Mind what you eat: resources for thinking about food and faith

Many SCM activities - both locally and nationally - revolve around food! Whether that's a simple meal before an SCM weekly meeting, a celebratory meal at Christmas or the end of term, or getting involved in making flapjack for hungry people at a national gathering.

As Links Worker for SCM I am regularly fed by generous local groups. After a long train journey there is nothing better than someone handing you a plate piled high with curry and rice and getting to know people over a relaxed meal. Some of my happiest memories of being involved in SCM have food right at the centre:

• sitting around the kitchen tent at Greenbelt, sharing interesting conversations, eating delicious food from the big pot and waiting for the kettle to boil
• the infamous cultural evenings at European SCM meetings, eating strange and wonderful food from across the continent
• making bread at the Easter gathering this year, and savouring the smell as it cooked

When existing SCM groups are asked for tips for new groups the resounding cry is “Food!” Cook nice food, offer hospitality, make people feel welcome, and you will build community.

How mindful are we about the food we share? What connections do we make between food and spirituality? Here are a few resources for local groups to get you thinking about food, faith and ethics:

Where does your food come from?
Christian Ecology Link’s LOAF campaign (which stands for Locally produced, Organically grown, Animal friendly, Fairly traded) is a good starting point. Why not hold a LOAF meal during Freshers week or prepare some LOAF recipes to hand out to new students?

Stop bankers from betting on food prices
This creates instability and pushes up global food prices, making poor families around the world go hungry. Take action with the World Development Movement through their Food Speculation campaign: http://www.wdm.org.uk/food-speculation

Take a look at Jesus’ approach to food
Ched Myers’ article All ate and were satisfied is a useful starter for discussion, exploring fasting, feasting and food politics in the practice of Jesus

Watch a film
Why not organise a screening of the film Food Inc (out on DVD) which gives a vivid account of the human and environmental costs of ‘industrial farming’ and the extent of corporate control of food?

Reflect on the connections between food and faith
Think about the relationships between the Eucharist, theology, food and justice. These two books may help: Theology of Food: Eating and the Eucharist by Angel Mendez Montoya and The Eucharist and Social Justice by Margaret Scott. See also Theology on the Menu: Asceticism, Meat and Christian Diet by David Grumett and Rachel Muers (former SCMer!)

Feed the hungry
And finally, if you are in need of some recipes to fill hungry stomachs then try these:

The Christian Aid Book of Simple Feasts: Cooking for a Crowd Through the Christian Year by Sarah Stancliffe

The Fairtrade Everyday Cookbook by Sophie Grigson

Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

If you have more tips and links to resources please add them below or start a thread on the SCM forum!