What do I choose to eat?

This is precisely what I started to think as soon as I began reading Michael Pollen's The Ominivore's Dilemma. This book is amazing and eye-opening to everyone and makes you think about what you put in your mouth. 

His book follows the food chain from industrial grown, organic and "alternative" grown farms, to hunting and foraging. I loved his journey and the growth he experienced as well as what questions and emotions about food he brought to me. His style of writing is both ensconced in beautiful imagery as well as investigative research. 

So, back to my original question. I love food and am constantly trying new recipes, improving on my old stand-bys, and tasting new goodies. I want to be good to the environment and all of mother nature as well as eat well, but how do I as a member of the world society do that without going over my budget or buying a farm of my own? Well, he doesn't really answer that, but he guides me through his experiences and that has helped me in my choices. I choose to eat whole, beautiful food. I choose to buy food as seasonal and local as possible. I choose to buy animal products that have been treated well as much as possible. I choose to honor the food I eat with gratitude. I choose to sit down and enjoy the act of dining as an experience and I choose to not feel guilty if I cannot meet all of the above when I cook and eat a meal. 

Isn't choice one of the most powerful tools available to us as humans? I encourage you to reflect on your choices of what to eat and in doing so you may be surprised what happens.