For my final installment for Earth Week I thought I would share with you some organic items I always have in my kitchen. Organic foods are better for the environment and healthier for our bodies. Me and the carnivore buy organic for the health benefits, including higher nutrient levels and lower pesticide residue, but they also help the planet. Organic agriculture enhances soil structures, conserves water, mitigates climate change, and ensures sustained biodiversity. Here are some organic staples we keep and use in many of our recipes:
Eggs - I use Eggland's Best organic cage free vegetarian fed hen brown eggs. That's a mouthful! While the carnivore may complain occasionally about how much more expensive these eggs are, he never complains about the taste. And I feel better knowing that I am putting a healthier egg on his plate. (Did I mention the carton is recyclable too?)
Butter - I have tried a few different brands, but I keep coming back to Whole Foods' 365 unsalted sticks. They are creamy and sweet. They are also reasonably priced. And since I am southern, I use a lot of butter during the week. This is a great organic staple to have on hand.
Milk - I like Horizon's 2% milk. It is produced without antibiotics, growth hormones and pesticides. Plus, the cows eat only organic feed and have access to clean water, fresh air, an organic pasture and exercise according to their website. Neither me nor the carnivore are big milk drinkers, but when a recipe calls for it, this is the brand we turn to. The carnivore also uses their creamer in his coffee.
Cheese - I am a fan of Organic Valley's cheese, especially the shredded variety. Although, I am now seeing a generic brand at my local Kroger. In either case, I like having cheddar cheese, without all those additives that make it fluorescent orange, ready to put in my scrambled eggs or in enchiladas.
Canned Beans - This a is a quick way for me to get protein so I keep a couple of cans in my pantry at all times. I like Healthy Valley's version, but my local grocery store (Kroger) has a great generic organic brand too. It is hard to mess up canned beans, so pretty much anything you find should be fine.
Sugar - Domino makes an organic sugar that you can find next to the normal kind. It is a bit more expensive, but there are usually coupons in the Sunday paper to help offset this. I use it in all my baking.
Fruits and Veggies - It goes without saying that I buy and use organic fresh fruits and vegetables. But, I have also been known to buy frozen organic ones. Frozen berries are great in lots of recipes and they now come in organic varieties. I also buy this huge bag of frozen green beans at Costco. It contains smaller bags that can be tossed in the wok and ready in minutes.
Meat - After reading about all the scary things they put in meat I always purchase the carnivore organic meats, whether it it be chicken or beef. There is just no way I am putting all those hormones in my hubby.
So, what is your favorite organic staple? What brands do you like best? I would love to know what products you all like to use to keep your family healthy and help the planet at the same time!