Ethical eating in Ramadan
Poor communities around the world are facing the reality of a global food crisis. Millions are struggling to grow their own food as a result of drought and floods and other factors linked to climate change. Rising food prices caused by poor harvests, higher fuel costs and increased demand, also mean that they cannot afford to buy food they and their families need. As a result, more and more people are going hungry, facing malnutrition and being pushed back into poverty.
Ramadan is an ideal time not only to empathise with those who regularly go without food but to do something positive to change the circumstances that has created this crisis. Buying and eating more ethically can help ensure that our meals are not eaten at the expense of others. Why not make a few lifestyle changes for a month and then see if you can sustain them for longer?
Five things you can do
- Eat moderately
There is more than enough food in the world for everyone but some overeat while others go without. Try to eat moderately this Ramadan, focusing on nutritious value rather than large portion sizes. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “Food for two suffices three, and food for three suffices four.”
Cooking when hungry means you may cook too much – remember how quickly you feel full after a day of fasting? You also won’t be able to finish of any leftovers for lunch the next day so you should be cooking less in Ramadan, not more! To ensure you make the most out of the food you buy and that you only cook what you can eat, it is helpful to plan your meals in advance. This is easier to do in Ramadan as the limited eating times means you have more control over what you eat, this will not only help you regulate your diet but also reduce your food shopping bills.
- Buy fair trade
‘Fair-trade’ addresses the injustices of the food trade through a trading partnership that gives farmers a better price for the food they produce. It also ensures decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fairer terms of trade.
Fair trade has been successfully developed by non-governmental organisations and exists because of choices made by consumers. It helps to give a voice to millions of small producers and helps to empower them and their communities.
Some of the most important products to buy fair-trade are tea, coffee, chocolate/cocoa, bananas and honey. These are readily available in your local supermarket – just look out for the fair-trade logo. For a few pennies more you can be assured that those who worked hard to produce your food have received a fair price and not been exploited.
- Eat locally grown food
Eating locally grown food that is in season not only has health benefits but is better for the environment. Much of the food we eat has been transported across vast distances to reach us. These ‘food miles’ increase our carbon footprint and contribute to climate change, which in turn has a negative impact on poor communities.
“It is He Who produces gardens, with trellises and without, and dates, and tilth with produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in variety): eat of their fruit in their season, but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered.” Quran 6: 141.
Find out which foods are in season this Ramadan and plan your iftars to make the best use of them. You can buy seasonal food from your local food shops or farmer’s market. Your local farm may also have a weekly food delivery service in your area – why not try it out during Ramadan? If you mainly shop in the supermarket you can check the label for country of origin and buy only local produce.
- Switch to free range meat
The meat industry is mostly geared towards producing cheap meat to maximise profit, often at the expense of animal welfare. Some modern methods include cruel practices such as battery farming, where chickens are confined to tight indoor cages and may be given artificial growth hormones to make them gain weight quickly.
“Eat and drink all that is halal (lawful) and tayyab (wholesome and pure).” Al-Qur'an II: 68
The inhumane treatment of animals goes against the spirit of Islam. However the alternative ‘free-range’ industry allows animals to roam freely, eat a natural vegetarian diet and ultimately results in better quality, ethically produced meat.
Switch to free-range or organic meat this Ramadan, even if it means eating meat less often. Halal organic meat is a small, growing market but free range eggs and responsibly farmed fish are now available in most supermarkets. Making the change may help you and your family appreciate the gift of meat and empathise with those who can rarely afford it. It may also help us empathise with those who struggle to make a living from traditional farming methods that cannot compete with the modern meat industry.
- Don’t waste food
In some developed countries a third of all food goes to waste. This is not only a waste of money, but it has an adverse effect on the environment due to the production of greenhouse gases. It also goes against the teachings of Islam;
“Eat and drink but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters.” – Quran 7:31Try not to waste any food this Ramadan by planning your meals better and being more aware of the food you already have in your kitchen. Keep an eye on ‘use by’ dates (related to food safety) and ‘best before’ dates (related to food quality). Where possible freeze any excess food and make sure you know how best to store your food items to preserve them for longer. If you have space for a compost bin you can use it for all your fruit and vegetable peelings and teabags.
Use your leftovers and excess food in innovative ‘makeover’ recipes to prevent it going to waste. Ask around for makeover recipe ideas, especially amongst the older generation for whom this may have been common practise.
Here are a couple to get you started:
- Make smoothies from overripe fruit. Most fruits can be blended with yoghurt, banana or milk. For suhur you can add oats to keep you full for longer, or honey to sweeten.
- Use up excess vegetables by making a soup for iftar – there are lots of recipes you can try. If you don’t find a recipe specifically for the vegetables you have, you can usually get away with adding the odd random vegetable to a standard recipe.
- Fish cakes are a great way to use up leftover mashed potato, fish or breadcrumbs. They make a nice starter when inviting people over for iftar and the children might enjoy them too.
