Not so fast

Fast food has permeated many cultures around the world. Not only can you grab a Big Mac in just about any American city, you can spot golden arches from miles away in major foreign cities as well. In fast-paced societies, many people have embraced fast food as a time-saving lifesaver of sorts. But research has shown that the excessive calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium in fast food may be harmful to your health. The antithesis of fast food is "slow food," and nutritionists generally agree that it may be beneficial to your health if you eat it more often than fast food.

There is actually a "slow food movement." It was founded in Paris in 1989 by a food-and-wine writer in response to the opening of a McDonald's restaurant in Rome's famous Piazza di Spagna. At first, the movement was a local opportunity to protest ubiquitous fast food that detracts from a country's customs and traditions. But since its inception, the Slow Food organization has developed into an international nonprofit grassroots group with 65,000 members in 45 countries, each with local convivia, or chapters.

According to its website, the Slow Food organization is dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of great slow food, "from the spice of Cajun cooking to the purity of the organic movement; from heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables to handcrafted wine and beer, farmhouse cheeses and other artisanal products."

The slow food movement is making its way to the United States at a snail's pace. But it may be just what America needs, since nutritionists suggest that health is perhaps the primary benefit of eating slow food in America. According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 61 percent of US adults are either overweight or obese. Overweight, stressed out and lacking time, we grab fast food.

What exactly is slow food? If you search www.slowfood.com looking for specific "slow food" menus and recipes, you won't find any. That's because the organization defines slow food as a "state of mind." Although abstract, this simply means that taking the time to eat a sandwich can be a slow food experience; you don't have to eat luxury foods every day. Slow food is partly what you put in that sandwich and partly the act of slowing down to decrease stress, which will ultimately improve your health.

Numerous foods can be slow foods. Suppose you are at school and have a one-hour lunch break between classes. You can either drive to get a Whopper with French fries or bring along a sandwich from the Campus Center or from a Davis Square restaurant, such as The Blue Shirt Caf?© or Diesel Caf?©.

While you might not think a sandwich meal is slow food, surprisingly, it qualifies if it includes whole-grain bread, unprocessed meat, and fresh fruits and vegetables. The fast food hamburger meal likely contains many more calories and fat grams and much less fiber as compared with a turkey sandwich on whole-grain bread with lettuce, tomatoes and sprouts. Preparing a sandwich ahead of time or bringing along a quick, healthful meal allows more time for savoring your food. And it will save you from running around in a frenzy to find fast food as well.

How can you eat slow food? It is a good idea to choose more fresh foods instead of frozen or canned food by going to a farmers' market, like the one held on Wednesdays in Davis Square.. Eat a wide variety of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables _ organic ones when possible _ and cook from scratch when you can. When eating, sit down at a table with others. Turn off the TV and converse with each other, and savor every morsel of your food.

The Slow Food movement wants us to wake up and literally smell the freshly ground coffee, lingering at the table as we sip it slowly. The idea of slow food is to abandon unhealthful fast food to rediscover the sensual pleasures of eating natural foods, which will most greatly benefit our health. Slow food is also about decreasing the stress in our lives and enjoying the emotionally healthful connections we make with others as we dine together. In eating slow food, we improve our physical health by switching to more nutritious foods.

Ultimately, in taking the time to preserve our health by eating slow foods, we will potentially be granted a longer life _ so, hurry up and eat slow food.