Meat-ing in the Middle: Organic Meat Options for EveryoneOrganic meat, due to the huge number of meat recalls, is on peoples mind more and more of late. It seams like there are only two choices, wait till one of the recalls affect you and your family or change what you eat. For many people who want to eat more responsibly and humanely, meat is something of a treacherous area. If you have a family or household to cook for, it might not always be feasible to leave meat out of the menu entirely, and for some people who have dietary concerns, it might be completely impossible. It doesn't mean however, that you can't make any difference when it comes to getting food that is both good for you and good for the environment!
Eating organic meat is one of the best ways that you can both keep meat on the menu while doing your part to help out the environment.
The first thing you need to think about is what goes into your meat; more specifically, you need to think about what doesn't affect organic meat. Whether or not they mention it on the package, meat that has been regularly produced and processed will have at one point or another been exposed to growth hormone and other steroids. Long term exposure to meat like this can have serious health effects, including premature development in children and other problems down the line It is also important to note that the animals that are used for safe meat are fed on natural foods like grass. One of the issues with much of the meat that we eat today is that the animals in question are forced to cannibalism to keep their weight up. This can result in serious health problems, both for the animals and the humans that eat them. When you eat organically grown meat, you'll find that because the animals eat in a healthier fashion, the meat not only tastes better, it will retain a greater portion of nutrients than meat that has been processed in a modern fashion. Moreover, it is important to note that the animals that you are eating when it comes to organically raised animals where universally treated with a great deal more humanity and decency than the animals that are typically slaughtered for food. Look for labels like “free-range” or “ranch-raised” on your food, and chances are, the animals had a modicum of freedom of movement, something that factory raised animals are not allowed at all. While you might be a little concerned about availability, you'll find that healthy meat is fairly easy to find, even in a major grocery store. While you'll find that basic butchers and supermarkets will carry it, the absolute best place to get organic meat is your local farmers' market. You'll find that with just a little bit of searching, you'll be able to take advantage of local, organic meat, whether you are looking for chicken, beef, or even more exotic fare like bison, ostrich or rabbit. Whenever you eat meat, you are making a choice. As with any other food you eat, remember to make the choice that is the safest and the most beneficial to you; with some thought, it will be easy to see why organic meat warrants some serious consideration!
|