Universal Meals: Breaking Bread and Joining Hands

More people than ever follow a specific diet due to allergies, health reasons, cultural or religious tradition, or environmental or humane concerns. These preferences are no less important when they gather for food after fellowship, travel, are served lunch at a meeting, dine with family, or go out to eat. When dietary choices are not reflected in foods served, social encounters frequently become uncomfortable, even divisive. Universal Meals is a simple set of meal guidelines that meet the vast majority of food requirements even in a world of great diversity, and can be implemented anywhere food is served. Universal Meals assure that everyone is served—which means that diversity is respected. This session explores how Universal Meals bring us together across faiths and beliefs, health concerns, and moral commitments, allowing for universal fellowship at every table. Universal Meals is the brainchild of Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine’s founder, Dr. Neal Barnard.