Slow food In today's society, our relationship with food is so skewed and unnatural that many children don't even know what kind of plant or animal their dinner came from. Much of this problem stems from fast food eating habits and on-the-go family dynamics. Our bodies pay a heavy toll for this fast-paced lifestyle. A growing number of people are developing health problems such as obesity, heart disease, eating disorders, and anxiety. I, and many others, suggest a simple remedy to help prevent these and other problems. What is my miracle cure? Slow food.
No, its not a magic pill or product you can buy, in fact, its nearly free. The slow food movement encourages families to get back to the basics. Slow food is food and much more; it is about connecting our food consumption to the wider social atmosphere. Slow food is about forgoing haste and recognizing that over-consumption of fast food damages our health and cultural food traditions. There are simple steps that can get anyone started on the slow food track.
First and foremost: cook. I know, cooking takes so much time a effort, but the benefits are well worth it and with today's technology, it won't take as long as you may think. The number one benefit of home cooked meals is that you know exactly what is going into your body. The added benefits include the fact that you can make cooking a family activity that allows everyone to get involved. If you teach your children to cook at a young age, they will be more likely to cook when they get older and you are giving them a chance to be creative and confident.
The next step is to buy from local growers. Depending on where you live, this step can be very easy or very hard. Obviously not all your food can be local, but trying your best to do so will make a big difference. Why does this step matter? Because in-season produce from nearby is the best tasting and most nutritious produce you can buy. Also, if you get food grown locally, less fuel is used in the transport of your food (very earth friendly).
A slightly less convenient step is to grow your own food. Once again, you can get all your food that way unless you have a lot of time and space, but a little goes a long way. Pick out a small area in your yard and plant a mini garden there. Home grown food is full of nutrition and you can control exactly what goes into your garden. Make it another family activity; have your children each be in charge of a certain plant or take turns being in charge of watering. Your kids will be amazed to watch as a tiny seed grow into a food yielding plant before their eyes. It can even be a lesson in biology for them.
I hope this has sparked your interest in becoming a part of the slow food movement.
