10 Ways to Celebrate Food Day

Have you heard of Food Day?

"Food Day will be October 24—in 2011 and in years to come. Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life—parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes—to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. We will work with people around the country to create thousands of events in homes, schools, churches, farmers markets, city halls, and state capitals.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) are the Honorary Co-Chairs for Food Day 2011, and the day is sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit watchdog group that has led successful fights for food labeling, better nutrition, and safer food since 1971. Like CSPI, Food Day will be people-powered and does not accept funding from government or corporations—though restaurants, supermarkets, and others are certainly encouraged to observe Food Day in their own ways.

Food Day is backed by an impressive advisory board that includes anti-hunger advocates, physicians, authors, politicians, and leaders of groups focused on everything from farmers markets to animal welfare to public health. But the most important ingredient in Food Day is you—and we invite you to organize an event and help make Food Day a success." (source)

The inaugural Food Day is next Monday, October 24; there are lots of options for you to participate in and celebrate food in whatever way you feel fit. I'll be partaking in the Food Day celebrations. Here are 10 ways you can celebrate!

• Learn more about Why to Eat Real.
• Attend an event in your community or on your campus. Find an event near you.
• Host a Food Day potluck with friends. Prepare a recipe from the Food Day Cookbook!
• Purchase some Food Day swag. 
• Support the third tenet of Food Day that seeks to expand access to food and end hunger. Sign a pledge to protect food and end hunger, both nationally with Share Our Strength and internationally with End Hunger.
• Spread the Food Day word by following Food Day on Facebook and Twitter at @CSPI, hashtag: #foodday.
• Subscribe to CSPI's Nutrition Action Newsletter to keep up to date with the latest nutrition trends and news. It is bar none my favorite, informative, and most influential newsletter I receive in my mailbox.
• View a film that expounds upon our food system in America. FRESH, Food Inc., The Greenhorns, King Corn. Serious Eats has a great list of other food system-related movies.
• Read a book about our food system. I have a list of delicious reading here.
• Talk to everyone you know about Food Day. Spread the word and celebrate!

I'll be moderating a panel tomorrow night at Worcester State. We'll be viewing FRESH the Movie and discussing the progress of the food movement happening in Worcester. Please see the Hunger-Free and Healthy blog for more details.

I'll also be attending the Food Day Festival on Saturday October 22nd in Worcester. Stop by for your local farmers market goodies!

For additional local Food Day events, follow Worcester Food Day on Facebook.

Question of the Day: How will you be celebrating Food Day?