Know Your Farmer
Never in a million years did I expect to care where my food came from.
Honestly, I was one of those people that rolled my eyes when the organic “trend” started. I thought it was just another way for producers to get more money for their food and/or for the wealthy to set themselves apart.
When Jason started seeing an acupuncturist who also practiced Nutrition Response Testing the idea of organic food was brought up a little more often. His desire to change didn’t transfer to me right away. I had my favorite restaurants and box dinners, which made life much simpler. I don’t really embrace change very well – especially if I don’t believe in it or the reason/science behind it. Changing my eating habits???? Touchy ground!
Eventually, with a little prodding, I got on board with Jason. Things labeled “All Natural” or “Organic” or “Cage-Free” or “Grass-Fed” were taglines I started looking for. Frustration soon appeared as more research brought the realization that some of those words didn’t mean diddly squat. Pretty much any producer can use whatever label they want on packaging to entice buyers.
Soon I began looking for things with the actual USDA Organic or Certified Gluten-Free label on it. For several years this worked for us! But when Quinn was born, our diet called for more changes, as several foods caused her to be colicky.
Processed Foods
Every ingredient on the list needed to be read regardless of certification. I couldn’t believe how many questionable (at least to me) things could be certified organic. For example: natural flavor! Lots of certified products also contained carrageenan, various acids and citrates, cellulose, etc. Food Babe has this list of non-organic ingredients allowed in USDA Organic products- it’s long!
The simplest (although not easiest) alternative to this one is to stop buying processed foods or start making your own. Since we’ve started the GAPS diet, everything processed has left our house. It hasn’t been as hard as I thought and makes me think twice about whether it was healthy for us or not in the first place.
Buying fresh produce is a necessity and can be expensive, especially in the winter! Planting your own garden, visiting your local farmers market, or joining a CSA is a good way to work around that!
Eggs
We used to think Cage-Free was a good option, and they are better than the standard battery cage eggs. However, according to the Humane Society of the United States, Cage-Free simply means they have room to walk, spread their wings, somewhere to perch, and can lay eggs in a nest. It doesn’t require any outside access! Here is a quick guide to the differences in egg labels.
For the next couple years, we bought USDA Organic eggs from a local grocery co-op. The eggs had more flavor and the color of the egg yolk was richer. It was definitely an improvement.
Then last year we started raising our own chickens on the family farm. The chickens are free range and the supplemental feed is USDA Certified Organic, GMO and Soy Free. The land is pesticide/herbicide free and the chickens are not treated with chemicals or given any growth hormones. What a difference!
Meats
Beef was another thing we revised. Grain Free or Grass Fed wasn’t good enough as Quinn reacted to those. Meat labeled as such could still contain small amounts of grain, corn, antibiotics, pesticides, etc. They also aren’t required to be grass-fed their entire lives, which means time in a feed-lot atmosphere is a possibility.
One thing I recently learned is that USDA Organic beef can still be vaccinated. The use of antibiotics and growth hormones is prohibited, but vaccines are not. To some people who have allergies/sensitivities that may present a problem.
Jason spent a couple weeks sourcing beef from farms in the surrounding areas that followed practices we agreed with. Surprisingly, there were quite a few within a 2ish hour radius, but not all of them had stock. Many of the farmers we found followed organic standards (or close to) but were not USDA Organic due to cost and “politics”. We could visit the farms, which was extremely nice because we could see with our own eyes what the pastures and cows looked like and ask the farmer questions.
The meat had so much more flavor, better fat quality, and was much tender than the grass-fed beef we had been getting. I also felt better knowing the cattle was raised as nature intended and treated well. And although I don’t have statistics, I’m 99.9% sure there’s more nutritional value!
Short of raising your own cattle (which we ended up doing!), the only way to really know you can trust your beef is to know your farmer! It’s a fun experience!
Thought-Provoking
I recently started reading Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. I’m not far into it – but my eyes have been opened! The original book started because author Michael wanted to know and understand where his food came from. So, he started researching, interviewing, and journaling from the beginning to the end of certain foods life cycle. The result is a boatload of information that will surely change your mind – or at least make you think twice – about the food you eat and where it’s sourced from. (Read my thoughts after finishing!)
The version I have is for “Young Readers”. A variety of pictures, graphs, and visuals make it easy to read. It also prompts the reader to consider the effects of their choices.
The intent here is not to scare anyone; it’s to bring more awareness. To make you think twice about the “food” you are putting in your body. There seems to be a health epidemic looming, with no real answers in hand. I firmly believe the food we consume has the power to make or break us.
Taking the time to research and getting to know your farmers can make a world of difference. It has for us!
