Food minus fear

Our ancestors' problem used to be not whatm they ate but ifm they ate. Then came all the findings and counterfindings about dietary dangers until nature's grand array of edibles looked more like a minefield than a smorgasbord. Now comes a bit of expert perspective that, like the old song about apple pan dowdy, makes our eyes light up and our stomach say howdy.

Yes, common sense is still important in eating as in anything else. But, in introducing a new report by the National Academy of Sciences' food and nutrition board, the chairman said the board "wanted to allay apprehension about diet." He added what we offer as today's dessert:

"People should not be afraid of food and what they eat."