"Eat animals that have themselves eaten well."
The nutritional quality of the animal products we eat is directly related to the nutritional quality of the food those animals ate. It's simple enough; healthy animals make healthy food. Our modern food system is concerned with producing large quantities of cheaper meat products, which has changed the diets, and consequently, the health of feed lot animals. Animals who have evolved to eat grass are being fed grains because it leads to faster growth and fatter animals. Not only does this greatly diminish the quality of these animal products, it has contributed to food contamination, environmental pollution and depletion of natural resources. Grass fed cattle that are raised the way they have been evolved to, have a lower fat content and the fat is of much higher quality, containing about 5 times the amount of omega-3 fats as their grain fed counterparts.
Searching out products from pasture raised animals is worth the premium you'll pay. Remember the tip from day 3? It was "pay more, eat less", and that definitely applies here! If you're looking for grass fed beef, Brookshire's now carries it at the meat counter, and Fiesta Nutrition also has some in the freezer section. If you have the freezer space and the funds to pay up front, the best option is probably to order a share of beef from Brookshire Farm in Abbeville (not associated with Brookshire's, the grocery store!). Mahaffey Farm, located outside of Bossier, raises pastured pork, chicken, beef and eggs, as well as organic produce. I picked up some of their bacon at Gibson's Natural Grocer in Ruston, and it is pretty darn amazing :) Mitchell Family Farm is located in Rayville, and they sell quality pork raised outside in the pasture.
All the tips given for the 28 Days of Real Food Challenge were compiled from "Food Rules", by Michael Pollan.