**This post is part of the Get Real series. Please remember that this is meant as a learning community. We know that many of you are passionate about what you do and we want you to express that, just please do so in a way that will be an encouragement and aid to others making a transition. We want this to be a “safe space” for participants to learn. For that reason, we reserve the right to delete any comments that are not handled in this manner.
As I’ve mentioned before I used to be in 4-H and one of my favorite memories was raising a pig for a year to take it to the fair. It was a terrific learning experience both educational and emotional. I learned to appreciate my meals especially when the meat I was enjoying was treated humanely, had a good diet, and most importantly a good life. Pork is now a special treat in our house, not only because pastured raised pork is hard to find at the store, but it is expensive, unlike the pork chops I grew up on. Here is a little Q&A session on pork:
Where can I find grass-fed pork?
Well, you can’t. Grass-fed typically refers to beef since their natural diet consists of grass. However, pigs are better known as “pasture-raised”. Pigs are foragers and opportunistic when it comes to their diet. They eat what they can, vegetables, bugs, fruits, weeds, grass, corn, etc. You can go to your local farmer’s market and see if there is anyone selling pork there. There are also a few online retailers where you can buy from.
What’s more important when buying pork: “Organic” or “Antibiotic & hormone-free”?
This was my bag from Chipotle the other day. Fitting yes?
First choice is pasture-raised, but as I mentioned it is extremely hard to find in your mainstream markets and is very expensive. The last time I checked at Whole Foods it was upwards of $7.50/lb for pork chops. Therefore I would opt to buy organic pork. The organic certification already implies that the pigs were not treated with antibiotics or hormones. And they were only fed organic feed which is better than conventional corn-fed pork. If organic is not available but you do see antibiotic and hormone-free, it’s still better than conventional.
What about nitrites and nitrates?
Sodium nitrite and nitrate are additives that were created to add to processed meats to add color and to prevent botulism. Seems harmless, however, nitrite has been linked to cancer in your internal organs like the liver and pancreas. “Sodium nitrite is widely regarded as a toxic ingredient, and the USDA actually tried to ban this additive in the 1970’s but was vetoed by food manufacturers who complained they had no alternative for preserving packaged meat products.” You’ll find more and more brands are now going away from nitrites and nitrates. Brands I personally like for hot dogs and bacon are Coleman and Applegate.
May Week One Action Item:
- Make it a point to pick up some pork this week at the store. Whether it be hot dogs, tenderloin, roast, or pork chops. Read the labels and see if it meets the criteria we’ve outlined today. Then whip up one of your favorite pork recipes or one of ours and see if you can taste a difference!
May Get Real:
Please take a moment to thank our guest authors by clicking over to their sites and/or liking them on Facebook and/or Twitter.
Sponsor: Once A Month Meals