been thinking about for a while now. Chef Pete Evans is under constant scrutiny from the media. Labelled as ‘arrogant’, ‘extreme’, ‘un-educated’ and some go as far as to say, ‘dangerous’.

I’ll admit, when he hates on grains, my buckwheat-adoring nostril hairs start to flare. But really, for the most part he’s pro-vegetables. Can we calm our farms and leave Pete and his sexy chin stubble be?

Kim expressed that all this man is trying to do is educate the public on how to eat real food. You know, the stuff that comes from plants, soil or organically-raised animals? The stuff our body recognises?

Pete has a rough year. Getting accused of being a baby-killer (you can read about that here) must have been unsettling. Could we perhaps cut the man some slack? He’s a decent bloke, albeit a bit of a loose canon.

Pete let me interview him when I was in year 12 so I could gather inside information for a hospitality assignment. That’s right. The MKR judge gave me his personal phone number because he simply wanted to help. There was no money or publicity in it for him. That’s integrity.

Is Pete extreme? Well, if eating vegetables, ethically-sourced animal products and essential fatty acids from wholesome sources is extreme, then yes, he’s lost the plot.

I mean, avoiding to breakfast cereals, ultra-processed milks and products loaded with questionable additives sure is a sure fire way to become deficient in multiple nutrients.

Sense the tone.

Okay, so perhaps someone could mention to Pete that sourdough rye ain’t the devil or that creamy oat porridge can be a dream for the ole large intestine, but if he wants to go against the grain, he has that right.

He’s no different to others Paleos who introduce themselves as Steve ‘hasn’t-touched-bread-in-a-year’ Jones. It’s a pleasure Steve, I’m Rachel ‘has-a-platonic-crush-on-peanut-butter’ Favilla. To each niche their own.

To those who say Pete is uneducated, I hear you. He may be a bloody good cook, but he’s not a Nutritionist. The dude hangs around people who have stigmatic views about nutrition. Don’t we all though? At least to some degree?

I mean, if you hate him for hating carbs, isn’t that because you think carbs are life? Otherwise you wouldn’t give a baguette’s bottom about his dietary choices. Agree to disagree and let him make you some raw chocolate fudge. Something I’m sure you can find common ground on.

He may go to extremes, but in between the sensationalism, there are elements of truth. Such as the shortfalls of wheat harvesting (Round up does not deserve a place at our dinner table) or the fact that we are the only species to drink the milk of another mammal.

I’m not suggesting that Paleo is for everyone. Heck, I’m certainly not lining up to eat like a caveman. I really like rice and the odd slice of sourdough. I’m simply saying that cow’s milk is for cows and glyphosate belongs on weeds – if anywhere – and certainly not on your sandwich. Frankly, I reckon we’d be better off finding a less contentious alternative.

Pete recommends consulting nature to remedy our lifestyle-induced woes. Is this really worth a news headline? Or is it common sense?

Pete, I stand with you on the whole foods front. I won’t gag at your affinity for offal if you promise to not to lecture me about the almond butter in my fridge that is 100% not activated. Deal?