Over 80,000 people around the world care about what you eat and how you eat it.
Don’t be too alarmed. No, you won’t have 80,000 people gathered around your table staring and criticizing as you take every bite of your dinner. But they are there in spirit. These 80,000 individuals are all members of the slow food movement, whose mission is “to defend biodiversity in our food supply, spread taste education and connect producers of excellent foods with co-producers through events and initiatives.” In other words, the organization believes that food should be satisfying and not just be swallowed. A person’s daily menu should include wholesome and natural fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. and individuals should not rely on fast-food drive-throughs for quick snacks on the run. Members actively teach others these beliefs through workshops, school visits and tradeshows.
Befittingly, the organization’s logo is that of a snail (which moves and eats slowly) but the association certainly doesn’t move at a snail’s pace. Since 2000, branch offices have been opened in Switzerland, Germany, New York, France, Japan and the United Kingdom. Slow Food’s head office is located in Northern Italy. In addition, they publish a quarterly newsletter, “The Snail”, and have recently opened a University of Gastronomic Sciences in Northern Italy.
Live slow to live better. The concept makes perfect sense. Many of us have been guilty of grabbing that double-cheese burger on the way home from work, eating this while driving, calling home on our cell phones to ensure the kids are ready to go to their soccer game and then rushing out to the community field so as not to miss kick-off. Is madcap rushing around truly the best way to live? Life is not a smorgasbord where you see how much you can pile onto your plate and then return for second and third helpings. Slow down. Begin with slowing down with eating what’s on your plate in front of you. And pay closer attention to what you put on that plate. You may easily find you enjoy this. 80,000 people, after all, can’t be wrong.
To learn more about the slow food movement, please check out these websites:
http://www.slowfood.com/
http://www.slowfood.ca/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_Food
In the meantime, you may just need a few more chairs around your dinner table.
article by Rick Lauber is a published freelance writer whose work has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines. When not writing, Rick enjoys visiting his favourite second-hand CD stores, taking long walks and playing pool. rlauber@canada.com.
