Ideal Bite

Ever sobbed over a spilled glass of milk?

04.11.2007

Submitted by tmeronek on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 1:01am.

The Bite:

If not, you're not drinking what we're drinking. Dependably delicious, eco-conscious milk is hard to come by, so: 1. read this tip, 2. grab some organic milk and 3. make sure you've got a shoulder to cry on in case you spill.

The Benefits:

Pasture-fed is healthier. Cows who get pasture time (nope, not the same thing as "pasteurized") produce milk higher in conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) - linked to decreased risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Get local. Invest in your community by supporting local dairy farmers when you can.
Organic milk has more vitamins A and E than non-organic, plus antioxidants for an all-natural beauty boost.
Buying organic means zero worries about added antibiotics and hormones.

Personally Speaking:

As much as Jen would just love to put a cow in her backyard and milk ol' Bessy for a fresh pour on her a.m. cereal, she opts for Stonyfield for now.

Wanna Try:

Stonyfield - homogenized, organic and widely available ($4-$6).
Straus Family Creamery - delicious cream-top due to non-homogenization, so there's less processing involved ($4-$6).
Whole Foods 365 - your Whole Foods store's private-label milk is produced regionally ($3-$5).
Organic Valley - organic milk produced by a network of small dairy farmers, available at Whole Foods, Wild Oats and other stores ($2-$4).
Local Harvest - check for fresh milk at your local farmers market.

Cocktail Fact

The Idaho State Legislature passed a 2005 resolution commending the makers of Idaho-set Napoleon Dynamite, including their portrayal of 4-H milk cows.