Eating Humanely: 5 Simple Ideas That Will Benefit Your Health Too

Last updated on October 2nd, 2024 at 09:57 pm

Like many people, I’ve had pets for as long as I can remember. About 70% of Americans have pets at last count, so it’s probably safe to say that most of us genuinely care about animals.

Messages about animal cruelty, factory farming, and adopting shelter pets have gained ground over the years. That means more awareness about the welfare of pets, like cats and dogs, and more concern for the treatment of farm animals.

If you share these concerns, there are steps you can take as part of your daily routine to live and eat humanely. And, as a bonus, you’ll lessen your evironmental impact and improve your health as well.

Keep reading for some simple ways to become a more aware and welfare-conscious consumer when grocery shopping for your family.

Eating Humanely: 5 Tips to to Keep in Mind

1. Eat Seasonally

Eating foods in season means that you’re able to buy from a more local economy and avoid having your food shipped from other countries. This means fresher foods picked at peak ripeness too! 

Why are local in-season foods so much better?

1. You’re supporting your local economy when you buy locally.
2. Fresh food tastes better and is more nutritious. 
3. Local, in-season foods are less expensive. 
4. You’ll reduce your environmental impact. When your food has to travel around the world or across the country to get to you, more energy is needed to transport, refrigerate, and store it, and often, more packaging is needed to keep it fresh until you’re ready to use it.

2. Shop Locally Whenever Possible

As we mentioned, when eating humanely is your goal, shopping locally is a must–or at least as much as is possible. It’s a terrific way to support smaller scale farmers and ranchers who are producing outside of the large factory-farm system.

Visit your local farmers’ market, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about the sellers’ farms and how they raise their food and/or animals. Building relationships with local farmers not only ensures you’re making more informed choices, but it also helps create a sustainable food system within your own community.

3. Conquer Labeling Confusion

Marketers create confusion with their flashy labels and clever catch-phrases. And, unfortunately, sometimes they care more about their bottom line than about transparency.

Words like “natural” or “humane” are too often just marketing gimmicks without any meaning or oversight. That means, as a consumer, it’s almost impossible to learn anything concrete based on these phrases.

However, some phrases and labels do have regulations associated with their use, and that’s what you can look for as a savvy shopper. Certifications like USDA Organic, Certified Humane, and Animal Welfare Approved provide clearer guidelines, ensuring the food you purchase meets specific ethical and environmental standards. Here’s a guide to labeling to get you started. 

4. Minimize Waste

One of the ways we can treat the animals used for food more respectfully and humanely is by making the most of the food we purchase. Purchase only what you know you’ll use, and serve the right-sized portions to avoid wasting what your family buys. 

You can also use leftovers to make new meals to reduce waste even further. Composting food scraps is another great way to minimize waste, turning what might have gone to the landfill into nutrient-rich soil for your garden or local community.

5. Look for Certifications With Meaning

Unlike marketing gimmicks, there are certain certifications and awards that have true meaning, as we touched on above. For example the USDA Organic label shows that the produce grown (or fed to the animal) didn’t use banned pesticides. Other certifications include Animal Welfare Approved or Certified Humane.

These certifications ensure higher standards of animal care and environmental responsibility, so seeking them out is a simple yet powerful way to make more ethical choices. By prioritizing products with meaningful certifications, you contribute to a food system that values transparency, sustainability, and humane practices.

Wrapping Up

Living and eating humanely is not only about making choices that align with our values, it’s also about contributing to a more sustainable and healthy future for ourselves and the planet.

By supporting local farmers, learning about food labeling, minimizing waste, and prioritizing certifications that matter, we can all make a positive impact. These small changes in our daily routines can lead to a more ethical and environmentally conscious lifestyle that benefits us, animals, and the world.

Want to learn more about how our shopping habits impact the earth and the lives of those around us, animals included? This guide has more information.  

You might also like these posts: 
Freezer-Friendly Fruits and Vegetables
Raising Good Eaters: 7 Tips to Help Your Kids Enjoy Healthy Foods
Sustainable Swaps + a Free Printable Checklist
How to Compost at Home + a Printable Compost List

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