THE SLOW FOOD MOVEMENT
Did you ever wonder why many "health conscious"
individuals think of "healthy foods" as diet soda,
artificial sweeteners, TV dinners with names "like
Healthy Choice" or "Lean Cuisine" that have an
ingredient panel with a long list of unnatural/artificial
ingredients?
Between militant vegetarian groups and the attempt by
other groups to make you "skinny" by promoting
artificial and processed foods to achieve these
unrealistic standards, Slow Food is a breath
of fresh
air. Slow Food is not about sensationalism or
society's way of saying "thin" = "happy." Slow Food
is
a non-profit, eco-gastronomic member-supported
organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract
fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food
traditions and people's dwindling interest in the food
they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how
our food choices affect the rest of the world.
Slow Food members around the world work
to build
relationships with producers, campaign to protect
traditional foods, organize tasting and seminars,
encourage chefs to source locally, nominate
producers to participate in international events and
work to bring taste education into schools. Most
importantly, they cultivate the appreciation of pleasure
and quality in daily life.
Slow Food is good, clean and fair food.
Slow Food members believe that the food you
eat should taste
good; that it should be produced in a clean way that
does not harm the environment, animal welfare or
your health; and that food producers should receive
fair compensation for their work.
Carlo Petrini, a journalist dismayed by the opening of
a McDonald's in Rome, stated, "Pleasure is a way of
being at one with yourself and others." Slow Food
recognizes that the best place to preserve biological
and cultural diversity is not in museums or zoos but,
as it were, on our plates. Slow Food is a
great adjunct
to Mindful Eating as promoted in our
Reconnect with
Food programs.
How can you support the Slow Food
movement?
- Reduce your intake of processed foods
- Eat lower on the food chain
- Eat locally grown and organic produce as much as
possible
- Cook more meals from scratch vs. dining out
- If cooking is not your forte', try the "meals to go" in
whole and organic food stores
A "slow" approach to dietary changes will pave the way
to long term changes. The "slow" approach to making
life long dietary changes involves a comprehensive
nutrition assessment. This assessment is an
important first step in order to peel back the layers and
pave the way for a successful nutrition counseling
experience. Many individuals expect to transform
themselves in one meeting with a registered dietitian.
They want to learn and internalize everything in less
than an hour of time. Just like any other credible
healthcare profession, you are not healed in one visit
to your healthcare provider, whether it be your
physician, psychotherapist, physical therapist,
occupational or speech therapist. They need to
collect data first in order to advise you best.
Learning
how to make healthy and wholesome food choices,
over will help you fight
depression, promote kindness and compassion for
others and give you much more
clarity thus paving the way to your inner truth.
However, only you know
which "diet" is best for you at any given time. This is
how you create balance, self-acceptance and move
away from the "all"
or "nothing" approach. Most importantly, learning to
love yourself does not involve extreme weight loss nor
a rigid food plan.
In 1996, Betsey
Kurleto, RD, MA and I wrote the book, Nutrition
Secrets for
Optimal Health. Although the book
encouraged eating
lower on the food chain to prevent heart disease,
diabetes along with aiding in rheumatoid conditions
and
depression, the information was presented in steps.
If one takes a good look at their diet, they can figure
out what needs improvement and can tackle it slowly
as to make permanent long-term changes. In
addition, the book promoted organic and non-
processed foods in order to keep as many chemicals
out of your body as possible.
Click here to find out more
information about Nutrition Secrets for Optimal Health
and/or to order.
Click here to find out about or
register for our upcoming Reconnect with
Food
Intensive Retreat, Friday, September
19th -
Sunday, September 21st in Traverse City, MI .
