How to buy sustainable chicken
We are all well aware that the planet is getting sicker, and so are the people on this planet (a 2018 study showed that only 12% of Americans are metabolically healthy). This is no coincidence. The things that hurt our planet hurt us. Good news though: the reverse is also true. Many of the things that nourish and heal our bodies are also the things that heal the planet.
One of the biggest impacts you can make on your health and the health of the planet is to stop eating conventionally raised meat and animal products. These are toxic & inflammatory to you, and extremely detrimental to the health of our soil and our planet (read more here).
Unfortunately, it’s not as straightforward as simply eliminating all animal products from your diet (although that’s what many activists are telling us…), and it’s not as simple as switching to organic animal products (although that is a good start…).
We’ve moved so far away from eating simple, real, nourishing food that it can feel like it takes a masters degree to know how to buy quality food that is good for you and the planet.
Download the guide now then read on for your “masters degree” in sourcing healthy, quality chicken…
In order to source chickens well (for your health AND the planet’s health), you do need to know *something* about chickens and farming. Admittedly, I’m not a farmer or a chicken biologist, but here’s what I do know:
🐔 Chickens are omnivores and need room to roam & forage for plants and bugs (‘all vegetarian fed’ shouldn’t be something to brag about)
🐔 Soy & corn are common animal feed but are inflammatory to the animals as well as industrially farmed; leading to pollution, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions.
🐔 The use of hormones and antibiotics are prohibited in poultry in the US.
🐔 ‘Natural’ simply means there are no artificial colors or added ingredients, which I wouldn’t expect (or want) in my poultry anyway!
🐔 ‘Cage free’ means the chicken has about 1 sq.ft. of space indoors in a crowded warehouse, but without access to the outdoors.
🐔 ‘Free range’ means the chickens have a bit more room but are still likely living their lives indoors, simply with “access” to the outside (good luck to the chicken who finds the door!).
🐔 ‘Pasture-raised’ means the chickens spend most of their lives foraging outdoors. Opt for pasture raised whenever possible.
Labels can be hard to decipher, and it can feel daunting if you’re chatting up a farmer about their practices. Follow me on Instagram for more helpful tips on how to simplify healthy, planet-friendly eating for you and your family.