Cutting down on meat consumption--need advice on responsible sources of food.?!
Answers: Ok, folks, with the help of the recent slaughterhouse video from the HSUS, I've decided to cut back on my already-low meat consumption. I can't give up meat completely yet, as I really enjoy it. But, I want to make sure I get it from responsible sources. So, I need your help. Does meat labeled "organic" mean it's entirely free range, or do I need to look for free range labels as well. I already get my eggs from a small local farm, so I've got that down. I just want to make sure I get chicken and beef from farms that treat their animals humanely. Do you have suggestions or advice? Thanks so much. And please, no reprimands for not giving up meat completely.
Honestly organic and free range labels mean very little these days as the food industry has totally corrupted the original terms. Organic food is still allowed to have so many non organic chemicals in it and the laws governing free range are extremely loose. Basically as long as you have a door on the building your slaughter animals are housed in, you can call them free range whether or not you actually allow them outside.
Your best bet if possible is to do like you've done with eggs, buy from a local source that you can verify yourself (by visiting) as being a responsible source.
I suggest reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma". The beginning bit about corn (which most of our food is made of) can get a bit tedious and boring but stick it out the other chapters on industrial organic vs small farm organic and local eating. The book is a real eye opener.
If you can find local sustainable sources of meat I wouldn't worry about giving it up completely. Vegetarian and vegan diets can also be environmentally unfriendly if not acquired locally.
Good luck!
No just because it's organic doesn't mean its free range, try also eating meaty fish if you like fish such as tuna to help you feel satisfied
All the best
Annie
I had 2 good books: Diet for a small planet and Recipes for a small planet. ( I don't remember if it was " FROM or FOR )
Organic only refers to the type of food animals are fed and that they're not injected with antibiotics. Free range only refers to chicken, and doesn't guarantee that they're not kept in small cages, it just means they're not kept in barns. Look for "grass fed" beef,or better yet, find a local butcher. Small local butchers know where their meat came from and usually how it was raised. Talk to the people who you get your eggs from on recommendations where to get meat, they will be familiar to options in your area.
Google -flexitarian diets- or -flexitarian- and you will find lots of ideas for seafood, fish and poultry. Flexitarian vegetarians like myself maintain 75-90% of our diets from plants. The rest comes from dairy, poultry, fish or seafood. Some flexitarians will eat "red" meat on social occasions or as a rare treat.
And depending where you live you can inquire around to find places where animals are treated humanely and that is where I tend to shop besides it's s nice ride in the country.
i'd be careful on what's labeled organic and free range.
have you tried the "fake" soy meat products? i liked the taste of meat too, but seeing those videos adn thinking about what i'm really eating and what pain suffering and torturing went into it really made it lose it's appeal to me. however, morningstar, boca, gardenburger (freezer section of grocery store) and yves and lightlife (i think those are the names, produce section) all make "fake" meats and some of them do a pretty good job with the taste! i would try different ones, dont' try one veggie burger adn declare you don't like any of it. i can have almost any meal i had before with meat and just sub in "fake" stuff and it tastes great and i dont' ahve to worry about feeling guilty about any of it!