My clients ask me all the time, what do all of the labels mean on chicken packages?


We all want to keep our families healthy and strong, but serving lean protein and choosing the healthiest options for dinner can be so confusing! At the grocery store we all ask ourselves, “do I buy all-natural, organic, free-range, air-chilled?” I’m here to help you decode chicken labels.

Pastured- This means the chicken was raised on a pasture instead of indoor confinement. They feed on grass and bugs, as well as soy and corn.

Heritage- A heritage chicken must be bred whose genetic line can be traced back multiple generations. These chickens have a moderate to slow rate of growth reaching appropriate market weight in no less than 16 weeks.

Pastured Heritage Chickens- These are the best. They’re raised the old fashion way, on grandma’s farm. Where to find these chickens: Goffle Chicken Farm in Wyckoff, NJ.

Air-Chilled- These chickens are chilled while hanging in the air as opposed to a cold water bath, which dilutes flavor and adds water weight that can add to the cost.

Organic- This label is regulated by USDA and indicates that the chickens were fed that is certified USDA organic. Also, these birds have been given no drugs, antibiotics or hormones.


What to Avoid:

Natural- No artificial ingredients have been added to the poultry meat, which is standard for all plain chicken. This label indicates nothing about where it came from, what it ate or how it was raised.

Enhanced or 15% Natural Broth- Some chicken producers add broth to its meat to plump it up and increase its weight. These chickens also have a higher salt content.

Hormones-Free- Not the same as “Raised Without Hormones” where chickens are given no hormones during their life. The USDA prohibits giving chickens hormones.

Cage-Free- Cage-Free doesn't mean that the chickens have adequate space to move or have access to the outdoors.

When it comes to buying a chicken we should all buy Pastured Heritage Chickens! Comparable to actual organic, like 5 years ago organic, when it was so hard to find and cost so much more. Now you can find organic produce at your local market. Like all supply and demand, the price of Pastured Heritage Chickens is a little bit steeper today, but not by much. The benefits of feeding your family healthier poultry and leaner protein will outweigh the few extra dollars this chicken costs.


Happiness,
Michelle G xxo

ABOUT ME
I received my training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I learned about more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods. Drawing on this knowledge, I will help you create a completely personalized “road map to health” that suits your unique body, lifestyle, preferences and goals.
 

I created this on Thursday, March 9th, 2017...It was a gorgeous spring day. The sun was bright, the air was crisp, you could smell the forsythia's blooming. I had on my light blue suede mules on "yeah I was ready for SPRING"! I wanted something for dinner light, quick and of course pretty. I love herbs all kinds dill, cilantro, thyme, basil, holy basil, rosemary, etc. When you add herbs to a recipe, it freshens it up, brightens it up adds a little color and I love colorful food. Plus all the extra health benefits. Read More

Your mother told you so…


The report is due in two hours. Or perhaps you’re in the middle of a mid-term exam. Or you’re making sales calls. Suddenly, bam! Around 10:30 a.m. you hit a wall. All you want to do is look out the window.


Hmmm…what did you eat for breakfast?


I hate to say, “I told you so,” so I’ll turn to Mom, who has said it countless times: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s the meal that’s designed to supply a third of the macro and micro nutrients your body needs to run without a hitch.


So what are you eating each morning to do all these things? A cup of coffee gulped down on the go? A cup of sugary yogurt and a muffin eaten at your desk? Nothing at all?


Your body deserves so much better than that.  And so do you!


When you eat a good breakfast, your day goes smoothly. No growling stomachs, low blood sugar shakiness, or wandering attention to keep you from nailing those big goals you’ve made for yourself.


What Breakfast is Right for You?


One of the best—and most fun—ways to find out which foods serve YOU most powerfully is something called the Breakfast Experiment. For one week, eat a different breakfast each day. Record in a journal what you ate, how you felt immediately after the meal, and how you felt again two hours later.


Day one: Scrambled eggs or tofu
Day two: Bean soup or a bean salad
Day three: Oatmeal
Day four: Boxed breakfast cereal
Day five: Muffin and coffee
Day six: Fresh fruit
Day seven: Fresh vegetables

Feel free to repeat the experiment for another seven days with different foods each morning. Which breakfasts made you feel energized? Which ones didn’t? After the experiment, try adding in more of the foods that made you feel great!


Happiness

Michelle G


GET EVEN HEALTHIER!

Would you like to learn how to choose the best breakfasts for you? (And the best lunches, dinners, and snacks?) Are you curious about how health coaching can help you make your own healthy changes? Let’s talk! Schedule an initial complimentary consultation with me today—or pass this offer on to someone you care about!