Every bite I take to sustain my life brings a little death to something. Be it directly to the plants and animals I consume, or the larger impact of the pesticides, herbicides, and methods used in industrial farming. Eating is not without consequence. But, because of my food choices, this act of sacrifice does not bring me shame or guilt, rather I feel reverence for that which is providing me nourishment. When done consciously and humbly, to me can be beautiful, not sad or unjust. In this essay I will discuss my personal food ethic, the moral status of the non-human animals that are impacted by my food choices, and the greater implications for my lifestyle and the world. I do not believe that humans should place moral value based on our …show more content…
I believe that our separation from the natural world and the belief that humans are in some way above it all or superior, has led to the crisis of health and environmental degradation that we are now experiencing. We all need to eat, and our diets traditionally have been deeply connected to our region, culture, and food especially in its simplest form can bring great happiness. I love to cook, to share food, to have the taste of a truly perfect bite of something on my tongue, and to feel full and then strong because of it. I love sugar rushes, growing vegetables, cleaning fish, caffeine highs, the lightheadedness after a great cocktail, and I appreciate all of these things all the more because of everything that goes into making them possible. Many of the things that we eat are taken for grated, or convenience is chosen over health. Everyone should have the right the to food, but I also believe that everyone should have the right to enjoy their food, not just to ingest empty calories for survival and with the impacts being minimized in favor of producer profits. I strongly believe that first and foremost most Americans need to simplify their diets back to whole ingredients. I am an advocate for appreciation and respect for foods in their most simple