“If the fish is endangered, the salmon tastes like poop, the calf died unhappy, the wine is contaminated, the vegetables are pure chemicals, the sugar is poisonous, the pork is carcinogenic, the chicken is infected, the butter it kills, the lard goes on the sides, the gluten inflames the colon, with the eggs you get salmonella, what can you eat?”. Start like this "The new omnivores. The joy of eating everything”, the latest book by Roberta Schira, taste psychologist and well-known gastronomic critic, who invites the reader to abandon phobias and preconceptions to recover the pleasure of the table.
Strengthened by a new awareness, the new omnivore is attentive to the quality of food and does not let himself be influenced by the results of scientific research, fake news and various obsessions. Indeed, explains the author, "he is curious, free from mental restrictions and, above all, aware of his role as an active consumer who, when shopping or choosing from the restaurant menu, can affect the future of the environment and humanity" . In a nutshell, the new omnivore is the person who, before the advent of manias and food rituals, we would have defined normal, eager to enjoy the joy of being at the table and eating what she likes.
That's why, between carnivores obtuse and vegans fundamentalists, Roberta Schira chooses the third approach, which gives a nod to science, conscience and, why not, philosophy: "There is an alternative and it is the possibility of live in serenity convivial moments by choosing an ethical diet that combines sustainable breeding and profit, a taste for good food and zero environmental impact, even allowing us a few exceptions to forbidden foods”.
The emotion of eating has been lost because almost all people buy according to the price at the expense of quality, but – perhaps – just the pleasure of the table, accompanied by a healthy fatalism, could restore the balance: “It is said that 40% of our destiny is dictated by behaviour, including what we eat, therefore the remaining 60% is the prerogative of fate” concludes Schira. In short, enough of food terrorism and, as the Manifesto of the new omnivores teaches, let us entrust ourselves with responsibility and healthy irony to good food therapy.
The Manifesto of the New Omnivores
1. Food is not bad for you
2. The freedom of the diner is sacred
3. If food is good or bad, it's not your palate that decides it but your head
4. Sharing food is a pleasure. Avoid dating those who throw anxiety on you
5. Take your time at the table, not the one imposed by the system
6. Occasionally feel free to eat forbidden foods without feeling judged or guilty
7. Prefer local food (and not only) and seasonal food
8. Eat less meat and if you do, ask yourself how that animal lived and how it was killed
9. Long live fresh food, down with packaged and ready-to-eat food
10. Turning an ingredient into a finished dish is therapeutic
11. Dining together is more than just sitting next to each other
12. If you have a different food belief than mine, let's talk about it
13. It's not so important to know how to cook many recipes, it's better to have a project
14. Even if you're on a diet all your life, remember that you're going to die of something
