Food Day, October 24, 2011

Monday was the first annual Food Day. Food Day is a day devoted to awareness and celebration of consuming local and healthy food. Proclaimed by over 30 governors and mayors, this day was observed in one form or another in all 50 states with over 20,000 organized events. The buzz in the social sphere was also booming. Use of the #FoodDay hashtag generated 2,328,052 impressions reaching an audience of 1,368,352 people and while conversations continue to unfold on twitter, that number grows.

 

Food Day has 6 goals:

1. Reduce diet-related disease by promotion safe, healthy foods
2. Support sustainable farms & limit subsidies to big agribusiness
3. Expand access to food and alleviate hunger
4. Protect the environment & animals by reforming factory farms
5. Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids
6. Support fair conditions for food and farm workers

Reactions to the first Food Day were mixed. Not because of the importance of the goals it supports but mostly because a movement of this nature needs more than just a day to achieve meaningful change. More information and reactions to Food Day below:

Any Day but Food Day; "Food Day is an opportunity to demand better! food is among the top three causes of premature death in modern society. And because that premature death comes as the culminating event of chronic disease, bad use of food is not just taking years from life -- it is taking life from years". David Katz, M.D

Registered Dietitian's Food Day Pledge Takes Aim at What's Wrong with Most Advice. Ten things this dietitian and cultural anthropologist pledged she w... on Food Day or any other day of the year, because she believes they are contrary to health promotion and a sense of fairness to all of the people in America who need to hear messages about good nutrition.

For National #FoodDay, Food & Wine magazine offered 10 recipes like Chicken Soup with Rosemary Matzo Balls and Bacon Quinoa with Almonds and Herbs from sustainable food visionaries like Michel Nischan. See Recipes

Campuses across the country (225 in 46 states and 4 countries) participated in Food Day the for of the Real Food Challenge and their Get Real! Campaign. See how college students supported the movement.

 

 

You can check out photos from Food Day celebrations all over the country here and keep up with Food Day on Facebook and Twitter as events continue to take place this week! 

 

Did you partake in Food Day 2011? How did you celebrate?