(no subject)
I have begun switching the kittens over to adult food, putting in little bits with their regular food at mealtimes. Neither of them seem to notice; there's no change in behavior or eating patterns, and litterboxes appear to be normal.
I suspect that I could just switch them full-stop and neither one would bat an eyelash, but I've still got lots of kitten food left, and I'd rather it not go to waste, since it's (a) expensive and (b) definitely not contaminated.
Last week I passed on buying tilapia at the grocery store because it was from China. I mean, sure, it's fish, but you never know. And granted I ate there for a full week and wasn't ill for a single second (well, maybe about two hours one afternoon, but that went away with a couple of Pepto-Bismal tablets).
But still. I have found, since returning to the States, that I am becoming something of a food snob, in that I won't buy the frozen meals anymore, or anything in a box that isn't labeled "organic". I read labels religiously; if it says "partially hydrogenated", I put it back on the shelf. (Which is why organic is a relief; I trust those not to have anything that even resembles hydrogenated, much less partially so.)
There are some awesome farmer's markets out there on Saturdays. Most have dairy sections; one sells raw milk cheese, which I understand is very good (and I mean to try next time I see it). One has the yummiest cider on the face of the planet. Plus, I know it's all reasonably fresh and not shipped in from who-knows where. I have read that the conventional onion from the guy in the next county over is better than the organic onion from across the country, because it's likely to be fresher, and hasn't burned as many fuels as the organic produce. This makes a great deal of sense to me.
Besides, meeting the farmer (or his rep) is more fun.
This is the thing: more and more crap is put into food on a regular basis. Hormones, and additives, and extra vitamins and extra flavorings and extra everything. And at the same time, more people are getting sick and being diagnosed with various medical issues - everything ranging from asthma to Alzheimer's to infertility to Parkinson's to autism - and if you look at various studies, there's always at least one that ties them to food.
Granted, the studies aren't always conclusive, nor are they particularly controlled, but I can't help but there's something there. Smoke and fire, and all that.
I am not the crazy person who will pay $10 for organic, hand-picked, vegetarian-fed strawberries/chicken/bread/dish soap/toilet paper. And the kittens are eating regular old Science Diet, and not the fancy schmancy organic food I see geared at pets ---- but I see how I could easily get there.
(Well, maybe not toilet paper. Gotta have SOME standards, not to mention a sense of reality.)
I suspect that I could just switch them full-stop and neither one would bat an eyelash, but I've still got lots of kitten food left, and I'd rather it not go to waste, since it's (a) expensive and (b) definitely not contaminated.
Last week I passed on buying tilapia at the grocery store because it was from China. I mean, sure, it's fish, but you never know. And granted I ate there for a full week and wasn't ill for a single second (well, maybe about two hours one afternoon, but that went away with a couple of Pepto-Bismal tablets).
But still. I have found, since returning to the States, that I am becoming something of a food snob, in that I won't buy the frozen meals anymore, or anything in a box that isn't labeled "organic". I read labels religiously; if it says "partially hydrogenated", I put it back on the shelf. (Which is why organic is a relief; I trust those not to have anything that even resembles hydrogenated, much less partially so.)
There are some awesome farmer's markets out there on Saturdays. Most have dairy sections; one sells raw milk cheese, which I understand is very good (and I mean to try next time I see it). One has the yummiest cider on the face of the planet. Plus, I know it's all reasonably fresh and not shipped in from who-knows where. I have read that the conventional onion from the guy in the next county over is better than the organic onion from across the country, because it's likely to be fresher, and hasn't burned as many fuels as the organic produce. This makes a great deal of sense to me.
Besides, meeting the farmer (or his rep) is more fun.
This is the thing: more and more crap is put into food on a regular basis. Hormones, and additives, and extra vitamins and extra flavorings and extra everything. And at the same time, more people are getting sick and being diagnosed with various medical issues - everything ranging from asthma to Alzheimer's to infertility to Parkinson's to autism - and if you look at various studies, there's always at least one that ties them to food.
Granted, the studies aren't always conclusive, nor are they particularly controlled, but I can't help but there's something there. Smoke and fire, and all that.
I am not the crazy person who will pay $10 for organic, hand-picked, vegetarian-fed strawberries/chicken/bread/dish soap/toilet paper. And the kittens are eating regular old Science Diet, and not the fancy schmancy organic food I see geared at pets ---- but I see how I could easily get there.
(Well, maybe not toilet paper. Gotta have SOME standards, not to mention a sense of reality.)