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Knowing Where My Meat Comes From: The Farm!

It’s 8 a.m. Do you know where your meat comes from?
All jokes aside (you knew “meat” jokes would be prevalent in this post, right?), I do! And I’m kind of obsessed with it. (Yes, I’m obsessed with my meat.)
Lately, I’ve been making a point to dine at more farm-to-table concept restaurants, hit up the farmer’s markets, and I even joined a local Door to Door Organics delivery service. I also know exactly where my meat comes from. Like, I either know the farmer personally or I’ve physically been there; I’ve mooed at the cows and sniffed at the buffaloes.
We have a lot of readers (and writers!) who forgo meat, and I totally get it. There are ethical, economical, health and environmental reasons for going meatless. But—following our whole mission that you have to find the best healthy way of eating for YOU—I know that I feel better when I eat meat. But does that mean I’ll eat just any meat? Nope. I try to buy only grass-fed organic meat from farmers in the area, and we get eggs from one of my husband’s co-workers. (Still looking for a good full chicken option.)
I feel like this is the responsible thing to do. If I am going to eat meat, I want to know it was humanely treated, I want it to be fed a healthy and safe diet sans hormones, and I want it live in a good environment. This is not only better for Mother Nature and the animal, but it results in a more nutritious protein source. (Grass-fed meats are generally higher in omega-3 fatty acids and CLA, among other vitamins and minerals.) And, yes, it’s way more expensive—but, for me, it’s about quality, not quantity.
Two of my favorite places to get grass-fed meat are Strickland Legacy Farms in Buffalo, Mo., and K.C. Buffalo Co. in Belton, Mo.
strickland-farms-beef
We recently turned a pound of Strickland Legacy Farm’s ground beef into delicious patties that went on the grill with a foil-packet full of seasoned-potatoes goodness. With just some salt, pepper and some coconut aminos (worthy of a whole Healthy Obsession post on its own!), the burgers were amazingly juicy and flavorful.
burgers-hot-off-grill
Made a quick kale salad to go with it (of course!)…
kale-salad
And then, Paleo-style, wrapped it in huge romaine leaves, topped with pickles, fresh tomato and a sriracha-garlic aioli.
burger-lettuce-wraps
P.S. The potatoes were ridiculously good. Three types of taters (the Trader Joe’s medley), just with Slap Ya Mama seasoning.
potatoes
I can’t say enough about this meat though. So good, so fresh, so as it should be. If you’re in my area, check out Strickland Legacy Farms. (The farmer is a singer-songwriter, too!)
Then there’s the buffalo from KC Buffalo Co. (I’ve even been there to see the farm!) I’m way, way, way obsessed with its breakfast sausage that’s heavy on the sage and filled with so much flavor. Seeing that I’m obsessed with lettuce wraps these days, I had some of the sausage mixed with sauteed garlic, onions, zucchini, beets (!) and walnuts. So freakin’ delicious.
bison-lettuce-wraps
Now that I’m used to eating and buying local grass-fed meat, I’ll never go back to the other mass-produced stuff. It just freaks me out. And it’s nice to know where your food comes from. So that no matter what time of day it is, I always know where my meat came from—and where it is! (Usually, in my freezer or fridge, you pervs!)
Do you buy grass-fed meat? Avoid meat altogether? How come? —Jenn

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