This is a sponsored post written for Dierks farm.
Note from Heather: I am excited to be working with Dierks Farm grass-fed beef to bring you awesome info about where healthy meat comes from! Dierks Farm is a family-owned Illinois (south of my home state!) based business that produces high-quality 100% grass-fed beef. Check out their website here and use the code “cookit” to get 10% off any order! Also, don’t forget to support their Kickstarter campaign!
Today’s post is a guest post from Pam Dierks of Dierks Farms Grass-fed Beef and Produce!
Take it away Pam…
Many of your friends may say “what’s really the difference between grass-fed and grain fed beef?” Here is your answer.
When it comes to grass-fed beef and grain-fed beef the difference for consumers isn’t as obvious as we would believe. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Grass-fed beef generally comes from cattle that eat only grass and other foraged foods throughout their lives. Often, conventional beef cattle eat a diet that includes grains, such as corn, at some point. The difference in the diets of the cattle changes the nutrients and fats you get from eating different types of meat.”
You are what you eat
The negative stigma associated with red meat is fueled by the thought that, meat is meat. It portrays that no matter what an animal is fed, the nutritional value of its products remain the same. False. The diets animals consume profoundly impact the nutrition content of its products. Dierks Farms Grass Fed Beef & Produce was founded on the basis of grass-fed beef even before the health benefits were brought to light.
Why grass-fed?
The nutritional differences with grass-fed beef produce more health benefits than other types of beef that don’t. Grass-fed beef is:
- Naturally leaner than grain-fed beef
- Contains antioxidant vitamins, such as Vitamin A and E
- Lower levels of unhealthy fats
- Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids (good for cardiovascular health)
- Higher levels of omega-6 polyunsaturated fats (good for brain function, growth and development)
- Lower levels of dietary cholesterol
- Great source of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) a fat that reduces the risk of cancer fighting properties, obesity, diabetes and other health problems.
Environment Benefits
The benefits of grass-fed beef go beyond nutrition. Confinement factory farming is less sustainable and does more harm than good to the environment. For example: on well-managed pasture-based farms such as Dierks Farms, animals evenly spread their manure over the soil and it becomes a natural organic fertilizer. Excrement in Factory farming builds up and produces pollution and stress on the animals and workers. Dierks Farms is dedicated to raising animals in a human fashion that is better for you and the environment.
Pasture farming positives:
- Grazing grass requires much less fossil fuel
- Grazing animals fertilize and harvest on their own
- Green pastures enable the ability to harvest solar energy
- Carbon dioxide is effectively removed from the atmosphere, helping to slow global warming
Healthy, Happy Living
Since 1881, Dierks Farms has been committed to our animals, customers and our environment. Our grass-fed animals live a stress free life roaming our beautiful 340 acres of pasture in southern Illinois. Our tireless work is constantly motivated by our family’s health and your family’s health as well.
Dierks Farms will begin shipping our beef Monday, March 14th. You can place your order on our website beginning on Monday, March 7th. Remember use the code Cookit and receive 10% off your order. Dierks Farms is on Kickstarter. Donate and help us expand our farm to meet the current demand of grass-fed beef and you can save over $50 a box in comparison to buying our product individually.
And because I (Heather) love to cook with grass-fed beef, here’s my new favorite Sunday meal-prep recipe: Sweet Potato and Curry Egg Muffins! They’re protein-packed and full of flavor!
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and finely diced
- 12 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 1 pound grass-fed ground beef
- 2 teaspoons [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A3814BI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00A3814BI&linkCode=as2&tag=coituppa-20&linkId=VAXD3KI32HVSXURO” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”]curry powder[/url]
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 7 eggs
- 1 cup [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HTJ2BQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001HTJ2BQ&linkCode=as2&tag=coituppa-20&linkId=DHQM2SSJJK2E2XGP” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”]coconut milk[/url]
- Preheat the oven to 375° F and grease a muffin pan.
- Heat up the coconut oil and add the onion, sweet potato, mushrooms, and green onions; saute until almost tender.
- Add the beef, curry, salt, and pepper. Saute until beef is cooked.
- Divide mixture between 12 muffin cups.
- Whisk the eggs with the coconut milk and divide between muffin cups.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
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Blogger Bio: Dierks Farms was founded on the basis of Grass-fed beef even before the health benefits were brought to light. Today, we believe in Grass Fed because it benefits the health of our family, our animals, our customers and our environment. Our farming practices are centered around the humane treatment of our animals. Our animals are raised on stress free grass that is rotated on a regular basis both for the animals and the environment. Our family is the 4th & 5th generation of Dierks to farm our family farm. Our family works everyday to improve the world around us by using farming practices that will preserve our farm for generations to come.
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This is a sponsored post written for Dierks farm. I only support companies I love.
If you buy something through one of the links in my sidebars or posts, I may receive a small commission to support my blogging activities, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
