I 100% agree with you with the idea that eating should be personal, and you can’t judge someone for the choices they make..good or bad! I eat vegan but I often find myself NOT talking to other vegans on Twitter/blogs because they put down people who don’t eat the way we do and I find that offensive. I wouldn’t tell someone I thought was ‘chubby’ to not eat that bag of Doritos, so why should I tell someone how to eat in ANY circumstance?

Eating should be enjoyed, not labeled like everything else in this world.

Great post – we talked about this last night on #fitblog chat. I’ve educated myself and aim to eat ethically. I think you said it right that it is about what works best for the individual. I don’t judge other people’s eating choices and I’m sad that you’ve been judged/called a hypocrite. Keep doing what you are doing…making a positive influence in countless lives through your honesty and insight!

Bravo, Caitlin. Bravo 🙂

excellent.

Caitlin – this was a great post and took a lot of courage to write. YOU need to be happy with your choices. Other people need to only worry about themselves!

The not having to be perfect debate resonates with me SO STRONGLY and which is why I adored “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer. It finally made me realize that not eating meat MOST of the time does make a difference within our food system and that having a bite of my date’s grass-fed, sustainably raised pot roast does not make me a bad person and doesn’t make my efforts any less important!

Wow, Caitlin. This is the post I’ve been trying to write for my blog for weeks. Thank you for so well putting into words my feelings and reminding me that I’m not a “bad person” for eating meat when I visit my parents, or not buying organic strawberries. I’ve made a ton of changes, but I’m not perfect. Change is a process and I love your definition of eating ethically. Thank you!

This is such a wonderful and thought-provoking post. I’m mostly vegan, but I feel like a fraud calling myself that when I occasionally eat non-vegan baked goods or seafood. Food is one of the most personal choices we make in life, and I don’t really care what others eat, but I do wish that everyone would take the time to educate themselves about the options and lifestyles out there. If you want to eat meat/dairy/whatever else, it’s your own business, but I think it’s really important to know where our food comes from!

You know, it was only after reading your blog and realizing that being an ethical eater doesn’t mean you are a perfect vegan 100% of the time. Your blog gave me the courage to become a vegetarian in a way that works for me. My boyfriend’s family are avid hunters and always have a TON of meat that will either be eaten or go into the trash. These animals were not brought up in factor farms or fed pesticide-laced feed. So, on the extremely rare occassion that this meat is prepared for me, I may decide to eat it. And that is okay.

I am still doing good for the world by not giving my money or my health to institutions that raise animals in unhealthy and treat them in unethical ways.

I feel this approach is definitely an improvement from how I used to eat meat all the time. Something is better than nothing!

I’m an ethical meat eater! I try to only eat wild caught fish, local organic grass-fed beef, organic free range chicken, and as much local produce as I can handle! I avoid brands that I know have a bad rep. I support the ones I know strive for ethical conditions.

I agree that there is no black and white when it comes to eating. I consider my husband and ourselves ethical eaters because we buy local or grow all of our own produce. We buy our bread from a local business that uses only natural, local ingredients. When we eat meat it’s from local farms that allow their chickens and cows to eat grass and room the pastures and are never finished in gross feed lots. Local organic milk, yogurt, cheese and eggs whenever possible. Does it all cost a lot more? Of course, but it’s worth it to support our local community farmers as well as reduce the carbon footprint our food is creating.

I think people get so hung up on labels. It’s not necessary. You only need to justify what you eat to yourself, not anyone else.

GREAT post, Caitlin! As a vegetarian who does eat egg whites and does consume dairy, I find that I have had to question my own intent as to why I don’t eat meat because I feel it is unethical, but I still consume products that come from animals. And I figured out, through research and self-evaluation, that I don’t eat meat because of many of the ways animals are treated and as you said, demoralized in factory farming; however, do I judge my family and friends who eat meat? OF COURSE NOT! They have their own beliefs and I have mine. For my own health, I have had to keep dairy and eggs in my diet…that’s just what the nutritionist has said. And I have become ok with that because I know that I am still making a difference and helping animals by not consuming meat…even though I do eat eggs and consume dairy.
As so many on here have said, it is vital that everyone understand how personal food is…it’s not just about the product itself…it becomes about the way it has been manufactured, produced, packaged, prepared and eaten. And that, for everyone and everything, is DIFFERENT!
You are to be commended, NOT criticized, for the way in which you put out your beliefs for all of us to see, hear and enjoy. Thank you so much for sharing your heart and your beliefs. You are truly an inspiration…not a hypocrite! 🙂 Blessings! ~Kaitlyn

Great post! I too feel like I eat ethically. I try to pay attention to where the food I eat is coming from. I am pescetarian and haven’t had meat in almost a year. I do eat seafood but only products that are certified sustainable. I too no longer drink cows milk, but still enjoy organic yogurts and cheeses and butter. I feel judged sometimes but I try to just roll with it. I’m not eating for other people. I do believe that the changes that my husband and I have made have made a difference for the better, for the life of animals,environment and our health. I believe people need to do what they believe is right, and should be knowledgeable about their food choices, but ultimately it comes down to a personal decision.

I loved Food Inc. Another good one that really changed me was Earthlings.

Great post! I REALLY like your point about things being black and white. I have a friend who is always telling me she wants to be a vegetarian but she eats SOME meat and would have to give it up. My response? Just eat what you want, you don’t need to give up chicken just so you can call yourself a vegetarian! Thanks for the post 🙂

I could not agree more with you. I think that ethical eating means making as many well-educated decisions when it comes to eating that we feel comfortable with. I find that calling anyone a hypocrite or trying to force certain habits upon someone does not invoke good change in the world!

Well I think it’s crap that people attack you the way they apparently have, but I completely agree with your way of thinking. I’m a “pescetarian” leaning towards vegetarianism, and I also practice the “gray area.” I don’t drink cow’s milk and rarely have cheese, but I love greek yogurt and ice cream. Labels are difficult to deal with and I think people put too much stock in them, when it’s just an easy way of defining how one eats. You’ve been incredibly open and honest about your choices, so I don’t understand how someone could disrespect you like that. You’re a huge inspiration and you rock! Thank you for all that you do.

What a wonderful and interesting post! I think you summed up my approach perfectly when you said “When I say that I am an “ethical eater,” I mean that I strive to understand WHERE my food comes from and the IMPACT that my choices have.” >>> that is my approach 🙂

Well said. I can see how someone might be confused by your eating habits with a different definition of ethical (everyone has their own definition after all), but you’ve done a great job of explaining your thought process. And that’s ultimately what ethics should be: conscious thought about one’s actions. As long as we do our best to be educated and thoughtful in our choices, when the moral compass points to yes, who’s to say we’re wrong? Like you said, it’s never black and white. This isn’t math class; there’s no right or wrong answer. There are many answers, each as valid as the next, and that’s something to celebrate.

So enjoy your yogurt!

I believe in labels only when it comes to me. I “label” myself and my daughters vegetarian because we eat ZERO poultry, red meat, pork, fish or “wild” meat and have done so for 8 years.

We do, however, eat eggs, cheese and yogurt. These products are always bought in organic, free range form or directly from farmers that I know and can visit on my own when possible.

Cows milk has been out for many years because I see no reason in giving MY milk to my daughters since we stopped breast feeding so why would I give them milk from a cows breast? Again – these are MY choices and I WOULD NEVER and HAVE NEVER judged ANYONE for their food choices as long as they are made in an educated way.

The phrase I hate to hear more than “How do you get your protein?” is “Ignorance is bliss.” Ignorance is ignorance – plain and simple.

I’m working at a summer program with 60 high school students right now and since I’m a vegetarian, I’ve been asked a lot of questions like: when? why? how? etc. Well one of my students is a vegetarian and almost a vegan. He and I have really had some great conversations and I really have enjoyed speaking to my other students about “ethical eating”. So many people question why I don’t eat organic and why I sometimes allow gelatin to slip into my diet and I think you and Mama Pea say it well: I don’t want to be militant about this but I do want to be educated. I feel better knowing that the decisions I’m making are helping out. Yes, I still eat some dairy and occasionally eggs, but I don’t want to label myself as a “vegan” EVER because I’m afraid of the imagine that puts out (ie, PETA). I am a vegetarian for many, many reasons and I try to explain that I am making these choices for MY life and doing it the best way that I can. That is all we can do! I’m sorry people think you’re a hypocrite, I’ve heard it before too. I appreciate your point of view, your recipes, your lifestyle, and the choices you’ve made — they’ve helped me make my own!

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said food is personal. I work with clients everyday with whom food is probably one of the most personal relationships they have. I think that everyone has their own rules, philosphies, rituals (whatever you want to call it) and with those rules come certain beliefs that are also very personal. Judging someone because they don’t eat, believe, act, etc, how you do is ridiculous and immature. I love how you present yourself. You never “preach” but rather just tell us how you live. That is admirable, takes courage and with that comes people who will agree, disagree and some with be apathetic. But in the end…as long as YOU are happy with your choices and your decisions then that is all that matters!

I am enjoying this post.
I really do agree about not condemning other’s choices.

Just a side question,why is drinking cow’s milk not ok in your books,but yogurt and cheese are?I don’t mean this as any critique,I am just confused why you might find one more ethical than the other? Am I missing something, knowing that yogurt,milk and cheese are all from same source?

I just was wondering about it,but not in an accusatory curiosity, but instead wondering the difference in your opinion?(by the way I do eat cheese and yogurt and love ’em)

Thanks for any more info about this particular choice of yours -cheers!

I can’t really comment too much on this because I pretty much eat whatever I want. I love red meat and chicken and can’t see myelf giving it up, but I have nothing against people who have make that choice. I think as long as people don’t get preachy about what what should and shouldnt be eaten and then turn around and eat it, then it is fine.

Healthy eating is all about moderation, right? I think most people would agree that it’s ok to treat yourself once in a while, if you’re eating healthy most of the time. So why should vegetarianism/veganism/”ethical” eating be any different? If you feel like it’s unethical to eat meat, but really enjoy Thanksgiving turkey, who says that’s not ok? It’s up to each person to make their own decisions about what they put in their bodies. And I, for one, am not going judge anyone for their food or lifestyle choices.

That said, my definition of “ethical” eating is probably a lot different from most of your readers’. Having first-hand experience working on beef and dairy farms, I know that a lot of the so-called horrors are either blown out of proportion or flat-out lies. Therefore, I don’t believe you have to eat organic/grass-fed/hormone-“free” (in quotes b/c all animal products naturally contain hormones) to eat ethically. I eat conventionally raised meat and dairy products, and don’t feel guilty.

I also want to pass along an interesting article to you – this is a first-hand account of what a vegetarian nutritionist found when he visited a cattle feedlot. You might be surprised by what he found:
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/cattle-feedlot-visit

I definitely agree with this. In fact, I think a lot of things in life are far from black and white…and we oftentimes limit ourselves with that type of reasoning. It does not have to be an ‘all or nothing’ scenario. I believe things to be much more fluid.

Labels can be so limiting! Others want to ‘bucket’ you so they can infer things about you. And sometimes it seems that when a label is typically seen as “good” (ex ‘ethical eater’, ‘athlete’), people tend to pick it apart, poke holes, point fingers…show you that you’re no better than them. As I type this I realize it sounds awfully negative. I don’t mean to say that all people are so narrow-minded. But once a label gets put on something or someone, it seems to give narrow-mindedness a place to breed. It provides a set of ‘rules’ to measure you up against…which is too bad.

Have you read Food Matters by Mark Bittman? He discusses how CAFOs are bad for the environment, not just in terms of the conditions of the animals, but by polluting the land and water and using a great deal more fossil fuels and natural resources than farming fruit and veggies does. Anyway, by just making an effort to eat less meat, we can have a huge impact on these environmental issues.

I agree that ethical eating is not a black and white issue. Food is such a personal choice, and what works for one person will not work for another. The way you eat now, may not work for you in the future – just like everything else, eating habits change over time depending on a myriad of things!

I also agree that labels can be flexible. I have friends who consider themselves vegetarians because they eat no meat or fish, but still consume milk and yogurt…but I think that what really matters is that you take the time to educate yourself on where all of your food comes from, and use that information to make informed decisions!

Thank you for shedding light on this! In NO way does your lifestyle have to be black & white. I think every little bit counts and just because you can’t technically slap a label on your eating patterns doesn’t mean you aren’t making a difference with your body/the environment!

I loved this post!

About two months ago I quit eating meat (I still eat fish & seafood) after reading Eating Animals. I did not go into the book with the INTENTION to quit eating meat, but after reading the book I just can’t stomach the idea of chicken, pork or beef so I don’t eat it. Maybe I will again one day, though. I’m not going to draw any lines.

I try to tell my family about the things I learned through watching Food Inc. and Eating Animals not to sway them to stop eating meat but to INFORM them so they can make INFORMED decisions about what they eat. I think that’s really all you can ask of anyone!

Once again, great post!

I’m pretty sure there is NOTHING “ethical” about the way I eat. Haha. I’ve cut down on processed foods a lot, I’ve upped my veggie and fruit intake, and I’m making small changes to cutting down on sugar. For now, this is OK with me. I know that I should give up the diet sodas and Sweet n Low in my coffee, and I slowly have tried weening myself off it, but I’m just not ready to go the full distance yet. I want to have a better understanding of where food comes from and what exactly it is I’m eating, but I don’t know if I’m quite ready to get that involved. Baby steps!

I think you are so positive and balanced, and that in itself is truly inspiring. Don’t worry about being called a hypocrite—some people just like to dissect things to DEATH or stay too “by the book.” But yeah, if you were a vegetarian that ate a big juicy burger every once in a while, I might call you on it! I also can’t stand the “vegetarians” who are on the pizza/pasta/bagel diet!

This is something that I’ve been struggling with a lot. I believe in putting my money where my mouth is, so I try to shop local and preferably organic, but that isn’t always possible. I was vegan for 2 years, and ended up switching back to a pescetarian lifestyle. I had to ask myself, with my beliefs and some dietary problems I’ve been having: would I rather eat Earth Balance, which is made up of palm oil (which is not ethical, at all) or real, organic butter? Would I rather eat faux-meats or sustainable seafood? I really don’t know, and sometimes I do still feel guilty now that I’ve incorporated things back into my diet.

I think awareness is key. Research your products. I love TJ’s as much as the next person, but many of the commentors pointed out that their food is produced by cheap laborers. Does that mean I will boycott them 100%? No, but I will keep that in mind when I shop there. There’s also a lot about money and privilege that comes into play with being an ethical eater. The first rule to food eating is that you MUST eat to survive. Some people don’t have access to farmer’s markets or fresh or affordable produce. So, that’s my goal: food as sustenance. Then I worry about it being ethical and healthy and all that. It’s what kind of irritates me about all the arguments from Michael Pollan (who has a philosophy that I agree with, yet he seems to ignore class and urban areas). I mean, they do touch on that in Food Inc., but the same arguments about “healthy eating is CHEAP” (bull! It *can* be cheap, depending on access and knowledge and creativity) and all that. There’s a reason processed food and empty calories are cheap, and THAT’S where I think people need to put their energy into: fighting against that.

Woo! RANTY! I always love your posts about these subjects because I know you get it, and I also love that you believe in moderation and you aren’t preachy.

Okay, wow. I needed to read this today and my reasons have absolutely nothing to do with food.

I just would like to point out that I get frustrated when people get so blatantly judgmental towards bloggers (which is different than disagreeing) who never outwardly express judgment themselves. I have never once heard you chastise someone for eating meat or splurging on desserts five times a day or drinking 10 cups of coffee a day. You have said time and time again that you are on a quest to find balance – and your honesty is admirable.

Yes, this post is about ethical eating – but it is also about looking into someone else’s life through a different lens as them and making judgments that don’t account for the person’s resources, upbringings and family system. We are all just doing the best we can.

On an ethical eating note – I appreciate the way your blog has opened my eyes to different eating opportunities and meal possibilities. I don’t feel so “stuck” in the kitchen anymore when it comes to healthy eating and cooking!

I am a vegetarian — no meat or fish since October 2009 — and I try to eat vegan as much as possible, but don’t feel bad when I don’t. I know that the small steps I have taken have made a difference. I try to buy eggs from farmers markets and companies whose practices I know, but if I am out to breakfast I know that won’t usually be possible. While it is an ethical dilemma, I know I am doing the best I can. Great post, Caitlin.

I think it is important to note that this notion of “ethical” eating is a privilege. Many people in this world do not have the luxury of buying certain food products. Many people in this country live in “food deserts” where they lack adequate grocery stores and cannot eat or access certain foods. So, it really is unfair to start accusing people of not eating a certain when really not everyone has the opportunity to eat just like you.

Great post. I think that this false dichotomy leads many to embrace unhealthy and unethical eating due to the inconvenience and effort involved in being a vegetarian. This train of thought assumes that incremental changes have no effect, which is ridiculous.

This is a great post, Caitlin! It resonated with me and I can relate to a lot of what you said about having some wiggle room.

I have a ton of food allergies – gluten, fish and seafood, milk, egg yolk, pumpkin, so for me, a lot of my food decisions have been predetermined by my genetics. On these foods there is very little (if any) wiggle room, simply because it makes me sick.

That said, over time, I have changed the way I eat, moving towards more healthful, nutritious, and ethical foods. I follow some of the dietary laws of Kashrut but could never keep kosher 100% because of my allergies. So, I do the best I can.

Since reading lots of Michael Pollan and others, I have made the switch to being an ethical meat eater. I’d say I eat a vegetarian diet 80% of the time and am now very aware of where my meat comes from. I only buy grassfed, local poultry and beef.

This decision was rooted in my learning about factory farming and me making the choice to not support that industry with my food dollars. Some of my friends are also ethical eaters and have modified how they eat over time which has made it nice because we can have informed, intelligent discussions about food issues and eat similarly which strengthens our social time.

Sure there are times I don’t choose organic or may not question the source of the meat in front of me, but those instances are often when they come at the expense of my family (who worked hard to prepare a holiday meal, accommodating my allergies) and friends and that’s not a price I’m willing to pay in my life.

Thanks again for raising these questions!

Oh my goodness, your comments are packed so I’m not even sure you’ll notice this one. But it’s so refreshing to me that you can eat healthy 99.9% of the time and not stress about it the rest of the time. So you eat ethically and eat yogurt. My world didn’t end when I heard that. I think we can only do what’s best for us. I don’t begrudge vegans for having a “restrictive” lifestyle as much as I don’t preach to my friends who eat burgers that theirs should be grass-fed. I know that I try to eat ethically by eating meat that’s raised to roam free, to eat what nature intended it to eat, and so on. It’s not my place to judge others.

On that same note, I like knowing I’m not judged coming here but still being a meat eater. Thanks!

loved this so so much. you put into words what i have struggled with for a while. i am not 100% anything- vegetarian or vegan. i drink soymilk but eat yogurt. i don’t eat meat but every once in a while will eat a piece of wild fish if i know where it came from. i felt like a fraud, for lack of a better term, for so long, because i didn’t follow all the “rules”. but as you said, i eventually started to feel really good about the choices i make, and i continually evolve as an ethical eater. THANKS for putting this out there.

I totally agree with what you are saying. I mean why does eating vegetarian have to be black or white? I think that sometimes people feel as if vegetarians think they are “better” than other people, so they aim to tear down that superiority. I toy with the idea of going vegetarian often, maybe soon!

Great post, I think it’s important to stick to your own beliefs and do what works for you. That’s why I don’t like the label of “vegetarian” or “pescatarian” or whatever. I just do what works for me and incorporate as many ethical eats into my diet as possible. But of course I’m not perfect, and I don’t think you have to be to make a difference!

I certainly hope there are grey areas when it comes to ethical eating. I have educated myself of factory farming and, as you said, subsequently made the best choices for me. As someone who has struggled with disordered eating for almost two decades, I don’t feel it would be smart for me to say that any foods are off limits. I have too many food rules already – I really don’t need to make it harder for myself. I now eat meat in far smaller quantities than I once did and began incorporating tofu and beefed up other sources of protein in my diet (no pun intended!). For the sake of my sanity and my health I feel this is the best I can do right now.

Wonderful post! You clearly have a lot of reading to do yourself:)
I have such a difficult diet to explain to other people… I mostly tell people I’m vegan or vegetarian… I don’t eat red meat and i’m lactose intolerant. I try to avoid meat in general for the similar reasons as you BUT I occasionally eat chicken or turkey and salmon because I actually get ill if I don’t have a little animal protein occasionally. And I eat eggs because I like them… a lot… and their good protein!
Anyway, I very much agree with your post that there are gray-areas and my diet is an excellent example (It can be all over the place in terms of what I do and don’t eat and a lot of people don’t necessarily understand it but thats okay because I have MY REASONS).

We have extremely similar thoughts regarding ethical eating, and I think most people are on the same page.

I’m not a vegetarian or a vegan, but I do consider myself an ethical eater.

I buy as much locally as I can: dairy, meat, produce.

I buy organic from companies I believe in and support that are running ethical and sustainable practices.

And, more importantly (to me), I make as much as stuff MYSELF as I can: breads, desserts, yogurt, etc.

But no one is perfect. There are things I cannot buy her that I still need or want sometimes, and I’m okay with that.

I think the most important thing for everyone is to just find out where your food is coming from and decide how to go from there. The more we know, the more change we can cause in the food industry. Buying local meat and dairy IS more expensive, and my husband and I have a very tight budget, but it’s worth it to us to splurge on those items (and local produce) and cut back on other things.

I can’t wait to dig through the comments and read what everyone else thinks. You are so right about people being black and white. I am a longtime vegetarian. I agree with vegan principles, and maybe one day I’ll be ready to commit fully to veganism. But I just can’t give up the Greek yogurt, good cheese, or occasional ice cream. And that’s ok by me. I don’t drink milk and have switched to non dairy alternatives. I do buy non dairy cheese and ice cream. I’m in the gray area when it comes to dairy, and it’s an area in which I can live and consider the ethics of eating that are important for me. I couldn’t agree with you more!

Caitlin, you are so inspiring and I LOVE your definition of “ethical eater” so much that I think that’s what I am.

I am mostly vegetarian because I prefer it. Nothing makes me happier than fresh summer fruit and veggies and plenty of whole grains. Well, except maybe chocolate. 🙂 I am a huge animal lover and know that if I had to raise/butcher an animal in order to eat meat, I would gladly never touch meat again. On this side, I seriously consider taking the plunge and being vegetarian. BUT the scientist in me wonders if humans are meant to be omnivores (Like cats are carnivores! It’s not wrong for them-it’s their biological makekup. Feed a cat a vegan diet and it will literally die!). So I eat seafood a few times month and chicken rarely (usually when I’m eating out) and a bison burger once per year maybe. I don’t drink cow’s milk unless it’s in a mocha but eat cheese/yogurt often and would miss it if I gave it up. Plus, I’ve never been good about getting my calcium and I worry that one day far too soon my bones are going to dissolve. Yikes! When I think about animal milk and it’s purpose (feed same-species babies), it’s gross but I try not to think about it. I do buy only organic milk and organic/free range eggs and when I buy chicken I buy the same because I hope that the cows/chickens are treated humanely. I make an effort to support stores/companies/products that try to take care of our planet and it’s creatures.

I strive to educate myself and to do what feels best for me emotionally/morally/physically. Some days are better than others, and I’m ok with that. It’s a personal decision and it is important that I respect others’ right to do the same even if I don’t agree with their choices.

Sorry for the book…oops!

You make such a good point about ethical eating not being black and white! My parents always call me a hypocrite for certain conflicting eating choices, but I keep on telling them I’m not trying to be a perfect ethical eater, I’m simply doing what I can!

Caitlin, you did a great job with this. Don’t give the haters your time or energy… keep doing what you do. You are positive, energetic and an encourager. Love ya.

Great level-headed response. I consider myself an ethical eater, especially after seeing Food, Inc. I try not to eat meat unless I know where it’s coming from/how it was raised, etc. I’m not a big meat eater anyway so it’s not a big deal for me to eat vegetarian most of the time. I try to buy organic/local as much as is possible given the availability and my budget. I definitely think some people have gotten a bit “food snobbish” with all the various talk about ethical eating. But overall I think it’s a good thing that more and more people are being exposed to the truths about our food industry in the U.S. and changing their habits. Great post!

I think that it’s best not to label your “style” of eating. The definition of “vegetarian” is probably more clearly defined than “ethical eater.” Once you label yourself as something, people attribute their preconceived notions about that thing to you.

Kath and I frequently eat mostly vegetarian dinners, but our criteria for excluding certain foods are never “is it meat or not.” We’ve never declared ourselves to be vegetarian, and so we never get these questions about “oh my god, you’ll eat THIS but not THAT?” In fact, most of the obnoxious comments are more along the lines of “are you becoming vegetarian?” To that the only response is, “I just eat.”

This is really interesting, and thanks for opening up this debate. Honestly I’m surprised at how positive most of the comments are- not that I disagree with your post! 🙂
I think when you label yourself as anything (an ethical eater, vegetarian, vegan, pescaterian, whatever), you’re automatically opening yourself up to criticism. People want to understand this “belief” you claim, and they want to see how well you’re adhering to it. I think part of this is a natural reaction- ie, someone who has made real sacrifices of things they enjoy eating might call themselves and ethical eater, and (rightfully?) be irritated when someone thinks they’re being ethical by buying a couple of pieces of organic fruit once a week.
I don’t really discuss my food choices and I probably make more compromises than you, but this debate makes me wonder if putting labels on something is necessarily a bad thing. It opens up a lot of conversations (some healthy, some hostile) and lets you and a lot of other people learn something. But I don’t think you can have a label without opening yourself up to being judged- otherwise words wouldn’t have meanings.
Again, thanks for an interesting post and for allowing this conversation!

I’m sorry I’m late to this party, this is such an interesting topic. I completely agree with your view that what you choose to eat is very personal, and that ethical eating isn’t a black and white issue. Is the high-raw vegan who drinks young thai coconut water while living in New York eating more ethically than someone eating locally produced meat? Or the vegetarian who drives a SUV acting more ethically towards the environment than the omnivore who walks to work? I don’t know, and won’t pretend to know, but I just try to weigh my options and make the best decisions for myself.

i think you can be an “ethical eater” while eating ethically raised meat and dairy. there are certain presumptions and almost rules that come along with labels, so once you put a label on your eating habits, i think most people will expect you to follow those rules. so, if you’re label yourself a vegetarian but still eat fish, you’re not a vegetarian. you can still be an ethical eater, but don’t call yourself a vegetarian. if you’re going to eat dairy only occasionally, then you’re not a vegan. and there’s nothing wrong with that; just don’t label yourself as what you’re not.
i think the ethical eater label has standards that are more open for interpretation. i think there is lots of grey area in that label, but not so much in the vegetarian/vegan/raw/etc labels.

I strive to be an ethical eater, yet I eat meat and consume eggs and dairy frequently. To me being an ethical eater is all about understanding where my food comes from. I feel that people have evolved to eat animal products, but I feel it is unnecessary for those animals to be treated in cruel manner while being raised. I choose to purchase local produce when in season (as much as possible in NY). I know that many times the food I purchase is not organic, but it is fresh and grown within 10 miles of my home. This year I took this approach even further and planted my own garden to supply my produce this summer and I am prepared to can my food to eat year round. This year I decided to raise chickens, for eggs. This was a direct result of watching Food Inc. I have always gotten my beef from my grandparent’s that raise beef cows. This peace of mind is such an amazing quality. I never worry about my meat being contaminated and it is leaner and in my opinion tastes better. I hope to expand my personal farming efforts to include raising meat chickens and pigs next year. While many people do not understand how I can raise an animal and have it slaughtered, I feel it is the most appropriate way. I know that these animals have been raised well with love and attention and I know that my meat will be a quality product. In my area, we have a chain of small stores called Stewarts. Stewarts provides local egg and dairy products. The farms that provide the goods are conventional farms, but the products are fresh and there is a great deal of transparency between the farms, the store and the consumer. I worked for this company in college and I truly believe the animals, farmers and store employees are treated well. I can honestly say that I have never purchased my milk from any place other than Stewarts. These are the steps I take to be an ethical eater. Without a doubt these efforts are worth it !

Great post Caitlin! I belong to a local vegetarian/vegan social club and we always have discussions about people who say they want to be veg but can’t give up such and such food. I think we all agree that if there is any effort they can make, we encourage them to do it. It’s not black and white and it doesn’t mean they have to be perfect, like you said.

I think all we want is for people to CARE. I went vegan several months ago for health reasons but it’s opened up a whole new world of ethical issues to me. I’m also learning more and more about where food comes from and I’ve been trying to buy local and organic as much as possible. Every little bit counts!

Very thoughtful post! Your comment about food being personal really resonated with me. I feel that my food choices are very personal and at the same time, food is such a communal experience. Meals are meant to be shared, in my opinion, which is why I think respect for each others’ choices is so important.

I’m a life-long vegetarian (who knows how that happened), but most of my loved ones are not. I am not sure how I would label my eating, but if I had to give it a name, I’d call it compassionate eating. I try to give thought to where my food is coming from and how it will nourish me. This also means having compassion for those around me to the point that I don’t judge or belittle their decisions.

I think food is one of the most exciting ways to show love and care for other people. I never thought in a million years I’d do this, but in the past few years I have started cooking fish, poultry and meat-based dishes for friends and family. I still don’t eat any of these myself, but I have learned how to select and prepare these foods in ways that don’t make me feel guilty or uncomfortable (or grossed out… let’s be serious here).

Yikes. I just rambled. 🙂

I 100% agree, Caitlin! Doing anything that you can to help the environment is good…in fact, it is better than most of the world is doing. And, I agree with Mama Pea…just because you do not want to eat meat or drink cow’s milk, does not mean that someone else needs to give it up. I love your style of eating…you eat what you want, but you make healthy choices…and most importantly, you don’t tell others that they need to eat the way you do. You eat the way you want, and I love that. I do the same. Just because I choose to not eat meat, does not mean that people around me can’t eat meat. Sometimes when I turn down chicken or a burger people seem to get offended. They make comments. I don’t make comments on their eating style, so why do they do it to me?!

Thanks for this post!! I went vegetarian 4 months ago, and have been struggling with the “all or nothing” mentality in myself. I’ve been calling my eating practice “vegan at home,” because when I’m out at restaurants (4-5 meals per month), I will eat cheese. So what does that make me – a 25-days-a-month vegan? A part-time vegan? Why the labels? And why do I have this internal sense that if I’m not 100% vegan all the time, that my efforts don’t help the earth or the animals? I started this all 6 months ago by going organic after watching Food Inc. Now I call myself organic vegetarian, or if you want to get crazy with it, organic whole-foods vegetarian. But I’m still trying to find my way, and honestly, I want to be OK with having cheese once a week. I want to add yogurt back into my diet. I’m having a hard time meeting my daily calcium/D requirements and have resorted to a vitamin supplement – but I’ve always preferred to get my nutrition through food. So, anyway, thank you for posting this, because I do feel that I eat ethically, and think (a bit too much!) about what I eat and how it impacts my animal friends and the planet and my health. I need to remember that every little bit helps, and to remove the concept of perfection from my food!

Labels, labels, labels – vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian… I completely agree with you. Ethical eating means being informed about where your food comes from (how it was raised, what it was fed, if chemicals were used, etc). And it absolutely doesn’t have to be black and white. I try my best to know where all the food I eat comes from, but that doesn’t mean that on occasion I don’t eat meat that came from who knows where. I think we have to support our beliefs with our daily decisions but that doesn’t mean we can’t “splurge” from time to time or treat ourselves to a less strict standard on occasion.

I loved this post! You are so right, there does not have to be a black and white. I am not a vegetarian, but I eat meat MAYBE once or twice a week. I feel like putting that label on a diet/lifestyle creates restrictions that just don’t need to be there. I avoid meat because a) I get grossed out my raw meat and b) I can’t afford to by free-range or grass fed organic meats. Simple as that. I also agree we should not criticize others for their lifestyles because every positive choice has an impact, no matter how big or small.

I first became veggie about 9.5 years ago and I gave myself 5 exceptions — 4 that I planned, one free one. My exceptions were steak at a particular restaurant many states away, goulash at another (also many states away), my dad’s day-after Thanksgiving chimichangas, and corny dogs at the TExas state fair (all the meats rolled into one! ewww). It worked for me. I went off meat completely in June of that year and I didn’t have an “exception” oppurtunity until the state fair in Sept that year. I got the corny dog and I still regret this — I wasted it. I hate wasting food, particularly animals that then died for no reason. I realized the thought of eating meat didn’t seem right to me.

But it’s interesting to note that like you, I’m a vegetarian for ethical reasons, mostly b/c of the factory farms. One of my brothers has pushed me with lots of questions about this and we’ve basically concluded that I would eat roadkill — eww — because my objection is to how animals are kept and killed, and the intentional killing of animals. That leads to the conclusion that I’ll eat animals that live in the wild and then die of natural causes or accidents, like roadkill. Thankfully I haven’t seen a menu with roadkill yet, so I’ve successfully avoided that moral dilemma!

Not starting a fight, just wanted to help clarify the term “factory farm.” I AM a Vegetarian. Let me make that clear. However, I do work for an agricultural non-profit. People often think any large farm is a factory farm owned by a corporation. 98 percent of farms in America are owned and operated by families. Some of these families may contract with a meat company, but they care for those animals until they are sent to a processor. Once animals raised for meat go to a processing facility, that operation is owned by a corporation and that may be what you think of as a factory farm. That is not a farm, it’s a processing facility. I hope that helps. I just don’t like the term “factory farm” because it’s not really true. You have farms (large and small) and you have processing facilities. I hope that helps clarify the term. That’s all I was trying to do!

I commend you – anyone – for trying to become an informed and educated consumer (of food or whatever). But, I think this is the “problem” with what you’re trying to express – why people claim”hypocrite”: You say you’re an “ethical” eater, rather simply saying you aim to be a more “educated” eater. Ethics are about what one thinks is “right” or “wrong”. So while you say others shouldn’t judge you, by claiming to be an “ethical” eater (read = right) it comes across that others’ choices must be unethical (read = wrong). Thus when you seem inconsistent in those choices, others (in a defensive position) will be quick to shout: hypocrit. And I’m with them. But if you’re aiming to be a more educated, concientious consumer – great!