Food In Popular Culture

The American culture is obsessed with time. We want everything fast, cheap, and quick. (I said it twice because that is how important it is.) I strongly believe that if we want a change in our food supply we need a change in our culture. A majority of American's are perfectly fine with going through the drive-thru or whipping up some Hamburger Helper. I am using the Italian culture as supportive evidence for my thesis.

During the summer of 2010 I had the privilege of going to Italy. Also during this time Eat Pray Love came out in theaters. The Italian culture is what those of us who strive for "healthy food" need. Everything was DELICIOUS there; absolutely amazing. We had McDonalds before we left (at the airport) and it was disgusting. I can say that Olive Garden is not as nice as you think it is. But all of these things are because they value what they put into their body and their culture is not rushed.

The Italians have a saying: "Dolce far niente." - The sweetness of doing nothing. In Eat Pray Love the Italians make fun of Americans for not knowing how to relax. They say that watching TV isn't relaxing and that we work too hard. They take the time to enjoy the little things in life like food. They go to the bakery, market, and other places to get fresh food EVERY DAY. Do you know anyone who goes and gets food EVERY DAY? I sure don't.

Food is the center of Italian culture; it is what brings families together. A popular saying is that you can't pull an Italian away from the dinner table. They spend hours preparing food and hours enjoying it. They do this so they spend quality time with family and friends. I am a good example of this culture change because I felt SO relaxed and happier while I was in Italy eating!

So, I am saying that in order for our food suppliers to provide healthier food we need to change the way we view and consume food. As long as our main focus is on fast and cheap food, this change will never come. Organic prices will never go down either. Trust me, I wish I could live the Italian lifestyle.