Organic Dairy

One of the most popular ways to go organic is through the consumption of organic dairy.  For me, organic dairy was always a no-brainer because it was essentially all that was available to me growing up.

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 Similar to the production of organic eggs, the production of organic milk has everything to do with the way that the animal is raised that produces it.  According to USDA Certified Organic standards, the cows that produce milk cannot be fed any antibiotics or hormones.  Their food sources must also be organic, so this means that the grass they eat must also be organic.  The levels of safe production and nutrient protection that goes into organic dairy production is unmatched.

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According to Organic Valley a large organic farm co-op, organic milk has higher levels of vitamin-E, beta carotene, omega3 fatty-acids, and antioxidants.

The benefits of organic dairy go beyond just the benefit for the human drinking the milk.  The treatment that organic dairy cows receive is also much better than that of non-organic milk producing dairy cows. Their living environments, feed and general lifestyle is generally better than mass-produced milk dairy cows.  However, there are still larger organic farms that have cramped living environments for their cows.  The only way to ensure proper treatment and excellent production is to buy from a small, well known local farm.

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Organic Eggs

Eggs in general are a healthy source of protein that are available virtually everywhere in the United States.  However, there are seemingly many different available options in purchasing eggs.  There are labels lie Organic, cage-free, free-range, and more.  Organic eggs are something that confuse many people because of the way that they are labeled and marketed in grocery stores.

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Cage-free and free-range eggs allegedly refer to the way that the chickens themselves are raised.  Cage-free means that the chickens are not raised in small cages surrounding them, but rather have the ability to move around with lots of space.  However, the reality of this is that many chickens that are raised "cage-free" are actually still confined to small structures and maybe get to see just one hour of sunlight per day.  The same is true for free-range eggs, which are supposed to come from chickens that have full mobility and are not confined at all.  

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Organic eggs refer to the diet of the chicken itself.  Chickens that produce organic eggs are fed organic feed, and are not given any feed with GMOs or other hormones.  The chickens are also supposed to be raised in cage-free environments with access to sunlight.  The chickens are also not allowed to be fed any antibiotics.  All organic chicken farmers are subject to strict regulation and screenings by the US Department of Agriculture.

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In my opinion, the only way to be sure that you are eating an actually "organic" or "cage-free" egg, is to purchase eggs sourced from local, recognizable farms if possible.  I know the family that owns the farm that my family buy eggs from, so I always know that what I am eating will be the highest quality from a trustworthy source.  

Why to Eat Organic

Eating foods grown in traditional ways, without pesticides and toxins can be extremely beneficial for health and overall well-being.  Fruits and vegetables grown organically often taste better and also help to protect the environment. It is often assumed that it is always expensive and difficult to purchase organic foods, but there are several ways to obtain organic food without breaking the bank!

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Certifying food as organic, officially, is a very expensive and extensive process.  Because of this, many small family farms choose not to certify their produce officially, but still grow their food "organically," just as if they were a certified farm.  Many small family farms sell food that is "organic" simply by virtue of the way that it is grown.  This produce can often be bought at a very reasonable price, which supports the local economy.

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Another benefit of eating organic produce, is that certain vegetables are often only available when they are in season, allowing the produce to only be consumed at its freshest.  Also purchasing organic foods at their freshest teaches consumers that foods do in fact have a season, and consuming produce at its appropriate time can be a very rewarding and tasty experience!  

Recipe for Organic Lemon Chicken

from http://www.myorganicrecipes.com/lemon-roast-chicken/

Ingredients

1 whole organic chicken 7-8 pounds

¼ cup butter

2 fresh bay leaves

1 handful fresh oregano leaves

6 garlic cloves, sliced

juice and zest from 1 lemon

1 lemon, cut in quarters

2 tablespoons sweet paprika

1/3 cup white wine

1 cup water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F

Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out, pat it dry with paper towels.

Place the chicken in a roasting pan. Sprinkle salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the oregano, all the garlic and lemon. Rub the outside of the chicken with butter, pour over the lemon juice, season with salt, pepper, paprika and sprinkle with lemon zest. Tie the legs together with kitchen string. Pour in the pan wine, water and bay leaves.

Roast the chicken for 1 ½ hours.