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We’ve all heard of fast food - chains like McDonalds and Burger King are household names throughout the world - but what about Slow Food? The grassroots movement is looking to provide an alternative to fast food by encouraging people to get back to the table to enjoy good, healthy and environmentally-sound foodstuffs.
Slow Food was started in 1986 by Carlos Petrini, who set out to encourage farming, preserve traditional and regional cuisine and produce food that doesn’t harm Mother Earth. The movement stands by the idea that food and planet are interconnected elements, and everyday individuals have the power to change how food is produced and consumed. Now active in over 150 countries, Slow Food is an international movement. Here's what you need to know.
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This interview with Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini, penned by food writer and NY Times columnist Mark Bitman, captures the origins of the movement and gives an inside-out understanding of what Slow Food is all about.
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Josh Viertel, the president of Slow Food USA, will inspire you - and make you smile - in this riveting TedX talk. In Building a Slow Food Nation, Viertel speaks about the direct connection between food and civic action, and how we have more power than we think when it comes to changing how food is produced. Viertel’s vision of an America in which fruit is cheaper than Fruit Loops (a sugary cereal) does not seem so far off after watching his talk.
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The Slow Food Movement dedicates a large portion of its activities to education and the understanding of where food actually comes from. In 2001, Slow Food USA began an initiative to build gardens in schools throughout the United States, and the green idea has now spread worldwide.
Bring out your inner green thumb and create a garden of your own! Better Homes and Gardens provide a great in depth guide on how to start a vegetable garden which is fun, easy and rewarding. If you don’t have space outdoors, check out this list to grow yummy herbs and veggies inside.
If gardening seems a bit too time consuming, slow your week down with some hearty home cooking. Try out these nine delicious recipes that can be made in under 30 minutes and be sure to sit down at the table when you eat!
