The “Slow Food” Movement
You probably haven’t heard much about it, but the “Slow Food” Movement is taking the world by storm!
Just what is the “Slow Food” Movement? Simple – think “fast food” and then think about the direct opposite. That’s what “slow food” is all about!
The Slow Food Movement was started by Carlo Petrini of Italy, in 1986, as part of a campaign against the opening of a McDonald’s fast food restaurant near the Spanish Steps in Rome. The movement has grown to include more 100,000 members with chapters in more than 132 countries.
Because it is a young, grassroots movement, very few people even know about slow food. Some of the main objectives of the slow food movement are to:
• Educate consumers about the dangers of fast food
• Promote organic gardening and lobby against the use of pesticides
• Preserve and enjoy local food traditions, food products and preparation methods, safeguarding them for future generations; celebrate local cuisine with regional food festivals
• Organize and preserve small scale meat and food processing plants, rather than large scale, commercial food farms
• Teach gardening skills to students and prisoners
• Recognize the strong connection between the plate and the planet by encouraging bio-friendly farming methods that don’t harm the environment
The philosophy of the Slow Food Movement, according to their website (www.slowfood.com), is as follows:
We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to pleasure and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible. Our movement is founded upon this concept of eco-gastronomy – a recognition of the strong connections between plate and planet.
Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.
We consider ourselves co-producers, not consumers, because by being informed about how our food is produced and actively supporting those who produce it, we become a part of and a partner in the production process.
Healthy eating is an essential component of the chiropractic lifestyle, along with adequate sleep, regular exercise and routine chiropractic adjustments. Any movement that promotes healthy organic foods while preserving local food culture and protecting the environment should be embraced and encouraged as the antidote to fast food!
Dr. Jason Asks...
