As it gets harder to figure out what to eat, some Americans are turning to religion for answers
It's getting harder and harder to figure out what to eat. A scroll through social media raises many questions. Why is food so expensive? Am I getting enough protein? What about fiber? Do I need supplements? Should I be making all my bread at home? What foods were recalled this week?
Navigating the ever-changing landscape of nutritional advice has become increasingly perplexing for many Americans. Social media platforms are awash with questions regarding food costs, protein intake, fiber content, the necessity of supplements, and even the ethical implications of certain dietary practices. These concerns complicate the already challenging experience of grocery shopping and making mealtime decisions.
Throughout history, individuals have sought guidance from religious texts and customs to navigate these complex decisions. In her book "Born Again Bodies," scholar R. Marie Griffith delves into the influence of Protestant Christian beliefs on American dietary and fitness trends. Inspired by her decade-long ethnographic research on religious food movements, Griffith's 2025 publication "Free-Range Religion" highlights how these movements are not only altering people's dietary choices but also striving to transform the broader American food system.
Two of the religious food movements Griffith examined were Jewish community farms promoting an experiential approach to reconnecting people to the land and Jewish agricultural practices. At the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut, young Jewish adults participated in the Adamah Farm Fellowship program. They were involved in planting, harvesting, and preparing produce for their weekly community supported agriculture program.
During a "shmita" year, a biblical year of land rest, the Adamah Farm Fellows maintained their fields in production and established a community garden to honor this tradition. In contrast, the Pearlstone Center in Maryland opted to replace their usual vegetable rows with cover crops that would rejuvenate the soil during its year of rest.
They also suspended their community supported agriculture program and shifted their focus towards educational programs centered around Jewish texts and traditions related to "shmita" and the significance of rest for all living beings.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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