This October 16th, World Food Day, Oxfam is encouraging people around the globe to take a simple yet profound action—hold a Sunday Dinner Conversation about where our food comes from, who cultivates it, and how we can make the food system more just and sustainable.
What is World Food Day?
World Food Day was proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It marks the date of the founding of FAO in 1945. The aim of the Day is to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. In 1980, the General Assembly endorsed observance of the Day in consideration of the fact that “food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a fundamental human necessity”.
While much will be happening on this day and the following World Food Week, to focus on global problems, you CAN make a difference at a local level.
Dinner conversation starters
Here are some broad areas Oxfam America have put together to act as conversation starters and you can also print the more detailed World Food Day Discussion Guide:
Where does your food come from? What is your favorite recipe? Why? What memories are associated with it? Where do you get the ingredients? Where do they come from and who grows them? Are there times of the year you can’t make your favorite dish because some of the ingredients aren’t available?
Read our archive post as I describe growing up in Melbourne: Multicultural Melbourne – foodie heaven for a wanna be wog
Who is the face behind your food? When you picture a farmer, who do you see? Do you know any farmers? How often do you buy food from a farmer directly? How many farms are in your town? County? State? Do you grow anything? If you could, what would it be?
Read our archive post: I know my farmer do you? – the power of food provenance.
How have rising food prices affected you? Do rising food prices influence your choices at the grocery store or what you choose to eat? What are the staples you always have in your fridge? What is always on your grocery list? Where do you shop to get the basics (grocery stores, farm stands, corner stores, etc.) Do you grow or catch any of your food? Do you buy organic or local? Have you seen the prices of organic or local foods rise at all in the past year?
How is the global food system connected? Have you visited another country? What are the popular foods there? Can you get those foods back home? How much of the food in your fridge is from the your own country? How much from other countries? If you could only buy food within a 100-mile radius, within a 1000-mile radius, or from your country only, would it change your diet and life choices?
Shout the Horn – Eat local to feed global
Oxfam Australia is involved in a project where participating restaurants across Australia will support the East Africa Appeal. Each venue will be participating in a unique way and offering patrons the opportunity to make a donation to Oxfam’s East Africa appeal as well. Check out the list of participating restaurants. So if you have no plans this weekend, make a booking now. And also look out for events all week as part of the Gather to Grow campaign.
Finally look out for the tweets and news on October 16 when Blog Action Day focuses on food, the hashtag for our healthy peeps is #BAD11.
So what are your plans for Sunday night? Make them now and then jump back and fill us in on Monday. Who did you dine with? What did you talk about? And more importantly WHAT did you eat?