Horace Fletcher

Born in 1849, Horace Fletcher became a widely known American food writer and health advocate at the turn of the 20th century. He was not a physician, but he gained fame by promoting the idea that food should be chewed very thoroughly before swallowing, a practice that became known as "Fletcherism."

Fletcher wrote several books on diet and wellbeing, including The A.B.-Z. of Our Own Nutrition and Fletcherism: What It Is. His work reached a broad audience because it turned eating into something people could control and improve, fitting neatly with the era's appetite for self-help and new health movements.

Although his theories were controversial and are often remembered today as part of the history of food fads, Fletcher had a real cultural impact. His name became a byword for meticulous chewing, and his unusual advice left a lasting mark on popular discussions of diet and personal health.