Category Archives: Pastured/Grass Fed Animals

Where to buy raw milk, meat, and other pastured foods?

A little about food co-ops:  I am all about food co-ops!!  My parents had one out of our house growing up and all I thought of then was every two weeks all these kids came over and played in our backyard with us–so fun!  Unfortunately, the two companies are no longer doing food co-ops so where do I go?

For example, check out the Real Food Club.  The offer pastured foods from a Amish farm in Pennsylvania.  They follow the grass-based farming principles as outlined in the Weston A. Price Foundation.  If you get a group of friends together one person can place an order to save on shipping.  Ta Da!  You started your own food co-op.  Check this post out to find out all about pastured foods and eggs.  Also, go in together and split an order of half a cow (see below for links).

Places that sell grassfed pastured meat, eggs, and dairy products:

Stores:

  • Jimbos
  • Whole Foods
  • Trader Joe’s
  • Sprouts

Local:

Online:

Eggs 101: What are the best types of Eggs to buy?

Eggs from pasture raised chickens wins for the best choice.  Yes, chickens were created to eat bugs and greens off the land which is partly why roaming free on a pasture makes their eggs higher in key nutrients.  Here are two nutrients highlighted: Omega-3 fatty acids are formed in the chloroplast of green leafs so chickens feeding off of the plants in the fields increase the content of that under consumed fatty acid and pass it onto their eggs.  Pastured chicken eggs also have ” 3-6  times more Vitamin D then hens raised in confinement.”1  Well that’s because they walk around in the sunshine all day.

One study1 found that when compared to commercial eggs, pastured eggs had:

  • 1/3 less cholesterol
  • 1/4 less saturated fats
  • 2/3 more vitamin A
  • 2 times more Omga-3 fatty acids
  • 7 times more beta carotene

Here is more on Omega-3 fatty acids:  “Omega-3s are called “good fats” because they play a vital role in every cell and system in your body. For example, of all the fats, they are the most heart-friendly. People who have ample amounts of omega-3s in their diet are less likely to have high blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat. Remarkably, they are 50 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack. Omega-3s are essential for your brain as well. People with a diet rich in omega-3s are less likely to suffer from depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder (hyperactivity), or Alzheimer’s disease.”1

I also found this another article that breaks down all the definitions in relation to types of eggs you can buy: pastured raised, cage free, free range, organic, and conventional (click here for article).

One must be aware of “all vegetarian diet”.  That does not mean hens were allowed free range on a pasture.

1.  Health Benefits of Grass-Fed Products:  http://www.eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm

Informational: “Grass-Fed Basics”

Pasture Raised Animals

Did you want to dig a little deeper into the question: “Why is eating foods from grass-fed animals healthier?”  Check out this article called Grass-Fed Basics by Jo Robinson. Basically do you want to eat foods from animals raised on processed foods or fresh pasture grown foods?  Pasture raised animal food products have the correct proportion of nutrient and vitamins and minerals.  For example, the ratio of unsaturated fat vs. saturated fat in meats is healthier in pasture raised animals.  Its just all in the right proportion!