Welcome to the Tree of Life Table!
You are what you eat, what you physically, emotionally and spiritually eat! All that goes into you, what you hear, what you see, what you smell, taste and touch, the movies, the novels, the newspapers, the television, the music, AND the food, is YOU.
Watch a horror movie, watch a horrible report on the news, and you ingest that information. If it is hard to process you might dream about the news event, you might find yourself doing a good deal of thinking about it. You might feel the need to talk about it. This is your way of processing the difficult information. Watch a happy movie, hear a heartwarming story on the news, and you ingest and process that information in the same way. You eat experiences, some are better tasting than others!
Watch a horror movie, watch a horrible report on the news, and you ingest that information. If it is hard to process you might dream about the news event, you might find yourself doing a good deal of thinking about it. You might feel the need to talk about it. This is your way of processing the difficult information. Watch a happy movie, hear a heartwarming story on the news, and you ingest and process that information in the same way. You eat experiences, some are better tasting than others!
We have colloquial expressions in English, such as, “that left a bad taste in mouth”, or “I find that hard to swallow,” and and we use terms like “sweet” or “bitter” to describe people and situations.
Well, it is as easy as pie, a piece of cake really, to, in a nutshell, sound like the big cheese and come up with oodles of noodles of examples, lets get to the meat of the matter, and ask ...who is the good egg?
There are many inhumane practices of raising animals for food. One such example is the treatment of hens. Eggs are an extremely popular food, even if you are not an avid egg eater, you are likely getting eggs in your favorite baked goods, in your gelato, in your fried rice!
Well, it is as easy as pie, a piece of cake really, to, in a nutshell, sound like the big cheese and come up with oodles of noodles of examples, lets get to the meat of the matter, and ask ...who is the good egg?
There are many inhumane practices of raising animals for food. One such example is the treatment of hens. Eggs are an extremely popular food, even if you are not an avid egg eater, you are likely getting eggs in your favorite baked goods, in your gelato, in your fried rice!
Whether you believe in ethical treatment of animals or not, what you may wish to consider is what you are eating when you eat an animal product from a maltreated animal. If you eat the egg of a hen who is under constant stress, fearing for her life, you are eating that stress and fear. The egg is not separate from that hen, it is created by her body, all the chemicals and hormones which are created through her stress end up in that egg, and subsequently in you. That is not good energetic eating.
So even if you are not interested in altering unethical practices for the animals sake, you may see the value in altering the practices for your own sake.
Eat Energetically Enhanced Eggs!
Now the Eggsplanation begins with :
Where to get the best eggs!
So even if you are not interested in altering unethical practices for the animals sake, you may see the value in altering the practices for your own sake.
Eat Energetically Enhanced Eggs!
Now the Eggsplanation begins with :
Where to get the best eggs!
Your best way to get eggs is to stay out of chain grocery stores altogether. Find alternate sources for “pastured” eggs. Pastured eggs are eggs from happy hens. Their happiness is real because they are free to roam the “pasture.” The difference in the eggs is measurable:
Fresh eggs from Pastured Hens provide you with 1⁄3 less cholesterol, 1⁄4 less saturated fat, 2⁄3 more vitamin A, 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E and 7 times more beta carotene than the “free range” or “cage-free” hens, as defined by the USDA (source: homegrownevolution.com)
Talking energetically about the hens, a pastured hen is happy, laying her eggs with just the usual hen stress of her henny life. She is not crowed, she has not had her beak burned off, she is not in a cage to small for her to stand up, she is free to be a hen. The egg she lays reflects that. You eat what she eats energetically, you eat a happy stress free egg.
Fresh eggs from Pastured Hens provide you with 1⁄3 less cholesterol, 1⁄4 less saturated fat, 2⁄3 more vitamin A, 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E and 7 times more beta carotene than the “free range” or “cage-free” hens, as defined by the USDA (source: homegrownevolution.com)
Talking energetically about the hens, a pastured hen is happy, laying her eggs with just the usual hen stress of her henny life. She is not crowed, she has not had her beak burned off, she is not in a cage to small for her to stand up, she is free to be a hen. The egg she lays reflects that. You eat what she eats energetically, you eat a happy stress free egg.
Finding The Stress-Free Egg
Even in urban areas you can skip the supermarket and find either a larger farm or an individual who raises hens for eggs. You can ask them point blank what they feed their hens, you can visit them and see how the hens are treated. Your local farmers market is a great place to start your search for eggs. Most markets have at least one egg seller, and if yours does not, you can contact the market organizer and request the addition of fresh eggs to your market! You can simply ask one of the farmers or stand workers whom you should contact. They might know every answer you seek, as they are surely in touch with all the farmers in their area.
Hens can lay eggs all year. The local farmers market may close in the fall but those hens are still a-layin! They take a natural break to molt, and some breeds do not lay as much in winter but you can discover how to continue to purchase fresh eggs from that same source outside of your market season. The eggs are being sold somewhere, perhaps through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) serving your area, such as www.abundantharvestorganics.com. The more you ask for these types of services the more people you help and the more you combat the inhumane egg industry not just for the sake of the hens, but for the health of the egg eater.
If this is too much for your schedule, take advantage of these amazing places and you will find local sources from organic humane farms in the USA.
Even in urban areas you can skip the supermarket and find either a larger farm or an individual who raises hens for eggs. You can ask them point blank what they feed their hens, you can visit them and see how the hens are treated. Your local farmers market is a great place to start your search for eggs. Most markets have at least one egg seller, and if yours does not, you can contact the market organizer and request the addition of fresh eggs to your market! You can simply ask one of the farmers or stand workers whom you should contact. They might know every answer you seek, as they are surely in touch with all the farmers in their area.
Hens can lay eggs all year. The local farmers market may close in the fall but those hens are still a-layin! They take a natural break to molt, and some breeds do not lay as much in winter but you can discover how to continue to purchase fresh eggs from that same source outside of your market season. The eggs are being sold somewhere, perhaps through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) serving your area, such as www.abundantharvestorganics.com. The more you ask for these types of services the more people you help and the more you combat the inhumane egg industry not just for the sake of the hens, but for the health of the egg eater.
If this is too much for your schedule, take advantage of these amazing places and you will find local sources from organic humane farms in the USA.
Weston A. Price foundation
Local Harvest
Eat Wild
I live in the Los Angeles area and just 20 minutes from my house is a woman who has a small flock, about 30 birds. She has a waiting list for those eggs. I went one step further and bought two hens from her! The best term for my hens was coined by a friend who called them “limited-range”, as my back yard is not huge but just fine for my two Ameraucana beauties!
What are the definitions of “cage-free” and “free-range”?
The USDA: “7 CFR 8 205.238 (4) says that 'Provision of conditions which allow for exercise, freedom of movement, and reduction of stress appropriate to the species' caged environments for laying chickens allows for these requirements while reducing the associated stresses seen in free-roaming systems.”
(source here: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/01-006N/01-006N-1.pdf)
Local Harvest
Eat Wild
I live in the Los Angeles area and just 20 minutes from my house is a woman who has a small flock, about 30 birds. She has a waiting list for those eggs. I went one step further and bought two hens from her! The best term for my hens was coined by a friend who called them “limited-range”, as my back yard is not huge but just fine for my two Ameraucana beauties!
What are the definitions of “cage-free” and “free-range”?
The USDA: “7 CFR 8 205.238 (4) says that 'Provision of conditions which allow for exercise, freedom of movement, and reduction of stress appropriate to the species' caged environments for laying chickens allows for these requirements while reducing the associated stresses seen in free-roaming systems.”
(source here: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/01-006N/01-006N-1.pdf)
What this excerpt means is that “free-range” and “cage-free” does not mean the hens are free at all. They may still be confined in huge barns overflowing with more hens than the space can really hold. They may never go outside. The “free-range” idea is that they have “access” to an “egress” and not that they are scratching around outside. The words are commercially used, printed on egg cartons, leaving we consumers to imagine our own version of “free.” A "caged environment" is not free.
“Organic” eggs are a better bet as this does mean that the hen gets organic feed. Still, the only way to discover where your eggs have been, how the hens have been fed and treated, is to see for yourself.
Bottom line is that farmed and backyard hens are physically active birds who spend much of their day foraging for food--scratching and pecking vigorously with their claws and beaks in search of seeds, seedlings, fruits, berries, insects and worms. They also eat lots of green plants, rich in calcium and vitamins (United Poultry Concerns). Hours of sunshine, loose dirt for scratching and dust-bathing, fresh water and safety from predators are all equally important to the health of a hen and her eggs.
Farmed barn-kept hens with an “egress” will not choose to use that egress if there are too many other hens in the way, if there is not enough sunshine outside or if there is no available cover for shade or hiding outside. Farmers keep their production hens in barns to keep them from being harmed and hunted by natural and un-natural predators, like farm machinery or cars. You can see how the picture you have in your head, of hens roaming happily in the grass, is simply not what the USDA means when they say “free-range.”
“Organic” eggs are a better bet as this does mean that the hen gets organic feed. Still, the only way to discover where your eggs have been, how the hens have been fed and treated, is to see for yourself.
Bottom line is that farmed and backyard hens are physically active birds who spend much of their day foraging for food--scratching and pecking vigorously with their claws and beaks in search of seeds, seedlings, fruits, berries, insects and worms. They also eat lots of green plants, rich in calcium and vitamins (United Poultry Concerns). Hours of sunshine, loose dirt for scratching and dust-bathing, fresh water and safety from predators are all equally important to the health of a hen and her eggs.
Farmed barn-kept hens with an “egress” will not choose to use that egress if there are too many other hens in the way, if there is not enough sunshine outside or if there is no available cover for shade or hiding outside. Farmers keep their production hens in barns to keep them from being harmed and hunted by natural and un-natural predators, like farm machinery or cars. You can see how the picture you have in your head, of hens roaming happily in the grass, is simply not what the USDA means when they say “free-range.”
My local sources for Organic Cage-Free Eggs include Trader Joe's. Hazel, in the Monrovia CA TJ's Office, could not tell me the source of the eggs, due to company policy. I am aware through internet research that TJ's has recently altered their egg source to answer the request of customers for cruelty free eggs but the best the Hazel could do was provide me with TJ's definitions, which greatly echo the USDA's.
Organic = no hormones or antibiotics used in the raising of the eggs. And 100% vegetarian certified organic feed (keep in mind that hens are not vegetarians, they love bugs. What this guarantees for you is that the hen is not eating meat, such as the unused parts of slaughtered hens, which is never ever ever good for anyone).
Trader Joe's states that, free range, cage free, no hormones, all mean that hens have access to an open area to peck and scratch. But we do not know what that access truly is, do we?
Trader Hazel wanted very much for me to grasp the issue that the Trader Joe's buyers monitor closely the sources of all their products and have been on the site to “take great care” to be sure that “we can stand behind our products” and that the processing is “humane.” More words, no clear definitions.
Organic = no hormones or antibiotics used in the raising of the eggs. And 100% vegetarian certified organic feed (keep in mind that hens are not vegetarians, they love bugs. What this guarantees for you is that the hen is not eating meat, such as the unused parts of slaughtered hens, which is never ever ever good for anyone).
Trader Joe's states that, free range, cage free, no hormones, all mean that hens have access to an open area to peck and scratch. But we do not know what that access truly is, do we?
Trader Hazel wanted very much for me to grasp the issue that the Trader Joe's buyers monitor closely the sources of all their products and have been on the site to “take great care” to be sure that “we can stand behind our products” and that the processing is “humane.” More words, no clear definitions.
This is not the answer I wanted to hear. The drawing on the TJ's egg carton shows a hen gleefully throwing a cage aside. We just don't know the reality if we can't see pictures of the facility, and I could not visit it as Hazel could not tell me where it is!
The Whole Foods Website states that “Organic eggs come from chickens raised on organic feed in cage-free living conditions strictly regulated by National Organic Standards as set forth by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.” Which you can now understand does mean they get organic feed, but does not guarantee that they are seeing the sunshine.
Pastured Eggs are eggs from hens who are totally free to roam their own area, outside, in the sunshine. After their last forage at dusk, they go inside and roost safely. Perhaps this is the picture you have in your head when you read “free range” or “cage-free” but the current word you need to put into your hencabulary is PASTURED.
The Whole Foods Website states that “Organic eggs come from chickens raised on organic feed in cage-free living conditions strictly regulated by National Organic Standards as set forth by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.” Which you can now understand does mean they get organic feed, but does not guarantee that they are seeing the sunshine.
Pastured Eggs are eggs from hens who are totally free to roam their own area, outside, in the sunshine. After their last forage at dusk, they go inside and roost safely. Perhaps this is the picture you have in your head when you read “free range” or “cage-free” but the current word you need to put into your hencabulary is PASTURED.
Gigi, one of my hens!
My friend Amy, a Colorado mother of three healthy girls, had her eldest daughter ask “how can you tell if something is good to eat?” Amy said “if you can envision it growing in the sun!” This inspired her little girl to question daddy's preference for soda and string cheese.... But if we bring that wisdom to our egg buying habits, we can exercise our consumer power and find the pastured egg source in our area, support that farmer, support humane processes, and bring home the best eggs for our Miso and egg soup.
Happy and Energetically Healthy Eating!
The BEST SUMMER EGG SALAD!
After boiling, cooling your fresh two eggs, add these ingredents.
1) Fresh cilantro, finely chopped, small handful (12 stalks)!
2) Hot mustard, 1 tsp. Horseradish mustard even better!
3) Real Mayonnaise, just enough to dampen the mixture,
too much and you drown your eggs. If you need more, put it
on the bread rather than mixing more in.
4) Sea salt and black pepper, to taste or 1/8 -1/4 tsp each
5) Capers 1/2 to 1 tbsp OR dill pickles!!
6) Rye or Pumpernickel bread. This is mandatory! :)
Get a big glass of seltzer, squeeze a lime into it and sit down an savor this little meal! It may be your best energetic refreshing summer time sandwich ever!
Happy and Energetically Healthy Eating!
The BEST SUMMER EGG SALAD!
After boiling, cooling your fresh two eggs, add these ingredents.
1) Fresh cilantro, finely chopped, small handful (12 stalks)!
2) Hot mustard, 1 tsp. Horseradish mustard even better!
3) Real Mayonnaise, just enough to dampen the mixture,
too much and you drown your eggs. If you need more, put it
on the bread rather than mixing more in.
4) Sea salt and black pepper, to taste or 1/8 -1/4 tsp each
5) Capers 1/2 to 1 tbsp OR dill pickles!!
6) Rye or Pumpernickel bread. This is mandatory! :)
Get a big glass of seltzer, squeeze a lime into it and sit down an savor this little meal! It may be your best energetic refreshing summer time sandwich ever!
Yes, this is me.
Winter Warmer : Miso and Egg Soup!
Wherever your winter is, this recipe will feed you with warmth!
T ½ cups of organic miso broth/soup
One large leaf of your favorite winter green such as kale or mustard (organic if you can!)
One fresh egg. If you do not have a fresh egg source, the info above will help you find one!
Pour miso broth into a small sauce pan over medium heat.
Wash the large leaf, and rip into bite-sized pieces, drop into broth
Let the soup come to a boil, then turn down to low heat. You will see the greens get very bright in color
crack the egg, drop the whole egg into the broth and whisk it briefly to break the yolk, swirl the egg into the mixture.
Let the egg cook without stirring, you will see the egg white appear whiter as it cooks. It will cook quickly, within one minute of being in the mixture. You can turn off the heat, and let the mixture set for moment before eating.
If you prefer the egg more mixed, you can whisk it before dropping it in. It is lovely though to have the white and yolk cook separately and float in the broth.
Find a nice sunny spot in your home, or if it is good enough weather outside, sit outside and enjoy the winter treat! I live in a warm climate but winter is chilly, I like to sit on my front steps in the sunshine and enjoy this positively energetic soup.
Wherever your winter is, this recipe will feed you with warmth!
T ½ cups of organic miso broth/soup
One large leaf of your favorite winter green such as kale or mustard (organic if you can!)
One fresh egg. If you do not have a fresh egg source, the info above will help you find one!
Pour miso broth into a small sauce pan over medium heat.
Wash the large leaf, and rip into bite-sized pieces, drop into broth
Let the soup come to a boil, then turn down to low heat. You will see the greens get very bright in color
crack the egg, drop the whole egg into the broth and whisk it briefly to break the yolk, swirl the egg into the mixture.
Let the egg cook without stirring, you will see the egg white appear whiter as it cooks. It will cook quickly, within one minute of being in the mixture. You can turn off the heat, and let the mixture set for moment before eating.
If you prefer the egg more mixed, you can whisk it before dropping it in. It is lovely though to have the white and yolk cook separately and float in the broth.
Find a nice sunny spot in your home, or if it is good enough weather outside, sit outside and enjoy the winter treat! I live in a warm climate but winter is chilly, I like to sit on my front steps in the sunshine and enjoy this positively energetic soup.