Eating Humanely in the Real World

Yesterday we mentioned the new film, Food, Inc., in which Michael Pollan and director Robert Kenner explore the unseen costs of the food we eat. The upcoming movie promises viewers that they will “never look at dinner the same way again,” likely prompting viewers to seek alternatives to the industrial system it exposes.
However, many fear that this alternative “real” food is too expensive. The reality is that it can actually be cheaper than factory farmed products, and can save you money in the end. A recent price comparison showed that a shopper in New York City could source humanely-raised meat for considerably less they would pay in the grocery store, just by going to the farmer. Animal Welfare Approved proved this on the plate last Thanksgiving, serving over 1,000 of New York’s most in-need pasture-raised turkey for around a dollar per person. Utilizing the whole animal, working with value cuts and re-learning how to season with meat is ultimately more economical.
Reducing meat consumption to the recommended levels would save even more. Americans consume nearly twice their daily protein requirement in meat alone. Not only does this over-consumption waste valuable resources, it may actually be making us sick.
All of this information points to a simple strategy: eat sustainable meat, dairy and eggs in reasonable quantities. Pasture-raised products can provide a healthy, sustainable source of protein – without breaking the bank.