Down The Hatch, As Fast As Possible

I volunteered at Cultivating Community's "Twenty Mile Meal" today. It could not have been a more beautiful afternoon at Turkey Hill Farm. While I grilled pizzas, my family grazed on foods (and I had my fair share too) made 100% from ingredients grown or raised within twenty miles of the Cape Elizabeth farm. Some of the food providers even used items grown at Turkey Hill. Pretty cool stuff. Let me assure you, it was all very delicious.

While my daughter and son took part in storytelling and harvesting activities, I struck up some interesting conversations with guests of the event, folks I have never met. We talked a little about politics. We chatted about buying local. We laughed about a lot of things. We also shared some pain when someone broached the topic of speed eating. Specifically, the embarrassing contest that took place in So Portland last week.

The kind folks I was chatting with, like me, hate speed eating. We all agreed that it sends a ridiculous message. We could not understand why any brand would want to associate itself with speed eating. The marketing minds behind Costa Vida’s burrito eat-off must be seriously confused. Have they not listened to or watched any news in the last few years? -- Diabetes, obesity, blood pressure, stress and anxiety -- all of which are either aided or worsened by eating habits. OK, I understand the need to get paid. We all have responsibilities to take care of, but for goodness sake, speed eating. I mean, really. Could there be a more embarrassing way to get paid, or attract attention to your brand. (My rant stops here.)

All I can say to the people and brands of the world, who like speed eating, is find something that matters. Invest in something that really stands for something real, something that is worthwhile and good.

The folks of Cultivating Community stand for something real: feeding our hungry, empowering our youth, and Healing Our Planet. Lofty stuff, right? And they deliver. Under Craig Lapine's leadership this organization is accomplishing great things in our community. Cultivating Community is setting standards and raising the bar when it comes to nutrition education and fostering growth of social systems that connect us all. (Don't let me be the messenger, learn more at cultivatingcommunity.org).

Costa Vida, Maine Lobster Promotion Council and some of the other area organizations who have created eating competitions, on the other hand, are in it for publicity’s sake. In other words, they’re in it for the wrong reason.

Speed eating advocates of the world, I challenge you. Make me a believer. While you do that, I invite everyone to do what I do, call it what it is, stupid. And like me, make brand decisions that matter -- join me in going out of the way to not do business with companies or organizations that advocate speed eating.