By
- PennLive Letters to the Editor
Healthy eating does make us better citizens—but a “balanced diet” that still treats fish, poultry, and dairy as civic virtues is missing the moral point (“Why healthy eating makes you a better citizen” Aug. 9, 2026)
If food is fuel, then mercy should be part of the recipe. A truly healthy relationship with food doesn’t stop at our own bodies; it recognizes that compassion, consistency, and public responsibility matter, too. We don’t need to harm animals to nourish ourselves, and no moral citizen should accept cages, confinement, and slaughter as being character-building
A diet built on plant proteins can support health, reduce environmental strain, and spare animals immense suffering—all while helping people live their values more fully. That’s common sense with a backbone
Better citizens aren’t made by causing suffering to others. They’re made by choosing food that reflects a cleaner, kinder vision of community
Ben Williamson, executive director of Animal Outlook, Takoma Park, Md
