Grass fed, Grass finished… What does it all mean?
Grass fed, grass finished, grain finished, organic, natural… What does it all mean? Animals that consume a nutrient poor diet produce a nutrient poor food source. Animals fed a diet, of foods they are meant to eat produce a far superior, nutrient dense food source. Check out my post, "The Scoop on Eggs" to learn more about the nutritional difference in eggs. Choosing a good quality meat matters when it comes to achieving optimal health. Here are a few definitions to help you navigate the meat section at the grocery store. Buying meat local is always best as it provides a great opportunity to get to know your farmer, ask questions, find out what the animals are fed, and learn about their lifestyle.
Here are some labels to be mindful of:
Grass fed/ grass finished (the label will read 100% grass fed): Cattle have daily access to the outdoors, sunlight, and fresh air. They eat grass in the pasture and are fed hay during winter months.
Grass fed/ grain finished (label will read grass fed): Cattle eat a natural diet the first part of their life and then are fed grain the last part of their life to help them bulk up quickly. This process negates a lot of the benefits of being fed grass for the majority of their life.
Organic: Cattle are fed organic feed but are not necessarily grass fed.
Natural: The word natural has little meaning since it isn’t regulated by the government. Any food can be labeled as “natural.”
Conventional beef: Cattle are fed corn and soy GMO feed which is not a natural diet, therefore not easy to digest. They do not graze in pasture and are not exposed to sunlight. They also receive antibiotics and growth hormones.
Benefits of eating 100% grass fed beef:
A more nutrient dense food
Higher in omega 3 and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)—both play an important role in brain health and metabolism
Reduces inflammation and creates more balance. Anytime we can make an effort to eat more anti-inflammatory, omega 3-rich foods, versus inflammatory, omega 6-rich foods, we are better off. The Standard American Diet (SAD) has an abundance of foods high in omega 6s which can cause inflammation.
High in antioxidants and higher in beta-carotene, Vitamin D and Vitamin E
Tastes better
The frequency of E. coli contamination in grass fed meat is extremely low compared to conventional meat
Leaner meat
Tips on buying beef:
Grass finished meat is more expensive but because it is more nutrient dense, you can eat smaller portions while still consuming more nutrients.
If buying grass finished meat is out of your budget, try buying leaner meats, conventionally sourced, since toxins are stored in fat.
Looking for ways to make buying clean meat easier?
If you have access, buying local is always a great way to buy grass finished meats.
I use two different delivery services. We are fortunate to have a second freeze so I love stocking our freezer with clean meats, making it easier for me to feed my family well.
I use Waldon Local as I love that I'm supporting local and it gets delivered right to my door. Waldon Local services New England and New York. They deliver the meat themselves in a reusable cooler bag that you can swap out the following delivery.
I also use Force of Nature which is a national brand. I had been wanting to incorporate organ meats into our diet for awhile because of the nutritional benefits but didn't want to cook it myself. I love that Force of Nature mixing their ground meat with organ meats so I don't have to! I stock up on their regenerative beef ancestral blend as well as their regenerative chicken ancestral blend. They are both delicious and my family has no idea we are eating organ meats so please keep that on the down low. Want to learn more about regenerative farming and how it improves soil health AND our planets health? Check out this great blog post, as the experts do a much better job explaining it than I can. If you want to give Force of Nature a try, use this link
Hope this helps make shopping for beef a little easier.
