This amusing snippet from the Simpsons sums up our general approach to food these days; particularly in developed countries:
Moe: I got this deep fryer on loan from the U.S. Army. You can roast a buffalo in that in forty seconds.
Homer: Forty seconds?? But I want it now!
It's funny, but cuts incredibly close to the bone. I eat 2 meals a day in front of my computer so I can keep working. Food I make for myself has little to do with taste, but convenience and the "feed the machine" factor. I hardly remember having eaten.
Even family meals are usually pretty quick sort of affairs, accompanied by the tv on; whereas in the past I remember lengthy meal times when everyone talked about their day; expressed concerns and solved problems - and the TV being on was considered just plain rude.
While we don't eat a lot of take-out and do try to eat well, there's certainly room for improvement from a dietary aspect as well. We still buy a lot of pre-made sauces and our freezer does contain it's share of frozen meals, even if those meals are "healthy".
Food is such an important part of our lives, yet, like the general environment, it's something we're becoming increasingly disconnected from. For many of us, it's all about speed these days - from convenience packaging, to the ease of actual consumption. Aside from the cultural aspects, this approach to such a basic and important function in our lives is creating a massive impact on our environment. Many of us are still blissfully unaware of problems related to issues such food miles, palm oil, soy beans and the connection between food and fossil fuel.
Enter the slow food movement.
What is slow food?
Slow Food is about clean and fair food. Slow food principles state the food we eat should not only taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not negatively impact on the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work i.e - under fair trade values.
Slow Food is also about slowing down to enjoy life with family and friends; with food as a central focus. When you think about what goes into a meal, everyone can participate in the preparation in some way.
Slow food is about connecting more with our food - whether it's growing your own; or making something from scratch - perhaps baking bread at home. Some slow food principles can be worked into most lifestyles even if you can't go the whole hog (so to speak).
The slow food approach to life also works in very nicely with the principles locavore movement, which is the increasingly popular practice of eating foods harvested from within a local area; usually within a 100 mile radius
While I'm not quite ready or able to become a "slow food" devotee just yet - in fact, I'm eating my breakfast as I'm typing this, reading about this way of life does make me quite nostalgic for times past and the principles make a lot of sense. It extends way beyond food and into every aspect of life.
We are certainly not only what we eat, but how eat.
Slow food resources
If you're interested in learning more about the slow food movement; there's organizations in just about every country now; here's some links:
Slow Food USA
Slow Food Canada
Slow Food in the United Kingdom
A full listing of slow food groups around the world can be viewed here.
