Grassmilk?? What’s that? My dairy quest and adventure.

I recently came across something called grassmilk at my grocery store. I have heard the goofy commercials from Organic Valley and liked them. But before the goofy commercials, I had tried this brand and I liked it. They do have nonfat milk in their regular milks, not this fancy (?) grassmilk version. And when I say regular, of course I still mean organic. It’s in the name…

Say what, now?

Now mind you, if you have drank nonfat milk before, and some of you are probably wrinkling your faces, the stuff is more or less water. I call it drinking serum to actual milk. It’s a thin consistency and not at all creamy which I love! Yes I know, i’m not selling the idea to anyone, here. Mostly I get a “What’s the point? Just drink water.” or the more normal response “Ewwww, why?!” In any case, I’ve been drinking nonfat milk since 1989 when I was at UC Davis. No idea what prompted me to start…maybe they were out of “normal” milk and me, being a milkaholic in training, took that over chocolate milk, which I hated.

I know, now some of you are scratching your heads. Who hates chocolate milk!? That’s a story for another day. The short version is chocolate and I don’t get along…at least that was my understanding. Turns out I was wrong but you’ll have to read the next piece for that story.

Going back to the milk thing, I loved nonfat so much it became my drink of pleasure. At one point, I was drinking it pretty much nonstop. A gallon would last maybe a week. I would buy the specials of two gallons knowing full well they’d never get to the due date but even if they did, the benefit to nonfat is it doesn’t go bad that fast. Probably because there is no fat to sour things up. Who knows…but I’ve had whole milk spoil before the due date. Same with the other percents but whole milk is the worst. I gave the other milks a college try because of the remarks of how nonfat is not really milk.
Drinking anything more than nonfat was terrible. Whole milk might as well have been yogurt, 2% heavy whipping cream, and 1% was whipping cream. So, back to nonfat as the all time favourite! During my pregnancy, years later, a gallon lasted less than two days.

OK but I looked sexier and not so crazed… I think… And never off the jug! I’m still a girl. We just don’t. LOL

So for me to buy a grassmilk that said 2% was not an easy thing for me, let alone whole milk. But the name intrigued me so much, I had to try it! In the past, I have drank grass-fed milk before and found it tasty but it’s not a regular thing to find. So, I had just stuck to non gmo, organic milk. As it turns out, regular milk doesn’t agree with my body. This coming from a milkaholic is definitely weird. Let me explain.

Somewhere in my late 30’s my body changed. Suddenly, it was like I was lactose intolerant. By the time I reached 44, milk was not much of an option and yogurt was becoming difficult. Cheese was still OK. I didn’t get it. Had I reached “adulthood” and could no longer tolerate milk!? How sad I was. Now I had to drink water…like real water…not milk tasting water… Time is cruel. By now things I used to enjoy as a kid, young adult, and I suppose middle adult? I could no longer eat…and things I hated then are tolerable now. It’s strange but I digress.

As I complained somewhere online about this lactose thing, someone mentioned that perhaps it wasn’t dairy but the TYPE of dairy. They suggested trying organic. You mean the $5 a bottle of 30 oz stuff!? No way… But OK… milkaholics are not so easy to cure, right? So I tried it…

And the skies opened up in greatness!

What?! No troubles…none at all…you mean, I’m not actually intolerant? So something about the way non organic milk is processed or raised that makes things in my stomach very unhappy. Organic is healthier and more expensive, so now Ms. Milkaholic relies more on tea and water than milk because $5.50 for a half a gallon can get expensive.

Then I saw, on my way to southern California a patch of very sad cows. Dairy cows, in a tiny patch of land, packed in, almost like sardines. No grass, just dirt or concrete, and some of them trying to squeeze their necks through a fence to get to the TINIEST of grass patch just barely out of reach.

sad cows, standing in concrete, nothing to graze on

Oh lord did I feel like the biggest heel in the universe! My milkaholic ways had made these sad cows…all these years! I’m not a vegan or even close to being vegetarian, I really don’t like veggies all that much. However, that made me very sad. The meat industry isn’t any better, I know…but baby steps! I’m at least buying Organic when I can and from free range poultry, pork, and beef farms. I also eat a lot of carby stuff…

In any case, I decided I was only going to buy my milk from people who cared about cows. I have been spoiled here, living near a farm where cows are always in the hills. I forget that not all cattle are so lucky. Enter Horizon, Organic Valley, Strauss, Clover, and Fairlife…who incidentally has no lactose in it. I like Fairlife and they do make a nonfat version. But it’s only Organic Valley, so far, taht I can find the grass-fed milk. Supposedly they make yogurts too but I haven’t seen it at my stores. Hopefully they do bring it.

I still don’t drink as much dairy as I used to…even though the cows are not as sad, it’s still not that great to think that at some point, their babies are taken away. At Horizon, it’s done at birth, supposedly so they can care for the baby…more than mom could? Poor mommas and how traumatic for the calf…

Fairlife has this information on their site, which I thought was interesting. Less carbs because there’s no lactose. They also have whole milk and other percents for those who like fat in their milk, haha. They also say you can visit their farm which is cool. Supposedly they have a birthing barn and a pen where you can play with the calves…but…sadly, again, for their benefit they too are removed from their moms at birth. I did send them an email and they seem to think that if they separate the calves at birth it is less stressful for a cow since they don’t bond with the baby. I’ll leave it up to you to decide how true that is. Me, personally, I’m not so sure that’s true.

Organic Valley? They’re a coop instead of a company…meaning they’re just farmers who sell stuff and their commercials, as I said, are pretty goofy. I found this on their website and it sounds promising. It’s from one of the farmers at Organic Valley. Hopefully the other coops follow the same rules.

Clover and Straus are more local to me than Organic Valley. Clover is certified humane which is also nice. They also have cows out in pasture grazing but none of their products are labeled grassfed, same with Straus. Clover, it seems is in line with the other farms. All of these brands have their websites so you can look into them.

I wasn’t able to find out on the website about Straus but a google search turned up that yes, they too take the babies out at birth. Standard practice, I guess… I did email them and they confirmed, albeit they claim it’s after a few days but still Straus separates the calves too. The cows, however, walk around the hills of Sonoma and Marin (depending on which farm they are) so while they don’t label their milk grassfed, chances are, they’re eating a lot of it. They also bottle stuff in glass which also makes their milk taste, cleaner, for lack of a better term.

The nice things about all of these companies is they have websites and customer service FAQ’s and of course, email addresses or phone numbers if you’re more into phone stuff. They get back to you super quick so that’s always nice.

In conclusion, for now, my milkaholic days are over and as time keeps going, the less milk I drink. I’m down to a half gallon over two weeks, still emptying before expiration but often extremely close or to the day. I drink mostly water, teas, fruit drinks (lemonades or fruit in water stuff,) that sort of thing. I have gotten into the alternatives and love Cashew milk and hate Soy. But the things I use milk for don’t taste all that great with the alternative milks so I just drink those plain when I get the urge.

I know I spent a lot of time on the calf thing but as a mom, it’s kind of heartbreaking. The sad cows in a pen were definitely heart breaking. Never again will I buy the cheap milk. I’m not contributing to sad cows. Even my yogurts, butter, cream, and cheeses have changed. I don’t eat those as much, especially butter… I still have some from last year that I froze when I had to buy 4 lbs. I just don’t eat butter. Creams I have had to throw away because I forget so I just don’t buy them unless I need it specifically for something I’m making that day. Yogurt and cottage cheese on rare occassions… all in all, my dairy consumption has been lowered. I wish that was enough to lower my weight but well…that’s yet, ANOTHER story, haha. Til next time, thank you for reading!

Cooked Babies… with a sour twist…

It all started with this video depicting a baby in a car and an idiot mom on the phone who goes shopping, gets caught up in idiocy, and the baby, from the looks of it, gets cooked in the car.

It got me upset for several reasons and it makes me shake my head that this happens every day for more times than I’d like.  WHO are these people?!  I heard myself scream in my head.  How can they just walk past a baby in the car and go on their merry way?!

And then I realise… those people are the same people you and I both know.  They’re everyday folks who think it’s “none of their business” or “I don’t want to get involved.”  or “I don’t want to get in trouble.”

So.  You rather have a life die than god forbid, DO something because you fear something?!?!

That’s just not right.  The video depicts a man crashing the window open to get the baby out and what does my friend say?  “OMG I wouldn’t do that!  That driver will sue me and I might go to jail.”

So there you go folks… people we know and some we even love…that was the primal fear.  The law.  Retaliation.  And as MUCH as I would love to have said no, they’d be grateful you saved their baby, the answer is a clear you’re probably right.  The question then becomes, would you risk it?!  And sadly, for many people, the answer is a hell no.

What kind of a society are we living in that people sue each other at a drop of a hat?  That we care more about PROPERTY than life?!  What kind of a life is this?  I don’t want to live in a place like this.  I don’t want to be one of those people.

Is it because I’m a mother or a woman?  Or is it because I am HUMAN?  I think it’s the latter.  I could not and have not passed by a baby in the car and kept going.  If the baby was crying, I would call the police at the very least!

Now here is where the world, in my eyes, gets fuzzy.  If it was a dog in the car?  I’ll crash the friggin window no questions asked!! And I would gladly go to jail for vandalism.   Yes, you heard me correctly.  If it was a baby, I’d call the cops.  If it was a dog, I’d crash the window.  And I still call myself human.  But you might wonder where my loyalty lies as I did.  Why on earth would I not hesitate for a dog but would for a baby?

Is it because we’re overpopulated?  Because there are far too many babies out there?  Because I don’t like babies or kids in general?  Because I hate humans?  Not exactly.  While the above things have crossed my mind in the past, it’s not the reason.  I don’t hate all humans, only some of them.  I like babies and kids just fine as long as they’re quiet and/or away from me…but I can say the same thing about horses and wild animals…at least the “away from me” part.  Kids just happen to be noisy, smelly, kinda selfish, creatures and well, they’re everywhere!  But as long as I can give a kid back to whomever, I’m good to go!

We are overpopulated and there are far too many babies out there but so what?  Does that justify the ending of a life?  Not to me.  I am sad for every life that ends, be it human, animal, plant life, or anything else that is living that doesn’t fit these categories.  Life, to me, is precious and sacred, regardless of what form it is in.

So why the dog and not the kid?  Dogs are very loyal, giving, and they give unconditional love.  They show it every day.  You go to the bathroom and come out and you’d think you’d been gone for a decade they’re so dang happy to see you!  What other animal out there does the same thing?  None others that I know of but well I’ve not owned too many species of pets so I could be wrong.  I’m told rats are super affectionate but the ones I’ve had were more interested in food than cuddles.  Which isn’t to say that dogs don’t all want food too, they do!  But goodness do they like to stick by you!  Some are more glued to your hip than others but they’re all very loving.

I always thought I was a cat person…cat lover… I even changed my name to an all cat name for that very purpose.  There were other reasons, but that was one of them.  But cats tend to be more independent and solitary.  They love you from afar.  They care but don’t always show it.    They’re the divas of the world.  See me when I want you to see me and hug me only if I’m allowing you, otherwise, just leave me alone!  Gotta love the cats, they make you love them more by being so aloof and conceited.  But cats don’t, in general, like road trips.   And it’s their very nature that keeps them at home, safe and sound.

Dogs, not so much.  Their constant want to be with you attitude makes owners make bad decisions.  It’s a hot day but Fido wants to come out with you.  He gets so sad when you leave him/her at home!  So, Fido goes with you and s/he’s so happy go lucky, you take him/her everywhere.  And then you have to go shopping.  It will only take five minutes you think… but we know that’s never true.  The lines get too long, the produce isn’t right, the brands are hard to pick through because they don’t have yours… whatever the reason.. it’s hardly EVER five minutes!  Meanwhile, Fido cooks in your car…

Their core temperature is about  102.3 so it doesn’t take long to start cooking…  On top of that, dogs get anxious when stressed and start bouncing around more… that raises temperatures too.  You know how it feels when you’re stressed out…suddenly the room’s a sauna even with the air conditioner on.  Dogs are no different and in fact get worse because they CANNOT take their fur coat off.

I worked at veterinary practices as a registered/licensed veterinary technician and I saw far too many cooked dogs come through.  Owners swearing they were only there for three minutes but now Fido is dead on my table…  been in the freezer for an hour and still has a core temperature of 300 degrees.  That’s more than heart breaking, it’s down right infuriating.  How can you let this happen?!?

Maybe if I had seen more cooked babies, my POV would be different, but I haven’t.  I’ve seen a lot of cooked dogs and THAT is why I would crash the window on a dog.  Dogs are so innocent and all they want to do is love!  Babies/kids?  I don’t know… they always seem to want something and the rewards are usually far and few in between…often making people question WHAT were they thinking?!  Then again, I suppose people who don’t understand what it means to own a dog might just ask the same question so I guess I’m just biased.

In the end though, I believe BOTH babies/kids and dogs deserve to live.  They deserve to be protected not forgotten or neglected!!

I had a friend on facebook make a post that said she jimmied a car door once and got a dog out and waited for the owner who started cussing and hollering at her for taking the dog out.  The “five minutes” man had been gone for 18 minutes from the time she found the dog, so who knows how long the dog had ALREADY been in there!  She had a timer and that’s how she knew how long he’d been gone.  She offered this angry man this gem:  “If you can sit in the car with the window as you had it for your dog for 18 minutes, I will give you 20 dollars.”  The man thought she was joking but she showed him the money and he was like OK whatever.  He lasted 3 minutes!  It was then that he realised what he had done and started thanking her profusely!

I will NEVER pass by a crying baby or an agitated animal in the car and just walk on because I fear the law or retaliation.  I will, most likely, crash the window and await to get arrested.   But maybe, just MAYBE, that baby/pet owner will thank me.  I can’t risk any other outcome though, no baby or dog is staying in the car without me caring!  I will carry around dog money from now on and do as my friend did.  That right there was genius.  If you can stand your “five minutes” in the car, I can give you money, but I can assure you that you will have a different perspective than you had before you just left for them “five minutes.”

And for those of you that don’t do this or don’t have kids or pets?  Try it.  Go sit in your car for as long as you can with the windows up.  Then try it with the windows “cracked” and see what happens.  Hint: It doesn’t get any cooler and sometimes it gets even HOTTER.
Now do the same thing but with a fur coat on…  See for yourself what Fido feels…  Then come talk to me and let’s go save more lives!!