Easy prep, easy clean-up, and easy cooking are some of the reasons people flock to boneless chicken. However, by doing so we miss out on some of the greatest health benefits that bone-in chicken has to offer:

• Natural hyaluronic acid for strong joints and healthy skin

• Collagen and Gelatin for a healthy intestinal wall and managing blood sugar

• A huge array of micro minerals, amino acids, vitamins such as A, D, E and especially Vitamin K2 for hormone health, cell repair, and nutrient absorption

• Glycine for better sleep and a calmer nervous system

To top it off, when you choose bone-in cuts, your chicken will have enhanced flavor and texture. During cooking, the bones release fat, collagen, and nutrients, which penetrate the meat and add savory flavor and juiciness!

What more can you do with bone-in chicken? You can make a nutrient-dense homemade bone broth or stock for some delicious chicken soup. Or simmer the bones in a sauce for added flavor and depth. You can make bone broth ice cubes to toss into future recipes: stir-fries, grains, and even smoothies!

Here are some ideas:

Homemade Chicken Broth

Ingredients:

1 Whole Chicken or 2-3 lbs of bone-in chicken parts (you can use necks, wings, and thighs!)

1 large onion, unpeeled, halved

2 carrots, cut into chunks

2 celery stalks, cut into chunks

4-6 garlic cloves

1 tsp whole black peppercorns

2-3 bay leaves

Small bunch of parsley

1tsp salt (add more to taste later)

Cold water (enough to cover everything by 1-2 inches)

Instructions:

Add all the ingredients to a large pot – bone-in chicken. Chopped vegetables, and seasonings. Cover with cold water and place the pot on the stove. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.

Once it reaches a boil, immediately reduce the heat to low. Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the top. Let it simmer low and slow, uncovered or partially covered for 3 to 4 hours.

Once done, strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth for extra clarity. Let it cool completely before refrigerating. Once chilled, you can skim off the solidified fat from the top if desired. (You can add this to sauces or other dishes!).

Immunity Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup / 240 ml chilled bone broth, frozen in cubes if your blender can handle it! (Use unsalted/unseasoned chicken bone broth).

½ cup / 70 g frozen blackberries

½ cup 70 g frozen raspberries

¼ cup / 40 g frozen blueberries

3 oz / 85 g unpeeled, shredded purple carrot, about 1 medium

2 tbsp / 20 g frozen pomegranate arils, optional

1 tbsp / 15 ml fresh lemon juice

Leaves from a couple of sprigs of fresh mint, to taste

Now blend away and enjoy this delicious bone-berry drink!

Kick the cans this year!

A new year inspires a fresh start; especially with the foods we feed our bodies. Dieting trends come and go, but simply getting back to nature will always be the best nutritional approach to health which promotes weight control and disease prevention. Even some popular diets (i.e., Paleo, Clean Eating) promote whole foods that are closest to their natural state over pre-packaged, processed and fast foods. The concept is simple: eat like our ancestors, before the modern diet of refined foods and unnatural fats, which are major culprits in obesity and degenerative diseases like diabetes and heart diseases. Freshfields Farm is the ideal place for fresh, whole, superior foods at affordable prices. Follow these tips when shopping fresh for your best health:

Fill your cart with:

• Foods with little/ no processing: those which are perishable within a week or so, with very few ingredients. A once-a-week stocking of the refrigerator with a monthly stocking up on dry goods is the most healthful way to shop. The following foods should make up the majority of your daily diet:
  • Lean meats, poultry and seafood: great sources of protein, B vitamins, iron and healthy fats. Look closely at your labels. For instance, Freshfields Farm offers Farm fresh chicken with no water or sodium “enhancements” added
  • Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables like grapes, pomegranates and blueberries and greens like spinach, kale and collards, which offer disease prevention. Use our Colors of Health in-store signage to determine the specific health benefits of each color.
  • Healthy fats such as avocados, fish, nuts and seeds: promote healthy cholesterol levels.

• Seasonal Produce: For instance, in winter months, citrus, collards, cherries, and asparagus, just to name some.

• Natural Detoxifiers: Incorporate produce that naturally helps rid your body of toxins including grapefruit, beets, lemons, limes, garlic, artichokes, broccoli, ginger, red radish and apples.

Try keeping your refrigerator and fruit bowls stocked with fresh items instead of your pantry stocked with processed foods with long ingredient lists, and see how much better you look and feel this year!

So, what’s the beef on ‘Local’ anyway? A hot topic, the awareness of local foods continues to climb an exponential slope. So, why all the interest? Is it all just a marketing ploy by nearby farmers? How do you define “Local” anyway?  While definitions vary, we use the definition acknowledged by the USDA, which points to any product that’s transported less than 400 miles from its origin.  That’s also about one day’s drive. What’s within 400 miles of you? Grassfed beef? Peaches? Cage-free eggs?  Citrus?  Well, that depends on where you are and, for many items, the growing season.
It’s easy to see what items are local while you’re at the Farm.  Any item with a red sign is one of our “Local Picks.”  If you’re curious what Local Picks are in-store before you shop, check your Jacksonville or Orlando store’s online Live Market Board, which highlights current local items at the bottom.

Our team of buyers searches the marketplace 12 hours a day, 7 days a week looking for the highest quality products available.  So, you can be confident that our Local Picks are top notch – not a sub-par item that was selected solely because of where it was grown.  We don’t just support local farmers; we support local farmers doing excellent work.  It’s how we ensure we live up to our mission of bringing you the finest quality, freshest meat and produce at a great value.