The ethics of eating: what the freegan is this?

Everyone is talking about food. Chefs and food critics are celebrities. "Locavore" and "freegan" have earned spots in the dictionary. Popular books and films about food production and consumption are exposing the unintended consequences of the standard American diet. Questions about the principles and values that ought to guide decisions about dinner have become urgent for moral, ecological, and health-related reasons. So, as we begin a New Year and perhaps the inevitable resolution of ‘new diet new me’, which ethical corner will you be in at the dinner table?

In Philosophy Comes to Dinner, twelve philosophers—some leading voices, some inspiring new ones—join the conversation, and consider issues from the sustainability of modern agriculture, to consumer complicity in animal exploitation, as well as the pros and cons of alternative diets.

The last few years have seen much written that should psychologically (and perhaps physically) unsettle those who eat the typical American diet, but this book ups the ante. Not only does it contain important new arguments, it is packed with provocative new questions.

Concerned consumers have been discussing food reform for decades. An entire social movement has even formed around the issue. But—somewhat astonishingly—we have yet to think systematically about the ethical implications of our proposals. Philosophy Comes to Dinner changes that.

In a culinary world marked by simplistic and polarized extremes—organic versus conventional, free trade versus fair trade, local versus global food, vegan versus "conscientious carnivore," and so on— it asks us to exchange ideology for reflection and thoroughly explore why we’re making the food choices we are making. Philosophy Comes to Dinner represents the fact that philosophy is, figuratively, just one guest around a very crowded table, alongside agriculture, business, government, nonprofit, and religion, who can play a pivotal role in transforming our food system.

Don't Give Up Now! The Daily Meal Reveals 25 Strategies to Help You Keep Those Resolutions

NEW YORK – January 12, 2015 – The Daily Meal, the world’s largest food and drink lifestyle site, just announced the publication of "Don't Give Up: 25 Strategies to Help You Keep Those Resolutions." January marks the start of New Year’s Resolution season, when we often make promises to ourselves tied to weight loss or adapting a healthier lifestyle. Instead of introducing a resolution that involves deprivation and is only around for the short term, The Daily Meal shows you ways to keep your resolutions every day, without it feeling like a chore.

“A healthy lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight and in order to move forward, you need to keep a steady pace,” said Bridget Creel, Healthy Eating Editor at The Daily Meal. “This can be accomplished by setting reminders and planning ahead. It’s beneficial if you can cook your meals and schedule your workouts ahead of time, so staying healthy doesn’t interfere with your busy life.”

The Daily Meal also recommends not being too hard on yourself if you've already slipped up. The “all or nothing” approach only works for the short term. Instead, ease yourself into small lifestyle changes such as eating breakfast before you run out the door in the morning or packing a healthy lunch for work. In no time, these habits will become second nature.

In order to compile this list, The Daily Meal team reached out to nutritionist Amanda Foti, celebrity fitness trainer Jorge Cruise, health expert Annie Lawless, and Lindsey Mcilvena, a medical doctor, for helpful tips and recipes for a New Year’s Resolution weight loss plan.

The team at The Daily Meal encourages readers to provide feedback on the following list. Do you think these strategies are helpful? You can let The Daily Meal know which strategy on the list is your favorite by tweeting @TheDailyMeal using the hashtag #dontgiveuponnyeresolutions

More details about the 25 Strategies to Help You Keep Those Resolutions is available at http://www.thedailymeal.com/healthy-eating/strategies-to-help-keep-resolutions.
   
Rank Strategy
1 Be Realistic With Weight-Loss
2 Build On Successes
3 Celebrate Your Accomplishments
4 Do A Little More Every Time
5 Don’t Let Willpower Get The Best Of You
6 Don’t Sit As Much
7 Get Enough Sleep to Stay Focused
8 Get Out Of The All Or Nothing Trap
9 Grab A Buddy
10 Inspire Someone Else to Join
11 Kick The Sugar
12 Make Self-Care A Priority in 2016
13 One Step At A Time
14 Reduce Stress Through Daily Tasks
15 Re-Organize Your Refrigerator
16 Reward Yourself
17 Set Reminders
18 Share Your Resolutions And Goals
19 Shop In The Right Mindset
20 Start Now
21 Track Your Food Intake
22 Visualize The End Result
23 Watch Your Inner Dialogue
24 Weigh Yourself Regularly
25 Write Down Specific Goals