Welcome to the Laura’s Lean Beef blog, a new online forum covering just about every topic related to lean and natural beef, including (but not limited to) recipes, cooking tips, product reviews, nutritional information, healthy living ideas, sustainable farming and more.
Every day interesting ideas and opinions about good food and good living are being exchanged at Laura’s Lean Beef. It’s in that same spirit that we bring you this blog, where a panel of seasoned “foodies” will share some of the cool things going on inside (and occasionally outside) the world of Laura’s Lean Beef.
Chef and food writer Barb Freda will be blogging about recipes she’s creating in her kitchen, ranging from quick and easy weeknight meals to dinner fare with a gourmet flare.
Registered Dietitian Jenny Kramer will be offering real-world ideas on how to organize your eating to get more out of the foods that are good for you. As a working mother of a 14-month old toddler she has some special insights into dealing with picky eaters and also deciphering label fables to make sure you are putting the right ingredients on your family menu.
Occasionally, guest bloggers and even the Laura’s staff will weigh-in to offer the scoop on contests, product development and an inside look at how we keep our promise to farm the way nature intended.
The coolest thing about keeping a blog is the community it forms, so if you have a question, an idea, a recipe or even a product suggestion to share, join the conversation by posting your comments and photos.
Subscribe to our RSS feed. We’re also available on Facebook and you can follow us on Twitter where we offer contests and coupons first, as well as find other members of our community and fans of LLB.
Stay tuned for news about an upcoming contest to name our blog!
Have a great day!
The folks at Laura’s
What about GMO’s in the grains you feed them? Is it GMO free?
Thank you so much for doing what you do! It’s so nice to be able to run to Kroger and pick up ground beef that I can feel safe to feed my family. The quality is incredible and I’m so happy to have this option readily available rather than trying to figure out how in the heck I am going to store a half a cow in my freezer. Keep up the great work please
Just read the reply above. What is the point of going to all the trouble to raise hormone-free, mostly grass-fed beef if you cannot be certain GMO grain will be kept out of their diet? You should try harder to obtain GMO-free sources of grain. If you’re going to feed your cows GMO grain like the feed lots do, I might as well just buy regular beef, right?
That is a great question Lynn. Only “certified organic” grains can be guaranteed GMO free. Since the majority of grains in the US contain GMO’s, and there is only a small supply of “certified organic” grains, there is not enough supply to sustain all the cattle in the Laura’s Lean Beef program on “certified organic” grains. Also, since grass does not grow year round in North America, it is impossible to sustain our cattle on grass alone. The majority of commodity beef cattle are fed grains their whole lives, never eating grass or grazing in open fields, in addition to receiving hormones and antibiotics. Laura’s Lean Beef feels it goes to all lengths, within our control, to provide a healthy and high quality product.
I hope this helps answers your questions. If you would like to discuss further, please contact Melissa in our Consumer Affairs Department at 1-800-ITS-LEAN (1-800-487-5326) She will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.
I was thrilled to see your Beef labeled Hormone and antibiotic free at my local WalMart. I haven’t bought beef in a store in years. I’m disheartened to hear that you do not grass finish them but instead corn finish them with GMO corn. The independent studies done of GMOs continues to be stifled in this country. Most European countries have banned GMO corn and those that allow some other types of GMO food crops require labeling and protection of non-GMO crops. Not only are they bad for us, they are bad for our agriculture. I won’t buy your product and am back to buying from our local farmers who grass/hay finish their cattle, it’s worth the extra price, we just less and have it less often. I still have hope though.
Thank you for sharing your feedback and concerns with us Diane. As you may know, Laura’s Lean Beef is opposed to GMO’s and we ask our farmers to not plant genetically modified crops. Grains that are “certified organic” are the only way to guarantee no GMO, but unfortunately there is only a small supply available, and not enough to sustain all the cattle in the Laura’s Lean Beef program. Since there are no laws or requirements for labeling of GMO, and at present no system to separate genetically modified grains from traditional grains, it is impossible to avoid GMOs.
Small farms are able to sustain a small amount of cattle on only grass, but since grass does not grow year round in North America, it is impossible to sustain a large amount of cattle on grass alone year round, therefore they must be supplemented with some grains.
Laura’s Lean Beef cattle graze in open fields on only grass for the majority of their life, (about 1 to 1 and a half years) and are finished on grains, in addition to grasses, the last 90 to 120 days.
At Laura’s Lean Beef, we feel that we go to all lengths, within our control, to provide a healthy and high quality product. Again, we appreciate you sharing your thoughts and concerns, and hope there will be options to eliminate GMO grains in the future. If you would like to discuss further, please contact Melissa in our Consumer Affairs Department at 1-800-ITS-LEAN (1-800-487-5326). She is happy to answer any additional questions you may have.
Hi!
I just saw on Facebook that the new website was up and that there would be a blog as well. I’m excited! I’m looking forward to tips and recipes. 2010 has brought changes for my husband and I, including our diet. Laura’s Lean Beef is the only beef we buy now.
Just recently I purchased a box of the preformed burger patties. They are wonderful and so easy for just two people! I can pop two out of the fridge and throw them right on the grill – no mess, no excess beef to vacuum seal and freeze (which happens sometimes when I need less than a pound of beef). Thanks for offering this option in your product line.
I would like to share a tip that I’ve picked up from your products this year. When you want to add just a little beef to spaghetti sauce or chili – and especially if you are cooking for 2 or 3 people – the preformed burgers are great. They are just the right amount, and so easy if you are trying to make a quick meal!
Thanks again and best of luck with the blog!
Sincerely,
Holly Scheppe
You guys have the best beef hands down and it’s very competitively priced with the other major brands. Thanks for producing such a high quality product.
Just stopping in to say keep up the good work.
I have not seen it listed, but I imagine this is grass fed beef only and not fed with other stuff
Good question – our cattle are mostly fed pasture grasses, but they are given some grains, grain silage, legumes and other vegetable matter to supplement. The main reason we do this is the weather – we sell our beef fresh, so we need to be able to feed our cattle throughout the year. Feel free to give us a call (1-800-ITS-LEAN) if there’s anything else we can help you with.
Laura, I read the ingredients and their preparation for the London Broil. Part of the ingredients are put together with the steak but nothing is listed for the remainder of the ingredients.
Bill
Hi Bill – We have two recipes for London Broil on our website – a short version and a long version. The long version has the complete recipe. You can find it here: http://www.laurasleanbeef.com/node/243. Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks!
I just love the beef. I remember this kind of beef as a young person growing up where we had a lot of beef in our daily diet. Even though now I limit my beef, Laura’s beef is the best I’ve tasted to date. I would love to see your beef available at Wegman’s, our main supermarket that offers everything from a to z, literally. There is only one place I can get Laura’s and it is not my regular shopping place. I hope you can sell in Wegmans. If not I will just go to this store and buy the beef. Thank you,
Grace Coppola
Endicott, NY
Hi Grace! Thanks so much for you kind words. We love our beef too! I have two suggestions to help you get our product in the Wegmans store near you:
1. Talk to the meat manager there. More than likely, he/she will be interested in carrying products that the stores patrons want. The more folks who ask about Laura’s Lean Beef at the store the better!
2. Call us! Janet or Lisa in our office will be happy to help you. Our number is 1.800.ITS.LEAN.
Keep us posted on your progress! Happy cooking!
Funny Holly mentions using preformed patties in other dishes, my wife and I discovered this by necessity and find ourselves using them in dishes all the time. Strangely enough, a hamburger on a bun is becoming a secondary use. Thanks Laura’s for the great brand and products.
JR
Thank you for your blog response and your interest in our lean, all-natural beef where the cattle are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones, and are fed an all-vegetarian diet.
We do feed our cattle primarily on grasses, but we also supplement with a variety of alfalfa hay, cottonseed meal, corn silage, oats and soybean meal during the last 90-120 days. Seasonal and weather issues (e.g., snowy winters, drought times in the summer) necessitate the use of grain feeding. As you may know, we sell our beef fresh, and because of this we need to sustain our cattle supply throughout the year.
As for the heart check symbol – The following healthy beef products have been certified by the American Heart Association: Laura’s 96% Lean Ground Round, 96% Lean Ground Sirloin, Sirloin Steak, Beef Pot Roast Au Jus, and Shredded Beef with Barbecue Sauce. This gives full, legal right to use the heart check symbol.
If we can be of further assistance please contact us at 1-800-ITS-LEAN. (1-800-487-5326)
Can someone let us know? I also heard you are illegally using the “heart check symbol”. Please Respond!
Are the corn, soy and other meals gmo free?
Hi Niki — We ask our farmers not to plant genetically engineered corn and soybeans. However, at times some of our farmers must purchase corn and soybeans from commercial silos. As part of our program we check this feed for pesticide residues, in addition to antibiotics and growth hormones. Since the federal government requires no labeling for GMOs, and at present there is no system for keeping genetically engineered grain separate from traditional grain, we cannot ensure that all our cattle feed is free of GMOs. Please feel free to give us a call at 1-800-ITS-LEAN if you have any other questions and Lisa or Melissa can help you!