Slow Food Los Angeles

I have decided to write about this topic due to the gradual shift towards fast food in not only Los Angeles, but across the US as well. As can be seen on several fast food restaurant's menus, the value of a healthy salad is extremely expensive compared to a burger at McDonald's. Why is it that people have to pay so much to eat healthy? These manipulative schemes by fast food restaurants essentially tarnish their image through misleading advertisements. For example, I'm sure if someone has two dollars in their pocket, they would rather spend them by purchasing two, one dollar McChicken sandwiches off the dollar menu then starving themselves because they are not able to afford the five or six dollar Caesar salad. To me, that is pathetic. So essentially we are saving a few bucks by eating cheaper; however; as Raj Patel mentions, we will eventually multiply those savings and pay for health care costs due to the ridiculous quality of cheap, fast food. In my opinion, if I were looking for something fast, I would pay a couple extra bucks for a salad, but what happens to those who are less fortunate and are always stuck paying the unhealthy meals that most fast food restaurants have to offer? Slow food Los Angeles, is an excellent program that attempts to provide information on alternatives to these lucrative businesses who are responsible for a large portion of our citizen's poor health. To join SlowFoodLA, a onetime $60 fee is required, but if you want a dual membership (you and a friend) the cost is $75. Membership benefits include invitations to multiple international and national events that promote good, clean and fair food, and membership-only discounts on events and publications. Being a part of SFLA will increase the opportunity for others to gather and take collective action towards legislation regarding healthy food in LA. Similar programs that students like us may join are Slow Food in Schools, and Slow Food on Campus. The initiatives and message are the same, but they aim to gather students to cooperatively promote clean and healthy food on college and university campuses. This program also aids the younger sector in which it provides information on the health of our children through the Children Nutrition Act. I believe we as adults should be obligated to advocate for programs like this in order to encourage a healthy lifestyle to as many people as we can. By visiting the www.slowfoodusa.org website, we can educate others of the positive message that slow food LA has to offer.