Grass fed pork

About 6 weeks ago, I went to my local organic foods market, and I purchased 2 frozen grass fed pork chops from a local farm. I didn't have time to cook them that day, and I put them in the freezer and forgot about them. I found them today when I was trying to determine what I needed to buy for groceries this week, and I thawed them out and made them for lunch, with my vegetable "fried" rice.

This was the first time I had ever had grass fed pork, and it was delicious. It doesn't even taste like the pork that you buy at the grocery store - the difference is even more dramatic than grain fed verses grass fed beef. The pork was so moist, tender and flavorful. When I buy pork chops at the grocery store, they are fed grains (which they too are not intended to eat), and they are loaded up with growth hormones and antibiotics, and tons of other chemicals, and they lose all flavor, and almost all nutritional value.

It costs a good bit more to buy locally grown grass fed meats, but the animals have a much healthier and happier existence, and they are so much better for you. It's unfortunate that in many cases, this kind of food is cost prohibitive, but I do think that if you can buy it in bulk, there is definitely a savings. I am in the market for a freezer for the garage, so that I can get some good deals from the local farms.

I still don't know where I've landed on the whole organic thing, but I think I really need to eat locally grown organic produce, and locally grown grass fed, free range meats...I'm still working through the grains, and I'm trying to drastically limit the amount of processed foods that I eat, but it is hard. I'm not fanatical, and I don't think it will kill me to have corn fed meats when I'm at someone's home or at a restaurant. I think that as long as the majority of the time, I'm eating the healthier meats, it will make a big difference in lowering my cholesterol, raising my omega-3 intake, and lowering the amount of unhealthy fats (and chemicals) that I'm consuming.

I encourage you to give these meats a try!

Beef is the new Salmon

Grass fed beef, that is. According to "The Omnivore's Dilemma," since we have now started breeding salmon in farms, feeding them grain, as it's cheaper and makes them grow quicker, we have drastically reduced the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids, while raising the amount of fat. Grass fed beef is rich with Omega-3s and low in fat, and side by side with grain fed salmon, it's a much healthier choice. Who knew?!

I always tell myself I'm going to force myself to eat salmon because it's so good for me, but if that's not really the case, fuggedaboudit. Wild salmon is still higher in omega-3's, so don't throw the salmon out completely! Just ask questions, read labels, and know that unless otherwise specified, your pink little darling was probably fed grains for its' short little life.

Last night Darcy and I went to see Hancock. It's the movie where Will Smith plays a superhero, who has gone astray (putting it mildly). It was cute. I'm easy, though. I had a late lunch, so I didn't eat dinner, and I was really hungry. I wanted movie theater popcorn BAD. I know last time I had it, it was too greasy for me, but I was thinking of getting it without butter, and I'm sure that would be an okay taste.

I couldn't bring myself to do it, though. Instead, I stopped at Target on the way, picked up some sugar free gum, and settled upon that. How boring! ;-) I also picked up some Zicam allergy nasal spray. My allergies have been really bad this week, and Claritan keeps making me sick to my stomach, so I'm hoping this homeopathic remedy will do the trick. It will be one less pill to swallow/get sick from. I used it last night and this morning, and so far, it seems to be working well!

I'm working in Boston today, suited up in the new linen suit. I wanted to avoid as much traffic as possible, so I left the house at 5:30, but it still took me about 90 minutes to get here. It should be a busy day, but I'm hoping to leave on time-ish, as I want to get to the gym tonight.

I'm feeling MUCH better since yesterday - thank you all for your well wishes!