In these times, everyone wants everything fast. This is why fast food has become the favorite food of many people. It is ideal for all those who want a simple meal without any pretensions even if it means a loss of taste quality and delight.
To combat this type of behavior that ends up bordering on an obsession with being as fast as possible, Slow Food has emerged. This philosophy is opposed to eating in a hurry, eating ultra-processed food without quality, and not enjoying the act of eating. It is the opposite of what fast food represents.
What is Slow Food?
Eating according to the Slow Food theory means eating with attention, with a special focus on quality and therefore taking into account the origin of the raw materials, the ingredients, and the way they are cooked.
This gastronomic movement was created by Carlo Petrini in Italy in 1986 when a branch of the chain McDonald’s was inaugurated next to the steps of the Spanish Steps in Rome. This generated a spontaneous protest that led a group of journalists from local newspapers to organize a demonstration
They organized a banquet, which was intended to protest against fast and industrial food and to exalt the enjoyment of fresh, homemade, and peaceful food.
This movement against fast food bets on the pleasure that the act of eating brings to the senses, the enjoyment of cooking quality raw materials in good company.
It is organized on the web, with websites, its own delegations, and local associations in countries, regions, and cities around the world from which numerous events are held regularly. The Slow Food Foundation currently has more than 100,000 members.
Thus, this philosophy symbolized by the snail has obtained the participation of towns and cities in their way of understanding life and food, restricting traffic in urban centers, or developing environmentally-friendly infrastructures.
What are the fundamental principles of Slow Food?
Slow food defends gastronomy centered on the following pillars:
Clean food
The concept of clean food is about two fundamental ideas of the slow food movement. The first is based on consuming products free of any chemical substances, such as herbicides or pesticides. In other words, natural and organic products. These products have the advantage of offering a more intense taste
Of course, not all processed foods are bad. For example, olive oil, whole-wheat pasta, or canned vegetables are healthy processed foods. they are beneficial for our organism, although they should not be abused. On the other hand, clean food also refers to food that does not harm the environment.
Good food
Good food is about getting quality healthy food in local markets, at its best time of consumption This ensures that the food retains all its properties and nutrients. At Lonja18 we are committed to the Santa Catalina Market, for its quality and KM0 products.
We have become accustomed to having everything all year round, but this is not natural. We no longer even know which fruit or vegetable corresponds to each season of the year.
Before, we used to eat only what corresponded to each month, and that way we let the soil rest and did not force it. Now, we are surprised if something is missing from the shelves of the greengrocer’s shop at any time.
It is impossible to have all the variety of products available all year round. Or well, it is possible, but to the detriment of taste and at the cost of forcing the land to overexploit it.
Fair food
This movement claims a fair food chain for all, based on local production, Avoiding packaged and processed products from large companies and supermarket chains. Thus, it defends fair prices for consumers and economic benefits for producers.
Slow food promotes local food, being aware of the carbon footprint that each food leaves when transported from one place to another.
Slow food cooking techniques
Slow food seeks to take us back to traditional food and sustainable farming techniques. As for the way to cook these quality organic products, it seeks to do so through cooking techniques that allow preserving the flavor, quality, and nutrients of each food to the maximum.
For example, steaming. A healthy cooking method that allows us to cook without fat and preserve all the nutrients and vitamins of food. Another method can be the preparation of smoothies or fruit juices.
For all the principles that form it, the slow food movement is more sustainable. It is undeniable that if we eat organic, local, fresh and seasonal we are respecting the natural rhythm of the environment without adding pesticides or harmful elements to the products.
The Ark of Taste
Beyond the enjoyment of food, the worldwide Slow Food organization also strives to promote the use of organic food and to safeguard the heritage and gastronomic culture of each place.
From this idea was born what is probably the largest movement of the organization: the Ark of Taste. It is a list of quality foods in danger of extinction, linked to a specific geographical area, and produced in an artisanal way through sustainable and fair means.
The aim is to describe them and attract the attention of people from all over the world who are interested in them, preventing them from disappearing.
Slow Meat or the need to eat less meat
Within the slow food movement, the slow meat movement was also born to raise awareness of the dangers of the abuse of meat consumption.
Its risks are not only detrimental to our health but also to the environment. For example, it takes 15,500 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of beef. The meat we consume has a very high environmental cost.
However, This international slow food movement does not prohibit the consumption of meat, but it does warn of its risks and promotes responsible consumption of quality meat.
A quality based on respect for the lives of animals. In the past, it took years to get a pig to weigh 100 kilos. Today it is achieved in 6 months. It is a clear symptom that fast food has also been installed on farms.
From Lonja18 we support and practice slow food and what this philosophy symbolizes in our food, we hope you liked the content. If you also agree and want to share your change, leave a comment: