Greener eating this month...

**mama2James** · 04-22-2010, 09:27 AM

Last night, my sister and I watched Food Inc on public television. Very eye opening to say the least. I have been learning about organics, eating locally etc for the past couple of years and slowly incorporating better food into my family's diet. Recently we bought 10 lbs of grass fed ground beef from a local farm as a first step into buying farm raised meats. The ground beef was a versatile, less expensive cut of meat that I felt would help to make the most of our purchase. It's is absolutely delicious, even looks and smells better than the store bought stuff. I am now contemplating a purchase of a few free range chickens from the same farm, or another local one.
My sister commented during the movie "It makes me not want to eat any meat unless I know where it came from." After chatting for a bit, we make a pact with each other not to eat any beef other than at home for the next month. We considered not eating any meat at all other than at home, but we decided we ought to do it in baby steps, for a better chance of success. Every little bit counts! I recommend the movie to anyone who eats!!

**Liane** · 04-22-2010, 10:15 AM

I missed that show. I wish I saw it. Have to check and see if they are going to replay it. Most people would not eat any more if they found out where their food came from or how it is prepared. I've worked in restaurants and believe me you would want to stay home from now on if you knew what went on in some kitchens.

**akolb** · 04-22-2010, 10:29 AM

"It makes me not want to eat any meat unless I know where it came from."

This is precisely what my eating philosophy has been for 3 years. Luckily, I live in Louisiana where fresh seafood is easy to come by!
I've always said, If people really knew where their fast food/Wal-Mart beef came from, they wouldn't eat it!

**Dutchie** · 04-22-2010, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by mama2James

"It makes me not want to eat any meat unless I know where it came from." !

I completely agree and I haven't seen the movie but I did read an article in Mother Earth News about the food that we eat, especially meat.
WOW!! It has really put me off.
This is one of the reasons that I have pushed to get my chicken quickly.
(There is a small uproar over here about the antibiotics in chickens.)

**WindTech** · 04-22-2010, 05:26 PM

I saw this same documentary and I believe every word of it. Corn is in damn near every processed food we eat and cows should be grass fed, not corn fed, like you are saying. After seeing this documentary I did visit my farmers market and bought some foods. They really didn't have enough of a variety of foods there to sustain you though. I now buy whole organic produce and canned veggies/fruits from companies that I research. I learned that the 100% juice I used to drink, by H@ns0ns N@tur@l, was not even produced or refined or distributed by them so I switched to 100% W3lch3s Grape juice instead. I am currently in the process of researching every company that I regularly buy food from to ensure that they are a good company and that my food is clean, nutritious, real, and affordable. Anyone else make changes after seeing this film?

**IntlMom** · 04-22-2010, 05:38 PM

I'm glad to see that others found encouragement and inspiration in the film. I think it should be required viewing for everyone!

**WindTech** · 04-22-2010, 05:45 PM

Agreed, I have already passed my borrowed copy on to a good friend after having received a copy from my brother. It is only like $10 so I plan on picking up two (one for me and another one to circulate to friends and ultimately pass on)

**lilyrose** · 04-23-2010, 10:21 AM

I missed it. Are they replaying it?

**RaineyDaye** · 04-23-2010, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by WindTech

Anyone else make changes after seeing this film?

Yes! I recently read a book (Dominion) about animal cruelty that had a vivid description of the pork industry. That made me decide to become vegetarian and I have been working on eliminating meat from my diet. Then seeing Food, Inc this week makes me wonder what is safe to eat in the supermarkets. Now I am actively searching for a completely different diet.

**LynnLC** · 04-23-2010, 04:04 PM

watched it... totally changing my food purchases.

**Trishagirl** · 04-23-2010, 04:32 PM

We saw it before our library had a copy of it. I'm glad I don't eat pork or buy any chicken from big companies. It terrible how they treat those animals just to be raised to get slaughtered!
I buy my meat from our local meat market and it has no immunizations ect. Alot of people come from out of town also.

**gottadance** · 04-24-2010, 10:34 PM

You can watch Food Inc online somewhere for free - not sure where, but someone on my country living and homesteading yahoo group posted the link the other day. Everyone's been talking about the movie. I saw it a few months ago - I was about 70 percent organic, except for meat, due to cost, but after I saw the movie, that was it, I just decided I'd eat less meat so I can afford the better meat.

Coincidentally, today I went to an Earth Day event and found a local farm here in IL Walnut Acres Family Farm - that does a meat CSA. So I'm going to sign up for that to get a share every other month.

**mama2James** · 04-25-2010, 07:47 AM

Just wanted to mention that meat doesn't necessarily have to be certified organic to be healthy and humane. Many family farms can't afford to be certified, but they still use organic practices and take great care of their animals. I would definitely buy uncertified meat from a local family farm that I can visit over meat from the grocery store that is labeled organic.