The ecological theory of optimal foraging generally states that the way a species consumes food is optimized for the energy required to attain it, the distance it needs to travel, and predatory risk along the way.
Of course as humans, the grocery store replaces the foraging patch, and we don’t usually think of our shopping cart in terms of energy optimization. We do however, listen to advertisements, notice product placement on the shelf, and learn from other people about what is generally best to consume.
The problem is that most of these inputs to our food selection are skewed, not towards our optimal health, but towards the incentive to sell products in a competitive market.
The goal of the Optimal Forager project is to surface collective knowledge that helps us make better decisions about what we eat and drink, bypassing market incentives.
So how will this work?
We’ll start with the basics - sharing our experiences and finding commonality. We can then incorporate that intelligence into our own foraging approach, adapted to personal goals.
If you have feedback, suggestions, or questions, drop them here.