Turkey Time.

What’s the difference between turkey considered natural, organic, and pastured? Natural means no brining or injecting of flavors, as well as being minimally processed. Organic turkeys are raised without steroids and growth hormones and are processed without preservatives. They also have access to the outdoors and eat organic feed. Pastured turkeys freely roam the fields and have access to grass.

Certified Humane strongly emphasizes buying a pasture-raised turkey “that was raised with compassion and under humane conditions.” The Compassion in World Farming’s website offers a Thanksgiving Resource Guide that lists trustworthy labels and brands to look for at your grocery store, or that you can order online!

Whipped Cream And Deviled Eggs.

No thanksgiving is complete without whipping cream on that pumpkin pie. Are you aware that Wisconsin lost nearly two dairies each day in 2018, most of them family farms? As factory farm “organic” dairies continue to grow their operations, ethical organic farmers continue to lose their foothold. Cornucopia’s Dairy Scorecard can help you choose the best milk, cream, and  butter for your Thanksgiving table while still supporting organic family farms. And don’t forget to also check Cornucopia’s scorecard on organic eggs, where you’ll also find information on whether or not the chickens have access to the outdoors for a cleaner, greener life! The top egg? TreeBird Organics in Trout Lake, Washington.

Green Bean Casserole.

In 1955, Dorcas Reilly is credited with inventing the infamous green bean casserole recipe. Back then we didn’t have to concern ourselves with the estimated 2,000 synthetic chemicals now used in conventional packaged foods. In fact, some of the canned goods in your pantry right now might be lined with the chemical Bisphenol A. The problem is that fatty foods (like cream of mushroom soup) will enhance the migration of BPA into the food, and then you eat it. BPA is considered a potential obesogen, meaning it’s one of many synthetic chemicals that can potentially add to your weight gain!

Eden Organics is one brand that switched to BPA-free cans twenty years ago. More and more food manufacturers are getting the message from buyers that we don’t want plastic lining our cans. So, when buying those green beans, cream of mushroom soup and fried onions, look for “BPA free” on the packaging or visit the Environmental Working Group for a list of brands using BPA-free cans.

Storing Leftovers.

How long can you store your leftovers? At FoodSafety.gov you can use their tools to determine the storage time of food and beverages, and it’s also available as an app for both Android and Apple devices. Lastly, whenever possible, forego plastic storage containers and instead store your leftovers in ceramic, glass, or stainless steel to inhibit the transfer of plastics chemicals into your food.