A joyful Lent iv: Food justice

Medieval Lenten practices were directly related to food justice. Entire communities would give up the same things – animal products and dairy foods – so that whether you were rich or poor, everyone found themselves more on a level than usual. Money saved in each household was given to the poor, so those who were genuinely hungry were offered some justice. 

A creative Lent can include some deliberate acts of food justice. If you are cutting back on your diet for Lent, giving what you save to a food bank or food pantry is one good idea. 

We can also look at our habits of buying sustainably and ethically, and think about our relationship to food. Do you know where your food comes from, where it was grown, how far it has travelled to get to your table? 

There is a Food Justice conference in Marquand Chapel, Yale Divinity School on February 22-23. More information here: http://ydssustainability.yale.edu/events/just-food