"After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations."

-Oscar Wilde

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."

-J.R.R. Tolkin

“Seas” the days of July by thinking about what you eat. Your well-traveled food comes from all over the world, and is grown with many different techniques, often in ways that aren't sustainable. The decisions you make about what goes on your plate affect much more than just your dinner table. Your choices can help craft a healthy future.

Find out where your fish is from.

Seafood can be a very safe and healthy dish for you, but you have to check out where it comes from. Certain forms of seafood are high in toxins and mercury, while others aren't fished sustainably. Some scientists worry that if our current rate of fishing continues, the world's fisheries can collapse.

We can help through the decisions we make at home. Curious what fish are ocean-friendly? You can download the seafood watch app right onto your phone. This app will help you find seafood that's good for you, and the sea!

By Natalie Maynor, flickr user NatalieMaynor

Minimize meat.

If you're a meat eater, think about participating in Meatless Mondays. This may not only improve your health but it also has great environmental benefits. The meat industry generates a large carbon footprint which contributes to climate change. You can help prevent this by minimizing meat consumption.

Chow down close to home.

You don't want your food to be more well-traveled than you are. On average, our food has traveled 1,500 miles to reach us and consumes a lot of energy to make it that far. The great amounts of fossil fuels used in this trip harms our oceans. In comparison, local food doesn't have to go on a long journey to reach our plates.

Local food has tons of benefits. It helps the local economy and preserves the farms near your home. Since it's fresher and hasn't had to travel far, it usually tastes better than the alternatives. This food also has more nutrients and is generally healthier for you. Farmers' Markets are a good place to pick up delicious food directly from farmers. To find a location, you can search using the USDA's directory.

Feed yourself.

Growing food can be a fun (and tasty!) alternative to picking it up at a store. Why not celebrate this Fourth of July by staging your own food mini-revolution? If you have a garden, why not grow some tomatoes?

By: Marju Randmer, flickr user isutekitaja

Or if you want to grow something indoors, herbs like basil and oregano will do well if they are put in a window with lots of sun. You can even use some of your home-grown food to make your Fourth of July meal even tastier!

Cover Photo by Ian Sheddan, flickr user imsvsims

The Seas the Day initiative encourages and empowers people to take ocean conservation personally. Each month, we feature a new conservation theme with ways to help so come back regularly for more ocean-helping ideas and tips!

Created mainly to support our partner ZAMs (Zoos, Aquariums, and Museums and other visitor-serving organizations involved in our growing network) in motivating conservation action, Seas the Day is for you to tailor for your own purposes. Please use any or all of the content verbatim and re-post on your own blog, social media channels, website, newsletter, etc. We have a large database of action tips and related content for you to use so let us know what’s most helpful and what other action-able types of information and resources we can provide to enhance your conservation efforts.