If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Captain Cooks birthday parties are not only a blast but the kids actually learn a valuable skill at the same time…..Kids prepare homemade organic pizza dough from scratch, then they each get to roll out their own pizza and finish it off with their favorite organic toppings. An organic fruit side dish is then prepared and then after they eat their creations, the kids get to frost and decorate their own organic cupcakes……Who could ask for more??? It’s entertainment and food all in one great price…..oh yes and we do all the clean up so you parents can just sit back and relax with friends….
Click here for more details or to book a party. View our event schedule to check on available dates…
Cows eating corn instead of grass, how absurd?? Think about it…cows aren’t suppose to eat corn or any other grain….they are ruminants (along with buffalo, deer, goats, etc) which means they have multiple chambered stomachs dsigned for eating and digesting grass, like no other species can do. Then why are the majority of our beef cattle being force fed corn in feedlots instead of being allowed to graze on the pasture? A number of reasons….its cheap, it fattens them up very quickly, doesn’t require a lot of land, and doesn’t require much skill or knowledge from the labor force. But all of this has significantly adverse affects on our health, on the environment and on the well-being of these animals.
Here are some of the major advantages of switching to grass fed beef….
h skill or knowledge from the labor force. But all of this has significantly
1. Less fat and better fat…..Meat from grass fed animals has much less total fat, saturated fat and calories than corn fed beef. It also contains Omega-3’s which are created from cells in green plants and algae, an extremely important fatty acid believed to play a significant role in human brain cell growth. The Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio for corn fed cows is 20:1 while grass fed are only 3:1 This is virtually the same levels as fish and is considered ideal from a health standpoint. The high ratio in corn fed beef causes an essential fat imbalance which leads to a variety of health problems.
2. More nutritious. Grass fed beef has high levels of Beta-carotene and also up to 400% more Vitamin A and Vitamin E than corn fed beef…..There is no beneficial health reason to reduce your red meat comsumption if you are eating grass fed beef.
3. More humane…I like animals, but I am not an animal rights activist by any means, however I absolutely object to the treatment and torture of feedlot animals….It is simply cruel and inhumane to cram hundreds or thousands of cows into a small space, force them to eat something that their systems cannot tolerate, give them unneccesary drugs to stop them from getting sick from the horrible living conditions, allow them to defecate on themselves and each other (this is something that even animals consider taboo), and then slaughter them at only 14 months (grass fed cows take an average of 4-5 years to reach slaughter weight). Once you understand this….how could you possible eat another corn fed burger when there are other options available?
4. No antibiotics or hormones…Because grass fed cows are out to pasture and eating what they are suppose to be eating, guess what, they don’t need to be treated with drugs and hormones…..Their digestive systems are functioning properly, they are growing at normal rates, they are exercising, breathing fresh air, defecating where they are suppose to (which in turn fertilizes the grass) and are free from the stress that feedlot cattle must endure…
5. Dramatically reduce chance of contracting E. Coli . Since 1993 over 500,000 American kids have become ill or died from the ingesting the E. coli bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7)….the new strain of intestinal bacteria present in the stomach of about 40% of feedlot cattle. Since these cows have much higher PH levels in their gut than their grass fed counterparts, this new strain of acid-resistant E. coli is now able to shake off the acid in the human stomach, thus making us very ill or even killing us. A simple solution to this is to take a corn fed cow and feed him grass for 3 days before slaughter which would reduce the acidity and to kill off the E.coli….simple, but yet unfortunately not done….unbelievable, but true! Also, the threat of Mad Cow Disease and Foot and Mouth Disease is virtually non-existent in a grass fed animal.
6. Better for the environment….What happens to all that cow poop on these feedlots??? We commonly think of cow manure as good fertilizer for crops right? Well then it wouldn’t be too hard for these feedlots to dispose of it, if that was the case. However, corn fed cattle poop has such high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous, along with hormone residues, that their manure actually kills the crops…..Where does this toxic poop end up? In our rivers, lakes and oceans, nice-huh?
All right folks, now you know the facts …there are so many reasons to purchase grass fed beef over corn fed that I am amazed it is not more readily available to us consumers. Here’s where you can find it in San Diego county (dont even bother looking at places like Von’s and Albertsons- they love the cheap factory farm stuff):
-Ground beef- is readily available at Frazier Farms, Jimbos, Whole Foods and Trader Joes…..it ranges firm $5.99-7.99 lb (cheapest at Trader Joes). It goes a long way since there is so much less fat in it and you can actually cook your burgers medium rare without the dangers of getting sick….Also, you can eat it guilt free because of all the nutritional benefits..
-Steak- on the other hand is a bit more difficult to obtain….Frazier Farms has a small selection in their freezer section, Jimbo’s and Whole Foods have a larger variety in their cases and Homegrown Meats in La Jolla has a really great selection. The bonus with Homegrown Meats is that it is all raised right here in San Diego from Mendehall Ranch on Palomar Mountain. With the high price of land here in the region and shortage of water, grass fed beef is hard to come by in Southern California. Most of it is raised up North or in the Midwest, so when you get the opportunity to purchase from a local farmer, go for it. It is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for in terms of quality, taste and nutritional value and it is well worth it.
Del Mar Fair….yes you can buy your own cow….of course now you have to send it off to the slaughterhouse and then go pick it up (I believe the closest plant is in LA) and then there’s the little issue of storing all this beef in your freezer…..but this option is great if you have the room..
Online- there are a variety of online retailers that will ship you their grass fed beef, bison, buffalo, etc
Hopefully, if you read this article you will make the switch….in doing so you will help reduce America’s need for cheap, mass produced food, reduce environmental degradation, improve the lives of the animals that feed us and improve the overall health of your family….enough said…
Here are some important resolutions you should implement for a healthier family and healthier planet this year…..
1. Support your local farmers and economy and shop at your local Farmers Markets. Why buy truck ripened produce from 1500 miles away from your grocery store when you can get fresh, seasonal produce grown close to home at your Farmers Market??? There are so many wonderful Farmers Markets in San Diego almost every day of the week and most feature organic produce. Even if its not organic, many small farms are still pesticide free but cannot afford to become certified organic even though they use the same methods. There is a lot of paperwork and red tape to get through…..Get to know your local farmers and listen to what they have to say. I’d trust one of them over the USDA or FDA any day!!! Visit www.sdfarmbureau.org to find a Farmers Market in your town.
2. Join a CSA….A CSA is a Community Supported Agriculture group. Basically you pay a monthly fee to a local farm which in turn they provide you with a box of their fresh seasonal bounty each week that you pick up from a specified location. Visit www.localharvest.org for a list of CSA’s in San Diego. Be Wise Organic Farm and Seabreeze are two wonderful farms……might have a waiting list though….
3. Choose organic whenever possible. Obviously we don’t want our children consuming any food treated with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, which not only are bad for our bodies, but for our environment as well. This is especially important in dairy products. Dairy cows are commonly injected with growth hormones (RGBH) and antibiotics, which means their milk will contain these things……I don’t want my kids drinking that!!! Always buy organic dairy or at least find products that don’t contain these items. Chicken eggs as well… I want free range, CAGE FREE, organic fed birds that hopefully haven’t been abused…..I still don’t trust this system wholeheartedly, but its the best I can do for now until we get our own chicks for our backyard…..and yes you can do this too even if you live in a tract home in San Diego….
4. Choose grass fed beef over corn fed. Grass is what cows are suppose to eat. They are ruminants and need to graze to maintain health. Eating corn is unnatural and unhealthy for their digestive systems. Thus they are injected with antibiotics and other drugs to prevent them from getting ill. Also because of the ph levels in their gut from all the corn, E-coli levels are much higher and more likely to end up on your plate. Meat from grass fed animals has less fat and actually contains Omega-3’s which are created from cells in green plants and algae, an extremely important fatty acid believed to play a significant role in human brain cell growth. By eating grass fed beef you will reduce your fat intake, eliminate added antibiotics and hormones, significantly reduce your chances of contracting E-coli and also increase your Omega3’s intake. (Not to mention the fact that your cow will have lived a happier longer life of 4-5 years on a farm eating a buffet of grass everyday, instead of living a miserable life in a feedlot being forced to eat corn only to be fattened up for slaughter in 14 months.)
5. Don’t buy farm raised fish. Most farm raised fish are fed a diet of grain (sometimes even dyed pink to simulate a shrimp diet). You want fish that feeds on a natural diet of, well, fish. Buying wild fish insures that the fish is doing what fish do, swim and eat in their natural habitat. Back to the Omega-3 issue….its only in fish that eat fish, algae or phytoplankton.
6. Bake bread once a week. Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh baked bread…..Baking bread is simple, and one of life’s greatest pleasures. I have yet to find a loaf of bread in a store that doesn’t contain something I don’t want my kids to eat…..even fresh from the bakery, they still contain dough conditioners and sometimes even trans fats….Yuk!!! Not for my family…..I bake bread twice a week, and even as busy as I am, I still manage to find time…..It doesn’t take as long as most people think. I usually will pop a loaf in the oven after dinner and just wait for my kids to come running as soon as they smell it….It makes a great dessert as well, and guess what…..its only organic flours, organic sugar, sea salt, yeast and water……simple, natural and unadulterated goodness….
7. Eat a vegetarian meal once a week. Now that you are buying grass fed organic beef, wild fish and organic cage free chicken, your grocery bills will be higher. That’s OK, you get what you pay for and it is worth it……But a good way to combat that higher bill is to eat a veggie meal once or even twice a week…..I like to make homemade pastas and sauces with loads of veggies or I have some great frittata recipes. Make sure you have a protein, such as cheese, eggs or even grains such as quinoa.
8. Plant a garden. Grow and harvest your own fruits, veggies and herbs. Save money and get your kids involved. They love this…
9. Ban fast food. Please don’t let your kids eat this stuff…..its poison…..enough said
10. Cook a meal once a week with your children. Introduce them to the joys of cooking and you’ll be surprised at what they will eat……If they don’t like salad, have them make a salad with you and guess what…they will eat it and like it…..The other day my daughter and I were peeling potatoes, just talking about the days events and spending time together. I started thinking, most families don’t do this anymore…..It used to be mothers and daughters would prepare meals together and then do the dishes together, getting this time to communicate. Now with the invention of the dishwasher and microwave, this no longer happens in most households….its so sad, because the kitchen can be a wonderful place to bond…and of course learn basic life skills on how to cook and what to eat….
Our Academy is no longer open so we are now only offering classes and parties in your home or venue….
CAPTAIN COOKS ONLINE STORE…… we offer adorable cooking kits, kid chef apparel, kitchen gadgets and much more….. GREAT DEALS ………CLICK HERE …..
For more info email info@captaincooksculinaryacademy.com
Saturated and Trans Fat
The culprits - Before we begin I will say that fat in general gets a bad name, it is the major source of energy in the body aiding in the absorption of vitamins and minerals and in moderation is an essential part of a healthy diet. However we need to distinguish between good fat and harmful fat. Lets begin with giving some quick definitions of the four types of fats Read More…
Artificial Sweeteners
The culprits - Aspartame, Acesulfame K, Saccharin, Sucralose and Neotame. These are the FDA ‘approved’ sweeteners currently available under a plethora of trade names at your local supermarket. I say ‘approved’ because these additives fall within a category known as GRAS or Generally Recognized As Safe. This means that they have been considered safe to use by food industry experts and are therefore exempt from FDA tolerance requirements. Read More…
Antibiotics
The culprits - Penicillin, Tetracycline, Erythromycin… Sound familiar? They should. The livestock industry uses the same antibiotics that we administer to ourselves and our children to combat a host of different infections. Over 70% of all antibiotics produced in the US ( around 25 million tons) are given to farm animals. Read More…
Growth Hormones
The culprits - Oestradiol, Progestorone, Testosterone, Zeranol, Trenbolone and Melengestrol. Although they may sound like the contents of A-Rods lunch box there is a good chance that everyone reading this will have consumed some or all of these steroids today if they have eaten any beef. Read More…
Click here for Kennedy’s New England Fish Bake
recipe_new_england_fish_bake1
Click here for Clinton’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
recipe_choc_chip_clinton
Food Coloring or E numbers
The culprits- Food colorings or E numbers as they are known in Europe are used simply to make the food we eat more attractive. They are used to even out natural color variations, enhance natural coloration and in many cases change the food color completely. Wonder what makes Cheeto’s that appetizing orange color? Thats Sunset Yellow. Red Vines? Thats Allura Red. Read More…
