How to Shop Ethically for Food

Many of us worry about global warming and the effect food production practices may have on our bodies and with good reason. Every little bit helps when it comes to improving our lifestyles and protecting our Earth. Shopping ethically for food is one of the easiest ways for you to do your part.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Open mind
• Re-useable shopping bags
• Creativity

1. Buy local. Even in the most urban environment it is possible to find locally grown produce. Ask shopkeepers what produce has traveled the least distance, and then purchase those foodstuffs. If buying in a grocery store, check the labels the food's point of origin.

2. Visit farmer’s markets and local farm shops. Whether you are in a big city like New York, or out in the Wisconsin countryside, it is possible to find farmer’s markets or local farm shops selling meat and produce. You'll be buying produce that tastes fresher and probably is richer in nutrients while supporting small business (which is always great for the economy).

3. Buy organic. Organic foods are grown without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These chemicals can do terrible things to plants and animals in the environment, so reducing their use is beneficial. Because more effort goes into growing organic produce, though, it can cost more to buy. Keep an eye out for sales.

4. Choose free-range meats. These meats come from animals that have lived happy, healthy lives with access to open spaces. They get more exercise and a wider diet of bugs, grass, and seed, which means they taste much better than those animals that stand in cages and eat processed foods containing antibiotics and pesticides.

5. Purchase only sustainable fishes. Fish is an important part of our diet, providing omega-3 oils and other important nutrients. However, not all fish populations are healthy state. Check with your local fishmonger to find out which fish comes from sustainable populations. Chilean sea bass and cod, for example, are heavily overfished in many parts of the world and should be avoided.

6. Eat foods that are in-season. They taste better and probably will be less expensive. Eat squash and corn, game meats and apples in the fall. In the spring, go for vegetables like asparagus and spinach. There is a wide bounty of foodstuffs that come into season at different times of year to add variety to your diet.

7. Buy Fair Trade as much as possible. If you are a heavy coffee or chocolate consumer, look for a Fair Trade mark on packages to ensure that your money is going to a good cause. Fair Trade means that the product you are buying has been produced by individuals who are receiving a fair and equitable price for their goods. Most often, these individuals are self-employed farmers and co-operative groups in emerging countries

Tips & Warnings

• If cost is an issue for organic or free-range foods, consider revamping your diet to eat less meat and more vegetables. Choose alternative foods like tofu or quinoa to add protein and variety without breaking the bank.
• Use reuseable shopping bags when getting your groceries. Plastic bags can harm the environment.
• Many farms and cooperatives offer weekly vegetable box delivery to provide fresh produce to your door. See if anyone in your area offers this service.
• You can’t really go wrong with shopping ethically for food, but it might be a bit of an adjustment at first. Give yourself time to slowly change your eating habits and to find sources for ethically raised foods.