At the end of the book The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter, the authors say:

“When one ethical concern is heaped upon another and we struggle to be sure that our purchases do not contribute to slave labor, animal exploitation, land degradation, wetland pollution, rural depopulation, unfair trade practices, global warming, and the destruction of rainforests [all issues that the authors explore], it may all seem so complicated that we could be tempted to forget about everything except eating what we like and can afford.”

They go on to say that it is important not to lose heart. Doing something…doing whatever you can do… is important.

Here are some ideas for things you can do that make a difference.

• Make the best choices for you.
• Vote with your dollars.
• Know your food!
• Start a garden.
• Visit a farm stand or farmer’s market.
• Look into the local food co-op.
• Buy local.
• Get to know your neighbors.
• Eat local (non-factory-farmed) eggs.
• Support your local farms.
• Eat completely local food one day a month (or week).
• Eat organic.
• Try Meatless Mondays.
• Buy local and seasonal.
• Learn to cook something new.
• Compost
• Visit a local farm.
• Eat food that you love!
• Freeze, pickle, can, dry.
• Think about selling or bartering things you make or grow.
• Have a local potluck.
• Eat heirloom.
• Buy whole food.
• Learn more about community self-sufficiency.
• Find out about community-supported
  agriculture (CSA).
• Help build our local farmer’s market.
• Get to know others who are interested in food choices.
• Share what you’ve learned with someone else.