The Economist magazine reported on the appalling growth of diabetes in America between 1990 and 2001. In California, for example, 4-6% of the population had diabetes in 1990, growing to 8-10% in 2001. Almost one in 10 Californians have this condition that “contributes to several hundred thousand deaths each year… doubles the risk of heart disease and stroke, and .. is the country’s leading cause of adult blindness, kidney failure, and non-traumatic amputations. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, people with diabetes may be twice as likely to become depressed.”

The article says that, though the disease isn’t entirely preventable by behavior changes, most people can reduce their chance of acquiring type-2 diabetes by exercising and maintaining a healthy weight.

By offering more healthy meal options, fast food operators can help fight this epidemic.

In an America the Green podcast interview of Kate Manchester, publisher and editor of Edible Santa Fe, Manchester discussed the importance of locally grown, seasonal produce and achieving sustainability in all aspects of life. Manchester and the America the Green panel explained that locally grown produce is not only better for the environment because less transport is required, but it’s also better for the body. Riper, seasonal crops that can be purchased locally in farmer’s markets provide a more balanced, healthier diet than the consumption of the American “monocrops,” including corn, wheat, soybeans and rice. Therefore, Manchester promotes “reconnecting people with their local foodshed,” which essentially means getting people to purchase and consume a variety of foods that are indigenous to a region. She suggests that people avoid over-processed or enriched foods and, instead, seek out local producers.

Manchester is also a proponent of the “slow food” movement, and emphasizes the benefits of using healthy meals with locally grown seasonal produce as a time to reconnect with the pleasures of eating and relax with one’s family. While Feel Good Fast Food restaurants may not fit Manchester’s ideal model of eating perfectly, they definitely offer positive movement towards a greater sustainability consciousness and connection to local and seasonal foods. I venture to argue that Feel Good Fast Food can be complimentary to the “slow food” model. Most people can’t eat “slow” everyday or every meal, so if in a hurry, at least find a Feel Good Fast Food restaurant.

What are your thoughts about balancing our hectic lives with local, seasonal, and “slow food?” Please comment on this and post any opinions you may have on this issue.

At a gathering of power women last week, many people seemed very interested in the topic of “Feel Good Fast Food” and the trend of environmental sustainability. One of the women I met was Zem Joaquin, who writes a blog called ecofabulous. Zem told me that she has one time written a business plan for a better-for-you fast food concept. She has a couple posts on food and drink: the organic wine bar in San Francisco, Yield, Birdbath’s eco-designed store and delicious cookies in Manhattan, and Square One Vodka. Not necessarily the extreme of health, but fun eco offerings better than traditional options. Perhaps Zem will try some of the fast food offerings profiled in this blog.

This article in the Economist has been on my mind for the last several months.
It is exciting that consumers have the opportunity to effectively vote every day with their food purchase decisions. This vote can be choosing organic, local, fairtrade, vegetarian, non-GMO, or other sustainable options. The debate over which (if any) of these choices are actually better for the world’s people and environment is fascinating. As much as it would be nice to say that it is clear that all organic-labeled foods or free-trade coffee, or vegetarian meals are better for the world, there are many subtleties to these definitions.

What do you think? Can local production be trusted as the choice for minimal environmental impact? If you are a restaurant and have deliveries from dozens of different local suppliers, is that better than receiving one delivery from a large mainline retailer? Please post your comments/thoughts/research about this.  Also, check out the letters in response to the article.