Slow Food Movement

A new phenomenal yet very controversial movement is taking over! People are finally standing up against the harmful, No good, Fast Food Industry.  Now accompanied by a new ally the “Slow Food Movement” people all over the world are going back to a healthier and more traditional way of cooking. This movement encourages the “farming of plants, seeds and livestock characteristics of the local ecosystem (slowfood.com)”.  Families are now spending time together while preparing their delicious food. Not only are they eating in a more healthy fashion but they are saving money as well.  GOOD, CLEAN, AND FAIR is the Slow Food Motto.  This movement is changing the world in a very positive way.

                                                                                      By- Carina Quintanilla

About Us:

My name is Elizabeth Huerta, I am a freshman at California State Northridge University. I am majoring in biology and I aspire to become a pediatrician. You will gain from reading our blog "Slow Food Movement" is how slow food movement can give you a high quality of life by cooking at home with every body's help that will gather to have some more communication with your family members. It can also help you economically because it is a easier way to waist less money for more groceries. What I found more interesting about this project is that I never knew how important it is to actually have a slow food movement than fast food because it is a big difference, you eighter gain weight 

My name is Monica Rios, I'm also a freshman at CSUN. I am undecided but I am interested in majoring in health services. I hope readers will understand by reading this blog that it is very important to eat healthy instead of going out to eat . The Slow Food Movement is something wonderful to do, there are many advantages to it. For example, you get a healthier lifestyle, save money, and get to bond with your family when preparing a meal. Being part of this blog was great, I got to learn things that could be very helpful in the future like how much healthier it is to prepare a meal at your own home instead of going to McDonald's and picking out something from the dollar menu.  I advice to all you readers to try the Slow Food Movement, it is something that could change your life in a good way, you'll definitely feel better about yourself and soon will see the healthier transformations.

Hi there! I'm Carina Quintanilla and I am also a CSUN student, I am looking forward to becoming an English teacher and be able to make a difference in my student's lives. Working on this blog has been a great experience for me. I hope that when readers take a look at this, their way of eating changes completely! I hope that they learn to appreciate food and themselves. The most interesting part about this project was realizing how one person with great passion can make such a huge difference. Carlo Petrini ralized that we were losing interest in traditional meals and we were consuming food that most of the time we had no idea where it was coming from! He began the slow food movement to encourage a healthier and more traditional lifestyle. Because of of him there are huge organizations allover the world! over 150 countries contributing to this movement! I've learned that slow food is definitely something I want to practice in my life and with my family, since it is a great way of spending time with them as we prepare the meals and it is an awesome way to contribute to our local farms and small businesses. Readers should really look into this movement and be informed of the difference is making all over the world. 

My name is Joana M. Huerta, I am 19 years old and I attend to CSUN. I am an undecided, trying to complete my prerequisite for dental school. I am thinking to do a double major to become a biology major and photography major.  From my blog I hope readers gain the knowledge that I did when I was completing my blog. I want readers to be well aware of how we can become healthier people and start saving money. The most interesting thing I found about this blog was that I would have not thought that from just a blog I would gain so much knowledge. Another thing was people’s reactions when they see the facts that every post has in this blog. From this blog I have learned that there is a way to a healthier life style. I used to eat fast food twice a day, every day and I saw the damage it was doing to my health. I have now stopped eating so much unhealthy foods and I have seen that I actually have more money to spare for other things rather than fast food. To other readers who read this, I hope you take this information well even though it’s hard. It may be hard to understand the fact that you will not be able to eat out every day, but in the long run you will live a long, healthy life. I hope every reader learns a lot from this blog and the information is put to good use.

My name is Juan Manuel Mora, I am a freshman Spanish major at CSUN with the intentions of fulfilling my prerequisites to attend dental school. I hope readers can grasp the idea of making the switch from fast food to slow food. It is not only a healthier way to maintain you and your family healthy but its a time families can come together. The interesting part of this project was trying to make fast food look less evil, it was a challenge which I had to fulfill but it was fun as well. I learned that in the long run fast food can lead to more spending than spending now on fresh food. This includes health issues and health bills. A recommendation for the readers is to take in information and not to criticize and take this blog as an opportunity to learn.     

PICTURE!!!!!

How it all Began!

The Slow Food Movement

This amazing phenomenon was the result of Carlos Petrini’s protest against the establishment of a McDonald’s restaurant in Piazza de Spagna, Rome in 1986. The Slow Food movement is meant to encourage traditional foods, which should be grown organically. Its goal is to defend agricultural biodiversity, encourage a new way of eating, and living. The movement has expanded globally to over 100,000 members in 150 countries. They promote local small businesses and are against globalization of agricultural products. They believe that “everyone has a fundamental right to the pleasure of good food and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of good food, tradition and culture that makes this pleasure possible.”   To further explain what slow food is all about , here is a brief description of their famous motto Good, Clean, and Fair.

Good  a fresh and flavorsome seasonal diet that satisfies the senses and is part of our local culture.

Clean   food production and consumption that does not harm the environment, animal welfare, or our health. 
Fair  accessible prices for consumers and fair conditions and pay for small scale producers.

The Slow Food has evolved all around the world.  They bring their slow food philosophy to life creating events and activities in every community. They envision a world where people are given rights to food that is beneficial and healthy for them, for those who produce the food, and also good for the environment. This movement has influenced many other s like the “Slow Movement” which focuses on preserving and supporting traditional ways of life. “Slow Money”  which organizes investors and donors to steer new sources of capital to small food enterprises, organic farms, and local food systems.  And also the “ Cittaslow” movement which is meant to resist the homogenization and globalization of towns and cities and seeks to improve the quality and enjoyment of living by encouraging happiness and self-determination.  The slow food movement is definitely making a difference in today’s society.


                                                                                                  By- Carina Quintanilla
Slow Food <3

Slow Food Movement: The Money Issue

People have not realized how important it is to save money with this economy we are in. If you pay close attention to a college student’s life, you may more likely see that they are spending a lot of their money on fast food rather than healthy foods. More into my post you will discover what has come to everyone’s head about eating out. People think it is still cheaper and faster to go eat out when maybe an egg carton with 15 eggs cost you $2.50 and that can equal a burger for just one day. The dollar menu will not save you from this economy. Each dollar every day adds up when it can gather to be together at the end to actually buy healthy foods that will last longer. This is no time to be going out to go buy foods that will make you unhealthy and last only a day.

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bethhoffman/2012/06/18/whats-so-great-about-cooking-four-reasons-and-resources-to-diy/

^^In the link above it is an article that gives many reasons why home cooked meals would be better. The one that stood out to me the most was on how much money was actually being spent on fast food rather than groceries. Not only that, but college students where the ones that where being targeted as well. According to Beth Hoffman,”The fact that fast food is not cheap has also now driven home by other studies.  One conducted by University of California – Davis found that those making $60,000 (not the poor) are most likely to visit fast food chains.  The CDC reports it is the middle class with more obesity problems than those with less money.  But studies also say that households making less than $150,000 a year are “financially strained.”  So why not stop eating out and save some money?” It has also attacked the health problem that our country has rather than just the money. Eating eat can save you money and even make your have a little extra money on the side.

 

Damme, Tim V. "$10 Food Showdown Day 1: Fast or Quick Food vs Healthy Food." Cartoon. Building Success. N.p., Aug. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 213. <http://buildingsuccesstoday.com/2012/08/10-food-showdown-day-1-fast-or-quick-food-vs-healthy-food/>.

 

This image above proves that anyone can eat a healthier meal and share with someone else and still save money. A couple cents will not make a difference at first but it changes in the end when there is more food left over.  With a fast food meal you have to eat it that same day or else it can go bad the next day right away. If groceries are bought it can be used throughout week while eating out will not help. People  may have busy schedules, but it does not necessary mean that they cannot go to the store. People will do it and people would still be saving a good amount of money. Money has to be used wisely so it can last and this can be done with grocery shopping.

Mark Bittman states in his article “Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?,” ”THE “fact” that junk food is cheaper than real food has become a reflexive part of how we explain why so many Americans are overweight, those with lower incomes. I frequently read confident statements like, “when a bag of chips is cheaper than a head of broccoli ...” or “it’s more affordable to feed a family of four at McDonald’s than to cook a healthy meal for them at home.” This quote shows how society putts all these excuses to go out their ways to get the fast food. It is ways of making themselves not feel guilty about eating out and spending. Chips may be cheaper than some fruit, but if money is very important in life people would find a way to save it. It has come to my attention that is no longer a money issue, but a laziness issue with people. Buying their own food is the way people should consider going instead of eating out next time.  

Bittman, Mark. "Is Junk Food Really Cheaper." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 Sept. 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/opinion/sunday/is-junk-food-really-cheaper.html?pagewanted=all>.

Questions surrounding the topic:

Q 1: What if fast food leaves you broke?

A 1: The economy has not been great for many of us and may be getting harder. Buying fast food can be the only way to eat. Buying fast food can be costly. In Tom Philpott article, “Is Cooking Really Cheaper Than Fast Food?” he states,  “the typical burgers-and-fries dinner for a family of four at McDonald's costs about $28, while a home-cooked chicken-and-potatoes meal for four would run you just $14.” That just shows how much money is being spent when a family can stop by the grocery store and buy groceries to make food.

Q 2: What is healthier for your family to consume, a fast food meal or a slow cooked meal?

A 2: Though cooking is healthier for land and bodies, marketing, habit, social pressures and the false belief that it’s expensive, have all but killed it. This shows that cooking is healthier for your family. In the long run your family will be facing less health risks. It is faster to go to a restaurant, but the health risk that your family faces is unknown till the future.  

 

Q 3: What does the Slow Food Movement offer?

A 3: It was little that was known to our group what the slow movement is and here is a little preview about it. Last week Slow Food USA Executive Director Richard McCarthy sent a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to conserve programs that help the most vulnerable with nutrition assistance and supports sustainable farming and family farmers. This is a way that they are helping our families. People are surrounded by to many fast food restaurants that they rather just eat out. If our country is fighting to get everyone fit, they should fight to get programs out there to support them.

 

Q 4: What has happen to the family time in our generation?

A 4:  In the past families would always eat at a certain time and as a family.  Having a home cooked meal can bring positive outcomes in the family. A 2000 survey found that the 9- to 14-year-olds who ate dinner with their families most frequently ate more fruits and vegetables and less soda and fried foods. As a family people are encourage to eat more healthy foods rather than eating greasy foods. Bringing a family together for dinner encourages them to have a better communication, letting them say what they rather eat.

 SOURCES:

http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2011/10/cooking-really-cheaper-junk-food-mark-bittman

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/shared-meals-shared-knowledge/

http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/slow_food/blog_post/sfusa_sends_letter_to_congress_urging_support_for_sustainable_farming_/

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/25/living/family-dinner-h

Spending Time With Family

Spending some quality time with family and eating healthy food.

When families dine together, they tend to eat more vegetables, fruits, fewer fried foods, soda, and meals with less trans fat because the person preparing home-cooked meals will be more deliberate in preparing the home cooked meal. "Eating sensibly doesn't take much time or money, but it does require you to make a conscious decision” which means expenses, time and choices are not a problem when preparing home-cooked meals. When young teenagers frequently eat dinner with their families are less likely to be overweight than other children.

Praying for their food as a family in the dinner table.

It is a great way to have home cooked food because you also have a stronger communication with your family. Each of the family members can take part in food preparation to improve the family relationship, and will be “prepared with care and love, food is synonymous with community and family”. Unlike the fast food industries, home cooked meals are healthier for you and should be taken into consideration knowing that it will build up healthier family relationships when dining together.

http://savingdinner.com/articles/menu-planning/ (Menu Planning)
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=439(Benefits Of Eating Together)http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1654 (Fast Food Nation Needs a Slow Food Movement)

-Elizabeth Huerta

In final analysis, the slow food movement is a way to stay healthy. People all over the world are trying to stay healthy so why not try the slow food movement where you go to the way things used to be before there was a McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, etc and cook yourself a nice healthy clean meal. Not only does it keep people healthy but its a way to spend time with family at the dinner table instead of going through drive-thru and spending money on things that are not good for the body. The Slow Food Movement is GOOD, CLEAN, AND FAIR, so be fair to your body and give it what it needs.
-Monica Rios

Health Benefits of The Slow Food Movement

“Being healthy isn’t a fad or a trend. Instead, it’s a lifestyle.” Eating fast food isn't only bad for your health, it’s also bad for your mental health as well because most fast foods are high in calories, trans fats, sugar and salt, and they also come in small portions so that the costumer could buy and eat more and more of it. Since most fast food meals come in small portions costumers tend to buy the “supersize” meal which contributes to the problem of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and blood disease joint problems. All this could also lead a person to have low self-esteem issues because of a weight problem and make a person feel bad about themselves. On the other hand, the slow food movement can improve both bodily and metal health. Preparing your own food at your own home has the benefit of relaxation and having a conversation while preparing a meal. People will also know exactly what they’re eating and provide a high nutritional value. Eating healthy can also make a person feel good about themselves giving them more energy throughout the day to do more things. If a family goes to eat out to a fast food restarant like McDonalds, they won't be able to enjoy their food like they will at home, sure you can take it to go, but that won't make it healthy. Parents also need to teach their kids to eat healthy, and taking them to eat fast food and getting them a salad is not quite the correct way to do it. A McDonald's salad can add up to 1,040 calories not including a drink. Jamie Oliver, a celebrity chef and food revolution reformer, mentions that, "bad nutrition can lead to obesity, diabetes, poor concentration, poor grades and behavioral problems," this means that children that don't eat a healthy meal at home have a hard time concentrating at school which leads them to getting bad grades. This is why its important to teach children and even some adults that it is very important to eat healthy. Eating unhealthy isn't only bad for your health but it can also affect your social life. So what lifestyle do you want? A clean one? Or a greasy one?

Millar Farr, Laurie Jo. "5 Bonus Reasons Why Slow Food Is Better Than Fast Food: An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away". Yahoo! Contributor Network. 1 June 2011. Web

Jaffrey, Annie. How to: stop carving bad food? 2012. Photograph

Slow food fast runners. N.d. Photograph. N.p

The first picture is demonstrating how our bodies function when we eat healthy and when we eat unhealthy. The man on the left is eating an apple and it’s showing that when we eat healthy our body is more likely to function better than if we eat unhealthy like the man on the right, since he doesn’t eat healthy is takes more work to fix and make his body function properly.

The second picture is showing how the slow food movement gives people more energy to do stuff like exercising, unlike eating fast food which just makes people lazy and gain weight.

http://youtu.be/BwqAelWSgHk

The more unhealthy food you eat the more your body is going to want it. If you cook your own food instead of going to McDonald’s or any other fast food restaurant you are going to be satisfied with your meal and won’t feel the need to keep eating.

- Monica Rios