Each year right before the Super Bowl the National Chicken Council releases its annual Chicken Wing Report. This forecasts the number of buffalo wings Americans will consume over the course of the weekend. However, this year that number is higher than ever: a record-breaking 1.4 billion chicken wings. This staggering amount gives us a glimpse into our meat consumption problem. The United States has one of the highest rates of meat consumption in any country in the world. This isn’t a title we should be proud of. More than 700 million chickens are slaughtered just for Super Bowl Sunday, the second-largest day for food consumption in America. Sadly, chickens are among the most abused and consumed animals on the planet. For the more than 60 billion chickens raised on factory farms each year life is grim. They’re bred to grow so quickly that they often suffer from chronic pain and become immobilized under their own weight. Some even die from organ failure simply because their bodies can’t keep with the speed at which they grow. These animals have no chance to behave as they would naturally and have no choice but to sit or stand in their own waste. All of this, of course, before being slaughtered from a young age of just five weeks old. You can help improve the lives of chickens by choosing to only purchase and consume chicken meat that comes from food companies that have adopted the Better Chicken Commitment. Also, take a few minutes before Sunday’s big game to urge KFC to commit to better chicken welfare in its US supply chain. That’s not all you can do to help chickens and other farmed animals raised for food. By eating less meat overall, we can help put an end to some of the cruelest factory farming practices, such as extreme confinement, the overuse of antibiotics, and brutal mutilations. Through reducing the demand for meat, World Animal Protection expects that factory farming will be phased out. What’s more, as the overall demand for meat declines, a shift towards family farming and practices that are more sustainable and kinder to animals will become commonplace. Want to help chickens this Super Bowl Sunday? Try purchasing chicken wings that come from farms that prioritize animal welfare or a plant-based alternative, like these mouthwatering buffalo cauliflower bits from our amazing partner, The Phytogenic Chef. INGREDIENTS Buffalo cauliflower: 1 head organic cauliflower 2 cups white whole wheat flour ½ cup Buffalo Hot Sauce (Or my version: No Sodium Hamsa Hot Sauce) 1 cup of a plant-based milk ½ cup of filtered water 1 tsp ground cayenne pepper 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper 1 tsp ground white pepper 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp turmeric Creamy ranch dressing: 1 cup silken tofu 1 tsp lemon juice 1 clove garlic ½ tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp onion powder 1 1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar 1/2-1 tsp maple syrup 1 tbsp fresh minced dill (or 2 tsp dried) 1 tbsp fresh minced parsley 1 tsp chives INSTRUCTIONS For the buffalo cauliflower: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit / 200 degree Celsius Line a 15” x 9” sheet pan with a silicone mat or parchment paper Trim the cauliflower and cut into 1.5” – 2” pieces, set aside In a large mixing bowl combine all dry ingredients and mix thoroughly In a large mixing bowl add your plant-based milk and filtered water Using a handful at a time, dip the cauliflower into the plant-based milk making sure each piece is wet. Shake off excess liquid and immediately add to the seasoned whole wheat white flour and toss until each piece is coated Transfer coated cauliflower pieces to a small strainer and lightly shake over the seasoned flour mixture so the excess falls back into the seasoned flour mix. Once done, evenly arrange the coated cauliflower to the lined sheet pan and place into the preheated oven for 20 minutes After 20 minutes remove the cauliflower from the oven and place in a large mixing bowl Add the hot sauce and mix lightly making sure each piece is coated Return the sauced cauliflower to the sheet pan and place back into the oven for another 20 minutes After 20 minutes remove and enjoy! For the creamy ranch dressing: Add all ingredients except for the herbs to a high-speed blender / Vitamix. Blend on high for 1 minute or until very creamy and smooth. Pour into a bowl and fold in the herbs.
