Here is why grass-fed dairy is the only way to go!
Wellness, Wellness, Wellness…
It’s the word that everyone is throwing around these days, but my wellness philosophy has always been rooted in eating only the best quality foods. Now, did I always make the right choices? Hell No LOL
It wasn’t until I was in my late twenties, that I decided I needed to start making better eating choices, but when I became pregnant with my daughter in 2020, my mindset around food and nutrition completely shifted. I decided to move away from processed sugars, canola and corn oils, and conventional dairy when I could. I'd say I did 75-80% clean and organic ingredients in my kitchen.
Fast forward to this past Tuesday (9/24/2024), I had the HONOR of joining Maple Hill at one of their farms with over 200 of their cows that are exclusively grass-fed. I have been an avid user of the brand for some time now, so this was such a treat to learn more about a company whose ethos and values aligned with mine. Maple Hill’s mission is to bring healthy, organic, 100% grass-fed dairy products to families all over the United States. The brand is committed to using regenerative agricultural practices that are better for customers, the environment, cows, and small family farms.
If you don't know, "grass-fed" milk refers to milk produced by cows that are primarily fed a diet of grass and forage rather than grains. This is better than conventional milk on the market where the cows are consuming things like grain, silage, hay, supplemental feed, and other byproducts as well, which in turn affects the quality of the milk that is produced. We don’t want that!
At Maple Hill, they mean it when they say that their cows are 100% grass-fed; not 60%, not 75%, but 100%. Not many companies can say that. We met the founder, Tim Joseph, who shared his founding story, and educated us on the fact that so many brands are out there claiming their cows are exclusively “grass-fed” and they’re not. It was fascinating to learn how much more regulation needs to be done when it comes to brands using the term “grass-fed” on their products. Overall, "grass-fed" milk represents a more natural and sustainable approach to dairy farming, with potential benefits for both animal welfare and consumer health.
During my time on the farm, we met with the farm owners, Paul and Phyllis of Dharma Lea Farm, who educated the group on regenerative farming, sustainability, and why feeding cows grass exclusively is the way nature intended it. The 60-acre property houses over 165+ beautiful cows that we were able to get up close and personal with and feel a sense of calm from them openly grazing the fields.
There’s a lot of arguments out there around “cleaner” food options being more expensive, and I get it. Inflation in America is at an all-time high, and grocery prices are through the roof. But here is what I’d say to that… I’d challenge you to shift your perspective and think about giving up some of the foods and snacks that you would typically put in your shopping cart that may not be serving you, and putting those extra dollars into foods that are actually going to make you feel better, inside and out! I commend brands like Maple Hill who are out here doing the hard work, when the masses may not necessarily subscribe to what they are doing, but they continue to push forward for the larger mission.
Everything that Maple Hill is doing is better for the farmer, better for the cows, and better for us.
Enjoy some of the snaps from my day with everyone on the farm and check out my YouTube video of my experience on the farm as well.
I hope this quick read inspires you to start thinking more about the foods you're ingesting, reading more labels, and taking steps closer to a cleaner eating lifestyle.
XOXO
Tiff
