CHEAP EATS EATING SUSTAINABLY: FOOD FOR THE SOUL WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

OUR AGENDA Statement of Conscience Concerns about conventional farming Steps towards sustainable eating Consumer information Tips on saving money and time

ETHICAL EATING Summary of UUA Statement of Conscience

CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE CONCERNS: ENVIRONMENT Fossil Fuel Use Greenhouse gases Fertilizer runoff Air pollution Topsoil erosion Aquifer depletion

CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE CONCERNS: HEALTH Antibiotics Pesticides, hormones Decline in nutrients Food Safety Additives Genetically Modified Organisms

CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE CONCERNS: JUSTICE Harsh working conditions Low pay Few rights Environmental hazards Safety hazards

WHAT TO DO? Ideal: grow/raise your own meat and produce A destination with multiple pathways to follow It does take more time, money and effort; ask BOTH: am I able? and am I willing? Where else in your life do you pay more/do more than you need to because of what you value?

Most sustainable:  Buy only produce/fruit that is locally, sustainably and fairly grown and harvested Possible steps to take:  Buy less canned/frozen produce  Buy only organic food at the grocery store  Choose certified non-GMO  Choose organic for the “dirty dozen” and conventional for other produce  Buy only produce grown in USA  Buy some produce from a farm market as often as you can VEGETABLES/FRUITS

Most sustainable: Don’t eat meat or fish. If you are going to eat meat: Eat only meat that is sustainably raised, harvested and prepared MEAT/CHICKEN/FISH

Most sustainable: Bake/make your own Buy few packaged goods, minimally processed PACKAGED GOODS

CAN I DO THIS? The real costs of industrial food  More money, more time  Environmental damage nobody pays for  Dependence on poorly paid and treated workers  Significant health risks  Subsidies from our tax dollars The real benefits of sustainable food  Value vs. price  Peace of mind

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

WHY BOTHER? Regain control of our food Power of consumers – 70% of our economy Active vs. reactive The moral/ethical choice Sets an example Be the change