Hump Day! I’m up early to do some Jillian Michaels, No More Trouble Zones. Have to keep up the weight training, I will be in a bathing suit in 5 days!!
3 days until vacation (from school) and I need it more and more. With “the test” coming up school is getting more and more stressful. I had a meeting after school yesterday so I didn’t get home until late, so I made some whole wheat pancakes. I was pretty excited when I got home because in my mailbox was a cookbook (Secrets of a Skinny Chef) I won from Meghan @ Travel Eat Love. Thanks Meghan!
I made a batch that came out to about 10 pancakes, I had 2 and Danny basically ate the rest. I didn’t end up baking a cake because my colleague already made one, so I got off the hook there! I was kind of glad because as much as I love baking I wasn’t really in the mood when I got home.
I have a question for you. Do you buy organic meats? Do you even buy meat at all? I haven’t eaten meat in a little over a month just because I haven’t felt the need to. I eat a ton of fish and I don’t really want to fit under any label of vegetarian, vegan, etc. I am just doing what I want to do feel good about how I’m eating. I’ve been reading, “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollen and on the cover is the quote, “Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.” The whole book is mind blowing with the age of nutritionism. I plan on doing a larger review when I finish the book. Michael Pollen talks about how every dollar you spend in the food store counts as a vote. What you buy is what you are voting for. Most of the things I buy, I feel great about. I buy organic lettuces and various other organic vegetables. However in the area of meat I haven’t felt so good about my purchases. We switch up where we buy our meats from, sometimes Whole Foods, sometimes Stop and Shop. I thought I was buying organic meats from Nature’s Promise (at Stop and Shop), but after examining the meats (after buying it for almost a year!!) I realized they aren’t organic. They say naturals NOT organic. I did some research only to find, naturals mean nothing. There are no regulations on naturals. So since I can’t get to Whole Foods every week, I have been buying significantly less meat. Danny hasn’t been complaining, but I think it freaked him out when someone told him he had lost weight. (He eats meat for lunch, I can find organic turkey meat at Stop and Shop.) So anyways, I have been looking into doing a coop or a CSA and trying to get some organic meats that way. I really am not comfortable eating meat that isn’t organic at all (or letting Danny eat it either) right now after watching Food Inc. and reading books about the meat industry. Does anyone else agree? or disagree??
I can’t wait to read your opinions!
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Great pancake recipe! I love how much you use Spelt flour – I am really loving Spelt!
I feel like I'm on a similar boat with you about meat. Lately I just haven't wanted or felt the need for it in my diet. I've never been a huge meat eater (I'd stick pretty much to turkey and chicken, occasionally a hamburger) but eat a lot of fish, too. I also don't feel the need to declare a "label" such as vegetarian or anything – I mean, I'll eat what I want whether it involves meat or not! It just so happens that lately, it doesn't.
I'd love to do more research on the subect – I admit I am way too uneducated on organic vs. non-organic meats, but I'd love to look into it. My mom tries to get grass-fed beef from a farmer (uh, who's cows we drive by every day – that bothered me for a little while, lol) locally, but I'm not sure that necessarily counts. I've just heard of comparisons b/w grass fed and non.
I can't wait to hear others feedback!
Great topic! I'll be curious to hear what else you think after reading more and receiving more comments!
havent tried that kind of flour, guess its time with my high cholestral and blood pressure need to eat healthier for sure~
I was once a vegetarian, now I eat meat. I think there are a lot of disgusting things going on in the meat industry. I try to buy local and organic but can't all the time. It's almost impossible to find organic sandwich meats here.
I've been thinking a lot about my diet lately, have read Pollan's book and The China Study recently I'm re-thinking meat. Not giving up entirely (I have a serious love affair going with steak) but incorporating a lot more veggie protein sources and cutting back.
I haven't seen Food Inc. yet but I've heard it's pretty profound viewing.
I don't usually eat red meat but I could never give up fish…ever!
I rarely eat meat anymore and only buy it from Whole Foods when I do. Whole Foods is 50 minutes from my house but only about 15 from my work so I just make the trip everyweek, especially if we have a meat item on the menu that week. I do not eat meat that was raised on antibiotics/hormones/steroids. I just don't believe it can be good for us. The reason I don't eat much is because it doesn't really agree with me which makes it much easier. I also buy it from local farmers which I found on eatwild.com. You may want to check that out.
Do you have a freezer? How about buying the meat in bulk at Whole Foods?
I've been a vegetarian for almost 30 years, but my husband eats meat and so do my kids. For me, I love vegetables and non-meat proteins such as tofu and dairy products, so there is not a moment where I want to eat meat. But living in a mixed household, I definitely concur with your decision to go organic or at least hormone-free when you buy your meat. I'm trying to convince my husband to let me get some chickens so we can have fresh, organic eggs, but he's adamantly opposed (and I'm guessing our neighbors would be too if they had a say in the matter).
And p.s., love your pancakes!
I absolutely agree. I do enjoy meat occasionally, but since watching Food, Inc. I haven't bought any meat. We do have meat in the freezer that we will finish because I can't bear to waste it all(even though we've been eating it considerably slower, maybe once a week), but after that I will only be buying organic and grass fed meats. I can't stand the thought of buying regular meat from the grocery store anymore, simply because I have no idea where it's from. And as soon as my husband can borrow a tractor from my father in law, I'll be getting a chicken coop for some laying hens(even though we have neighbors fairly close :S). Soo exciting!
I love Michael Pollan! I read that book, too, and it's totally convinced me to buy more organic– I was buying mostly organic before, but now that I feel like I'm "voting" I buy almost exclusively organic when I have the option!
I was a vegetarian for 5 years, and my husband was for 8! We both decided to eat whatever we wanted on our honeymoon, because in Paris they serve really high quality meat (they have to label their cloned and genetically modified meats, unlike here in USA!). We really enjoyed all the food we ate, but when we got back from our trip, we did kind of go back to eating more meatless meals. We're definitely not "vegetarians" anymore, but I'd say we only eat meat and fish once or twice a month now!
After watching Food, Inc. and reading numerous books, I really don't like the idea of non-organic meat anymore, so I do think it's a good idea to try to find organic, or at least local, when possible. In Kansas, I know it's difficult for small farmers to get labeled "organic" even if they are, because they have to pay a LOT to get certified for the label! So sometimes you may be getting organic from a local farmer, even if it doesn't say so. And grass-fed and finished is the way to go, too!
Oh, and those pancakes look really tasty!
I'm just starting to read In Defense of Food, and saw Food Inc. Terrific! Have you tried whole wheat pastry flour? It's supposed to be just as healthy, but made for baking. Your pancakes look delicious!
I dont eat meat and couldnt imagine putting it in my body, organic or otherwise. There are so many loopholes around what needs to be disclosed re hormones, antibiotics, etc. No way! That's me though. And Ive been into CSAs for produce for 6 yrs, they rock! Try it!
Cole- I agree, its time for me and what is best to be healthy- with you all the way. love Mom.
I totally agree with the labeling yourself thing. I don't like having to do that either. But i really agree with the orgainc meat thing. I don't each much meat cause I don't really see the need but when i do it is ideal for it to be organic and not from a mass produced farm (a local farm). The carbon imprint that meat causes is what really drive me. –Love your recipes!