Tag Archives: beef

5 Questions to Ask at Your Farmers Market

I love starting my weekend with a trip to the farmers market. I may start the day overwhelmed by my to-do list, but everything slows down as I start to walk past the tables of vibrant produce, local honey, and artisanal breads and cheeses. Connecting with your food and those who produce it makes you pause, breathe, and appreciate the great gift of real food. You know you’re doing something better for your body and planet by going fresh and local.

However, you can’t take for granted that everything at your local farmers market is good for you and the planet. Supporting your local farmers market can provide better quality produce and be beneficial to the environment and local economy. However, it is not a guaranty that the produce is free of pesticides, meets safety standards, or that the product is actually from a local source. If you’re not taking the opportunity to get to know your farmer you may not be getting what you bargained for. Here are some questions to ask at your next (or first) farmers market visit.

Farmers Markets in all 50 States Accept Food Stamps and EBT

DO YOU USE PESTICIDES?

Not every local farmer grows organically. Those who do so often proudly display their USDA organic label. If you don’t see the organic label, you need to ask how they spray and fertilize their crops. Some farmers use all organic methods but simply do not have the resources to obtain the organic certification. Others may use conventional methods of pest control and fertilization. If it is a fruit or vegetable on the Dirty Dozen list, make sure to choose organically grown produce.

WHAT DO YOU FEED YOUR LIVESTOCK?

Local and grass fed seem to go hand-in-hand but you can’t assume that is the case. Cows and chickens may still be eating grain due to cost and land availability (or even junk food!). They may also still be getting things you don’t want in your food, like antibiotics. Organic eggs may be the best protein choice at the farmers market. They can be used in a variety of ways and can be less expensive per serving than organic beef. (more…)

Posted on June 3, 2023 by Pamela

Healthy Dinner Menu Plan for the Week Featuring Easy Weeknight Favorites

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When it comes to the what’s for dinner? question, the struggle is real folks! We’re taking most of the guess work out with our new weekly meal plans! Turn Sunday in to Plan Day and you’ll be set right on through the weekend. (more…)

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Natalie K

Eat Like the Royals: 7 Ballpark Recipes Celebrating the Kansas City Royals’ World Series Run

Last night, my social channels bled blue as the Kansas City Royals clenched their first playoff bid since 1985. Chants of going all the way were deafening and will no doubt silence any time soon. It’s a moment these Midwest baseball fans have waited, in some cases, all their lives for. There are a lot of long games ahead for these fans, as many as seven if things go their way, which means a lot of tailgate-inspired eating is on the horizon.

How does one eat like a Royal? There’s no pinkies out around here like those other royals. This is both KC Missouri and Kansas — around here, it’s all about the meat!

Here’s how to eat like a Royals fan — we’ll even show you a few ways to trim down these ballgame faves so you don’t need to up-size your new champions T-shirt!

CLEAN CARAMEL CORN

clean caramel corn laurenslatest image credit laurenslatest.com

No ballgame is complete without Cracker Jacks, but they’re kind of terrible for you. We love this recipe from LaurensLatest.com that uses coconut oil, maple syrup, sea salt, and vanilla to craft a treat as indulgent as the classic. Popcorn is naturally gluten-free, if that’s your thing. This recipe is also vegan and without adding processed sugars.

image credit Kacy Meinecke/DietsInReview.com

JALAPENO CHEDDAR BURGER BITE KABOBS

Grilling a batch of big, juicy burgers these parts. But there are ways to teach these old dogs new tricks! Treat the burger as a side or appetizer with this tiny meatball kabobs. They’ve got big flavor, as we stuffed all-natural beef with jalapeno and cheddar cheese. (more…)

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Natalie K

Win This Big ‘Ole Applegate Weinervention Sweepstakes to Save Your Hot Dog Lovin’ Soul

This sweepstakes is done in partnership with Applegate, but is not sponsored. We were provided complimentary product for review, but were not obligated to enjoy the ever loving heck out of it. Since we did, they said we could share the love with you.

Hot dogs. Bare feet. Summertime. It’s a perfect recipe for the best three months of the year.

Unfortunately, the recipe in most hot dogs looks more like the seedy bowels of a dark, cold winter. Who knows what is actually in those things?!

But the folks at Applegate get it right. Super right. It’s like they invented the hot dog. Sadly, they did not. They did, however, make them so much better. Like way better, better enough that you won’t cringe watching your kids bite in to them.

“Looking more like strawberry frosting than blended meat and bone bits…” writes Treehugger about what’s actually inside the standard hot dog, “the country’s most beloved tube of meat.” There’s mechanically separated meat (or pink slime) from a few animals that could include cow, pig, chicken, or turkey. Don’t forget the corn syrup, flavor additives, tons of sodium, and a whole host of other preservatives and the like. Yuck.

Applegate Naturals Beef Hot Dogs are “cleaner weiners.” They have a super simple list of uncured beef, water, and six seasonings. That’s it! Even my four-year-old can digest this list (and so can her tummy!). They’re tasty and juicy, the way a hot dog should be. They also don’t have that typical gnarly hot dog smell, phew! We felt better eating these since they weren’t stocked with nasty junk. (more…)

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Health Buzz

Taco Bell Divulges What’s Really in Their Beef (HINT: It’s Not Just Meat)

Taco Bell had an announcement this week that certainly surprised us. The fast food corporation decided to divulge what’s actually in its meat—and it turns out, it is mostly actually meat! Or at least, it’s almost 9/10ths meat.

In an official statement, Taco Bell stated that their beef is “88% beef and 12% signature recipe.” The company also assured the nation that their beef is not grade D beef, but that it is as quality as any ground beef that you might find in a grocery store.

So what makes up the “signature recipe” that accounts for the other 12% of the filling? Mostly spices and thickeners, the chain insists. “Ingredients like oats and sodium phosphates help make sure the texture is right.” We’re of the opinion that “beef texture” is probably best produced by beef, but I guess when you operate a worldwide chain you need consistency. Maybe these fillers make the beef used in Kansas taste the same as the beef used in California?

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Posted on May 1, 2023 by Jessica Tholmer

The $3 Beef, Veggie, and Noodle Dinner: Backpacking Around the World and Still Eating Well on the Cheap

In the middle of March, I packed what I could carry on my back, headed to the airport, and took flight for New Zealand. I’ve never been out of the U.S. before; I could only hope I knew what I was in for. I’m not a wealthy trust fund baby, I’m not a young guy from Europe whose parents are funding a “gap year,” and I still have bills to pay back home. All that being said, traveling on the cheap was my primary objective. I stay in hostels, I use public transportation, and for the most part, I make my own food instead of eating out. The average meal here costs $12-14 NZD (that’s about $10 to $12 USD).

I’ve been in New Zealand for a few weeks now (flew out to Vietnam last night), and wanted to share with you one such quick, easy, and cheap meal many backpackers are familiar with. While the context here is eating cheap while traveling, you could do the same thing at home.

What You’ll Need:

Fantastic Noodles / Ramen Noodles / 2 Minute Noodles
Cubed beef / chicken / tofu chunks
Vegetables of your choice

I went with beef, broccoli, potato, carrots, and fresh green beans. Everything you see in the picture below cost about $12 NZD (about $9 USD), and is easily enough for three meals for one person. At $3 bucks each, you’ll be hard pressed to beat it, especially for a meal as filling as this.

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Posted on April 14, 2024 by Mike Beauchamp

Fall 2024 Tasty Movie Sneak Preview

I’m giddy. It’s time. The fall movie season is officially in full swing. In addition to caramel apples, pumpkin anything and apple cider mixed with Butterscotch Schnapps, movie-going is my favorite part of the season. To get you excited for all those new fall flicks, I’ve gathered up a few that I’m looking forward to and then paired them with healthy “themed” recipes you can eat afterward while you discuss the plot and shake off your buttery popcorn/candy hangover. Remember, no texting, talking or putting your feet on the seats in front of you. You ready? Raise the curtain. Let’s do this!

Fall 2024 Tasty Movie Sneak Preview

Hunger Games – Catching Fire

In the second installment of the series, based on the books by Suzanne Collins, Katniss and Peeta find themselves in trouble with the Capitol again when the districts of Panem begin to rebel. Before they go back to the arena for another battle, TO THE DEATH, they can’t resist the decadent and often outlandish food prepared by eclectic Capitol chefs.

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart

The “colorful” citizens of District One sure do love their Goat Cheese Tarts but the odds are definitely in your favor that these are better for you. A simple savory dish that can be served for brunch, lunch or dinner.

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Posted on October 21, 2023 by Dani Stone

23,000 Pounds of Kansas Beef Recalled, May Have E. coli

23,000 pounds of Kansas beef has been recalled after it was discovered it might contain E. coli bacteria.
The E. coli strain was found after a routine test on Tuesday morning; no illnesses have been reported.
Most E.coli strains are harmless, but some strains of the gut bacteria can cause severe food poisoning when ingested.
The beef was produced in late May and shipped to 12 states, including Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona and Arkansas.
With a limited release shipped only to wholesale distributors and military bases, the beef should be easily found and destroyed. The sell/use by date is June 14. (more…)

Posted on June 20, 2023 by Patrick

Jalapeno Cheddar Burger Bite Kabobs Mark the Unofficial Start to Summer

Happy Memorial Day! As we grill our way through this holiday, we (un)officially kick-off summer. The air is filled with charcoal, bug spray, sunblock, and fresh-cut grass and frankly, I’m not mad about a single one of those scents.

Americans are mostly grilling beef today. According to Purdue research, Memorial Day is the largest beef consumption day of the year. Surely none of us are surprised by that. So if you’re going to bite in to a burger this holiday, or any other day this summer, we say be as conscientious about it as possible.

This year, we’re making beef our side item and letting our fresh, healthy sides be the star of the cookout. With these Jalapeño Cheddar Burger Bites, everyone gets the juicy meat they don’t think they can host a barbecue without while filling up on more of the fruit and vegetable side dishes they’re usually too full to enjoy.

We made these bite-sized burger kabobs with organic ground beef by Suzy Sirloin, a reliable source of natural beef products. Recently they made available an organic product, raised right int he US without antibiotics or growth hormones. Suzy Sirloin’s cows are fed only certified organic grass and grains, and they are USDA Organic certified. Best of all, the organic beef is juicy and full of that big flavor you expect from a burger. (more…)

Posted on May 27, 2023 by Natalie K

Calories in the Most Popular Grilled Meats with 14 Healthy Recipe Alternatives

Grills across the country will fire up this weekend for the unofficial start of summer. Memorial Day is the the most popular day for beef consumption in the U.S., followed by Fourth of July and Labor Day (according to Purdue). No real surprise there, but did you know it’s also one of the highest-calorie meats we grill?

We’re not telling anyone how they should eat this weekend. After all, Memorial Day is a celebration. We are making a few suggestions, though, for enjoying this food-focused weekend without having to beat the bloat come Tuesday morning. (more…)

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Health Buzz

What the Popes Eat: How Pope Francis Will Keep it Frugal and Healthy

The leader of the Catholic church changed hands yesterday. Amongst great fanfare, Jorge Mario Bergoglio exited the Vatican after a plume of white smoke rose from the chimney and was announced as Pope Francis I. He’s the first pope of modern times to come from Latin America; specifically he hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He’s described as a humble man and a pope of the people, already declining to stand atop a podium when he first greeted his loyal Catholic followers. So then, can we assume the papal diet will also be a modest one? It appears so. According to Lanancion.com, Pope Francis enjoys a healthy diet, eating things like fresh fruit, skinless chicken, salads, and a glass of wine on occasion.

It may be a leaner and more frugal diet than many of his predecessors. (more…)

Posted on March 14, 2024 by Natalie K

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