Gourmet Articles

Organic food is a common sight in supermarkets these days and it is a bit more expensive than the non-organic ranges. Nevertheless, what is organic health food exactly? Is organic boneless chicken better for you than conventional boneless chicken? Does it taste better?

Organic Health Food Explained

Organic produce is grown and processed differently. It will not have been exposed to conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, food additives, industrial waste, human waste, or ionizing radiation.

Organic livestock, such as chickens, are reared without the use of growth hormones or antibiotics and they are fed a healthy diet. They are not genetically modified. An organic chicken will have been fed organic grains grown on a farm which has free of chemicals and pesticides for a minimum of three years.

Organic chickens are raised humanely in an environment, which is free of stress. They are allowed to roam outdoors and have daily access to sunshine and fresh air. The bird has plenty of room to move and their outdoors area is safe and clean. Free-range chickens are also allowed to roam outside but the conditions might not be clean and they can be given drugs or antibiotics. They might have been fed genetically modified food too.

Do Many People Eat Organic Health Food?

You used to only be able to get organic produce in small stores and farmer's markets because organic farms were small and family run. Organic food production has increased about 20% a year since the early 1990s and this applies to both developed and developing nations.

Retail sales of organic health food in the United States in 2002 totaled $9 billion. In addition, the Department of Agriculture released the National Organic Standards at that time, stating the guidelines for health foods labeled "organic." As of April 2008, organic food accounts for between 1 and 2% of worldwide food sales. Organic food is especially popular in Britain. A lot is actually imported because British farmers are unable to keep up with the high demand.

Does Organic Food Taste Different?

If you taste meat from an organic chicken and then meat from a battery chicken, the difference in flavor is obvious. There is some difference between organic chicken and free-range chicken but not so much.

Organic chickens are allowed room to roam about, so they have used muscles rather than wasted ones. They eat a better diet, have a better life, and are allowed to grow at a natural rate so it is clear that they will have a better flavor and texture. Organic farming is more labor intensive and the livestock feed is more expensive, so you should expect to pay more if you want to eat organic produce.

What about making a juicy chicken recipe with rich, tasty organic boneless chicken, succulent organic vegetables and an organic tomato based sauce? Everybody should taste organic vegetables because they are so fragrant and rich in flavor. If you are concerned about the health of your family, why not try making a delicious recipe such as this one, full of natural goodness as well as flavor? Making your own recipes from scratch is more economical than using pre-packaged food, so if you save money on the ingredients, spending a few more cents on organic produce will not matter so much.

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