what is slow food?
TRANSCRIPT
SLOW FOODThe pleasure of consuming foodmindfully
Slow food is the practice of enjoying local, organic and sustainable produce broughttogether in a way that respects the ingredients and the local cuisine
September 2020
What is slow food?
Why do we need to join theslow food movement? How can we embrace slowfoods?
Lets drive the change
About the Author
Organo Et School
Table of Contents
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Cover Image Source: Biodiversity International
In 1986, Carlo Petrini founded the slow food movement to counter the fast food culture,championing ‘slocal’ (slow and local) food heroes and building close connections amongconsumers, the government, activists and of course, the farmers.
Himanshu Kapoor, nutritionist and an active Slow food member since a decade says,“Slow food is opposite of fast food. Fast food is empty calories, thus we call it junk food.Slow food is calories loaded with minerals and vitamins thus healthy. Slow food is locallygrown, usually organic, artisanal and healthy food.”
“Slow Food unites the pleasure of food with responsibility,
sustainability and harmony with nature” Carlo Petrini, Founder of International Slow Food Movement
Slow food is good tasty food that is cooked with care, produced in a clean way withoutharming health and the environment, and comes from producers who receive a fair valuefor their work.
WHAT IS SLOW FOOD?FOOD THAT IS GOOD, CLEAN AND FAIR
It is a global, grassroots movement that links the pleasure of food with a commitment tocommunity and the environment. A slow food activist is an active part of the food chainwho recognizes the connection between plate and planet thus caring for every stepof the process from sourcing to consuming.
A MINDFUL WAY OF LIVING AND EATING
AN ANTIDOTE TO FAST FOOD CULTURE
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Image Source:Strand of Silk
The mantra to stay healthy is to eatregional and seasonal. Native andlocally grown produce in season isfresher, has a smaller carbon footprint,is better for the environment, and islighter on our wallets. It helps us tosupport the community and our bodiesare better accustomed to locally grownproduce in accordance with theseason.
WHY DO WE NEED TOJOIN THE SLOW FOODMOVEMENTTO REAP THE BENEFITS OF EATINGLOCAL AND SEASONAL
Food as an energiser and immunitybooster is well ingrained in ourtraditions. A healthy diet, without theexcesses of sugar and processed food,can ply us with the minerals andmicro-nutrients our body needs,without the need to resort to externalsupplements. Fresh, organic, slowgrown produce, oozing with nutrientsis enough.
TO LOAD NUTRITION NATURALLY
A balanced diet and the right foodknowledge is the need of the hour. Ourfast paced lifestyle and erratic eatinghabits has led to a sharp increase inlifestyle diseases. Conditions such asdiabetes, heart disease and obesity areon the rise. The importance of whatwe eat and how we eat would meanfewer legions of people suffering fromacid indigestion, heartburn, nausea,acid reflux and so on.
TO COMBAT THE RISE OF LIFESTYLEDISEASES
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Image Source:The News Minute
Image Source:The Hindu
Image Source:Shutterstock.com
Inspite of being deeply connected toour food and traditions, we areexperiencing disappearance of localand ethnic dishes. Our ecosystemsupports a rich repository of superfoods like amla, drumsticks, sesame ,ghee and so on. Traditionally thesehave been consumed by Indiancommunities to maintain good health,but the awareness about their benefitsneeds to be spread widely now.
TO REVIVE TIME TESTED FOODWISDOM
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Vegetables sprouted from the earthbefore the hypermarts took over themass attitude towards foodconsumption. Until the 1990’s,everything that grew around us wasconsumed right from the root to thestem, the very last leaf was roasted,grilled and pulverized with love andcare. The slow kitchen that was a wayof life back then needs a comeback forus to enjoy the nature’s bounty to itsfullest.
TO STRENGTHEN OUR ROOTS
Image Source:IndiaTimes.com
Slow food has set itself the mission of defending biodiversity andreintroducing forgotten species andvarieties. India’s agriculture sectoremploys more than 50 per cent of theentire workforce, with a growingnumber of women being involved infood production in recent years.
TO PRESERVE BIO DIVERSITY ANDSUPPORT OUR TRADITIONAL FOODSYSTEMS
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Globally, women have beeninstrumental in preserving biodiversityand food security. To bring back thegoodness of lost staples like millets(ragi, jowar, bajra etc) and traditionalhomebound recipes (primarilyprepared by womenfolk), we mustsupport our local farms and local foodsystems.
Festivals, weddings, births, deaths arecelebration of our lives wherebyeveryone comes together over foodthat has been arranged and cooked bythe family members with love. In India,communities have bonded over foodduring such celebration over thecenturies. Slow food is a tapestry ofculinary interdependence that holdsthe nation together, one grain at atime.
TO UNITE AND CELEBRATE LIFEOVER FOOD
Image Source:Huffpost India
You can start embracing the slow foodmovement right at home by eatingclean and swapping out processedproducts for simpler, healthier foodssourced from local farmer’s market.Also, try growing your own food inyour backyard or terrace. Fresh tastesthe best.
EAT LOCAL AND SEASONAL
HOW CAN WE EMBRACESLOW FOODS?
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Encourage farming of plants, seeds,and livestock characteristic of the localecosystem. Respect seasons as everyfruit or vegetable has a correct seasonfor planting and harvesting. Be in syncwith your environment and celebrateyour seeds and agro diversity.
AVOID GENETICALLY MODIFIEDFOOD, BUY ORGANIC
Image Source:Bold Outline
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Ditch quick fix meals. Understand thateating is much more than a vitalfunction. It’s an experience thatinvolves all our senses, stories andcultures. Share the responsibility tokeep these culinary traditions alive inorder to stay healthy and to bringdiversity to the table.
PRESERVE TRADITIONAL COOKINGAND REGIONAL CUISINES
Make the kitchen and the table ascentres of pleasure, culture andcommunity. Family that eats together,stays together. Get involved with likeminded groups who belive in slow andmindful living.
CELEBRATE FOOD
Image Source:Lamrenew.com
Image Source:The NIE
Worldwide food trends are changingtowards a distinct health orientation.India is not far away in catching up thehealth and fitness centric foodconsumption trend. Slow foodmovement alerts people to theconsequences of a fast-paced lifestyleand seeks to reawaken people's lovefor the food they eat.
LETS DRIVE THE CHANGE
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The intensive chemical agriculture that has been followed in India after green revolution success is causing heavy pollution of food, drinking water and air, the lifeexpectancy has improved, but thequality of life has substantiallydeteriorated. The rural economy is inruins because of over-dependence ofcostly outside inputs in agriculturesuch as seed, fertilizers, pesticides,growth-promoting chemicals. Hightime for us to wake up to the reality ofnot so natural ways of growing andconsuming food in order to ensurebalanced personal and socio economicgrowth.
Image Source:The Conversation
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“Slow food resonates with Indianculinary culture with an appeal forregional, seasonal and slow pace oflife. Slow Food philosophy today offersa balance between the fast-foodonslaught against the traditional wayof cooking and eating. Going back toone's roots, the Slow Food way, offersa plausible coexistence of traditionalway of slow life, which in turn opensup avenues of sustainable life &happiness in modern times.”Akhil Kapoor, Convivium Leader DelhiOrganic Farmers Market
Image Source:The Fas Kitchen
Anurag is a happy go lucky naturalist bylifestyle who professes living in Now. Beinga management professional and a firstprinciple thinker, she has used herdynamism for last 23 years in varied fieldslike corporate, education, art & culture andsocial development. Zeal to nourish at thecore level and her experiential journeytowards a mindful living post cancer hasequipped her enough to add value to lifearound her.
Author and contributor - Slow food
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Organo Et School is the brainchild of teamOrgano. Organo was founded on the idea ofenvironmentally conscious living and Organo EtSchool translates that idea into reality byeducating and empowering schools, colleges,organizations and communities on the triplebottom line of sustainability. Organo et Schoolaims at engaging individuals of today to stayconnected with nature through workshops, livesessions and site visits.
Organo Et School
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Organo Et School educates people about the challenges of sustainable development andcreates opportunities for them to use their creativity and knowledge to pioneer innovativesolutions for themselves.
Learners develop a sense of place and belonging to their local community.
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