If you want to be a glowing bride, and build long-lasting and sustainable healthy habits, it’s time to gain an understanding of food quality. Grass-fed, organic, non GMO, free range, pasture raised… what does it all mean? And does it even matter? This is a pretty huge topic, so I’m going to try to simplify it and break it down as best I can.

The short answer is: Yes, it matters. A lot. High quality food tastes better, has so much more nutritional value, is better for the planet… the list goes on.

Nutritionally speaking, in talking about food quality, what I like to focus on is nutrient dense foods vs. nutrient “dead” foods. Nutrient dense foods, which are full of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that we need in order to thrive, truly nourish us. Our bodies have an amazing innate intelligence and know what to do with real food from nature. On the other hand, when a food has been processed, denatured, and modified, not only does it contain far fewer nutrients (and actually contain harmful compounds), but our bodies also don’t quite know what to do with it. Cue: nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, inflammation, weight gain, and more.

So let’s break it down:

Grass Fed/Pastured Beef:

Significantly higher in omega3 fatty acids than grain fed/conventional beef. (In general, most of us have an imbalanced ratio of omega6:omega3 fatty acids. Our diets are significantly higher in omega6 and much lower in omega3 than they used to be, which can be a huge contributing factor in chronic illness.)
Contains high levels of CLA - an important anti-inflammatory fatty acid that we need to obtain through our diets.
Free of antibiotics + hormones (Most of the time. This is a guarantee if the meat is also organic, so if it’s not organic, always double check!)
Higher in vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin E (and others, but these are some pretty important ones.)
COMPARATIVELY: Grain fed/conventional beef is made from cows kept in horrific conditions, & is fed cheap GMO grains, soy, corn, and mystery “by-product feedstuff” to keep costs extremely low and fatten the animals up quickly… ew, right?

Free Range/Pastured Eggs:

Have more vitamin E, beta carotene, vitamin B12, & folic acid than conventional eggs.
Can contain up to 19x more omega3 fatty acids (remember how our omega6:omega3 ratio is often totally imbalanced and contributing to illness? High quality eggs for the win!)
- Tip: Look for a vibrant, orange yolk: the telltale sign of a good egg!

Free Range/Pastured Chicken:

Chickens roam freely outdoors
Chickens aren’t fed hormones and antibiotics (which, by the way, can affect the hormones in your own body.)
Higher in protein than conventional chicken
Is more flavorful and nutritious than conventional chicken. (Seriously, conventional chicken doesn’t even taste like anything once you’ve had the high quality stuff.)
COMPARATIVELY: Conventional chickens are kept in tiny, confined, + extremely unhealthy conditions, never go outside, are pumped with antibiotics, are unnaturally and artificially large, and can carry harmful bacteria… again, ew.

Organic:

Grown without the use of pesticides, toxic herbicides, and artificial fertilizers. Pesticides damage our soil (that’s a larger issue for another post) and are full of chemicals - when we eat food that’s been grown using pesticides, we’re also ingesting those chemicals.
Is always non-GMO.
Antibiotic and hormone free (when it comes to meat/dairy.)
Can have a higher nutritional value than its conventional counterpart.
- A quick note on organic: many smaller farms and farmers are doing really amazing work, and are operating according to organic standards, but they cannot afford the official organic certification. I encourage you to do your research - and if you are able to purchase some of your food from your local farmers market, talk to the farmer! Ask questions about their practices. They normally have nothing to hide, and that means you can trust what you’re buying.

NON-GMO

Seeds have not been genetically modified.
However, non-GMO foods can still be grown with pesticides, artificial fertilizers, & toxic herbicides like Glyphosate and Round Up, which are incredibly toxic to our bodies and are also damaging to the environment.

This is just a brief overview, but I hope I’ve made it clear that high quality food really is worth it. I completely understand that for some, the price of organic/grass fed/pasture raised can be off-putting, and that it might not be possible to always purchase these types of foods. Personally, I believe that high quality food is worth budgeting for and prioritizing. I don’t compromise on high quality meat (partly for ethical reasons, too), and I do my best with organic produce. (You can also do a quick google search of the “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen” - two up to date lists that provide information on the fruits and vegetables that you should prioritize buying organic, and the ones that you don’t have to worry too much about.)

Of course, I encourage you to prioritize purchasing high quality food as best you can, for the sake of your health and the environment, but at the end of the day that’s a personal choice you’ll have to make. My final note is this: just remember that there’s power in your dollar. When you do spend your money, who and what are you supporting? Some food for thought for you to take into the rest of your day!

Ready to become the glowing bride you DESERVE to be? Then I’m ready to guide you there. Take a look at the different ways we can work together here!

Curious to learn more & see if bridal nutrition is right for you? Schedule a FREE clarity call and let’s chat about it!