11/18/2025
Farm-fresh dinner gratitude 🧑🌾
This dinner contains a free-range chicken breast (literally from my friend’s local farm, processed just days ago — so fresh!) paired with “savor-the-flavor” lemon-dill rice, and spinach sautéed in white wine, olive oil, and fresh garlic.
Yes, animal protein is inflammatory in some contexts … but when we’re thoughtful about how and where we source it, and balance it with the right veggies and whole foods, the nutritive value can be so much more meaningful.
When animals are killed in stressful conditions (transport, unfamiliar slaughterhouses, etc.), their cortisol (stress hormone) levels can be elevated. High stress in animals can affect meat quality, and while the idea that all that cortisol transfers directly into our bloodstream isn’t super clear-cut, there is evidence showing that stress hormones are higher in meat from more stressed animals.
Here’s why the rest of this dinner matters:
💛Veggie balance: Pairing the chicken with organic spinach helps buffer inflammation.
💛Sauteed spinach = pro-nutrient absorption: Cooking spinach in olive oil helps unlock its micronutrients and makes them more bioavailable.
💛Healthy fat from olive oil helps with nutrient absorption and supports anti-inflammatory pathways.
Eating this way isn’t perfect, but it’s intentional: sourcing local, respecting animal life, and supporting my body with real, whole food.
