“Slow food is a way of life, a philosophy of living that values quality over quantity, taste over convenience, and pleasure over speed.”
-Carlo Petrini
We all know fast food. Like stale cheeseburgers and pizza delivery in 30 minutes or less, we’ve all experienced quick, cheap ways to get our favourite food into our bellies.
But what about the other end of the spectrum? We as a society seem to have forgotten the art of slow food.
We rush through meals, at times with a YouTube video playing in the background or while scrolling through TikTok. We often forget to even register what we’re putting in our mouths.
This is where the crucial slow-food movement comes in—changing the way we eat and the culture around food.
The movement started in 1986, when a fast-food restaurant opened in Rome, causing outrage within the community (Italians cherish their slow-food lifestyle). A man named Carlo Petrini set out to change the way we see food as an everyday necessity into something more pleasurable. Just three years later, Italy, and 14 other countries, had signed on to the “slow food manifesto” which is self-described as an “international movement for the defense and the right to pleasure.”
In 2006, the movement launched its slogan, “Good, clean, and fair food for all.” As someone who thinks that food is a basic human right (you’d be surprised at how many people disagree with me), I think that this slogan should be adopted by all humanitarian agencies across the world. Food is what fuels us, and when we don’t have a good, nutritious supply of healthy and healing ingredients, it’s impossible for us to survive, let alone thrive and enjoy the pleasures that food can bring us.
Food brings health, warmth, and energy. It can bring us closer together, like when we share meals amongst family, friends, and even complete strangers. I recall sitting in cafes across Europe and watching people interact with each other over drinks, dinner, and then stay even for a sweet treat and an espresso. Meals should be an event during the day, not just a grab-and-go ritual (although as a student and part-time worker I know this can be difficult sometimes).
Budgeting our time to create the type of schedule that allows for a more relaxed and beneficial dining experience can make a world of difference to our mental and physical health. When we take the time out of our day to slow down and make food that nourishes the mind, body, and soul, we can really see a difference in how we function.
I highly recommend checking out slowfood.com to look into their philosophy. The way we currently eat isn’t sustainable for a long, prosperous life.
We need to take better care of ourselves and our planet, and I believe that through the slow-food movement we can start taking the steps necessary to create a better future for ourselves and others. One slow meal at a time.