Quirky Cooking Chats

Happy New Year! Jo and Fouad kick the new year off with a fun foodie chat this week, discussing the coming food trends for 2017. They also talk through their own food and health goals, and what that looks like in everyday meals. And they give an update on their new cookbook, Life-Changing Food, which is due for release in March!! (See http://www.quirkycooking.com.au/preorder/) Listen in as they discuss: – interesting ways to use cauliflower – naturally purple foods and why they’re so cool – the awesomeness of mushrooms for immune boosting – ethically raised meats – how to cook awesome pork belly with crackly skin – buddha bowls and burger bowls – ancient grains and gluten free baking – safer sous vide – flexitarian diets & learning to adjust the way you eat to suit your body – sugars, carbs, starches and having a balance – seasonal eating – how to eat pesticide-free on a budget – keeping it simple! The post AQJ 65: Food Trends & Food Goals for 2017 appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

What’s the best water to drink? What should you look for in a good water filter? Which is better – reverse osmosis, distilled, alkalised, rain water, spring water… ? Does your head spin when you try to work out the answers to these questions? This week Jo chats with Kate Waterson of zazen Water about all things water and filters! Jo gets questions every week in her chat groups about water filters, and how to go about improving water quality for drinking and showering, so she gathered the questions together and asked the expert. Kate is a nutritionist and a manager-partner of zazen Water – a business focused on improving water for our children, and bringing better health to our communities through an improved water supply. Listen in and find the answers to these questions and more: – What health benefits are there to drinking pure, mineralised water? – What should you look for in a water filter? – How important is it to remove chlorine and fluoride? – What are the benefits of alkalising your water and adding back in the minerals lost through filtration? – What’s the most affordable water filter for a family? Can you get good results from just using a Brita jug? – Is a reverse osmosis filter the best option? – What about rain water, spring water, distilled water and tank water? Which ones need to be filtered and which don’t? Do they need to be remineralised? – Why is it so important to filter not only drinking water, but also shower water? – What’s some good options for those renting or travelling? – How can my child’s school learn more about getting free water filters for the school? A very helpful interview that will give you the answers you need. Kate has generously offered a discount on water filters to our listeners! Go to http://www.zazenalkalinewater.com.au and enter the coupon code QCWATER15 to receive 10% off your order. (the discount has changed from 15% to 10% off). The post AQJ 64: All Your Water & Water Filter Questions Answered! appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

In this episode, Fouad shares his story of growing up in Lebanon during the height of the civil war, living on a diet heavy with highly refined flour, sugar and skim milk powder, and relying on constant courses of antibiotics to avoid illness. He became overweight from an early age, and later on his health deteriorated creating many chronic illnesses that started from when he was 13 years old. He moved to Australia to work and study in 2001, and his health continued to worsen. In 2011, he was introduced to the insulin hypothesis and began eating a low carb diet, cutting out grains, legumes and sugar. He lost 24 kilos, healed his chronic illnesses and greatly reduced symptoms of lingering ailments. Over the years, Fouad’s diet has evolved to a more flexible paleo-style diet which includes some safe starches and less fats. Jo and Fouad talk about how the way we eat changes as we heal, and as we go through different seasons of life; and how important it is to understand that healing takes time, and ‘diets’ can’t be expected to change everything overnight. Fouad loves to share his experiences of using food for healing in the hope that others may also benefit from it. He and Jo are working together to write recipes, teach classes and speak at health seminars to help others on their health journeys. Fouad is also beginning private health coaching and can be contacted at fouadkassab.com or email at [email protected]. The post AQJ 63: Fouad’s Story: Fats, Carbs & Healthy Eating appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

We’re back this week with the second part of the interview with Lucy Lichtenstein, on Sleep Nutrition! Listen in and learn how to improve your night’s sleep. We talk about: – how gut health relates to sleep – how to get out of the vicious circle of stress causing poor sleep, and poor sleep causing stress – how your diet affects anxiety and sleep – how to reduce your need for caffeine and not rely on it to ‘prop you up’ each day – how heavy metal toxicity can affect sleep, and Lucy’s experience with detoxing – how detoxing on GAPS can affect sleep – why you may be waking at a certain time every night – before bed snacks that will help you sleep …. and more We also discussed the importance of seeing a sleep specialist if you’re having major sleep issues, such as David Cunnington of SleepHub.com.au. Listen in, and enjoy more restful sleep! The post AQJ 61: Sleep Nutrition, with Lucy Lichtenstein (part 2) appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

How important is restful sleep for a healthy gut? In this episode, Lucy Lichtenstein shares part one of her thoughts on Sleep Nutrition. Lucy writes a nutrition and lifestyle blog called Reconnected.me that compiles her thoughts, experiences, ideas, lessons, perspectives, perceptions and wholefood recipes. Her four part series on Sleep Nutrition is very helpful for those who are struggling to sleep well at night, and wanting to improve their sleep patterns. The post AQJ 60: Sleep Nutrition, with Lucy Lichtenstein (part 1) appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Kim Morrison is a health and lifestyle educator, environmental health coach, author, aromatherapist and founder of Twenty8 Essentials chemical-free skincare and essential oils. Her explanation of how and why to use essential oils, and practical tips to simply get a personal care routine happening are invaluable. But this podcast is not only about essential oils and chemical free skincare. It’s also about life, and learning to care for yourself and your family through the good times and the bad times. Kim began studying nutrition and aromatherapy at 19, lived the celebrity life with her famous cricketer husband, and went on to write best-selling self-care and skincare books with a friend. Then suddenly, just as she was about to launch her own skincare brand, everything came crashing down. She shares how she and her husband worked through the hard times, and how the challenges changed her own focus, and the direction of her business. Kim became very passionate about helping women to challenge their potential, take responsibility for their own health and well-being, acknowledge their own strength and beauty, and take good care of themselves. In this day and age, we are often so busy running around taking care of everyone else and struggling to keep our heads above the water, that we neglect our own selves. Kim shares the importance of learning to nurture and nourish yourself, which in turn helps you to nurture and nourish those around you. A big thank you to Kim, who has generously offered to give our listeners some tools to help get started! Click on this link to get a free download of her best-selling book, ‘Like Chocolate for Women’, her ‘Manifesto for Living’, and a 10% discount on her lovely Twenty8 essential oils. (Discount available until midnight, 30th September, 2016.) The post AQJ 59: Kim Morrison – Twenty8 Essential Oils appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

On a recent trip to Pacific Palms, serendipity would have it that Fouad’s host, Megan Cook, is an expert on permaculture, a farming approach that Fouad is fascinated with. Megan is no ordinary permaculturist. She sits on the board of permaculture Australia and teaches permaculture classes from her beautiful property just over 3 hours north of Sydney. Fouad and Megan talk permaculture benefits and principles. This is a great introduction podcast to a very important topic that will only continue to grow relevant in our society as monoculture continues its steady decline. For more information on Megan and her permaculture classes, check out her website at: gardentotable.com.au The post AQJ 58: All About Permaculture appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

In this fascinating interview with nutritionist Cyndi O’Meara, you will learn the background behind her new documentary “What’s With Wheat”. We delve into the issues of wheat and gluten allergies, why they have become so prevalent, and what the main issues with wheat are. Cyndi began her research into wheat and gluten allergies and intolerances, and what causes them, when she began to have problems with wheat at 40 yrs old. She realised that out of anyone, she shouldn’t have any reactions to wheat – she had a very clean diet, had never had antibiotics and medications, ate mostly organic, had never had any food intolerances, so surely had a very healthy gut… Why was it suddenly causing her to react? Cyndi answers questions like: Is non-coeliac wheat sensitivity real? What are scientists saying about it? Why do we see such an improvement in health when modern wheat is taken out of the diet? What about organic wheat? Or ancient grains? What about sourdough bread? What is an optimal diet? Or are there different ways of eating to suit different people? How can we reduce the toxins in our food, and make changes that will help to improve the way our society eats? As Fouad says, “This documentary will be a big catalyst for change in our world, and a big help to so many people. Cyndi, the world owes you one!” You can watch Cyndi’s film here: https://www.changinghabitsaffiliates.com/158-1-3-1.html (affiliate link) Learn more about Cyndi’s health and nutrition programs here: https://changinghabits.com.au The post AQJ 57: What’s With Wheat? Cyndi O’Meara appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

This is a beautiful, encouraging and informative podcast that will be a big help to women who are looking for ways to optimise their own health, and the health of their baby – whether baby is just a distant hope not yet realised, or already part of the family. Mary talks to us about her own experiences with her babies, both before she embarked on the healing journey of GAPS, and after, and what differences she’s seen. She shares the ups and downs, the mistakes and the successes, and most importantly she shares a message of hope for all who have been through the traumas of having children with severe allergies and illnesses, and are frightened to have another baby in case it happens again. She’s here to say you CAN optimise a better outcome, and although none of us can control every variable as parents (and we have to learn to let go of that compulsion), there are things you can do to stack the deck in your baby’s favour. If you’re thinking this podcast will only make you feel like a bad mother who did everything wrong, and it’s too late to change things for your baby – think again!! Mary is very adamant that wherever you are, in whatever stage of pre-conception, pregnancy, baby days, or even toddlers years, there are things you can do to help your little ones to be healthy and well, and to recover your own health also. Mary struggled with major post-natal and peri-natal depression with her first two pregnancies, her son had multiple allergies (some of which were life-threatening), her daughter had ADHD, and they all struggled with parasites. After working through the GAPS protocol, the changes in her family’s health were so amazing she couldn’t keep it to herself, and began a blog and coaching business called Good Mood Food, to help others on their healing journey. She now has a beautiful, healthy third child, and is helping other mums to work towards healing themselves so that their children will benefit also. Listen to Mary’s previous podcasts on A Quirky Journey, here: Anaphylactic Allergies, FPIES, Post Natal Depression, Parasites, and Hope for Healing! Dealing with Parasites Healing from Anxiety and Depression If you need some help with cooking for good gut health, or if you are wanting to begin the GAPS protocol, check out Jo’s Quirky Cooking for Gut Health Program – you will find it takes away the overwhelm and stress to have the program to show you the way. The post AQJ 56: Preparing for the Birth of a Healthy Baby – Mary Kelly appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Dr Igor Tabrizian has helped many families to reclaim their health, through his nutritional approach to medicine. In this episode we discuss his new book called, ‘Staying Healthy’ – a beautiful, easy to understand and very practical book designed to start you on your journey to good health. Dr Igor also discusses ways that people on special diets like vegetarian, low salicylate, and low FODMAPS, can be sure to get the vitamins and minerals they need from their food. He talks about his recovery from chronic fatigue, and how learning to listen to our innate cravings for good food can help us to heal. ‘Staying Healthy’ will be available from Thermomix in Australia very soon. You can find many others of Dr Igor’s books on Amazon, and learn more about his work on his website, http://www.nutritionreviewservice.com.au. The post AQJ 55: Staying Healthy – Dr Igor Tabrizian appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

This week Jo and Fouad are in Sydney, working on their new cookbook – cooking, photoshooting, meeting with designers, and working on putting together the best wholefoods cookbook ever! Listen in as they share their ideas, introduce the cookbook team, and talk about what is coming up and how you can get involved. Also, don’t miss the news about their upcoming cooking workshops and dinners, the Quirky Cooking for Gut Health program, and what’s on the agenda for the next podcast! The post AQJ 54: Mid Year Wrap Up appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

What is Pyroluria? with Jules Galloway ND A couple of months ago, Jo and her kids were tested for Pyroluria (Pyrolles Disorder), and found their levels were quite high. Pyroluria (pyrrole disorder, kryptopyrrole, kryptopyrroluria, pyrroluria, mauve factor or hemepyrrole) is a common metabolic condition that occurs when pyrrol, a key component of haemoglobin, is overproduced by the liver. It is a contributing factor to anxiety, stress and gut issues. Jo began asking naturopaths, doctors and friends for their thoughts on Pyroluria, and what can be done to help lower the levels of pyrroles in the bloodstream. In this episode, Jo and Fouad talk to naturopath Jules Galloway about Jules’ experience with Pyroluria, and what she has found helpful. Jules Galloway is a qualified naturopath, healthy foodie, wellness blogger and podcaster, who specializes in gluten, dairy and cane sugar free living, and runs an online wellness program called Shiny Healthy You – Fatigued to Fabulous in 12 Weeks. Check out Jules’ podcast, Shiny Healthy You, on The Wellness Couch, and visit her website Jules Galloway for lots of fabulous recipes and health tips. The post AQJ 53: Pyroluria with Jules Galloway ND appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Following on from their last podcast, Jo and Fouad continue the theme of naturally healing from depression. In this episode, they interview Melissa Stainwald, of The Keep in Mind Project, who tells her story of recovery from severe depression and psychosis. As Jo says in the introduction to the interview, Melissa’s story is awful, amazing, wonderful, gut wrenching and inspirational, all at the same time. And most importantly, it gives hope to those who most need it. The post AQJ 52 : The Keep in Mind Project, Melissa Stainwald appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

This week Jo chats to a very special guest, Dr Kelly Brogan from New York, who has a masters in neuroscience and is a board certified psychiatrist. Dr Kelly calls herself a ‘holistic psychiatrist’ and is quite unlike any psychiatrist you’ve probably have ever heard of. She doesn’t believe in prescribing anti-depressants, and instead works to get people off medication. Dr Kelly has recently written a very controversial book called “A Mind of Your Own” where she destroys a few myths about depression, explains how depression and anxiety can be healed naturally, and shares some of big pharma’s biggest secrets when it comes to anti-depressants. In this episode Dr Kelly talks about why depression is not a disease, why the serotonin theory of depression is wrong, why many psychiatric diagnoses are caused by underlying physical ailments, and what your first steps should be if you suffer from depression. Dr Kelly Brogan is the keynote speaker at the upcoming MINDD Forum in Sydney, 20-22 May – more info here: http://mindd.org/mif16-speakers/ Dr Kelly Brogan’s website:http://kellybroganmd.com The post AQJ 51: Healing the Mind without Medications – Dr Kelly Brogan appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

This week, Jo and Fouad talk to Leslie Embersits, who is the founding director of the MINDD Foundation. MINDD helps practitioners and patients discover and implement effective treatments for Metabolic, Immunologic, Neurologic, Digestive, and Developmental conditions. Each year in May, the foundation brings amazing speakers to Sydney for the MINDD Forum, so that parents and practitioners can learn more about how they can help children with these conditions. Did You Know? Australian children are struggling with epidemics; allergies (1 in 3), asthma (1 in 4), ADHD (1 in 10); Autism (1 in 100). Childhood cancer, diabetes, obesity and depression have each well more than doubled over the past 2 decades.* Nutritional deficiencies create an imbalance in neurotransmitters which can affect behaviour, concentration, mood, sleep and addictions. Many individuals with learning and behavioural disorders have auditory, visual or sensory processing issues that do not show up in standard hearing, vision or behavioural tests. Digestive health can drive allergies, anxiety, ADHD, arthritis, asthma, autism, bedwetting, depression, diabetes, eczema, infections, learning delay, mood and sleep disorders. “ Many of today’s complex and chronic diseases are multi-system problems that do not have a quick, one stop fix but that can be improved dramatically with an Integrative approach. This is not a replacement or alternative to conventional medicine but a complementary approach that can yield dramatic result when tailored to the particular needs of the individual. The only question we need to ask is “Are we prepared to do what it takes to be well? ” – Leslie Embersits Find out more about the MINDD Foundation and Forum in this fascinating interview. The post AQJ 50 : The Mindd Foundation, Leslie Embersits appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

On his recent trip to Far North Queensland, Fouad had a chance to hang out with Jo’s family. In this episode, Fouad sits down for a chat with Isaac, Jo’s 14 year old son (who is even MORE quirky than Jo), and discusses how GAPS helped Isaac with his anxiety and what the last year has looked like for this young man on his journey of healing. The post AQJ 49 : A Quirky Recap with Isaac Whitton appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

It’s time for a bit of a catch up! Fouad has spent the past week with Jo’s family in Far North Queensland, to begin their next project, and to get a bit of an insight into Jo’s crazy life! Join Jo and Fouad for a friendly chat at Jo’s kitchen table, and hear all the latest news… Find out about: – Jo’s Quirky Cooking for Gut Health program – what does it include, what does Fouad think of it (a bit of a review), when will it be ready, who will benefit from it? – Jo and Fouad’s upcoming cookbook of Paleo and Wholefood Recipes – new title, new ideas, new cover – an exciting project for Quirky Cooking! – The Mindd Forum “Food is Medicine” seminar, which Fouad, Jo, and Jo’s son Isaac (14) will be speaking and cooking at, May 20–22 – Jo’s life in Far North Queensland – a ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse (see lots of photos here) – Helping each other out with healthy hospital meals: “Quirky Healthy Hampers” – Fouad’s big news: why he quit his ‘real’ job as a software engineer; the beginning of his new focus on health, cooking, writing and getting closer to nature; and his two big goals for the year! – How being in nature helps with healing and reducing stress – Natural spring water and the difference it makes to drink ‘wild’ water whenever possible (ReWild yourself by Daniel Vitalis); plus recommendations for good water filters for the home – A bit about our supportive Quirky community – the Quirky Cooking Chat Group! – Recipes we’re working on for the new cookbook, which we can’t wait to share! If you have any questions about today’s podcast, or have some recipes you’d like to suggest for our book, please feel free to ask in the Chat Group! The post AQJ 48 : A Quirky Catch Up – with Jo and Fouad appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Last time Dr Tabrizian was on our podcast, he completely stunned us with an episode that was so packed full of information that we just had to have him back. In this return episode, Dr T gets into the science behind allergies, intolerances, and food reactions – root causes, manifestation and treatment. This is another Listen In The post AQJ47 : The Science Behind Allergies, Dr Igor Tabrizian appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

When Jo’s blog, Quirky Cooking, turned 7 years old at the end of 2015, Jo had a special giveaway to celebrate! The winner would receive a recipe designed just for them, to be shared on the blog. And since everyone has a story, Jo and Fouad decided to also interview the winner on the podcast, to share their story and to talk about the kinds of foods they eat, and discuss together some recipe ideas. The winner of the giveaway was Melissa Furmedge, and on this episode, Melissa shares with us her family’s story, and what kinds of foods they love. They discuss: – Struggling with behavioural and health issues in kids – Having one twin with autism, and one without – Melt downs, eye contact, and coping with crowds – The Failsafe Diet, and how it helped – Being gluten, dairy, corn and soy free – Reactions to salicylates – Sugar highs, carb addiction – Eating to reduce ASD symptoms – The trepidation parents feel when needing to change kids’ diets – Their favourite foods, and how to make allergy friendly versions – And lots more food and recipe talk! Jo will be sharing the recipe she developed for Melissa on her blog: Crunchy Grain Free Buffalo Wings and a special dessert. So stay tuned! (As well as links to other low carb/low sugar/gluten/dairy/corn/soy free recipes, and some tips for GF wrap options.) The post AQJ 46 : Melissa Furmedge, Recipe Development for Special Diets appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Jo and Fouad interview Dr Igor Tabrizian, author of the book “Inflammation: The disease we all have”. In this fascinating conversation, Dr Tabrizian discusses a wide array of topics that are central to the chronic illnesses we now face in the modern world. From environmental toxins, diet and lifestyle, to the kind of tests you should be considering if you’re undergoing a journey of health recovery – this episode is densely full of information that many of us will find enlightening in our path to wellness. Dr T’s book can be found in Kindle format here: http://www.amazon.com.au/Inflammation-The-disease-all-have-ebook/dp/B018DMNNWS The post AQJ 45 : Inflammation and Chronic Illness, Igor Tabrizian appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

In episode 23, Rachel Favilla shared her story of growing up with an autoimmune disease, and struggling to find answers. She began the GAPS protocol and quickly saw improvements. However, after about 6 months, she seemed to hit a wall, and was unable to progress beyond stage 4 of GAPS intro. In this episode, Rachel shares her continuing story – her discovery that she had candida and an infestation of parasites in her gut meant she needed to change her diet again. To fight them, she has had to transition to a ketogenic version of GAPS. Rachel receives a lot of questions about ketogenic GAPS, enemas, parasites and candida, she answers those questions, explaining why and how it is helping so far. The post AQJ 44 : Parasites, Candida & Ketogenic GAPS, Rachel Favilla appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Let’s kick off the start of a new year with a Q&A! In this episode, Jo is joined by her new co-host, Fouad Kassab, and her friend Rachel Favilla (author of Real Soup for the Real Soul, and soon to be podcaster for a healthy teens show), to answer questions posted by readers in the Quirky Cooking Chat Group. They talk about: – What oils are the best for frying? – What veggies are important to have organic? – Are dehydrated bone broths ok if you’re time poor? – Is it possible to do the GAPS diet if you are fructose intolerant? – How can I meal plan in a way that really works, so I’m not making dinner at 9pm and buying lunch everyday? – How can I gain healthy muscle mass on Paleo/GAPS? – What are some tips for helping little people gain weight? – Is there a Thermomix version of any Paleo cookbooks coming out soon? – How much butter does Fouad eat each week? … and more! If you’d like to contact any of us directly, you can find us here: Jo: Quirky Cooking Blog, Quirky Cooking Facebook, Quirky Cooking Chat Group Fouad: The Food Blog, The Food Blog on Facebook Rachel: Real Soup for the Real Soul Blog, Real Soup for the Real Soul Facebook The post AQJ 43 : Q&A with Fouad Kassab & Rachel Favilla appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Christmas is nearly here, and all around the world, stress levels are rising… So Jo and Fouad are coming to the rescue with tips and recipes to help reduce the Christmas overwhelm, and make this your happiest, healthiest Christmas ever! ‘A healthy Christmas’ isn’t just about the food – it’s also about keeping stress levels low, not getting caught up in the ‘spend heaps of money’ holiday hype, and simply enjoying this special time with family and friends. This fun episode is full of great ideas, and answers readers’ questions like: What can I cook that will cater for the special diets in our family and still be enjoyed by all? What are some delicious and simple GAPS and Paleo dishes for Christmas dinner? What’s the best way to handle family and friends who don’t like us eating differently to them, and give us a hard time? What can I make ahead and freeze, so I’m not overwhelmed on Christmas day? How do I deal with food reactions if I eat something that doesn’t agree with me? What are some ways to keep Christmas simple, enjoyable, and stress free? How can I practice gratefulness and contentment at this time of year? The post AQJ 42 : A Healthy Christmas appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

About a year ago, Christina Matthewson was on life support and not expected to live. Now she is teaching fermenting workshops, studying naturopathy, and coaching people as they journey through GAPS. Her main desire is to help others live fulfilled, healthy lives, as she has been close to death and realises how important it is to make the most of the time you have. Christina is a survivor of a pregnancy condition called Accreta, and it’s a miracle she is here today. Listen in to her amazing story of recovery, and be inspired by her determination to get past the dark depression that followed. You can find Christina’s blog here: http://thejoyofthehome.blogspot.com.au/ The post AQJ 41: Surviving Percreta – Christina Matthewson appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

How can you tell if you or your children have parasites? What has gut health got to do with parasite infestation? How do you get rid of them? Is it as simple as just taking antibiotics, or is there more to it? Is there a more natural, gentle way to kill off parasites? Will they come back once you do get rid of them? How can you heal the gut if you did have antibiotic treatment to rid yourself of parasites? In this episode, Mary Kelly of Good Mood Food goes into detail about her family’s experience with parasites. After 18 months on GAPS, they felt like they’d ‘hit a brick wall’, and some symptoms just weren’t going away. After some research and testing they realised they all had parasites. Mary explains that parasites multiply in the gut for good reason – and to get rid of them you have to deal with the root cause. Learn the answers to the above questions, and find out what gut health has to do with parasites. For more information, see Mary’s blog article, Parasites, The Hidden Menace; as well as her Natural Parasite Treatment Plan. The post AQJ 40: Dealing with Parasites appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Heidi ate mostly wholefoods, cooked with real ingredients, didn’t eat sugar, and lived for years as a strict vegetarian. But she was struggling. Her health was not good, and she was suffering from major depression. She began to study naturopathy to try to find answers, removed all packet foods from her diet, and researched the role of proteins and fats in the body. Diet changes resulted in a big improvement in Heidi’s health and well-being, so she began a health retreat in Bali with a team of health professionals, promoting a wholefoods diet. But she felt there was still something missing. She was struggling with exhaustion and didn’t feel 100% healthy. When Heidi’s daughter, Winter, was born, she caught an infection in the hospital, and was given five different strains of antibiotics in her first ten day of life. Heidi knew there would be a backlash from that treatment, but had no idea what it would be. Winter began having food reactions, didn’t walk until almost two, seemed to live in a bubble, had no eye contact, couldn’t be toilet trained, and her speech was slurred. After much testing, they found she was riddled with pathogenic bacteria and had the MTHFR gene mutation, meaning she couldn’t absorb folate and was highly toxic. Heidi got her hands on the GAPS book, and the lightbulb went on. Listen in to the interview to see how the GAPS diet turned this little girl’s life around, and gave her ‘health professional’ mum new insights into food and healing, and the link between gut and brain. Heidi shares her knowledge and experience of healing foods at her health retreats. Find out more about her “Alive Wellness Retreat” in Bali, here: http://www.alivewellnessretreats.com.au/ You can read the full transcript of this interview on my website, www.quirkycooking.com.au. The post AQJ 39 : Toxic Kids: A Health Professional’s Experience with Healing Her Daughter appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Sometimes it’s difficult to work out how to eat well and stay at a healthy weight, without being confused by all the ‘diet’ advice out there. Is it all about counting calories, cutting out fat, and exercising heaps? Brenda and Naomi of The Break Through! Program say no! Healthy weight loss is much more about healing than ‘dieting’. Some important factors are: – detoxing the body – getting rid of ‘trigger foods’ – giving the gut a chance to heal – getting into the right mindset and reducing stress – breaking the cycle of emotional eating – balancing hormones – eating healthy fats … and there are many more things to consider. It may seem like it’s all way too complicated, but Brenda and Naomi are very experienced at helping women to navigate the weight loss minefield. Brenda is a certified health coach, and Naomi is a naturopath, and together they have put together a fabulous program to help women uncover the reasons their bodies may be resisting weight loss and work out a plan to work on positive, thriving health. You can check out The Breakthrough! Program here! Visit Brenda’s and Naomi’s websites here: Brenda Janschek, Certified Health Coach Naomi Judge, Naturopath The post AQJ 38 : Healthy Weight Loss, and why ‘Diets’ Don’t Work! appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

This week Mary from Good Mood Food joins Jo again, to discuss working through anxiety and depression with the help of a healing diet. If you, or someone close to you, has struggled with depression, you know how debilitating it can be, and how hard it is to pull yourself out of the vicious cycle of eating badly, which only makes things worse. How do you even begin to get back on track with healthy eating when you feel completely overwhelmed by everyday life? And does it even help to change the way you eat, anyway? What else can you do to help yourself to heal? Mary talks about the importance of just putting one foot in front of another each day, doing what you can, but not putting yourself under the pressure of a time limit for changing your diet or getting off medication or feeling well again. It takes time, but there is definitely hope, and if you have hope, you have everything. Mary has been through deep depression herself, due to her son’s illness, post-natal depletion, and her damaged digestive system, and is passionate about helping others through this dark time. She shares five key areas to work on that will make a very big difference to your health and well-being, and recommends taking it one step at a time, as you feel ready. Mary also explains the importance of adding good things in that contribute to healing, before trying to take the bad things out. This is a very encouraging and hopeful podcast, showing how healing the gut can totally turn around the way you feel both mentally and physically. The post AQJ 37 : Good Mood Food – Healing from Anxiety and Depression appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Over the last couple of months, Jo has been focusing on simplifying her busy life. She says, “It’s challenging not to get caught up in the ‘do more, have more, eat more, buy more’ mentality”, and that we have to consciously work on taking a step back and making life simpler, even though that’s not what our culture is all about. In this episode, she chats with her friend, Fouad, about how they both found their lives were getting way too complicated, and what they have done to help simplify things. They talk about the importance of not getting so caught up in all the ‘doing’ that we neglect the ‘being’, learning to say no, learning to cook more simply, decluttering, disconnecting from the constant barrage of social media, how lists and prioritising can help, and how little things we do to live a simpler life can help someone else to have a better life. The post AQJ 36 : Simplifying – with Fouad Kassab appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

What do you do when your kids are having constant meltdowns and nothing is going right? How can you help them to cope better, and turn a bad day into a good day? How can parents press the ‘reset’ button on one of those days? Nicole Azzopardi has some great tips for how to have a good day! She came up with a “Better Day Plan” with the help of her children, and as simple as it sounds, there are good reasons behind each idea, and they really work! This is a very practical podcast which will be a big help to parents of GAPS kids, or kids with anxiety or stress issues. Working on gut health makes a big difference for these kids, but for those first few months when the gut is still healing, you will also need other wats to help your child cope with the everyday stresses of life. Jo and Nicole also discuss: dealing with constipation problems in kids tantrums and mood swings how important ‘the village’ is when raising children and how to look after yourself when everything is a bit crazy – caring for the carer! You can read about Nicole’s “Better Day Plan” here: http://www.mummacare.com/blog/previous/3 And follow Nicole on Facebook at MummaCare! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mumma-Care/405299626262430 The post AQJ 35 : Nicole Azzopardi – The “Better Day Plan” appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Nicole Azzopardi is the author of ‘The Alchemy Cookbook’, where she shares simple, delicious, traditional recipes that fit so beautifully into the GAPS way of eating. In this episode, Jo and Nicole discuss the importance of bringing traditional foods back into everyday eating. Nicole also shares the story of her family’s healing journey, starting with a low salicylate, additive free diet to help her daughter with severe food allergies, sleep issues, and autism symptoms. Her health improved, but Nicole asked herself, ‘Once you work out what foods are bothering you, are you stuck with avoiding those foods for the rest of your life?’ After much research, Nicole decided the answer was no! Knowing that you’re reacting to different foods just highlights that there’s some work to be done with your digestion, and Nicole believes the GAPS diet can totally heal your gut so that you can bring many, if not all, of the problem foods back in over time. The changes in Nicole’s family have been amazing, and as a busy mum, Nicole shares that it was much easier to work on changing the way they ate than to continue on dealing with the overwhelming allergies and health issues. Although it takes time and effort to change cooking and eating habits, it’s so worth it in the long run. Nicole shares her recipes and tips online at Mumma Care, and can also be found on Facebook. She is passionate about helping mothers look after themselves so that they can better care for their families, and loves to help other mums get on track with healthy eating. The post AQJ 34 : Nicole Azzopardi – Healing the Gut with Traditional Foods appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

This podcast is especially for those of you with GAPS questions that you need answered by a health professional, who has studied GAPS as well as other methods of healing. Shalani McCray, naturopathic nutritionist, medical herbalist and GAPS practitioner, joins Jo this week to answer your questions. Learn more about: how to decide if GAPS is right for you should testing be done before starting GAPS how to do GAPS when you have histamine reactions when slow-cooked broths are not good for you how to add healing broths and fermented foods to a sensitive person’s diet why raw cacao may not be a good idea coping with the amount of time it takes to cook from scratch when to push through a die-off reaction, and how to know if it’s an intolerance or die-off the best probiotics to use, and how much and when to take them how much you can ‘cheat’ on GAPS before it affects healing are there benefits if you start doing full GAPS without doing the intro how to fill kids up on GAPS food is this way of eating just too much meat can you do GAPS if you’re vegetarian how to cope with eating out will GAPS make me lose weight/gain weight what you can do if GAPS didn’t work for you and more. Shalani shares that there is no magic formula, everyone is different, and each person needs to work out the healing diet that suits their body. GAPS may need to be done a little differently for different people, so if in doubt or needing help, please get in touch with an experienced GAPS practitioner. Jo has invited Shalani to come back for another podcast as there are still more questions from readers that they didn’t have time to answer, so stay tuned for part two. If you’d like to send in some questions, please contact Jo via her blog or Facebook page, and they will be added to the list! Visit Shalani’s Website here, Live Alive, as well as her Facebook page and Instagram. Shalani is based in Sydney, but is also available for Skype appointments. The post AQJ 33 : GAPS Q & A with Shalani McCray – Naturopathic Nutritionist and GAPS Practitioner appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

This week’s story is absolutely fascinating – an amazing story of hope and healing, with Mary Kelly of ‘Good Mood Food’. Anaphylactic to wheat, dairy, eggs, nuts, and sesame seeds, and allergic to just about everything else except white rice and corn, life was difficult for little Daniel. He survived on a hypoallergenic formula, but was not thriving at all – always sick, coughing, vomitting, underweight, and reacting to so many things in his environment. His mother, Mary, was so traumatised and exhausted by her son’s condition, that she suffered from debilitating depression. A visit to the allergist was followed by her spending days in bed trying to cope with the stress of the situation. After much research, and grasping at the only hope that seemed left to her, Mary decided to try a very slow and careful version of the GAPS diet, to see if that could help their son. One drop at a time, they added broth to his formula… and the healing began. Now, 2 years later, they have a different child. He’s no longer is allergic to everything – only tree nuts are left on his list of reactive foods, and it’s no longer an anaphylactic allergy. He’s a happy, healthy little boy, mum’s depression is gone, and the whole family have seen major changes in their health through this healing diet. It sounds too good to be true, but listen in as this mum explains her years of researching ‘white papers’ and working out the best way to help her son and the reasons behind her decision to try GAPS – and the difference it has made in their lives. Mary shares her story and her research, as well as her family’s favourite recipes, on her website, Good Mood Food. Follow her inspiring posts on Facebook, and if you need some one-on-one coaching from someone who knows the science behind GAPS, and how to begin GAPS when your child can’t eat ‘anything’, contact Mary here. The post AQJ 32 : Anaphylactic Allergies, FPIES, Post Natal Depression, Parasites, and Hope for Healing! appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

In this episode, Jo is joined by her foodie friend, Fouab Kassab, and they discuss how Jo’s family has benefitted so far from the GAPS diet, as well as Fouad’s experience with the Paleo diet. They share the many positive changes in their health through these healing diets, then approach the question, ‘What next?’ Should GAPS or the Paleo diet be something you stick to for the rest of your life? How long do you continue to eat this way before beginning to add some restricted foods back in? What would you add back, and when? What happens if you react to something you add back in? If you do begin reacting to foods, do you have to begin right back at the beginning again? Fouad began the Paleo diet in 2011, and it changed his health dramatically. He now eats what he describes as a ‘high nutrition, low toxicity’ diet, which is close to Paleo but he prefers not to ‘label’ the way he eats. He’s much more flexible with the foods he eats now that his body has healed. He explains why he feels that you can’t expect a certain way of eating to always be exactly what your body needs, and how we have to stay aware of our body’s needs and change our diet to suit, as time goes on. Fouad will be regular on “A Quirky Journey” now that he’s closed his pop up restaurant, Baraka. He has a great interest in the science behind healthy eating, and is a talented cook, writer and speaker. You can connect with Fouad on his blog, The Food Blog, and also on his Facebook page, Baraka. The post AQJ 31 : Should GAPS or Paleo be a lifetime diet? appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Essential oils can be a powerful tool in your ‘health and healing’ toolbox! They are more than just a lovely way to keep your house smelling nice – they can be used for first aid, for relaxation and reducing stress, for natural medicines and for non toxic cleaning products and pest deterrents. In this episode, Samantha Bulloch of The Alchemist’s Tree, naturopath and aromatherapist, joins us to explain the basics of essential oils. why she began using essential oils, and how she went about studying them how essential oils are made how they differ to herbal medicines and flower essences how to use them safely and effectively her favourite oils and how she uses them basics to have on hand where you can study aromatherapy or do short courses to help you use them in your own home Jo and Sam also discuss where to buy good quality, pure essential oils from, but agree that this is very much a personal choice and there are many great brands out there to choose from. Next week Sam will share some practical tips and answer specific questions asked by Jo’s readers, so stay tuned for part 2! You can also join Jo’s Quirky Cooking Chat Group and read more detailed information about these topics in the ‘Files’ section of the group. If you’d like visit Jo’s DoTERRA essential oils page, you can find it here. The post AQJ 30 : Essential Oils 101 with Samantha Bulloch of The Alchemist’s Tree appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Do you need some tips for helping your kids to cope with the changes to their diet, and with how they will feel in the first couple of weeks? Are you worried they will refuse to eat the food you make? Are you wondering how other families have coped in this situtation? Listen in as Jo talks to her friend Cathy about what it was like for them when they began their kids on GAPS – the struggles to get the kids to eat, the emotional upheaval, the fear about ‘am I doing the right thing?’… but most importantly, how they overcame these things, their successes, and how their girls have learned to love their food. If you have kids on GAPS and would love some support, join our GAPS for Kids support group on Facebook. The post AQJ 29 : Cathy Benson – How to help your kids to cope with starting GAPS appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Did you know that if you’ve given birth within the last decade, you may be still suffering some consequences, such as lethargy, anxiety, memory disturbances, ‘baby brain’, and poor energy levels? It’s not just because life gets busy when a new baby comes along, but also because the process of growing a baby exacts a significant toll on the body. Dr Oscar Serrallach is a GP in Mullumbimby who has done training in Nutritional and Environmental Health and has a special interest in post natal repletion (helping mothers recover from the biopyschosocial ordeal of having kids). In our society, many mothers are already nutritionally and physically depleted before conception and pregnancy, and this can escalate after the birth, to the stage where mums are ‘running on empty’. How do you know if you are suffering from postnatal depletion, and what tests should be done to show what to work on? What are some simple steps to follow before and after having a child to make sure your body doesn’t become run down and nutritionally depleted? How does gut health impact on postnatal depletion? What is the peak time for postnatal depression, and do mums who have depletion commonly end up with depression? How important is a support network for new mums? Answers to these questions and more! This is a fascinating podcast which really highlights the importance of caring for our new mums. Useful Links: Dr Oscar’s website, Facebook page, and Instagram A great Q&A about Postnatal Depletion with Dr Oscar, here on Goop The post AQJ 28 : Dr Oscar Serrallach – Postnatal Depletion appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

How can a gut healing diet, natural therapies, and working daily with your kids to encourage optimal learning, help them to cope with the world around them? In this episode, Leah shares some recent results of their family’s healing journey, the story of their big move out of the city, and their recent transition from homeschooling to public schooling – big changes for the Follett family! Listen in to learn more about how kids can function so much better when they have a healthy environment – both inside and out. Gut health and stress affect everything from behavior, to concentration, anxiety, food reactions, sensitivity to chemicals in their environment, sensitivity to noise and distractions, ability to cope with change, and more. Big kudos to Leah and her husband for all their hard work – the changes they’ve seen in their kids in the past four years have been amazing. To learn more about Leah’s story, and how she’s worked with her kids to reduce ASD symptoms, listen in to Our Stories. To learn more about Jo and Leah’s homeschooling journeys, listen here. To learn more about helping kids with learning difficulties and special needs, listen here. The post AQJ 27: How good gut health helps kids cope with the world around them! appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

This week’s episode is all about fermented foods! Katrina Kehoe of Kehoe’s Kitchen joins Jo to share her story of the past four years – from GAPS to a paleo diet, with a focus on using fermented foods as natural probiotics to help with the healing process. Find the answers to the following questions, and more! How can fermented foods help in the gut-healing process? And what do you do if you really just don’t have the time (or the patience) to make your own? Are the fermented veggies you can buy at the grocery store any good? Where can you buy traditionally prepared sauerkraut, and what are the benefits? What is ‘wild fermentation’? Does it make a difference if the vegetables used are organic or not? How should you begin if you haven’t really eaten fermented veggies much before, or are just beginning GAPS? What do you do if you are low FODMAPS – are there some options for you? What if you have issues with histamines? Which ferments go best with which foods? Katrina also has plenty of helpful information, recipe ideas, tips for getting started with GAPS, and answers to the most common GAPS questions on her website and Facebook page, so check out the links below! Katrina’s story in more detail GAPS Intro Meals: see what Katrina cooked for her family while on the GAPS intro diet Ideas for GAPS friendly kid’s lunch boxes Katrina’s GAPS and Paleo recipes Where to buy top quality gelatine Where to buy Kehoe’s Kitchen’s Organic Raw Artisan Sauerkrauts, Kim Chi, Sauerkraut Juices, Cultured Paleo Tasty Cheese, Cashew Yogurts, Coconut Yoghurts and Raw Activated Paleo Bars: Find a stockist in your area The post AQJ 26 : Kehoe’s Kitchen: helping to heal the gut with fermented foods appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

On today’s podcast, Jo has a very special co-host, her 14 yr old son Isaac. Jo’s family started GAPS (the Gut and Psychology Syndrome protocol) because Isaac was suffering with severe OCD. A year ago Isaac was barely able to function – now he’s doing amazingly well and loves to share what he’s been learning. Jo and Isaac discuss simple ways to start implementing these gut healing principles into your everyday cooking, without stressing out the family; and how to take some baby steps to get started. Not everyone can jump right in and do strict GAPS, but there are some basic things you can do to begin healing, adding in other steps when you can. They also answer readers questions like: – how GAPS has changed Isaac’s life socially – how to help kids not feel like they’re ‘missing out’ when around friends eating differently – tips for kid’s snacks – how to manage GAPS with toddlers – do people lose weight on GAPS If you’re feeling overwhelmed, have a listen to these simple ideas and tips from a teenager on GAPS! Useful links: How to make bone broths Easy recipe for fermented veggies Good quality gelatine: GoBio or Great Lakes gelatine (available at health food shops) Getting healthy fats into your diet The post AQJ 25 : Q&A with Isaac – gut healing simplified, and kids on GAPS appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Five years ago, Marlies Hobbs was a busy lawyer with no time to be worrying about the food she was eating. She thought she ate pretty well, and she was excercising, so if she was a little bit overweight, exhausted, bothered by skin problems and not really feeling great, that was just a part of normal life, right? Then her first son came along and shocked Marlies, and her husband Jai, into realising how important food and lifestyle really are for health. Their baby was highly allergic to dairy, and many times Marlies thought she had lost him. Jai began researching the paleo lifestyle and diet, and together they began a journey that has taken this family above and beyond what they thought was possible. Listen in to Marlies’ fascinating story of the healing power of food, and how eating natural, nutrient dense foods and living a lifestyle closer to nature has changed their lives. Out of it has also come a successful family business with cafes popping up all around Australia, and many other people being helped to change their health for the better. You can find lots of the delicious Paleo Cafe recipes here on the Paleo Cafe website. The Paleo Cafe Lifestyle & Cookbook, by Marlies Hobbs, is now available in most bookstores and department stores, including Big W and Kmart. Or you can order it online, here. And don’t forget to follow the Paleo Cafe Australia on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The post AQJ 24 : Changing your life by the way you eat with Marlies Hobbs of the Paleo Cafe appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

This week’s guest on “A Quirky Journey” is a young lady who has been fighting an auto-immune disease since she was 14, and shares her story of her ups and downs, and how GAPS is helping her in her quest to heal her body. Rachel Favilla is just 18 years old, but her maturity and knowledge of nutrition, gut health, auto immune disease, and cooking ‘meals that heal’ is astounding! This is one amazing young lady! Rachel is the author of the blog, “Real Soup for the Real Soul”, where she shares her delicious, GAPS friendly recipes. She is studying nutritional medicine at the Endeavour College of Natural Health, and wants to become a nutritionist, with a focus on healing the gut. Listen in as Rachel shares lots of tips for learning how to heal your body, and how to cook for good health in a way that is simple and easy for everyone. Real Soup for the Real Soul: http://www.realsoupfortherealsoul.com The post AQJ 23 : Rachel Favilla: Fighting an Auto-Immune Disease appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Alexx Stuart joins Jo in this episode to talk about the recent MINDD Forum in Sydney. Alexx has been a MINDD Foundation ambassador for the past few years, and shares how this not-for-profit organisation helps parents of children with Metabolic, Immunologic, Neurologic, Digestive, and Developmental conditions. Listen in to learn more about the forum, and how the MINDD Foundation works with health practitioners to help families all over Australia. The post AQJ 22 : Alexx Stuart Discusses the MINDD Forum, 2015 appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Jo and Leah are back on air together in this episode, and they have fun catching up, and chatting about what’s been happening the last few weeks. They discuss: – Leah’s feedback on the amazing MINDD Forum held recently in Sydney – Jo’s recent illness, and how a healthy diet doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll never get sick! – what to do if you have to take antibiotics – Jo’s UK tour and how she coped with travelling while on GAPS – how Jo copes with such a busy schedule, travel, kids, and homeschooling – what’s coming up with Quirky Cooking classes and A Quirky Journey podcast! If you’d like to suggest any topics you’d love to hear discussed on ‘A Quirky Journey’, or if you have questions for Jo and Leah, please leave a comment here or on Facebook: Quirky Cooking (Jo): https://www.facebook.com/quirkycooking Leah Follett: https://www.facebook.com/akesisbalance The post AQJ21 : Jo & Leah Catchup appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Jo has recently been travelling in the UK with her Quirky Cooking classes, and while there she did a radio interview on Marlow FM’s “The Health Show”. Jo chats with Ann Garry and Jenny Tschieche (nutritionists) about: – her family’s food journey and how they got to where they are now – why they began GAPS – the link between depression, anxiety, OCD, and gut health – the differences GAPS has made in Jo’s family – how Jo copes with such a busy schedule while cooking everything from scratch – ideas for quick meals, easy nutritious breakfasts, and time saving tips – coping with special diets while travelling – getting the kids involved and more! If you are new to “A Quirky Journey”, this is a great place to jump in, as Jo summarises her family’s food journey in this information-packed interview. It’s lots of fun and there’s plenty to inspire you, so listen in and enjoy! Useful links: Marlow FM radio online Nutritionist Jenny Tschiesche – Lunchbox Doctor and Facebook page Gut and Psychology Syndrome The post AQJ 20: Quirky Cooking Interview on “The Health Show” appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Today Jo and Leah discuss their top tips for lifestyle changes for wellbeing. They share the small changes in their own lives that have helped them to move forward in their health journeys. Small, sustainable changes lead to bigger things. Something as small as what you eat for breakfast can start you off on a whole new direction. Listen in as they discuss: – achieving small steps before moving on to new challenges – changing directions as you learn more – the importance of a support network and community – teaching others through your failings and successes The post AQJ 19: Lifestyle Changes for Health and Wellbeing appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

We live in a toxic world, and most of us are suffering from some kind of toxic overload in our bodies. How can we eat and live in a way that reduces the toxins in our environment and bodies? What differences will it make if we can only make a few small changes? How do we even begin? Alexx Stuart is an expert at helping people to de-tox their homes and food, and her simple, practical approach to low-tox living is a breath of fresh air to overwhelmed mums all over the world. Not to mention, she has amazing recipes on her blog! Listen in as Leah and Jo pick Alexx’s brains and learn some tips for things you can do today to begin getting toxins out of your lives. We also talk about GMO foods, organic farming, knowing where your food comes from, getting back to real foods, simplifying your food and life, avoiding food waste, and much more. Alexx has a great ecourse to help with detoxing your life – find out more about it here on her website. Useful Links: Video by Dr Vandana Shiva for the low down on GMOs, Planet on a Plate Organic Savings Tips Redefining Treats Vague symptoms and endless searching Keep your cleaning toxin free with these 7 easy homemade cleaning products 100 ways to use your scraps and leftovers! Mindful eating The post AQJ 18: Organic and Low Tox Living: Interview with Alexx Stuart appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

It’s Easter time! So of course, Jo and Leah talk about chocolate, healthy Easter treats, non-chocolate Easter gifts, and Easter menus. But first, they discuss what’s been happening in the world of ‘GAPS’ and ‘Paleo’ – Pete Evan’s recent Paleo Way tour, how they are going with following a GAPS diet, and all about the MINDD foundation and the upcoming MINDD forum. Catch up on all the news, and be inspired for a healthier Easter! Useful Links: The Mindd Foundation Pete Evan’s Paleo Way Tour Nourished Kitchen GAPS Facebook Page The Healthy Home Economist Easter Recipes Leah’s Raw Chocolate (unsweetened) Jo’s Raw Chocolate (sweetened) Jo’s Salted Caramel Chocolate 3 Ingredient DIY Easter Eggs Leah’s Homemade Marshmallows (GAPS friendly) The post AQJ 17: Catching Up on the News and a GAPS Easter appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

It can be very daunting when starting out to change your diet, as suddenly your food bill may go through the roof. How can this be avoided? Is it possible to eat healthy, organic or pesticide free (or at least low chemical) foods, without blowing the budget? We believe it is! The secret is in buying in bulk, as much as possible, and making the most of what is local and in season. This week Jo and Leah are discussing how they buy in bulk through co-ops to save money, and to find hard to source ingredients. They are joined by Jo’s friend Sarah, who is moving out west to a station and needs to be able to order in bulk and have goods sent to her. Jo and Leah answer Sarah’s questions, as well as others on their Facebook pages, such as: – what is a co-op and how do I find one? – what do you buy through co-ops? – is it only for dry goods? – what’s the difference between a co-op and a CSA? – how do you store your bulk foods? – what if you can’t find a co-op to join, how do you start one? – what if I just want to buy in bulk on my own, not through a co-op? …and lots more. Listen in and learn how you can start cutting down on your grocery bill, while eating healthier! Useful links: – Bulk buying: an explanation on Jo’s blog of co-ops, bulk buying, and how to begin your own co-op. Also see Where to Order From, Pantry List, and Storage of Your Bulk Orders – Find a co-op near you: check Leah’s page, Jo’s FB page, and if you’re in Jo’s ‘Quirky Cooking Chat Group’ you can find co-ops in the “Quirky Resources” Albums in the Photos tab (and add your favourites). The post AQJ 16: Bulk Food Buying and Co-ops appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

This week Jo and Leah empty their kitchen cupboards and chat about : What they mean by a real food kitchen, and the importance of going back to homemade foods Kitchen tools they have invested, in both good and the misguided, and what they recommend as alternatives Their top five tools that they can’t live without Jo and Leah share their thoughts on best options for cookware, comparing aluminium, non-stick, ceramic, cast iron pans, and even the baking paper they choose to use and why. At the end of the day, the main thing is to be in the kitchen preparing nourishing meals… but could you be undoing a lot of your hard work because of the types of cookware that you are using? Could your cookware be the source of heavy metal toxicity or adding to the chemical load of your family? Join us for an informative little session on the making your kitchen as healthy (and functional!) as possible. The post AQJ 15: Kitchen Tools: Our tips for a well equipped kitchen appeared first on The Wellness Couch.