Since hitting my 30’s I’ve always tried to eat well but as I’ve learned on my sustainable living journey. Eating well and eating sustainably are not the same. In this article I share my families ethical eating guide and how we monitor what we are eating in today’s modern world.
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Ethical Eating a Complete Guide: Quick Links
Ethical Eating With My Family
Ethical eating and a diet related illness (i.e. gestational diabetes) became a hot topic of conversation within my family because me and my husband wanted to teach our daughter to love a healthy range of foods and to understand where the food production process and where real food was coming from.
I have a passion for food and cooking and gardening and want to impart some of my knowledge love of growthing food to my daughter. Let’s be honest modern day families don’t have the time grow and prepare all aspects of their food. We can take an active interest in the human rights of farmers, greenwashing of the global food supply and the nutritional quality of the food we eat.
Photo Credit: Taryn Elliot
Why Teach Children About Sustainable Food Choices?
The current United Kingdom (UK) food system relies on importing food from abroad. According to WWF.org the UK is responsible for creating 32 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. 14 million tonnes come from agriculture and 2.1 million tonnes from fertiliser.
Photo Credit: Green Eco Lifestyle
What are sustainable food choices and how can individuals incorporate them?
As my daughter is only 2 it seemed daunting at first to teach her ethical eating principles. I was able to find some easy activities that I have tried with her. Here’s a table of activities you can do to teach your children based on ethical eating principles:
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Gardening Together | I spent the weekend planting and caring for fruits, vegetables, and herbs in our garden or in pots. To teach her about the importance of growing food and caring for plants. (Article coming soon) |
| Visit a Farmer’s Market | We plan to visit our local farmer’s market to see where food comes from and meet the farmers. Let her pick out and try fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy eating habits. You can also visit greengrocers so they are exposed to a range of fruit and veg. |
| Sorting Recyclables | We’ve started approaching recycling by sorting recyclable items together. Showing what items go where. For older children you can discuss how recycling helps reduce waste and protect the environment. |
| Cooking Together | Last weekend we made fruit pancakes in simple cooking activities, such as mixing ingredients, stirring, and tasting. Again with older children you can talk about where the ingredients come from and how they’re prepared. |
| Storytime with Eco-Friendly Books | We plan to start reading children’s books about food, farming, and sustainability together. I want to choose books that teach ethical eating principles and spark conversations about food and the environment once she is older. |
| Nature Walk and Picnic | We lucky to live by a forest and so we take nature walks to explore the outdoors and gather natural snacks like berries that are safe to eat. For older children you can have a picnic and talk about the importance of respecting nature. |
| Composting at Home | This summer we want to teach your daughter about composting by involving her in collecting food scraps and adding them to a compost bin. But for now she helps us to empty food scraps into the food bin. |
| Feeding Animals | Last year we visited a local farm where our daughter fed sheep and goats. For older children you can talk about the connection between animals and the food we eat, and the importance of treating animals kindly. |
| Role-playing Grocery Store | My plan this summer to build a outdoor food kitchen to and set up a pretend grocery store at home with play food and shopping baskets. Role play and language modelling will help to teach how to make healthy food choices and the importance of buying local and organic. |
| Food Tasting and Exploration | We are still giving our little one new foods and flavors through tasting activities. Encourage her to use her senses to explore different textures, colors, and tastes of fruits and vegetables (although enthusiasm for trying new foods varies from day-to-day) |
Ethical Food Labels and Certifications
One of the hardest things when you are out shopping is knowing which foods to buy that are healthy and have been sourced responsibly. Here is a table of ethical food labels and certifications both US and UK based. For more info check out this brilliant article from Ethical Consumer.
| Label | Description |
|---|---|
| USDA Organic | Indicates that the product has been produced using organic farming methods that avoid synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Look for the USDA Organic seal on food packaging to ensure the product meets organic standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). |
| Fair Trade | Guarantees fair prices, safe working conditions, and sustainable practices for farmers and workers in developing countries. Look for the Fair Trade Certified seal to support ethical trading practices and improve the livelihoods of producers in global supply chains. |
| Non-GMO Project | Certifies that a product does not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or ingredients derived from GMOs. The Non-GMO Project Verified seal ensures transparency and helps consumers make informed choices about avoiding GMOs in their food. |
| Palm Oil Free | Indicates that the product does not contain palm oil or any of its derivatives. Look for palm oil free labels to support environmental conservation efforts and avoid contributing to deforestation, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss associated with palm oil production. |
| Vegan | Indicates that the product does not contain any animal-derived ingredients and has not been tested on animals. Look for vegan labels to support cruelty-free products and align with ethical values promoting animal welfare and environmental sustainability. |
| Free Range | Certifies that animals have access to outdoor areas and are not confined to cages or overcrowded enclosures. Look for free range labels to support humane treatment of animals and ensure they have the opportunity to engage in natural behaviors and live healthier lives. |
| MSC Fish | Certifies that seafood products come from fisheries that meet the Marine Stewardship Council’s sustainability standards, ensuring responsible fishing practices and healthy marine ecosystems. Look for the blue MSC label to support sustainable seafood choices and protect ocean biodiversity. |
| Ethical Consumer Best Buy | Recognizes products that score well in ethical and environmental criteria, such as sustainability, fair trade, and animal welfare. Look for the Ethical Consumer Best Buy label to support brands and products that prioritize ethical and eco-friendly practices. |
| Fair to Nature RSPB | Indicates that the product has been produced in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to support wildlife-friendly farming practices and conservation efforts. Look for the Fair to Nature RSPB label to support biodiversity and protect natural habitats. |
Understanding these common ethical food labels and certifications will empower you as consumers to make informed choices when shopping for food, supporting sustainable, ethical, and environmentally-friendly practices in the food industry.
Navigating Challenges and Overcoming Barriers
Whilst I can’t claim to be perfect when it comes to eating more sustainably I wanted to list some of the challenges that we have faced as a family.
Challenges and Barriers:
- Limited Time and Convenience: We both work from home and have busy schedules and childcare responsibilities. It’s challenging to prioritise buying and making sustainable food and cooking from scratch.
- Picky Eating Habits: Our daughter is exploring food and as with most toddlers she often has a selective palate. So she has in the past resisted (e.g. spitting and throwing food) rather than trying new, healthy foods, making it difficult to incorporate sustainable options into her diet.
- Cost Concerns: Sustainable and organic food options can be more expensive if you are buying from a greengrocer or local farmers market, making it difficult for us to buy every week especially since the cost of living crisis in the UK. So for families on a tight budget to afford organic food regularly can be hard.
- Lack of Access to Local and Organic Foods: Some families may live in areas where access to farmers’ markets, organic grocery stores, or community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs is limited. Although in the UK is this changing.
- Social and Cultural Influences: We’ve not had this experience but I have spoken to friends who have had pressure from colleagues, family members because of cultural norms not to eat certain foods. So eating sustainable foods social gatherings or events is hard.
Solutions and Strategies:
Here are some simple solutions and helpful strategies I we have tried and I would recommend you try if you have had one or more of the challenges above:
Meal Planning and Batch Cooking: Set aside time each week to plan meals and prep ingredients in advance. Batch cooking allows you to prepare large quantities of food at once, saving time during busy weekdays.
I’m currently on a healthy eating phase where I need to batch cook to keep my calories down so incorporating this into our family routine has been ok. But you can and should involve the whole family to get buy-in and make it last.
Incorporate Sustainable Foods Into Familiar Dishes: Introduce sustainable foods gradually by incorporating them into your family’s favorite meals. For example, I sneak vegetables like runner beans and courgette (AKA zucchini) into pasta sauces or make homemade versions of popular snacks like oat bars.
Shop Smart and Prioritize Essentials: I now look for budget-friendly sustainable foods such as seasonal produce, bulk grains like pearl barley in store brands or discount bins in the supermarket. We also now buy in bulk when possible to save money in the long run although this can be harder if you have a smaller budget.
Explore Alternative Sources for Sustainable Foods: Research local farms to visit at weekends. You can also look for local community co-ops, or online delivery services that offer affordable organic produce or meat shares.
Community gardens or food swaps may also provide access to fresh, local produce. Check out my article From Farm to Fork: Exploring Eco Friendly Food Practices for information on how to find sustainable.
Build a Supportive Community Around You: It’s important to connect with and build a network of other eco-conscious families in your area or online. Eco family communities share resources, recipes, and tips for sustainable living. Check out my Pinterest account for ideas and let subscribe to my newsletter for helpful weekly eco-tips and product reviews.
Final Thoughts
Teaching children the importance of sustainable food is important for their health and for the planet. It’s important to teach the nutritional content of food, where is comes from and where possible how to grow your own food.
There are many activities you can try with your child to teach them the importance of ethical food such as cooking, recycling and nature walks. I also will be reading eco-themed stories with my daughter to help her understand the importance of protecting the environment.
Finally it’s good to familiarise yourself with food labels so you know what type of food items you are buying. It’s important to work though some of the challenges that can come with buying sustainable food such as managing picky eaters and buying in bulk to help keep costs down.
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From Farm to Fork: Exploring Eco Friendly Food Practices
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