We are having a very hard time eating meat these days.
We have been doing our Whole30 program for almost two years now. Making good food choices is beyond easy – it’s automatic. We can navigate any restaurant menu, handle any family dinner, survive a three month road trip on nothing but Whole30 fare. As we’ve got the “choices” part down, we’ve spent the last few months expanding on the concept of “eating healthy food.” The natural place for us to start was taking a good, hard look at our food quality – specifically, where our animal protein comes from. You are what you eat, quite literally, and we believe the health of the animals you eat impacts your own health in a far more direct manner than, say, the quality of your vegetables or fruits. So we’ve been reading books, watching movies, visiting farms and researching the manner in which the animals we’ve been eating are raised, fed and slaughtered.
To say it’s not a pretty picture is the understatement of this century. And as a result of what we now know, we are having a very hard time eating meat these days.
The kicker, however, is that we know animal protein sources in my diet make me healthier. We know we can’t thrive in the absence of meat on my plate. We know (heck, we preach) all of the down sides associated with conventional vegetarian protein sources, and we simply cannot justify including those in our diets in place of meat, because they will compromise our health.
Stalemate.
Our research, and this (at first glance) insurmountable impasse, had led us to this place today. We have spent the last few months devoting our personal efforts to eating meat in a manner that makes us healthier, while being both morally and ethically defensible. And we’ll be exploring these topics on the blog over the course of the next few months, for those of you ready and willing to join the discussion.
If you’re like us – Whole30 veterans, comfortable in making good food choices and ready to expand your scope of food and health focus – we encourage you to participate. If you’re new to the site, or new to the Whole30 program, please understand that we consider this “advanced topic” material. Your only job in the coming months is to make good food choices. Transition from processed foods with empty calories to nutrient dense foods that make you healthier. Kick your Diet Coke habit once and for all. Embrace healthy fat sources and slay your sugar demons. Don’t be overwhelmed with the idea of improving your food quality – that’s not your first step towards improving your nutritional plan. But when you’re ready, we’ll be here, ready and willing to share what we know in an effort to make you healthier.
We’ll warn you up front – these discussions won’t be particularly fun. But this transcends the question of, “Do you want to know what we know?” We do, in fact, have an obligation to share these things with you. Imagine this scenario: Your local town supplies your drinking water, at a fair price. But we discover the municipal workers are peeing in your water supply on a daily basis. Every glass you drink, every glass you give your child, is tainted with urine. It probably won’t kill you… but it definitely doesn’t make you healthier. And the same people who are secretly peeing in your drinking water are charging you money to do so. Wouldn’t you want to know? As inconvenient as it may be to have to purchase all your water from an outside source… wouldn’t you make the effort?
And how mad would you be if you knew WE knew… and we didn’t tell you. Because we thought it might disturb you. Because we thought it would be easier for you if you just kept on drinking.
We promise, we won’t offer problems without solutions. We won’t throw these issues in your lap and say, “This is how things are – deal with it.” We’ve arrived at our own imperfect answers to the seemingly insurmountable problem called “factory farming.” Our answers are perhaps not the same answers at which you will arrive, but we’ll provide you with viable alternatives just the same. We’ll give you options, resources, and a forum to share your ideas with others. And we’ll lead the discussion, just as we’ve led so many others here on our site.
Please don’t write this off as “radical”, or think we’re about to go off the PETA deep end. This is NOT radical. This is simply an extension of what you, our readers, are already thinking about. You’re buying organic vegetables, you’re buying cage-free eggs, you’re searching for grass-fed beef at your local farmer’s markets. Learning more about where your food comes from isn’t a new venture for most of you, but the factory farming system is confusing territory. Cage-free, all-natural, organic, vegetarian-fed, grass-finished, humane, certified this-or-that… animal welfare, environmental costs, social burdens… and behind it all, not the friendly family farms we all picture from our childhoods, but gigantic steel-and-concrete conglomerates who will happily take your money at the expense of your health. Confusing territory on purpose, because uninformed consumers are the only consumers from which the factory farming system can profit.
We’ll help you navigate the system so you can make more informed choices about where your food comes from. And we invite you to join us, because ignorance is not an adequate defense… and to do nothing speaks your answer all the same.
Does this interest you? Make you anxious? Are you rolling your eyes, thinking we’ve gone too far? Please post any and all thoughts to comments. (And thank you to author Michael Pollan, for this article’s title.)
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This is wonderful! Thank you for all your hard work in bringing this to us out here in confusing-land! I am chomping at the bit, so-to-speak, to hear what you have to say…bring it on because I don’t want my three children to have to start life with health and nutrition issues already hunting them down. We, here in Roseville CA, at Crossfit Genesis are so excited to meet you both on Saturday! And I look forward to this topic immensely on the blog!
Awesome topic! So looking forward to what you have to say about this subject….good or bad. Your 100% correct in that ignorance is no excuse. Keep on pushing that envelope guys, and keep on making us THINK about our choices. Love it.
glad to see you tackling this topic. there was a rather dispiriting exchange on this topic in the comments several months back and i struggled to want to visit the site for a while afterward.
a worthy endeavor, in any case.
I’m definitely one of the choir with regard to this subject. More people need to think about how their food is being raised. So, IMO, this isn’t “going too far” at all.
Get to know your local farmers!! It’s not that hard, and the farmers dig it.
My kindergarten (and first grade) teacher said something to us kids that has stuck with me my entire life. “Be a thinking person.” It stuck with me mostly because my parents liked the idea and used it with my sisters and I from the moment they heard it on; but I digress.
We NEED to be thoughtful in our actions. Regardless of our position on the food hierarchy, we are not simple animals driven by instinct. I thoroughly believe in knowing where my food comes from, and how it got to my plate. We need to think about our individual impact on our environment and our society. I’m sickened by what we, as a society, have relegated food to, and how we use it to abuse our bodies and thus I have begun to think seriously about my own participation in this cycle; both for my benefit and the benefit of my children.
We NEED to be thoughtful about what waste we create (and food waste is a HUGE problem). How much of the animal is used? How much of it is used by _me_? Native Americans used every POSSIBLE piece of an animal that was killed for everything from food to tools. In many cases, they revered the animal that they hunted, stalked, killed, dressed and butchered. Think about that… “Sacred Food.” Would we be healthier if we treated our food with that kind of sincere thought? Would you revere a box of cheerios?
We don’t all need to be Temple Grandin when we think about food, but we _should_ be conscious of our choices.
I think this is absolutely fantastic. All of our eyes need to be opened wide to the things that no one really wants to think about. As a society we need to begin thinking for ourselves and not just doing what the FDA or any other agency tells us to do.
I am excited about this new topic and look forward to suggestions to help me navigate the factory farming minefield.
Have you read the “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair? Frightening to say the least! I can’t wait for this and keep up the outstanding work!!!!!
I’ve been following your blog for about a month and I love the variety of topics that you guys tackle. I especially appreciate the nature of your perspectives. I have a particularly strong interest in this topic as a 4H kid turned agricultural engineer. I’ve raised my own protein and now my job and studies are related to dealing with the waste from “factory farms”. I contemplate this nutritional and ecological dilemma every single day and often wish I could scream my frustration from the rooftops. It’s a tough life having Michael Pollan, Robb Wolf and you guys in my head when I’m trying to get work done!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for deciding to take on this sensitive topic. Your desire to educate yourselves and inform consumers is inpirational and I can’t wait to see where this discussion goes.
Looking forward to some great articles. Keep on Preaching the Truth.
@All: Thanks for the feedback. While we’d love to be all things to all people… we’ve recently realized that we can’t meet everyone’s demands, and we can’t make everyone happy. As such, we’re going to run our site in the way that we think best reflects our thoughts and views, and in the way that we truly believe will make our readers the healthiest they can be – even if it’s not the easiest path.
@Person X: We really prefer people post with their real names here, but thanks for your comment. I can’t imagine what exchange you’re referring to, but I fully expect the debate around these animal issues to be heated at times. As always, we’ll keep it clean, keep it respectful, keep an open mind… and encourage those who post here to do the same.
Best,
Melissa
Looking forward to the discussion. Four years ago my husband and I moved to an area with feed lots, both cow and pig. There is a chicken processing plant down the road. To say it was eye opening is an understatement. I truly believe that you are what you eat.
We had the opportunity to change and since then the meat in our freezer is from an animal that had a “true animal life”, was humanely killed by either him or myself and butchered and packaged by ourselves. You will never be the same after “harvesting” your own meat. It is the most exciting and the most heartbreaking task I have ever done. But – I truly appreciate the life the animal gave so I can live, none is wasted and all is appreciated.
Thanks for bringing this subject up and again I look forward to taking part in the discussion that follows.
Hey Melissa and Dallas,
Thanks for all the awesome info you provide! I look forward to seeing what you guys have to say about this topic. You may have a significant increase in comments though!
Thanks again! All the best,
Adam
About a year ago, my husband and I had the absolute pleasure of meeting an out-of-town farmer that raises and sells grassfed beef and has been doing so since 1999. What was meant to be a quick order pick-up, turned into nearly an hour of Q&A (questions from us, answers from them). We learned more than we could ever want to know about running a quality farm, raising grassfed cattle and the incredible amount of pride and care they showed about their cattle. They could tell us exactly where each cut of beef we ordered, came from! Down to the nitty gritty of details like how the cow liked grazing at a favorite spot under a tree! They knew more about their cattle than some parents know about their own children! And when we got to talking about the day of slaughter, one would think we were gently discussing end of life issues with a hospice director – there was THAT much pride and care on this particular farm.
Some may have thought this was a bit odd, but it was impressive, to say the least. You compare that to what you find in the grocery stores (perhaps visiting a feedlot would enlighten people, but doing some easy research from the comfort of your own home will do the trick) and then you don’t think it’s so odd.
I’m going on entirely too long here, but my point is that the more we know, the better off we’ll be.
Great topic!
Melissa and Dallas, thank you so much for pushing people to educate themselves about their food. My family has been in the cattle ranching business for three generations, and we and many other ranchers are quite happy to see consumers demanding a higher quality of meat. A great number of ranchers consider the meat packing industry (aka “the packers”) to be our mortal enemies and factory farming to be a ghastly, repulsive business. Most ranchers truly do care about the animals they raise and take pride in their product. Most of us sell our cattle to the packers and feedlots because we do not have any other market. The greater the demand for quality grass raised beef, the happier we will be! The packers and the USDA (which the packers essentially own through lobbyists) would love nothing more than to push the small cattle producers out of the business altogether.
For people interested in the packers vs. cattlemen situation, I would suggest checking out R-CALF USA, and also paying close attention to the Mandatory Animal ID issue (sounds good on the surface but would put small producers out of business) and the Food Safety Act (which also places unreal regulations on small farmers/ranchers.)
Really looking forward to this discussion. I’ve had the experience of friends who watch Food Inc. and proclaim, “I’m never eating meat again!” I’m glad the movie had an impression, but I feel they’ve missed the point. It’s more than just exposing the nasty bits of the food industry, it’s about actively knowing where your food comes from and seeking out the better alternatives when possible.
I buy locally-raised pastured beef, bison, pork, poultry, and eggs, and wild-caught fish, and feel fortunate to have relatively convenient access to these things, even if I’m paying more for it. It just drives me up a wall though to know that my taxes are subsidizing food sources that I’ve rejected and actively avoid.
Thanks for addressing this. I’ll be interested in following the discussion. After 35 years as a vegetarian, I started eating meat only 8 months ago. Over the last 3 years or so, I had become increasingly concerned concerned with my overall health and about what I was eating, and had read more and more about paleo-oriented diets. My food choices now are largely influenced by Whole9, Robb Wolf, and other like-minded sources. My vegetarianism was largely ethically based, and it was about a 3-year “journey” for me to make the decision to add meat to my diet. But the journey very much continues for me (and in some ways gets more difficult) with regard to where that meat comes from, how it was raised, sustainability, etc. I have found no really easy or completely satisfying answers, and I suspect that journey will be ongoing. I am fortunate to have at least one great local grocery chain out here in Portland, Oregon, New Seasons Market. The concerns they have about the sources of their foods are very similar to mine, and they have made my life much easier over the past several months.
If it’s not already on your reading list, I highly recommend “The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter” by Singer and Mason (http://www.amazon.com/Way-We-Eat-Choices-Matter/dp/157954889X). Not always easy to read, but as you said “these discussions won’t always be fun.” The book deals with much more than animal welfare, though, and is really one of the more thought-provoking books I’ve read in quite some time.
And, of course, everyone should see the documentary “Food, Inc.”
Thanks again!
Great post! I feel the same way. At grocery stores I definitely look a most meat with lots of trepidation. And I wonder if I can even trust the labels anymore….cage free, no nitrates, etc. Luckily, we have the ability to order straight from a farm free range eggs, grass fed and finished beef, pastureized pork etc. And I have shaken hands and looked the farmer in the eye.
I am really looking forward to this thread. This is exactly where I am at. Know I have to eat meat to be healthy, can hardly look at a piece of meat on my plate.
This is a great topic. One that will open a lot of eyes and make us see what the conglomerates are doing to mass produce food, especially meat. Watching Food Inc. made me change my ways. I make better choices, healthier choices and I do so for my own health, and for the animals too. I like the subject matter, its something I have been reading and doing my own research on for several months now. I think that as a Whole 9 blog discussion it may cause some heat with some people, but for me, the truth is the truth, and sometimes its not so pretty, but it makes me think and evaluate choices I make. I want to hear it, good or bad. Go for it….my ears are open!
JD
My girlfriend and I recently found a great place for grassfed beef and pastured pork. The animlas are treated very well. We do our best to buy in bulk when we visit montly or so and we try to minimize our grocery store meat intake. It’s expensive, but worth it. I don’t think wanting to eat the best possible food is ever a bad thing. I’m not going to lose sleep over it, but it’s important to us, as well it’s really nice to support your local farmers!! We chat with ours when we pick up and she usually throws in some offal on the house! We are gettting a Portuguese Waterdog next month and will be feeding it a Raw Diet, mostly from the grassfed farm. Anyone else have a Raw diet dog? I’m pumped to have a CaveDog!!!
Thanks D and M for pushing us all to get better.
I think you guys put it best when saying something to the effect of knowing how bad the factory-farming industry is makes you almost want to avoid meat altogether, but at the same time you understand that meat is crucial to a healthy diet. That pretty much sums up exactly how I feel as well…leading to the grand question of ‘What to do about it?’. I think many books/movies/media etc. cover the topic very well but where they tend to fail is giving viable solutions and alternatives to those solutions…I’m hoping that’s where you guys will come through. You’ve been able to make it happen while traveling so you should have great insight.
One of the other arguments I have trouble overcoming is the ‘sustainability’ of our type of eating in regards to meat…if everyone ate Whole30 style or whatever and the world produced all meat in an ethical way would it be feasible to feed all people that way. It may be tough and therefore even though I love meat and eat plenty of it I’m willing to realize to eat ethically-raised/killed meat I might have to reduce the amount I eat…that’s fine I’m still not going to incorporate soy ;) Anyway one of the recent works I read that influenced me was ‘Eating Animals’ by Jonathan Safran Foer if you guys haven’t checked that one out yet (sure you have though)…even though I don’t agree with his personal conclusion to eat no meat it’s enough to get you thinking about how to modify your own diet based on factory-farming and how pervasive it is.
Best of luck I look forward to this ongoing discussion.
this is something that has been on my mind a lot recently. very glad to see you guys addressing it and eager to hear your thoughts and insights. thanks so much for all your hard work.
“If you’re like us – Whole30 veterans, comfortable in making good food choices and ready to expand your scope of food and health focus – we encourage you to participate. If you’re new to the site, or new to the Whole30 program, please understand that we consider this “advanced topic” material. Your only job in the coming months is to make good food choices. “
Making good type choices and good quality decisions does not have to be serial. Granted, it is more complicated to evaluate and manage type and quality at the same time. But for some it might be not so hard, not that “advanced” and could be worked on simultaneously. IMO it’s too important (and interesting) an issue to disinvite anyone from the table.
I’m looking forward to the discussion
I have been following your blog since I heard your interview on Robb Wolfs Podcast. I have thought about this topic a lot lately and think it is incredibly important. I’ve thought about posting a question to you guys or Robb’s show about this topic, just been too lazy to do it. I think the Paleo Solution and Whole30 have a significant part to play in helping with problems other than health, like sustainability and economics. This type of eating lends itself very well to helps us get closer to closed loop food and local economic systems.
I would highly recommend The Vegetarian Myth if people want to learn more about sustainability as it relates to eating. The book is well researched an definitely worth the read. More information on sustainable farming practices can be found if you Google Polyface Farms. You might also check out the Joel Salatin and Lierre Kieth interveiws that Jimmy Moore did on his podcast show Livin La Via Low Carb.
I thought I would throw out another idea and see what people say. I think that everybody that eats meat should at some point hunt and kill their own food. I think a valid argument could be made that there is no better way to truly understand where your food comes from than to go out and hunt it yourself. I know that would be hard for some people to do and I understand that. I grew up hunting so I have an obvious bias.
Changing the way we eat is an evolution. Being an emotional eater, former carboholic, couch potato, stuffer… I felt extremely virtuous when we gave up grains, dairy, and legumes. Now, seeing how good we feel and how our bodies have reacted positively to the changes, it doesn’t quite seem good enough. We want to do better. We want to do more, although we want to still live within our budget. That being said… we cannot ignore the fact that there are choices out there that will allow us to fine tune our diets, allow us to live a higher quality of life, and that will help sustain the businesses that provide us with safe, pure products. My hope is that this movement becomes mainstream, and that it becomes more convenient to purchase grass-fed meats. My friends, family and I are all on a quest to get a grass-fed cow, and logistically, it’s inconvenient and quite expensive. Still, I’m sure we will have a 1/4 or 1/2 cow in our freezer by year end. Looking forward to the discussion!
@ALL: Thank you for the insightful comments, and for sharing some of your personal ideals, resources and backgrounds.
My Dad (Captain Tom) took me to task yesterday for the phrase “advanced topic material”. He said it sounded exclusive – as if only the nutritionally advanced could partake in the discussion. Please allow us to clear that up, in case anyone else was offended at the phrasing.
We are being very careful to walk the fine line here – informing without overwhelming. For those of you newer to our way of nutrition, you may find the exclusion of grains or inclusion of plenty of dietary fat difficult enough to navigate and implement. If we THEN threw a giant discussion of meat quality, animal welfare issues and environmental costs of factory farming into the mix, we run the risk of losing you altogether, simply because what we’re asking you to think about is simply too voluminous to take in all at once.
Our labeling of this as “advanced topics” is not meant to exclude anyone. If you’re new to the site and are willing and ready to dive into some of these discussions, we welcome you. But our point is this – if you’re just not quite ready to tackle something new on top of all of the other new stuff we’re throwing at you… then that’s okay too. Read these posts, but don’t participate. Don’t even read, if you don’t want to. Or jump on board, where we promise everyone’s opinions, questions and comments will be treated with respect and care.
We hope that helps to clarify, and thanks to my Dad for bringing another perspective to the table.
Best,
Melissa
This is such an important discussion to have. I recently switched to grass-fed meat, and it feels better on many levels (psychological, physiological, gustatory!). As demand for ethically/sustainably raised meat increases, the farming situation will slowly improve. There is a lot of political crap that is out of an individual’s control, but we can make buying choices that will, bit by bit, push things in the right direction.
I’m sooooo glad you’re addressing this! It’s something I’ve been concerned about, especially since going “clean” and eating more meat since doing so. Can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
I can’t wait to get on board w/this! This has been a VERY big issue for me, but I haven’t known what to do or where to start!
Not only do I welcome this…. I needed it !! I used to be one of those veg-heads and started eating meat again because we need it for health. However, eating meat at almost every meal (i do) made me extremely conscious of the sources. I’ve been supporting local farmers for meat but i welcome ANY and ALL help in doing what’s right. So please don’t worry about seeming preachy. Because your post is FACT not opinion. And anyone who states otherwise is not only incorrect….. they’re just going out of their way to be a dick. plain/simple
A big THANK YOU,
Marc
I love this and I’m so proud that you guys are taking this on as a very real issue. If I may, because I’ve been part of past debates on this blog, and I like shaking things up – once we have solved the problem of factory farming and sustainable food right here (because we will), can we get into what many have already mentioned – justifying the expense of grassfed beef/small farm support vs getting a 12 pack of chicken thighs at walmart for $3.99? Prioritizing your personal budget vs. the theory that eating this way is “elitist” – as in, do I deserve to eat grassfed meat when someone else, somewhere, can’t even afford grocery store meat?
This is gonna be great. You guys rock.
BRING IT ON!!! WOuld love to learn more. You have the right audience – who will listen, get educated and make better choices.
Educating the general public can be tricky because often times people don’t want to believe the “bad news” of horrific farming.
Look forward to your next post!
I personally only buy meat from our local farms and get to see the animals they slaughter. I even went so far as to as about their slaughtering procedures….
not my photo….computer error! but it does make me laugh!
Thanks so much for bringing this topic up (once again)! I am a marathoner and triathlete, and successfully completed my Whole 30 back in August and went on for 34 days straight before I succumbed to a glass of wine and a wonderful dessert made by a dear friend. I have lost 15 lbs and feel better than I have in years, and in fact, feel a big difference with the inflammation I was experiencing as a result of an auto-immune issue that I acquired back in January. I am still pretty much ‘Whole 30′, but I became a Vegan and eat mostly raw foods in September: Mostly because of ethical and environmental reasons and because I truly DO NOT know if the local farmers are raising AND SLAUGHTERING meat in a safe/ethical manner. I personally do not want to subject myself or my family to potential issues caused by any exposure to E-coli 0-157 h7 and I want this world to be a better place for my two daughters, and someday their children, and their childrens’ children. In August I went back and watched all of the nutrition movies and re-read all the books I had read back in 1999 when I went through my 3rd… yes, 3rd vegetarian attempt. I just finished reading John Robbin’s Food Revolution last night. This is a very informative and highly recommended read! I give Whole 30 (and therefore Melissa total PROPS… woohooo!!… even though I did the hard work), to clean up my nutrition and take a hard look at my health and capacity to heal. Since going Vegan and 70% raw, I feel even better physically, but more so emotionally and mentally. It was very easy to go Vegan this time because I had given up dairy for 30+ days and was eating truly nutrient dense food for the first time in my life. I added soy back in and also use nuts, quinoa, chia seeds, and other non-animal sources of protein. My earlier vegetarianism attempts were eliminating meat only, but I was still not choosing healthy foods… I still ate crap, and therefore felt like crap. The Vegan or Vegetarian route is certainly not for everyone, and believe me there are times that I still crave cheese and even the occasional salmon filet… but I can’t bring myself to eat meat anymore—and furthermore, serve it to my children, now that I know more about the “modern” methods of production and slaughter of animals. (My children still eat eggs, dairy products and an occasional local meat selection but are also ‘crap free’ in terms of sugar and potato chips etc.) For more on this topic, check out some books like Mad Cowboy, Food Revolution, Diet for a New America, or check out the Raw Family website, and decide for yourself. As Melissa points out on the Whole 30 home page… you can make decisions… no one can ultimately force you to eat what you eat… and you should not succumb to peer pressure. There is certainly a lot of false/misleading or just plain confusing messages about what to eat or not eat for health. But realize some of that information is created by the multi billion dollar advertising industry for some of the food corporations who want you to purchase their products and make you feel that it is safe/good for you to do so… even when it isn’t. Read up, become informed, and make choices that make you FEEL ‘good’ (mentally, emotionally and physically) not because someone tells you it’s good for you.
Reading “The China Study” a couple years ago changed my life. In his research on the differences between the typical American diet and that of inland China in the years before their diet became more westernized, Dr. Campbell demonstrated that eating even moderate amounts of animal PROTEIN (from meat, dairy or eggs) is one of the biggest causes of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and a host of other diseases in the American population. His convincing research further demonstrated that protein from plants did NOT cause these health problems. One of his follow-up studies tested rats exposed to potent carcinogens: those fed animal protein proceeded to die of cancer while those fed plant protein after exposure to carcinogens were fine. Two control groups then had their diet switched: rats that switched to a plant diet had their disease reverse, while rats that began to eat animal protein started growing tumors. I highly appreciate and respect those who want to make the meat industry more ethical and humane (especially after reading the horrific stories about farm factories in “Eating Animals”). However, I am convinced that humans ARE designed to thrive 100% on plant food, and that eating animals is unneccessary and harmful to our health, longevity and well-being. Since making this lifestyle decision I’m healthier and happier than ever.
I am so glad you guys are tackling this topic- it’s one I have struggled with for a very long time. My biggest concern for myself when thinking about food quality is the cost. I only ate organic veggies and fruits (and was working on better quality meat) for a long time. Then, my financial situation took a drastic turn (as I know it has for many) and I moved to Hawaii and I couldn’t afford the organics anymore. What I was left with was an immense feeling of guilt and fear. I was scared all the time that eating conventional foods would lead me to sickness later in life. I have heard the speech a bazillion times- the cost now is a lot less than health care later. While I totally believe in the speech, it doesn’t ring true for me right now. Organic anything here is *ridiculous*. I could eat 1 organic apple per week or have enough fruits and veggies for a whole week.
Basically, I hope you tackle cost in your discussions of food quality. It’s a serious matter. Especially for those of us who want to pass this info along to family and friends, you can come off as elitist and privileged if you don’t seriously take into account the cost of food. You can’t win friends and influence people if they won’t listen to what you have to say and they won’t listen to what you have to say if they don’t think it applies to them.
Once I’m in a better financial position, I plan on going back to buying as much organic produce and meat as I possibly can. In the meantime, I’m making the best of it. Love your blog, as it gives me ideas and motivation when things get tough.
Andrea,
We’ve read lots of books, visited local farms, and read far too many internet “discussions”, but we came to a different conclusion than you did. While we are absolutely horrified/enraged/revolted at the factory farming system, we don’t choose to “opt out” of eating meat altogether (as you have). We do the hard, inconvenient work to hunt down ethical, clean, healthy meat, fish & eggs, because we believe that dense (animal) protein sources make us healthier. We respect your commitment and willingness to change your behavior based on what you’ve learned, we just came to a different conclusion on how we were going to implement those changes in our own lives. Good luck!
Samantha,
Like my comments to Andrea (above), I respect the conclusion that you came to, but I disagree. We do not have the GI tract of a herbivore (think grinding teeth and a very long GI tract including a rumen for “fermenting” plants), and I believe that we are omnivores, and as such should behave accordingly. Exhibiting behaviors that contradict our genetic heritage can only end in disaster. We’re glad you’re “happier than ever.” Thanks for your comments.
Megan B,
Cost isn’t going to be high on our priority list to discuss, mostly because LOTS of things in life are expensive, but none of them have the impact on your quality of life (now AND long-term) that food does. We would recommend finding a local farmer or farmer’s market, or growing a small garden yourself. Better yet, get some chickens and let them be your “natural pesticide” in the gardens! Hang in there, and we hope things get easier for you soon.
Dallas.
Anyone can raise chickens.
:)
http://www.polyfacefarms.com/books.aspx
check out these WONDERFUL books guys. I guarantee you, whatever your political stripes, there’s some fun to be had ‘beating the man’ by raising your own amazing eggs.
:)
First post on this site, and instantly intrigued by the work you’re doing. I’ve loved the brief touches I’ve had with Pollan’s material thus far into my own evolution as a conscientious consumer, and if he is part of the compass bearing, I’m on board 110%.
Quick question.
Can you recommend a reading list in the intervening timeframe? There’s a lot out there tackling the subject. I don’t mean to be lazy, but moreso fearful of material that is either 1) poorly researched or 2) so far out on the radical meter as to be suspect in accuracy. I feel confident in any material you guys can vouch for. Thanks!
– WH
@WH: Pollan’s the Omnivore’s Dilemma would be at the top of our list, as a more entry-level introduction to the concepts of food quality. Food Inc. is another book/movie in that category. Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals is a very emotional, very personal look at the factory farming system, and how it has influenced his decision to become (and raise his son) vegetarian. It’s not an easy read, due in part because it’s NOT designed as a journalistic piece – it’s all from his own personal perspective. We’ve also very much “enjoyed” (not the right word, but it’s been an invaluable part of our thought process) Peter Singer’s The Ethics of What We Eat. Singer is an ethicist, and outlines a wide range of factors (social, environmental, economical, etc.) that are present in today’s factory farming system.
By the way, Singer has been writing about this stuff since the mid 70’s. THE 70’S! Where the heck have we all been?
Hope that helps,
Melissa
Melissa/Dallas – great post. The way I explain it to clients (to transcend that gap between beginners who want to do the very best they can and those who are die-hard hard-core): eat the best you can at a given meal. Sometimes that means – when you’re at a friend’s house and they are serving you dinner and it’s a bowl of pasta and some grilled feed-lot chicken and a non-organic salad out of a bage – that you eat the chicken and the salad. Just because the chicken isn’t the free-range, cage-free sort doesn’t mean you should just down the pasta because it’s better than eating this chicken that wasn’t raised the way the chicken you usually eat was.
I do have a question though: I saw on another blog a posting from someone at another gym (Genesis maybe?) talking about how bacon and pork are now completely off your recommended food list. If we happen to have access to a local farmer who is raising heritage breeds, practicing humane animal husbandry, free-range, is it your opinion that this is not okay? My brother-in-law slaughtered a few of his pigs and cows last year (he only has about 5 of each) and the cuts were awesome and tasty. Wondering if perhaps the “no bacon, no pork” is for pork that falls in the regular, mass-marketed kinds, or if you were saying ethically and morally you think all should be off limits?
Hope all is well!
@Jules: I just dropped a clarification on their blog, which I’ll just re-post here. We didn’t say pork was on our “do not eat” list – although that’s the personal choice we’ve made for ourselves. Our recommendations for others are that you’ve got to go WAY out of your way to find a high quality, pastured source if you are going to include pork products in your diet. This means your bacon needs to come from pigs who live (and eat!) in their natural environments (outside, rooting and socializing) and whose meat isn’t treated or preserved in an unnatural, unhealthy way.
Sounds like your local farmer is doing a great job with his pigs – and we’d give that meat a thumbs-up for quality AND “conscientious-ness”.
Best,
Melissa
YES this is an excellent topic. I grew up eating free-range meat that my parents bought from our friends’ ranches. When I moved out on my own I wondered where the meat I got in the grocery store came from and how it was raised but didn’t care too much until 2004 when I started doing my own research into factory farming, hormone and antibiotic additives, etc. I started only doing my meat shopping at Wild Oats or Whole Foods or the downtown farmer’s market when it was open (summers). Then in 2006 I just got fed up and boycotted meat. I was sick of feeling like I was fighting a losing battle against unhealthy meat coming from sick animals, and the factory farming conditions that contaminated not only the meat, but vegetable production.
Two months ago I started Crossfit. That prompted me to stop my vegetarianism, but my meat consumption is still pretty low, simply because where I live now isn’t a big city in the middle of farm country with the benefits of Whole Foods and family farms nearby – there’s simply no place to buy good meat. The closest available farm I’ve found with hormone-free meat is two hours away, and I’d have to go to a separate farm for free-range eggs.
As I said earlier, this is an excellent topic and I think the more it’s discussed and the more it’s demanded by consumers, the better for everyone.
Adding: If only everyone had access to Polyface Farms.
Guys,
This is great material and should be covered. After watching documentaries such as Food Inc. and Food Wars, I began seeking out local farmers and we now know where our beef, chickens, lamb, eggs, fruit and veggies come from. The quality of the food is so much better. Better Ingredients = Better Food = Better Health!
Love this post! I seriously, just watched Food Inc today and am about 60 pages from finishing Robb’s book. I feel your passion on this topic and can totally relate! My gym just struck up a relationship with a local rancher to get grass fed beef for our members. I’m even going up to “meet” my next cow and observe the process of where my meat comes from…pasture to package. Taking it one step at a time to educate myself about where the foods I serve my family come from.
Can’t wait for you to come to CrossFit NorthWest Tucson in February!!!
Jennifer, we’re looking forward to AZ in February, too! It’ll be more enjoyable for us than our last trip to AZ, which was in mid-summer. Blistering! Keep an eye out for our post on egg quality this week. (We’re continuing the “meat quality” series due to popular demand.) See you in Tucson.
Great post! Something I think about often, and the reason I went vegan for a while. Where can I find more information from here? Your posts on seafood and eggs were very helpful, do you have more info on meat buying? I tend to shop at Wholefoods in Vancouver, Canada and would be especially appreciative of Canadian resources, but US is great too. I have been sharing your resources on Facebook and Twitter. THANK YOU!!
Cori,
Thanks for the kind words! Unfortunately, we haven’t had much time to devote to the series since we started writing our book, but one of our favorite sites for these kind of questions is http://www.sustainabletable.org. You may want to check them out, although I’m not sure if they reference the Canadian food system, or just the US.
Best,
Melissa
I’ve only just discovered this website. I’d like to see more on this topic. I frequently refer to myself as a reluctant carnivore, and can seldom order from a menu without a twist of anguish. I was vegetarian (an unhealthy one) for seven years and then finally started eating meat again because I was getting headaches on a monthly basis. Was living overseas in New Zealand when I reintroduced meat into my diet – over there of course it’s pasture raised, hormone/antibiotic-free. Since returning home to the States my body has continued craving animal protein but I hate hate hate the very thought of where my dinner comes from. So, hoping to find more here that might help resolve some of that dissonance.