Grass Fed Meat..Where to Buy It?

Dear Readers,

Have you ever wondered where your meat comes from? We all love hamburgers, fajitas, meatballs, chili, and baked ziti. My mouth waters just thinking about these dishes, however I have aways wondered where does my meat come from? Yes, we go to the local grocery store and pick up a pack of meat. It's even a bonus if the meat is on sale. So think again where does this meat come from? I am always on a food journey trying to find the best quality food that tastes fresh and has the most nutritional value for my money.

While I was in graduate school I did a lot of research on food and their relationship to our health. The concept that whatever the animal ingests does get absorbed into our bodies when we consume it. Many animals are given antibiotics through their food which helps them grow faster and bigger. However when we consume these animals we too get traces of antibiotics and pesticides into our bodies. Also these animals have more fat around the muscles and organs.

You may be thinking.."What is the hype on grass fed animals..or what does this mean?? To make it simple..many animals especially cows are given corn as their main course of food. Odd right?? Cows are supposed to eat grass. Many aren't given grass because it's expensive and corn is cheaper. However, corn isn't natural to cows and this is why the meat has more fat and the rise of e. coli becomes more predominate.
Grass fed meat has less fat, less cholestrol, and fewer calories.

I found a website for a local nj farm that raises there own cows. Here is some information on their website:(Beechtree farms- Hopewell, NJ)

Grassfed beef has two to four times more omega-3s, the “good fat” and conjugated linoleic acid CLA’s. Omega-3’s are an important building block in every cell of your body. People who eat food with more omega-3 and CLA’s are less likely to have heart problems, develop cancer, arthritis and high blood pressure. They are also less likely to suffer from depression, attention deficit disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. Grass-fed beef is loaded with vitamins A, D and E as well as beta-carotene.

When you are buying meat look for the labels:
-Grass fed
-Local
-Antibiotic free
-Pesticide free

I buy a lot of my meat the following stores:
-Whole Foods
-Kings (they have the brand Bell & Evans organic- they sell poultry)
http://www.bellandevans.com/index.cfm?act=www.bellandevans.com_organic
-Cherry Grove Farm (http://www.cherrygrovefarm.com/)
-Abma Farm (http://www.abmasfarm.com/market.php)

The price of buying higher quality food does come at a premium. However, when it comes to health the food you eat more frequently I would put the extra money towards. One day when you have free time write up a list of all the food you eat in a week. Usually we tend to make the same 6 meals and rotate. If you consume meat or poultry lets say 3 of those days..try to purchase them organic and local. You can always mix up the other days with plant based dishes.

I am going to go these farms and report back to you my opinion and the taste of their products.