Slow Food Advocate Says Western Diets Must Change to Improve Health, Environment

The head of the organization Slow Food International says Louisville has made great strides in the push for what he calls good, clean and fair food.Paolo di Croce's organization supports food that is locally grown, healthy and sustainable for both farmers and the environment. He says there are a number of practitioners of the slow food philosophy in Louisville, and that could help make the southern diet healthier.But he says a large-scale conversion to slow food would require fundamental lifestyle changes for many westerners. One of the first things to give up under slow food is the daily consumption of meat."If they knew the consequences on their health of eating all this industrial, bad meat, they will stop immediately," he says. "If these people knew the impact eating twice a day meat has on the environment, they will stop eating meat."Di Croce is not against meat, but he says it should be cleaner and of better quality when it's eaten. As for the higher price of certain local food, di Croce says eliminating the waste of industrial farming and of over-buying will help bring down costs."It's normal that when we buy food we just want to spend less, then we spend more on iPhones, we spend more on shirts, we spend more on other things," he says. "I think what we need to do is start to put the right value when we buy food."Di Croce was in Louisville yesterday and today to meet with slow food advocates and supporters.