LOAF MEALS Jesus blessed and broke bread and gave it to His disciples
saying. “Do this in remembrance of me.” He often celebrated communal meals with His
followers. You can follow His example when you have a Harvest, Alpha supper or picnic
on Environment Sunday, and choose food that complies with at least some of the LOAF
principles. Download LOAF placemats from our website. Layout 1 Then invite people to
enjoy their meal while thinking about the food they are eating. Some Churches provide
simple meals of homemade soup and bread with local, organically grown ingredients.
Others put on a spread of local cheeses, meat from humanely-reared animals, salads,
pickles, bread, desserts, fruit juices, wine, coffee and tea – all labelled to show where
they were produced and all following the LOAF principles. One Church distributed
seeds in Spring, and celebrated harvest with vegetables grown from the seeds. Use Your
LOAF! The decisions we make about our food have far-reaching effects, influencing the
way food is produced, and animals are treated. LOAF meals can raise questions about
over exploitation of soil and people, fishing methods which destroy the ocean floor, and
industrial agriculture’s dependence on oil for transport, fertilisers and packaging.
“Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11.
Locally Produced: helping community and neighbour
We believe that God created the Earth and its seasons. There is a time and a season for
everything and there are moral choices in what we eat. We live with an amazing amount
of choice and variety in our supermarkets. However, the transport of food from around
the world is a leading contributor to climate change. Our local farmers are struggling to
compete in a global market, and overseas farmers are under pressure to produce food
for export leaving little land and water for their own crops. Rainforests have been
cleared to grow food for export, devastating the environment.
By choosing food that is grown locally, we can provide a good livelihood to local
producers and cut down on fossil fuel emissions. We will also discover the joy of
seasonal eating: strawberries and apricots are a summer treat, pears in the autumn and
brussel sprouts are a winter speciality. We can remember God’s amazing goodness as
we think more carefully about where our food has come from.
Tip: sign up to a local veggie box scheme. For seasonal food choices visit:
eattheseasons.co.uk
Organically Grown: taking care of the Earth
We have a duty to care for the soil and water on which we depend. In the Genesis story
Adam was created from the soil of the Earth. We share our planet with the diverse
creatures that make up the Earth community, including the millions of creatures that
live in the soil.
The pesticides and herbicides that are used to grow our food are causing the pollution
of our rivers and loss of species and are a threat to bees which are vital to the food
production itself. Pesticide mixtures may be harming human health. Soils without
organic matter become lifeless, instead of teeming with worms and other soil creatures.
By choosing organic food we will have healthier soils. We will see meadows rich with
wildflowers and rivers full of fish again.
Tip: look for the Soil Association logo.
Animal Friendly: avoiding abuse
We have responsibilities from God for looking after animals (Luke 12:6, 14:5). Abundant
life for all demands that we produce our food in ways which nurture that life.
Animal welfare is neglected when eggs, dairy products, meat and fish are produced
using intensive farming methods and long-distance lorry transport. Animals are
sensate/sentient beings and feel pain and suffer when ill-treated. Carbon and methane
emissions from animal farming are boosting climate change.
All of us, whether vegan, vegetarian or meat-eater, can follow the ‘A’ of the LOAF
principles. We can choose to eat less meat and to buy higher welfare meat. We will be
respecting and nurturing the creatures that God made.
Tip: beware of confusing labels… look out for “free range” “outdoor reared/ bred”, or, as
a first step, “RSPCA Assured”. Organically reared animals are subject to the strictest
and best welfare regulations.
Fairly traded: creating social justice
We are called to act justly and not exploit the poor. Our neighbour is everyone anywhere
in the world that we interact with. Farmers and producers overseas and in the UK
deserve a fair price for their produce.
There will always be food that cannot be produced in quantity in Northwestern Europe,
including bananas, citrus, cocoa, olives, sugar, tea and coffee. Too often, prices to
farmers don’t even cover the cost of production. Thousands of coffee, tea and banana
workers and farmers are living in poverty. Trade needs to be both sustainable and fair.
Buying fair trade foods means that workers who produce the food get a fair wage and
better working conditions.
Tip: act justly by looking for the Fairtrade symbol.
There are many great resources available from the Green Christian website which are suitable for Orthodox parishes.