Slow Food’s “Menu For Change”: A Call to Action for Climate-Conscious Eating

Climate change often feels distant and overwhelming, yet its impact is profoundly felt in our daily lives, particularly at our dinner tables. Our food choices directly influence environmental effects and human activities. To address this interconnectedness, Slow Food launched “Menu For Change,” an international fundraising and awareness campaign linking food production to climate change. Born from the “Cheese” event, the initiative underscores the reciprocal relationship between our environment and what we eat. Modern, industrialized food production is responsible for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Simultaneously, droughts, desertification, floods, rising sea levels, and ocean pollution threaten global food security, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations, though the effects are globally pervasive. To support Slow Food and contribute to a solution, even small changes to eating habits—starting with grocery shopping and cooking—are crucial. “Menu For Change” features three social media challenges to collectively demonstrate the potential for positive change. The first, “Local Food? Yes, Thanks!”, running from October 16th (World Food Day) to November 5th, encourages three weeks of choosing locally sourced, seasonal, sustainable products to lessen the carbon footprint of industrial systems. The second challenge, “Climate-Friendly Recipes,” (November 6th-25th) promotes biodiversity through varied, sustainable menus emphasizing less meat, diverse local seafood, legumes, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and zero waste. Finally, from November 26th onward, the campaign urges support for Slow Food through donations and engaging friends and family in embracing good, clean, and fair food. For further information, please visit www.slowfood.com/it/.