« parenting 101 | Main | take my money, please »
dilemma of the day
By heather | April 22, 2008
A few months ago, I read The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. This book is the kind of book that will cause you to get into passionate disagreements with people over where food comes from, how it gets to your table, why it is or isn’t worth paying a more for grass fed or organic meats, and why you now refuse to eat at McDonalds. In other words, it’s awesome and you become a huge pain in the ass whenever the topic of food comes up.
The reason you find yourself in these debates is because the book defies summary. When someone asks what it’s about, there is no answer that will quickly end the conversation. So I find myself stealthily reading blogs and news stories that support my now clarified points of view, while subtly wearing down Brett’s defenses that Hooters chicken wings are A-OK.
I’ve never been very good at defining my food relationship – the ups and downs of it belong on Dr. Phil. At one point I was vegetarian. For a while I did the Atkins diet.
When people asked why I was veg, I never knew quite how to answer. Was it the animal rights thing? Was it a weight loss thing? Did I just think meat was gross? Or I didn’t really know how to cook it so I didn’t bother? Depending on who I was talking to, I usually gave some kind of vague answer that was a combination of all of the above.
At times, The Omnivore’s Dilemma made me laugh out loud. Other times I didn’t think I’d be able to turn another page, so graphic was the detail as it described where food comes from and what we trade for modern convenience. I forced myself, because as I learned more about the politics it became a personal challenge to know and deal with it.
I was already cooking organic for Alex because of some vague fear of chemical residue being BAD BAD BAD. Now that the fear has been defined into “Heather’s New Paranoia” that I can actually articulate, my personal challenge is to avoid becoming that person who is a “difficult” eater – the one that you never want to invite to dinner parties because you never know what they are willing to eat. (Also, the one you don’t want to be married to because she won’t let you eat hot dogs or chicken McNuggets in peace anymore as she looks on disdainfully commenting, “OMG do you KNOW what’s IN THEM??? You’re killing yourself with every bite!!”
This is on my mind today because I’m going to pick up my first load of sustainably produced meats from the ACTUAL FARM that is profiled in the book. They were also profiled in USA Today last week. Polyface Farms has metro buying clubs, and there happen to be 3 in my area.
All I have to do is drive 40 miles in the smack middle of the workday to go get it and order weeks in advance and find freezer space for 25 pounds of meat!
And therein lies this omnivore’s dilemma…I want my meat to be healthier and sustainably farmed and taste better, AKA DO GOOD THINGS – but God what an inconvenience. Not to mention I ordered an eye round roast and I don’t even know what the hell that is or what to do with it.
Now for the interactive part of the post (class participation!):
- If you live near me and are interested in joining the buying club let me know because then we can rotate the pick-ups.
- If you know WTF to do with an eye round roast, please email me or comment. I’m very serious. Also spare ribs. At $5 a pound I’d prefer not to have to throw away an inedible dinner.
Topics: deep thoughts...or not | 3 Comments »
Tags:
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I’m guessing that an eye round roast is the whole portion of what I usually buy for quick cooking which is top round or bottom round. It’s a very versatile cut, you can slice it thin and cook it quickly for a stir fry or fajitas or you can cube it and cook it in stews or soups. Or you can roast it.
Whenever I buy large portions of meat, I cut them into 1 – 2lb blocks and freeze them separately.
skiplovey’s last blog post..The way things sound around here
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:16 am
Second skiplovey. In addition, for working gals like you and I an eye round is a pretty (relatively speaking) lean cut that is great in the crockpot…i am serious, Josh tears it up. I just put it in the crockpot in the morning with veggies – whatever you want – put about a cup of chicken stock in the pot..kosher salt and pepper. Cook it on low, will be ready in about 8-10 hours…perfect! Plus you don’t have to get to cooking right when you get home. AND all your veggies are in there as well cooked with the chicken broth. Yum! It is so American, but oh so easy.
Anne’s last blog post..E-i-E-i-O
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:18 am
Oh and where do you pick up the meat? I want to see their prices and ask my Gram if she will sell us some meat (josh and I). it IS all organic and grass fed, no additives. I grew up on the stuff. You want me to ask?
Anne’s last blog post..E-i-E-i-O