How to Shop Better: 5 Tips for Buying Meat and Dairy
Looking for ways to buy better quality meat and dairy products? With so much available in stores and online, it can be hard to know when you’re getting quality products or a good deal. Check out our 5 essential tips to keep in mind when shopping for meat and dairy.
1. Buy Less
We all know that high-quality comes at a higher price, and the same is true for meat and dairy products. When it comes to meat, higher-priced items tend to have lower fat content and more flavor. They also tend to offer a more ethical product than the cheaper alternatives.
Better yet, it’s also thought that eating less dairy and meat can be better for your health, as well as the environment. Invest the extra cash you get from buying less in buying better quality meat, and you’ll reap the benefits. It’s better for your health and tastes better too! The less but better principle is more sustainable, greener, and fairer.
2. Check the Label
Luckily, packaging provides you with a wealth of information about the quality and origin of your meat. Always look for signs of quality, which includes terms such as free-range chicken, free-range poultry and eggs, free-range pork. With poultry and poultry products, look for cage-free.
‘USDA Organic’ is a specific label meaning that the care of animals has reached a baseline standard for outdoor access. Meanwhile, ‘Certified Humane’ products have met a range of requirements including slaughter methods, bedding materials, and pain relief.
Ideally, you want meat that is outdoor reared and bred, as well as grass-fed. Grass-fed is much healthier. It means that the animals never consume any grain. You can also avoid meats from cattle that have been dosed with artificial hormones by looking for Hormone-free, No Hormones Added, or rBST-free stickers.
3. Shop Local
Your local butcher is a great source of meat and dairy products as well as information!
Butchers can help you choose different cuts and advise you on how to cook them. They can also provide you with information on the source of the meat.
Unlike the alternatives you buy in the supermarkets, you can purchase exact quantities in the butcher. This helps you to reduce waste and cut down on the amount of meat you end up putting in the dishes that you cook.
Local shopping also helps support the local economy overall. Shopping local means smaller farms that provide products to butchers are able to stay in business. This means that people can continue to have access to better quality, more ethical meat.
4. Utilize Online Farms
Many farms are now offering online services, meaning that you can choose your meat and dairy products online and have them delivered straight to your door.
Not only does this provide convenience, but you can find out a lot more about the products through their websites than you can if you shop in stores. This way, you can take advantage of the variety of meat boxes and specialty cuts, while supporting local farmers.
5. Know a Good Deal When You See One
If you find quality meat on offer at your local butcher or online, why not stock up? Meat freezes incredibly well, so you can avoid having to pay full price without compromising on quality.
If you find a particular cut or product that you like, keep an eye on prices, so you know when it’s lower than normal. When it’s on offer, there’s no harm in grabbing extra for the freezer! This saves you from buying a lower quality alternative when the meat is back at full price.
