15 April 2010

Meet Your Meat


Breakfast this morning was inspired by Lisa at Lisa's Foods on the Move. She
suggested I mix my love for Canned Pumpkin with oatmeal, so i did! Thank you :D


Oatmeal with canned pumpkin, carob powder, cinnamon,
steviaa banana, and chopped pecans. It felt like Autumn again!


Only Oats is an amazing company that uses strict measures to harvest their oats without including the germ (gluten-containing) They use the symbol 'GF' but cannot state gluten-free as the product is still being extracted from a gluten containing plant . Make sense? There is of course a very small possibility the germ was extracted and contaminated the oats; but generally deemed safe among celiacs


I bought a bunch of broccolini and red onion at the market so I decided to cook up another stir-fry with wild organic beef. Added some green beans, gai choy, bean sprouts, and black beans. Threw in some thyme, cumin, coriander, cayenne and chili powder for some kick!

And since I have you on the subject of meat...

Every once in awhile I enjoy browsing celebrity trash blogs. It's a guilty pleasure, yet im not even sure why I like them. But alas, this morning I came across this one; "Kelly Osbourne Takes On The Meat Industry." I was really intrigued by it and it sparked me to write a little tidbit on the topic of meat. But give it a quick read below first to see Kelly's views on meat consumption. 

Kelly Osbourne Takes On The Meat Industry


Kelly Osbourne has blasted the “disgusting” meat industry.
The reality star is unhappy about the conditions farm animals live in and has stopped eating certain foods.
“I’ve become increasingly aware of how disgusting the American meat industry can be – and it’s seriously put me off eating meat. I’ve heard that cows are fed through a hole in their stomach to make them get fatter quicker and I can’t believe some chicken producers inject them with water first so they’re heavier!”
Despite her concerns, Kelly has decided not to completely stop eating meat, but is being more careful about what she buys. She added in her Closer magazine column:
“I don’t have a problem with people eating meat, but I am careful to only buy organic now.” source



Firstly, I'm really glad she decided to state that she wouldn't be giving up meat but choosing to source and purchase organic animal products. This is obviously a much wiser decision. What I would like to add is that factory farming and mass production of animals is a very closed-minded sector in the health food industry. We have two ends of the spectrum; our factory farms on one side and PETA activists on the other. I would like to make clear that the rumors of cows being fed through a hole in their stomach is not a fact. In fact many are wondering where that claim came from (so that remains to be seen...). But back to what I was saying... Those who want to make a concious effort to live a more sustainable lifestyle need to know the importance of boycotting factory farms. When I say factory farms, I am talking about your typical grocery store and deli meats. Countless research proves that 'animal agriculture' is over populated, disease ridden, and unethical. To make up for the high request for meat in the North American diet, factories are over-producing livestock. As we have all seen on tv, there is no room for the animals to roam free, hence the growth and rapid spread of disease. The farmers don't want to get shut down, so they have no choice but to inject antibiotics into their animals. Yes, what these farmers are doing is wrong, but they're trying to feed their families, and would rather earn money through secure mass corporations than risk running their own little organic meat farm. 

Furthermore, if you're still reading, the next best step is to purchase local/ wild grass-fed meat. Most animals are ruminants (meaning they can break down the cellulose fibre in greens for fuel... humans cannot). It's a no brainer that if you feed a ruminant animal, such as a cow, grain products, their health will change. This manifests itself as disease, poor mental function, sensory problems, immuity changes, deficiencies etc. But grain is cheap, and the animal gains weight faster than they could on grass. That's not healthy for the animal nor the consumer. Local farmers work hard to supply communities with healthier meat sources. These are people who enjoy farming for all the right reasons, without a hidden agenda or greedy taste. Local and wild animal growers maintain strict rules, and ensure their livestock is treated ethically. Living in B.C. is a real treat when it comes to getting a first hand look at how these small farms run. The animals are loved, and cared for, and most of all healthy! They roam freely without curfews, graze on pesticide-free grasses, and are not forced to gain weight beyond their usual expectancy. If you get a chance to visit one of these farms, your perspective will instantly change. We are so engraved with the notion that animal farms are vicious slaughter-houses of torture and hopeless fate. This is rediculous and is one of the main reasons behind why I disagree with PETA's "scare tactics". So whether you eat meat or not, it is important to grow more concious about where your food comes from, and more importantly, who your food comes from.


One of my favorite books is "The Vegetarian Myth" by Lierre Keith. I recommend everyone read it. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous; this book explains the truth behind what is ethical and which diet is sustainable for every living organism. It is mind-blowing and 100% fact proof!


Anyways, back to my eats! Dinner was the same as last night. Sometimes 
you just gotta stick with the basics: Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Herbs

13 comments:

Anonymous said... [reply]

Thanks for the shout out! Hope you liked the the pumpkin oats...I made them a lot back in the fall. I also love to add canned pumpkin (or pumpkin butter, even better!) to plain yogurt. Yum, yum.

Anonymous said... [reply]

Thanks for the great post! Although I don't eat meat, I'm not against it and those who do. What I'm against is the industry. I watched Food Inc. and there was a part that interviewed an organic farmer and it was great - the animals were treated well and you could tell he truly and honestly cared. I wish more people would read up on this stuff and support the local, organic farmers instead of the brutal and greed ridden factory farms.

Mariah said... [reply]

Yummy eats!!! I love oats w/ pumpkin :) One of my fave breakfast foods! Have a marvelous day!!

alex said... [reply]

mmmm the fall, I love the fall!!!

Karin said... [reply]

I'm like highonhealthy and don't eat meat but have nothing against people who do. I agree that there are lots of farmers who care about their cattle. Have you read "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer?? It's not a book for vegetarians even though you'd think so.. It has some really great facts and is incredibly well written. I haven't finished it yet though.

* said... [reply]

That is so interesting about Kelly Osbourne. i should read gossip mags more often lol...i agree with what she said, american meat industries are so, so horrible, but i wouldnt mind buying from an organic company(if i ate meat) but that is def. one of the reasons i am a vegetarian, i am always not so quite sure if it is ed driven or not, but i do get upset and disgusted over how animals can be treated etc...
love your eats, your pumpkin oats loo so delicious! ah i miss the autumn!!

xx
eliza

Anonymous said... [reply]

That bowl looks lovely... I don't actually like canned pumpkin much, but I love it in oats. Go figure.

I don't eat meat, but reading about such things would change my mind if I did! (Upton Sinclair's The Jungle didn't help, either.)

<3 <3

Erica said... [reply]

Pumpkin in oats rocks! Interesting post. I am a vegetarian and decided to become one for a multitude of reasons. I know that there are two sides to every story and that everyone on the outsides pushes the "truth" boundaries. I think people should choose to eat however and whatever works for them. I still cook meat for my husband, but choose to use organic whenever possible. Another interesting post you should check out:

http://www.nomeatathlete.com/earthlings/ (warning- this is graphic)

Anonymous said... [reply]

ahh love this post...seriously this is my new favorite blog youre wonderful. about the organics... that is an unsettled truth... regarding meat, eggs, and butter i say GO all out with organic... but the produce... you may want to read this article..

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/organic.html


im all for grassfed meat, pastured eggs and chicken, and raw dairy products from grassfed animals... but the veggie stuff i am simply unconvinced of

Gina; The Candid RD said... [reply]

What a gross picture...cows getting fed through a hole in their stomach! Yuck. I buy organic meat/poultry whenever I can. In general Nick and I eat very little meat anyways. Most of my diet is salmon, tempeh, tuna, and egg whites!

BTW I'm so jealous of your canned pumpkin with oats. I can't find pumpkin anywhere these days, and I miss it in my oats :(

Lauren said... [reply]

Great post! I don't eat many animal products due to a GI illness (as well as disgust with factory farms). I have nothing against meat eaters, in fact, I believe that for many people their body is healthiest on a meat-eating diet, but I do think its important to go organic and grass fed, and not support the factory farms (or ingest the chemicals and hormones from those animal products). Thanks for spreading the info!

Anonymous said... [reply]

A couple things:

1) I really enjoyed this post thanks for the link. I totally agree about buying grass fed...which is actually another reason I do not eat it often because quality meat is more expensive...so I just eat it on special occasions

2) Your broccoli dish looks awesome

3) My roomie is glutten free so I am going to tell her to check out your oats!

Anonymous said... [reply]

A couple things:

1) I really enjoyed this post thanks for the link. I totally agree about buying grass fed...which is actually another reason I do not eat it often because quality meat is more expensive...so I just eat it on special occasions

2) Your broccoli dish looks awesome

3) My roomie is glutten free so I am going to tell her to check out your oats!

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