The “Slow Food” Revolution

The Slow Food Movement is a cultural response to the unhealthy fast food that has become the traditional diet for many people in the modern world, especially in the United States.  Major concepts of slow food include, growing fruits and vegetables at home, pesticide-free agriculture, biodiversity, preparing meals from scratch, using local ingredients to prepare meals, and the preserving traditional food products.  Members of the Slow Food Movement also strive to educate consumers on the health risks of fast food. 

Idylwood Care Center (a skilled nursing facility located in Sunnyvale, CA) has adopted many of the principals of slow food to create a more home-like environment for their residents.  Idylwood Administrator, Franco Diamond explains, “Whether standing at a BBQ, kneeling on a tatami mat, or seated at an elegant restaurant, eating is fundamental to living.  Elevating the quality of our food and taking time to enjoy it with others, is a simple way to infuse our lives with joy.  This is the philosophy of slow food.”

The Slow Food Movement started in Milan, Italy in 1989 and soon after prompted an international non-profit organization.  It is currently made up of 1,000 chapters and has over 100,000 members throughout the world. 

“The slow food revolution is alive and well at Idylwood Care Center,” says Diamond.  “It all started with the creation of the ‘Soup of the Day.’  This project brought together residents and staff in submitting their favorite recipes, making the soup, and judging it by taste.  The response from the residents was great!”  The program continued through adding a baking program, a chef was hired for gourmet meal preparation, gardening, horticultural therapy and entire curriculum of food-related activities.  The purpose of this program is to bring people together for learning, socializing and understanding the importance of good nutrition to their own well-being.

Idylwood also discovered how important it is to recapture the ritual of the family table in everyday life, which can sometimes get lost in a skilled nursing atmosphere.  “Knowledge of food, how it is grown, who grows it, how it is prepared, and its influence on shaping our communities, is an important part of our educational and therapeutic treatment,” says Diamond.

Idylwood has several gardens on site where fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs are grown for the residents to enjoy.  “Residents can see how their food is produced from start to finish,” says Diamond.  “They can participate in the planting of seeds, harvesting, cooking classes, and mealtime celebrations.  They can contribute to whatever level they are comfortable with.  Most of our seniors are very excited about this program,” says Diamond.  “It reminds them of the Victory Gardens that they grew during World War II to support the war effort.  Gardening and food have so much emotional and cultural significance to this generation and we want to provide them with the opportunity to feel vital and important to the community in which they live.”  

To learn more about the slow food movement visit them on the web at: http://www.slowfood.com/