Alyice on August 25th, 2008

Thanks For The Milk & The Beef

Even at $4 per gallon, I can’t help but feel grateful for the milk we’re able to consume. But more importantly, I am especially grateful that I do not have to get up before dusk every morning to milk the cows, pasteurize the milk, and flash freeze it so that I could enjoy a nice cold glass.

Milk is a delicious, soothing drink. It’s also a wonderful ingredient in many treats from milkshakes to puddings to creams. And most importantly, according to the National Dairy Council, “Milk contains nine essential nutrients, making it one of the most nutrient-rich beverages you can enjoy.”

And the meat…

What can I say? I have yet to conform to vegetarianism. As much as I hate the idea of slaughtering animals for food, I still enjoy a good burger. And on special occasions, a nice steak.

But I’ll also be very honest here. Every day that I drive by these cute creatures, or see them being carted in those large livestock trucks, I can’t help but wonder what an all vegetarian diet would be like. And I become very aware of the lives they give up to sustain my family and very aware of the hard (and dangerous) jobs meat packing employees face on a daily basis.

Give thanks…

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Comments (4)

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The Cotton Wife says:
If it’s your own cow do you have to pasteurize the milk?

We can add that to the list of stuff I should know but don’t!
Posted at 12:11 pm August 26th, 2008
Alyice says:
I was researching online this morning (thanks to your question) and there’s a lot of pros and cons to both.

They pasteurize milk for stores, it seems, because it keeps longer and less risk of bacterial infection.

But there’s a lot of talk online about raw milk being healthier for you. The problem, however, is that if your cow is sick, that bacteria stays in the milk and transfers over into your system. Also raw milk doesn’t keep as long.
Posted at 1:10 pm August 26th, 2008
She says:
I’ve been trying lately to eat cruelty free products. So, if I can buy organic, I do, even though it’s more expensive. And, I look for free range meats where the animals are treated humanely.

I still have a lot of progress to make, but that’s the direction I’m choosing to move in.
Posted at 5:59 am August 27th, 2008
Alyice says:
I remember watching a televised show about another country’s beef being far more tender and tastier than ours and it was because they were allowed to roam free and eat off the land. I also remember checking out free range meats in the states but it was also triple the cost of store-bought meat. I think that’s what’s been holding us back in the past–the cost.

But it’s defintely something to look into now that I’ve grown more conscious of how animals are treated since living in South Dakota. There’s something about being around a lot of farms that makes you naturally more aware of where your meats come from.

I have a few places I’d like to try one day–if our economy ever gets back on stable ground.
- Wild Idea Buffalo Company
- Goosemobile Poultry
Posted at 1:01 pm August 27th, 2008

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I'm a freelance writer, mixed media artist, SMVA, and the owner of The Dabbling Mum.

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