
This article is part of a series that explores the idea of mindful meat consumption. Have a question about what it means to eat ethically? Fill out the form below, or click here to submit. We'll build an article answering your best questions in fall, 2016. Stay tuned!
Making ethical eating choices doesn’t mean a diet solely of chia seeds and broccoli sprouts. There are a plethora of delicious foods—and responsible ways to buy them—that simultaneously show both your body and the environment a little TLC. This is especially true of meat. It doesn't take much to make sustainable eating choices that do good and taste great.
“When we purchase meat and veggies we are incentivizing and rewarding producers for creating food that is in alignment with our own morals and values,” writes Taylor Collins, co-founder of EPIC Provisions, a meat snack company. “Conscious consumption around meat and veggies creates a market environment in which sustainable and regenerative ranchers are rewarded for producing high quality food that is good for the environment, our bodies, and the lives of animals.”
Making ethical eating choices doesn’t mean a diet solely of chia seeds and broccoli sprouts. There are a plethora of delicious foods—and responsible ways to buy them—that simultaneously show both your body and the environment a little TLC. This is especially true of meat. It doesn't take much to make sustainable eating choices that do good and taste great.
Choosing Consciously
Every time we choose to eat meat, we're making a choice that has far-reaching effects beyond the butcher and our table. Conscious consumption, or acting as a “conscious carnivore,” means understanding that everything is connected and that you are in control of how our agricultural systems can change. When we choose sustainably-raised meat, we are making a statement of support for practices and policies that can change a problematic food system. It’s difficult to spend an extra $4 for those chicken breasts—especially when you’re on a budget. That money may be the difference between getting a coffee before work, or treating a friend to a slice of chocolate cake. But imagine having the opportunity to increase the humane treatment of animals, help save our ailing planet, and do something good for your body with just $4. That's exactly what you're doing. And think of it this way: Every time you save a few bucks on unhealthily raised meat, you vote for bad farming. By mindfully purchasing meat, you can make a big difference.