How To Eat Well And Ethically

You may feel like it’s a challenge to eat well and still eat ethically. With so much information out there about the ethical treatment of animals and people who are part of the process of getting your food from farm to plate.

Here are our top tips on how to eat well and ethically.

Eat Local Produce

The more local your produce is, the fewer miles it’s travelled to get to your plate. That means fewer food miles, fewer carbon emissions and less effort has been required to grow, harvest and transport your food.

Choose Less Packaged Foods

Processed foods are often packaged up to the nines. Often they’ll also have a low nutritional value. Eliminate unnecessary waste by choosing fresh produce that isn’t wrapped in plastic and smothered in cardboard.

Choose Fair Trade Products

By opting for Fair Trade products, you can rest assured that you are spending your money on food that has been ethically grown and sourced. Farmers get compensated well for their produce which helps to build sustainable communities and ethical practices within the companies they associate with.

Support Your Local Farmer’s Markets

Find a local farmer’s market and get as much of your weekly shop there. There are tons of farmers markets popping up all over Australia so they aren’t hard to find. They’ll usually have a selection of fresh fruit and veg, meat and eggs, sometimes cheese, pantry items like honey, oils and sauces, along with flowers, artisan gifts and if you’re lucky a food truck or two. Make a morning of it, take the family and enjoy some fresh air while you shop!

Reduce Your Meat Consumption

Not everyone is a fan of this but going vegan just once a week has a huge impact on the environment. Try it out and see if after a few weeks you don’t even notice anymore!

Opt For Free Range/Hormone Free/Organic Meats

If you are going to eat meat, make sure you buy the best quality you can afford. Free range and organic meat often tastes way better and is usually ethically raised (you can research specific farms before you choose to buy from them as well). Hormone-free meats are also more ethical as you know the animals haven’t been pumped full of growth hormones to make them larger than they would be naturally.

Avoid Waste

Sounds simple and it really is. Avoid waste when it comes to fresh and pantry food. Always use what you have as much as possible before buying more. One way to do this effectively is to meal plan each week – knowing what you will cook helps you buy only the ingredients you’ll need each week.

Grow Your Own Food

If you can’t find what you want in the shops or don’t like the quality of what’s available, plant your own! It’s so easy to create a little veggie patch, plant a mini herb garden or pop some mini fruit trees into your garden. The initial outlay for seeds, soil and containers will soon reap dividends for you!

What are your best tips for eating ethically? Let us know in the comments.