They say Italy is the country that taught Europe how to eat...

Italians are famous for knowing how to eat, and how to eat well.  They have some of the best meals in the world.   When I think of an Italian dinner, I think of fresh, homemade dishes, natural ingredients, and lots to go around.  I think of comfort and flavor.  I think of home.  I think of a whole family gathered together to enjoy themselves and the food laid out in front of them, people passing around dishes and compliments, talking about their lives, talking about their cooking.  This is the point that Italy brought to the rest of the world.  Food is a centerpiece!  Good food is something to gather around.  It’s the center for conversation, for bonding, for relaxation and enjoyment.   It’s the most important part of the day.

But today these traditions are being lost.  Today, we don’t take the time to stop and fully enjoy our meals.  We tend to eat while we’re on the go, or on the road.  We might throw something together quickly for lunch, or pop something in the microwave while we have the time.  The majority of our food is shipped to us from all over the globe.  It’s grown from genetically modified seeds and then packed with hormones and preservatives.  This food isn’t ours.  Italy is the first to make a stand against it.  It’s fitting that this country with its rich culture of beautiful food would be the country that reminds the world how to eat again.

It’s called the Slow Food Movement, and it originated in the northern regions of Italy.  It’s a movement that strives to turn away from fast food, and essentially, to slow down to take in a meal.  The movement aims to encourage everyone to understand their food and where it comes from, to understand the time that went into its creation and therefore, how it became so delicious.

It starts simply:  eat locally and naturally.  The pride of Italy’s recipes starts with its regions.  The south cultivates the best vegetables and is one of the largest producers of olive oil in the world.  Central Italy’s soil is perfect for producing the best truffles, and its farms produce the best cheeses.  Every area of the world has its own unique agriculture.  That’s where great recipes originate.

Secondly, Italian food isn’t famous for being imported and store bought.  It’s all homemade!  There’s nothing better than fresh, hand rolled pastas and pesto made from scratch.  There are no better ingredients than fresh, naturally grown veggies from your own neighborhood.  Traditionally, recipes are handed down from generation to generation.  Every family has different skills to share.  So, Slow Food also encourages young kids to learn cooking and farming skills while they are still in school.  Sometimes it seems like a lost art, but knowing how to cook is just as essential as learning to read and write. 

Finally:  Pull up a chair.  Make yourself comfortable.  Use this time to go home and sit down with friends or family.  Take a break from the stress of the day and enjoy yourself.  Your food should be the center of talk and laughter, not something you shove in your mouth while driving to work.

So check it out!  You don’t have to travel to Europe to experience this.  Food appreciation is something you can start right at home.  Take a tip from Italy and look into the Slow Food Movement.  Maybe you can learn how to love what you eat, because it really is just so good.

To explore the Slow Food Movement, visit Slow Food International or Slow Food USA by using the following links. 

www.slowfood.com

www.slowfoodusa.org

 by Grace Linstrom