BEEF, Yes it IS what’s for dinner

In recent years beef has gotten a bad rap, but is it warranted?? Many years ago beef was a staple on the American family dinner table…hence "meat and potatoes." Somewhere along the way meat ended up on the bad list, reserved for special occasions like "the hubby's" birthday. If Matthew McConaughey's sexy voice, as the spokesperson for "Beef it's what's for dinner campaign" doesn't convince you about the yumminess of beef, let me try to add some more info.

Let me begin with grocery store beef…that stuff should be avoided like the plague-that stuff filled with antibiotics and pesticides, excess fat, and devoid of flavor! I'll try to keep my focus on the reasons for choosing "grass-fed" beef and the many benefits, with a little healthy passion for REAL-food. Grass-fed beef simply means beef that was fed a diet of grass. For many of us we conjure up images of cows roaming freely through wide open pastures, lush green grass all around munching until their hearts are content. Hah! If only. Instead our supermarket beef spends most of its life in crowded, disease ridden pens with daily doses of antibiotics.

Why cows should eat grass?

-For starters they have four stomachs, perfectly suited for the difficult task of digesting grass. Cows are able to pull every last bit of nutrients out of the grass through their multiple stomachs. In case you are wondering what else cows might eat…grain, corn, soy, dead animals (can we say ewwww!), you get the picture. Cows were made to eat grass, plus it provides great benefit to the land in which they roam, constantly turning over new grass.

-Cows allowed to roam get constant exercise creating lean muscle and producing healthier meat-more vitamins, good fats, even better tasting.

-Grass eating, free-roaming cows are less prone to disease, meaning no antibiotics and virtually no mad cow (yay, for meat lovers!).

Where to get grass-fed beef?

-Local is definitely the way to go if possible. We buy our beef once a year and order it straight from the farmer. It gets sent to the butcher and we custom order our cuts and weights—way better than going to the store, plus I don't have to shop for beef for an entire year!

-However, if a local farm is not an option, the next best thing would be ordering online or buying organic, grass-fed beef from your grocery store (beware, it is pricey). --See below for online resources.  

Other info.

-If you can swing the extra money upfront, buying your beef for the whole year is actually much cheaper than even the yucky supermarket beef. This year we paid under $4.00/lb. which is a steal for organic, grass-fed, hormone free, free-range, custom ordered beef! By the way our order includes everything from steaks to rump roast.

-If you are interested in more info check out these sources:

- http://www.mountain-beef.com (Family owned Ranch, super nice people, great beef, good info but you have to live in Oregon or Washington to be able to get their meat)

-U.S. Wellness Meats (Lots of options, recipes, and other stuff like coconut oil, beef jerky, etc.)

- http://www.americangrassfed.org (Good resource site with lots of info and recipes)

- http://www.eatwild.com (great resource for all things grass-fed)

- http://www.localharvest.org (Want local beef?? Check out local harvest to find a ranch near you)