You do have a choice!

          How might you discover what ethical eating means for you?  What aspects of food justice, if any, will you come to support in your daily choices, and why? How will doing so enhance your life, in your unique circumstances? How will it enhance the lives of others? How will finding just, compassionate, and sustainable food choices feel? We're here to help you on your own free and responsible search. 

          Each of us, bolstered by our values and our community, has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to delve into the maze of issues related to our food production and distribution system, explore the options and alternatives, and—having studied the issues—decide what food choices are the most compassionate, the most equitable, and the least damaging to the planet. (Material for study can be found throughout this website.)  

          This section not only details divergent strategies for ethical eating, but also provides bibliographies and wide- ranging resources for deeper exploration. As you move along your path of action and reflection, use Groups and Forums on this website to discuss ideas, share your journey, and find insights and support. (You may find the section on Compassionate Communication useful as you do this.) 

          What you won’t find here is a prescription for how to "eat ethically." Your decision about how you will make food choices may differ from ours, and those of your family members, friends, and even co-religionists. It will be, in essence, your decision. May we all honor informed decisions made in good conscience, even though those decisions may be quite different from our own. In those cases, we have an opportunity for ongoing learning and mutual education. May we support one another in the adventurous work of shedding familiar dietary practices; and may we move toward a more joyful, carefully-considered way of eating. 

Check out the extensive resources on the following consumer choices:

• Fair Trade is a set of principles and practices...often referred to, somewhat incorrectly, as the antithesis of “free trade”...

• Animal Consumption: One of the most difficult issues under the rubric of ethical eating involves the ethics of eating animal products, including meat, dairy products and eggs.  Feelings around this issue tend to be strong...

• Organics: Organic farming is a form of agriculture that seeks to protect ecosystems and human health...

• Going Local: Factory farms, pesticide-intensive crops, and farms with exploitative labor practices can all be local, although most locavores would argue that by building a relationship with local farmers, it is easier to assess their practices...

• Slow Food: The Slow Food movement seeks to preserve traditional social customs around food and eating, including the preservation of regional cuisines and cultural diversity...