Sunshine Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I was wondering if people here ate all free range food-meat as well as cakes, mayonaise etc. Since all the programmes have been on i have realised how many things egg are in, much of it not free range so i have become much more aware of what i am eating. Also i now only eat free range meat. My family all think im wierd not eating meat that isnt free range but they do respect my decision. Im trying to persuade them to take me to a farmers market this weekend/next so we can get lots of lovely meat to put in the freezer. I love making cakes so we don't tend to buy them but if we do i just make something for me to have instead. So i just wondered what other peoples thoughts were on this? Emma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Since having chickens we have been a lot more aware. I have always bought free range eggs, but a couple of years ago I was buying standard chicken without thinking . Since getting the chooks in 2006 we have gone completely free range with our meat. I dont eat meat but hubby is a real carnivore, so im very careful what I buy. Not only chicken but pork also - pigs kept indoors for cheap meat are treated dreadfully so we buy outdoor reared pork also. Good on you for going free range, not everyone can do it but the more people that can the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 (edited) We buy all free range meat and used to use an organic box scheme until I gave up work. Now we only eat meat once or twice a week so that we can afford to buy free-range, If you are interested in improving the welfare of pigs that the supermarkets buy, check out the pigs are worth it campaign. It's like chickens out for porkers but doesn't guarantee free-range pork http://www.pigsareworthit.com/standbyyourham.html British pig farmers can't compete at the prices the supermarkets pay. Other countries don't have the same high welfare standards so we should support the british farmer to ensure animal welfare is maintained sorry to high-jack the thread Edited April 16, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Yes.........I try to buy free range meat where ever possible All our chicken is free range and I also make my own nuggets, kievs and goujons etc to make sure these chicken meals are free range as a lot of these prepared chicken dishes are not available with free range meat. We eat a lot of chicken, so it can get a bit pricey but I do get 3 nights meals out of a whole chook :D I also buy free range pork - I have to say something I have only done for about the last 3-4 years as I had foolishly thought pigs had to be free range Just shows how well the food industry manages to disguise how it farms. I usually buy organic mince beef..........we don't eat much beef. I have gone through a steep learning curve over the past 4 -5 years and now carefully check were my food comes from...........it's been a real eye opener Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Yes, only free-range meat and organic if I can. Organic vegetables too. Most of our fruit is either fair-trade or organic but I can't afford organic apples unfortunately. DD2 eats 2-3 a day. I'm also careful with fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 We try to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 I try to, too I have found a good butcher who sells only British meat, (in Redditch, so half an hour on the train) which is a start as the welfare is better, and you wouldn't believe how much organic meat you can pick up for half price in the cheap cabinet at the supermarket round here. Although an organic chicken is still over £6 (at half price), there is loads more meat on it, and I have organic mince and sausages currently in the freezer. I also buy organic mayonnaise and quiche with free range eggs in (too bad at pastry to attempt my own ) and make my own cakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Buffie has raised awareness of the Hidden Eggs issues - she does the research for BHWT. I find it difficult sometimes as I only eat meat that we have raised ourselves so when i'm out, I'm still veggie. I'm so used to eating pasta as a meal out .......... and it's hard to sort out options once you start thinking that most pasta contains battery egg I just have to think a bit harder now..... ...and definitley check out the link re British Pork.......Pig Farmers are having a really hard time of it at the moment. Feed prices are double what we were paying less than two years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 We buy british out door reared meat all the time, it is something that we have become more aware of since we had the chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Yup, I can vouch for the fact the pig food has gone up. Not giving up on doing it though. There is still no comparisom taste wise. We only eat meat where we know where it has come from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 We made some drastic rethinks to our shopping and diet a few years ago, and now only buy locally reared, free range meat, and the same applies to most of our other produce too. All our eggs/hidden eggs are free range too and if I'm not sure, then I am veggie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Same here. Do my best to only buy freerange meat products, I'm lucky enough to have 2 freerange butchers where I live, I have also started to go to the local farmer's market. Through this forum I have learned about hidden eggs, and now I read labels on food and won't buy anything that I'm not sure of, Simply Delicious mayo, is wonderful Eating out can be a bit tricky, especially at friend's houses, I never offend a hostess, but I am getting braver at telling people that I can't eat cruel meat Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 I announced to friends at New Year that I would only eat 'happy meat' (free range) from now on - if they don't want to buy this, then I am quite happy to eat a vegetarian option. There are some veggies in my group of friends anyway. I always make a point of asking in restaurants 'is the meat free-range', the answer is almost always 'no' and then I order the veggie option, but I've made my point! I try and buy organic as well if I can, but I only eat meat about twice a week. I seldom pay full price - Waitrose just before closing time always has some bargains! It's definitely keeping the chickens that has made me realise how important the free-range issue is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 We're clearly all at it! I only eat traceable meat now, when I'm out I'm quite happy with fish or veggie if there's nothing else. I wont eat takeaway meat at all (but my local indian does fab paneer dishes so no hardship). At the very least I will always buy British. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Buffie made me laugh once.. describing some meat as 'so happy, it's hysterical' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 We have changed our eating/buying habits too since getting our hens. We buy free range chicken and any other meat from the farmers market or our local butcher. In supermarkets (never Tesco ) we try to buy produce that is in season and British rather than imported. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 I'm so used to eating pasta as a meal out .......... and it's hard to sort out options once you start thinking that most pasta contains battery egg I just have to think a bit harder now..... Pasta!!!!! Do you mean fresh pasta Lesley, I only buy the dried stuff and thought (really hope!!) it was just Durum wheat *rushes off to check dried pasta contents* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Claire, lots of makes of pasta now usually state on the packaging if they use free range eggs in the ingredients. M&S and Waitrose always use free range eggs in theirs, as do Seeds of Change organic pasta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 We buy free range chicken and outdoor reared pork, and we are waiting for Helman's to come through on their promise that their mayonaise would contain free range egg by February (as stated on Jamie's Foul dinners) I am presuming that it is taking time for the older stock to sell through but if everyone else is not buying it at the moment for the same reason that may take a while we cook from sctratch most of the time so there aren't too many hidden egg sources to look out for, but it is easy to get caught out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Claire, lots of makes of pasta now usually state on the packaging if they use free range eggs in the ingredients. M&S and Waitrose always use free range eggs in theirs, as do Seeds of Change organic pasta. Or make your own pasta. You don't have to have a fancy machine just a good old fashioned rolling pin - although this takes a while the effort is worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 I announced to friends at New Year that I would only eat 'happy meat' (free range) from now on - if they don't want to buy this, then I am quite happy to eat a vegetarian option. . It comes to something when you have to say that you'll take the veggie. option if providing happy meat is not an option diesn't it? Asking for a veggie option used to be the difficult bit...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Claire, lots of makes of pasta now usually state on the packaging if they use free range eggs in the ingredients. M&S and Waitrose always use free range eggs in theirs, as do Seeds of Change organic pasta. But I only buy dry pasta, it lists the only ingredient as durum wheat semolina. Is there hidden egg somewhere in it then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 I buy my pasta dried from Sainsburys. the pasta I buy never contains egg as I give it to my girls sometimes as a treat. I would maybe check the labels next time you go to the supermarket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Well as there is only one ingredient (the flour) I will have to assume there is no egg as it isn't listed on there (I keep the packets stuck round the jars I store my pasta in) It must be just fresh pasta and the egg pasta that has egg in then, not the dried. Phew! Thought I had missed some hidden egg there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 If it doesn't say egg, then it shouldn't have egg in it Claire. Yuo should be safe with the pasta you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
