When I was a child, red meat was demonized. Everyone knew that eating well meant eating chicken — lots of chicken. “Heart healthy” cookbooks cropped up everywhere, each one full of the same advice. Of course, these days, science has shown us that the original lipid hypothesis — the idea that eating saturated fat and cholesterol leads to heart disease — is simply false.
Decoding Supermarket Beef Labels
I buy my beef in bulk directly from a local rancher. But I remember the days before I lucked into my current freezer, the days when I had to buy beef at the supermarket. Reading and understanding the labels drove me batty.
Labels can make all sorts of vague claims — even claims that don’t seem vague. For nearly an entire year I periodically bought an “all-natural beef” that promised “no antibiotics EVER*” and “no growth hormones EVER*.” Then one day I got curious about those asterisks. I looked on the rest of the packaging to see what the asterisk referred to, but couldn’t find anything. So I asked the guy behind the butcher counter, and he found a pamphlet that comes with the pre-packaged beef. It turns out they were claiming they didn’t use antibiotics or hormones in the processing of the meat. You know, the process of butchering, cutting up, and packaging the meat for retail. What???!!!
I would have killed for a beef label decoder. That’s why I’m presenting you all with this one.
Burger Central Opens in Leander
Leander, TX has officially arrived. This Saturday, Burger Central celebrated its grand opening. What makes Burger Central so special? Quality.
All their burgers come from grass-fed cows that have been certified Animal Welfare Approved. The patties are hand-shaped and seasoned in the Burger Central kitchen, where they’re grilled to order. What’s not to love?
The Price of Real Food
The farmers I buy my pastured chickens from charges $3.25/lb for a whole chicken. The rancher I buy my pastured beef from charges around $3.80/lb for a butchered, processed, and packaged side of cattle.
To some, this seems expensive. Afterall, supermarket sales regularly sell chicken or beef for as little as a dollar per pound.
Yet, these are the same people who are willing to pay almost $10/lb for a box of breakfast cereal.