131- sourcing sustainable food and healthy “fast” food with the … · 2018. 10. 1. · farms,...

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Episode131:SourcingSustainableFoodandHealthy“Fast”FoodwithTheGoodKitchen


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Child:WelcometomyMommy’spodcast.

Katie:Hello,andwelcometo"TheHealthyMomsPodcast."I'mKatiefromwellnessmama.com,andtodayisgonnabeareallyusefulepisodeforanyonewhohastocookeveryday,andespeciallyformoms,becauseIamherewithAmberandMelissawhorunacompanycalledTheGoodKitchen.Melissahasbeenanutritionnerdsincehighschool.Shestudiednutritionincollegeandinherpostgraduatestudies,butshebecamedisillusionedwithmainstreamnutritioneducationandwentonaquesttofindherownanswersthatmadesense.Sincethen,she'sbecomeanadvocateforeatingsustainablysourcedwholefoods,andsheadoptedaPaleolifestylein2009.Soshewasanearlyadopter.She'salsoabusymomwhoadmitsthatcookingisn'therthing,butfeedingherfamilynourishingfoodsis,whichiswhyshe'scommittedtoTheGoodKitchenanditsmission.Whileshe'sworkingheroperationalmagicbehindthescenes,shebreaksforTheGoodKitchen'scornedbeefandcabbage,whichisherfave.Andshelikeshelpingmomsfindcalmandpeacebytakingawaytheguiltthatcomesfromhavinglackoftimetocookhealthymeals.TotallyIhavefeltthatguilt.AmberisthevisionarybehindTheGoodKitchen.Shefoundeditsprecedingconcept,modPALEO,andgrewitintoasmallbusinessthatsupportssmallfarms,sustainability,andacommunityofgoodpeopleandhealthyliving.Herpassionforfoodgrewoutofherownpersonaljourneytowellnesswhereshediscoveredthetransformativepowerofeatingrealfood.Likeme,she'sasuckerforafarmvisit,andshelovestodiscovernewdishesthatcomplementherhealthyandactivelifestyle.Ifithaspulledporkinit,she'seatingit.Andasabusyprofessional,she'sallaboutstayingwell-fedduringtheday,sonomoreskippinglunchandfallingflatat4:00p.m.Sowelcome,AmberandMelissa.Thanksforbeinghere.Amber:Thanksforhavingus,Katie.Melissa:Hey,Katie.Katie:SoIalwayslovetostartwithpeople'sstories,becauseIthinkwecanconnectandlearnfrompeoplemorewhenweunderstandwheretheycamefrom.So,tostart,canyouguysjustsharethebackgroundfrom...I'vementionedalittlebitinyourbios,butbasically,like,howyougothereandwhyyou'reinterestedinthis?Amber:Sure.So,Melissa,actually,it'sallherfaultthatwe'reintothislifestyle.MyhusbandandImetMelissainAtlanta,gosh,probably12,13yearsago.Andwewereessentiallycouchpotatoes,andreallytheonlythingthatwepaidattentiontowithourfoodwaswhereitwassourced.SoIwasstartingtogetintothewholeconceptofpasture-raisedmeatsandgrass-fedbuthadn'treally,like,gottenintoahealthylifestyleperse.AndMelissakepttryingtoconmeintogoingtothegym,andwefinallytalkedmyhusbandintostartingthebootcamptogether.Andso,fromthere,wewerehooked.Westartedworkingout,westarteddoingZonediet,andthenPaleoandCrossFitstartedhappening.AndMelissatalkedusintodoingPaleooveraweekendwhenwewereonvacationwiththem.Andso,fromthen,youknow,wewerehookedonthis,youknow,newhealthylifestyle,andwebecamefastfriendsthroughallthePaleochallenges,andalltheworkouts,andallthatfunstuff.Sothat'stheconnectionbetweenMelissaandI.AndsheownedseveralCrossFitgymsintheAtlantaarea,andwemovedawayfromAtlanta.AndwhenwemovedtoCharlotte,wehadstartedCrossFit,andPaleohadn'treallyfounditswaytoCharlotteasmuchasitwasknowninAtlanta.AndsoCarterandI,myhusband,startedrunningPaleochallengesthroughourgymhere.AndIwouldcallMelissa,andwewouldtalkaboutit.AndthroughthePaleochallenges,


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werealizedthatpeoplewouldseereallygoodresultsforthe30daysduringthechallenges.Andthenwhentheywerekindofoffthechallenge,theywouldliterallyjustfalloffthetrain,becausetheydidn'thavetime,theyweren'tagoodcook,theydidn'tknowhowtosource.AndsowesawanichewithintheCrossFitgymtostartdoingpreparedmealsforpeoplethatdidn'thavetimetodoitthemselves,sothat'sreallythestartofmodPALEO.AndthenItalkedtoMelissaintomovingtoCharlotte,andI'lllethertakethestoryfromthere.Melissa:Yeah,IactuallywasAmber'sfirstout-of-stateclient.Justlikeeverybodyelse,youknow,eatingthiswayisverylabor-intensive,andIwasabusy,busybusinessownerandjustneededsomesupportinthefoodarena.AndsoIaskedAmbertoshipacrossstatelines,whichI'mnotexactlysureitwaslegalatthetime.And,yeah,itreallychangedmylife,honestly,becauseitallowedmetoeatthewaythatIwantedtoeatandcontinuetotalkaboutthewayIwantedtoeattomyclientsandexplainhowthePaleodietatthetimethatwasthetemplatethatwewerefollowingworked.And,yeah,justkindofwentfromthere.And,in2015,Ibelievewas,Idecided,yes,Amber,andthere'sathemethatAmberandItendtohaveinourlives.Wetendtomakereallymajordecisionsoverbottlesofwine.IdecidedoveracoupleofbottlesofwinetomovetoCharlotteandwastryingtogetabusinessgoinghere,anditkindofwasn'tworking.AndAmberandI,always,we'vebeentalkingshopasjustfemalebusinessownersforseveralyearsnowandjustkindofsupportingeachotherbetter,becauseit's...Actually,youknow,Katie,whenyouhaveyourbusiness,you'rekindofonanislandbyyourselfsometimes,andithelpstohavesupport.Andsojustintalkingshop,wekindofkeptskirtingaroundtheissueofjoiningforces.And,again,theuniverseconspiredtohaveusdrinkacouplemorebottlesofwine,andwedecidedtomakethehugebusinessdecisiontogointobusinesstogether.So,withthatdecision,wedecidedthatwewantedtochangethenamefrommodPALEOintoTheGoodKitchensothatitwouldallowalargerfootprintofpeopletoenjoyit.Andit'sbeenagreatdecision,andwe'vereallybeenabletobring,youknow,folkswhomightbealittlebitafraidofthewordPaleokindofintothefoldof,youknow,"good,cleaneating."Andso,yeah,we'rereallyexcitedwe'vebeenTheGoodkitchenforjustalittleoverayearnow,and,yeah,we'reveryexcited.Katie:Iloveit.It'ssoawesometohavecleanoptionsoutthere.AndIwannagoalittlebitdeeperaboutthatbeforewemoveonandkindofdefineterms,becauseIknow,like,I'vehadmyownpersonalexperiencesandsuccessesasaresultofchangingdietandlifestyle,andI'mguessingyouguyshave,too.We'regonnagetpersonalforaminute.ButI'mcurious,like,whatwerethefactors,weretherethingsinyourlifethat,like,really,like,droveyouintothis?Iknowyoumentionedalittlebitinyourstory.Andwhatdoyoucallcleaneating?Like,kindofdefinewhatthattermmeansforeveryonelistening.Melissa:Youknow,Iownedthegyms,andIhadgonetoschoolfornutrition,undergradandgrad,and,youknow,Iwenttoschoolbackintheolddays,duringthetimewherewewerefollowingthepyramidstill,andjustwashavinghorribleresultswiththat.AndsoIwasabletooutexercisemydietforatime.And,youknow,CrossFitbroughtinsomenutrition.Iwasresistanttoawholelotofit,justbecauseIreallyfeltpassionatelythatithadtobealifestylechange.Youcouldn'tjustgoonadietandthenseesomekindofdramaticchange.ButclientsinthegymwerereallypushingmetolearnaboutPaleo.SoIagreed,andIwenttoaRobbWolfseminar,and,youknow,itjustmadesomuchsensetome.AndsoItrieditstartingthenextday,andIjusthadsuchdramaticresultsthatIjustwentcrazywithit.And,youknow,westarteddoingPaleochallenges,anditjustendedupbeingavery,verypowerfulthing.And,inthegymwestarted...youknow,intheir30swhowerealreadyon,youknow,differenttypesofdiabeticmedicationandhighbloodpressuremedicationbeingabletocomecompletelyoffofthingslikethat.Thatwassopowerfulto


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seethatI'dneverseenfoodactthatpowerfullybefore,anditwasalwayssofunny,becauseclientscouldn'tbelieve.Theywerelike,"Well,itcan'tbethatsimple.Itcan'tbe,Ijust,youknow,takealittlebitofbreadoutofmydietandthenthereforeIhavethesecrazychanges,"andtheyjustcouldn'tbelievethechangesthattheysaw.Sothatmotivatedmemoreinthisfieldandcontinuetokindofbangthedrumabouthealthyfood.Andthen,youknow,asIsaid,AmberandIwouldalwaystalk,andherpassionwas,youknow,fullycompletingthemeals.Andthenwhatshereallygotpassionateaboutwasthesourcing.And,youknow,whenwefirststartPaleo,thebigthingisjustmakingthechangeathing.Youknow,wedon'tcarewherethemeatcomesfrom.Wedon'tcarewheretheproducecomesfrom.Justgetitinyourbody,and,youknow,takeoutafewofthethingsthatareproblematic.Butthenasyoustarttorefine,it'sreallyimportanttostartworryingabout,youknow,whatyoueateats.Youwanttostartworryingaboutthatalittlebit.Andthat'swhereAmberjustkindoftooktheballandreallyrolledwithit.Andit'sreallyinteresting,becauseIwastellinghertheotherday,like,sheandCarterarereallyinstrumentalinchangingtheavailabilityofgrass-fedbeef,Imean,honestly,inthestateofNorthCarolina,becauseitjustwasabsolutelynotavailable.AndAmberwoulddrivearoundinherlittlemini,andgotoallthesedifferentfarms,andgrabthegrass-fedbeeffromthefarmerswhowereawesomeenoughtomakeitforheratthetime.And,yeah,it'sawesometoseethechange.Butyes,that'skindofmypersonalstoryandjustwhyI'msopassionateaboutit,becauseitdidmakesuchatremendouschangeinmylifeandthosearoundme.Amber:AndIwouldsay,too,youknow,speakingfromtheclientperspectiveatagym,Imean,wewere,youknow,twoofthepeoplethatsawthesignificanthealthchanges.Ihavehadcrazydigestiveissuesandneverattributedittofood,oddlyenough.Ihadbeentoatonofdifferentdoctors,andeverybodywaslike,"Oh,youhaveanulcer,"or"YouhaveIBS,"or"Youjusthaveheartburn,sotakethis."AndIcan'trememberatime,youknow,beforeage30whereIdidn'thaveheartburn,anditwasthereallybadkindthatjustwouldsetmychestonfire.Andmyhusbandwasonhighbloodpressuremedicationat32yearsold.AndsowhenwestarteddoingCrossFit,westartedtoseesomeimprovement.Butitwasn'treallyuntilwestarteddoingthePaleodietthatwithin,like,14days,Ithink,Ididn'thaveheartburnforthefirsttimeinmylife.Andso,likeMelissawassaying,makingthatlifestylechangeversusthedietchangewhenyou'retalkingabout,youknow,cleanfood,Ithink,it's,youknow,reallyimportanttodoaneliminationtypedietforacertainamountoftimetoseewhatarethethingsthatcausesomeoftheailmentsthatyou'rehaving.Youknow,forme,it'sglutenandsoy,butforsomebodyelse,itmaybedifferent.SowhenwetalkabouteatingcleanandthedifferentapproachwithPaleoversusketoversus,youknow,justcleaningupyourdiet,itreallyistalkingabouteliminatingsomethingsthatyouconsumeonaregularbasistoseewhatyourreactionistothat.Katie:Yeah,that'sagreatpoint.Like,tobacktoyourearlierpoint,I'mabigfanofalsomakingbiglifedecisionswithaglassofwine.I'malsoafellowsupporterofreallygoodsourcing,andonethingIloveaboutyours,we'lltouchonitmoreinafewminutes,istheabundanceofvegetables.Becausethereisverysolidresearchonneedingawidevarietyandalotofvegetablefiber,notjustfiber,butvegetablefiberfromnon-starchyvegetablesandstarchyvegetables.SoIlovethatyouguysincludethat.ButIwannagodeeperonsourcing,becauseIthinkthat'saneasytraptofallinto,istothink,like,youknow,store-boughtchickenistotallythesameaspasturedchicken,orbeefandgrass-fedbeefarekindofthesamething.I'veseenthedatatoknowthatit'snot,butI'dloveforyouguystotalkaboutwhysourcingissoimportanttoyouandthethingsthatyou'relookingforwhenyou'resourcingfood.


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Amber:Sure.Forme,itwasreallyanethicalthing.Iliketorefertomyselfasarecoveringvegetarian.Iwasavegetarianforaverylongtimegrowingup,probablyfromeighthgradethroughcollege,butIwouldgettoapointwheremybodywouldcraveredmeat,like,Iwouldneedthatkindofprotein.AndthesourcethatIgotitfromwasnotgreat,butIwasactuallylisteningtomybody.Youknow,like,fromayoungage,Ireallywouldlistentomybodyaboutneedingthatkindofprotein.But,inmyadulthood,Irealizedthat,formyhealth,Ireallydidneedtostartconsumingproteinagaininthemeatform.AndsoIjustreallydecidedthatifIwasgoingtodothatthenIwantedtoknowwherethemeatwascomingfrom,thatIwantedtoberesponsibleinconsumingmeat,and,youknow,Idon'tliveinanareawhereIcanregularlyhuntoranythinglikethat.Ididn'tgrowupinafamilyofhunters.Somyversionofknowingwheremymeatcomesfromistogotofarmers'markets,andknowthefarmers,andgoandvisitthefarms,andunderstandtheprocessthatmyfoodwasgoingthroughbeforeitgetstome.Andso,withstartingthecompany,Iwantedtoreallyfocusonthat,because,likeMelissaalludedtoearlier,backinthedayofearlyPaleo,whichkindofsoundsfunnytosay,but,like,whenPaleocameback,butwhenpeoplereallystartedtalkingaboutthis,youknow,10,15yearsago,itwasjustabouttheprotein,carbs,andfat.AndIreallythinkthattheconversationneedstogoastepfurther,youknow.We'rechangingthewaythatpeoplethinkaboutfood,notjustfromwhatyou'reconsuming,butalsowhatishappeningwithyourenvironmentasyou'reconsumingthefoodaswell.Andsoittakesthewholesustainabilityconversationjustthat,like,onestepfurtherandreallyinmymindkindofcompletesthatloopwhenyou'retalkingabout,youknow,workingwithfarmsthatarealsoregeneratingtheirland,andtheirwater,andthesoil,andtheairqualitywiththeraisingofhoofedanimals.Youknow,andwecangodownawholerabbitholewiththat.Butwhatwasimportanttomewastheanimalwelfarepieceofit,thesustainabilitypieceofit,andthatIwasconsumingproteininanethicalway.Melissa:Ithinkit'sawesome,becauseweliketosourcesomefarmerswhopasturetheiranimalsinawaythattheland,theair,thewaterqualityisactuallybetterforhavingtheanimalsonitasopposedtoalotofloudermediaiskindoftoutingthatcowsaretheruiningtheworldorsomethingwithalltheirmethanegasorwhatnot.Imean,amberandIvisitthesefarms.WhiteOakPasturesisoneofourfavorites,andWillHarrishasledthechargewithjustlandregeneration,andit's...Weenjoyedourselvesthoroughlythere.Itwasfascinatingtoseethewaythattheytreatthecows.Thechickensareoutactuallyinopenfields,thewaythatyouexpectafree-rangechickenoracage-freechickentobeouttherepeckinggrubs,noteatinggrain.It'samazing.It'samazingtosee.Andwe'rereally,reallyproudtobeapartofthat,andthat'sreallywhereweputourflagintheground.Andwedon'twaverfromthat,becausewefeellikethequalityoftheproteinissoimportant,becausewhenyou'reeatingahealthyanimalandyou'reingestingahealthyanimalintoyourbodyversusapotentiallysickanimal.Justtalkingquicklyaboutchicken,conventionallyraisedchickens,thewaythatthey'reraised,theycan'tevensupportthemselvesontheirownlegsoncethey'refullygrownorevennotevenfullygrown.But,justforexample,thechickens,whenwesawthemoutatWhiteOakPastures,theywererunningaround,andchasingeachother,andrunningawayfromeaglesthataretryingtoeatthem.It'sareallyamazingsystemtosee.Theyreallydohavetheirownlittle,like,cityandsystemthereatthatfarm.Andwelovegettingtoknowourfarmersandtheirfamilies,andthey'vebeenwonderfulandlovelytoinviteusintotheirhomes.Sothatpieceofitisprobablyimportanttousaswell.Katie:That'ssoawesome.AndyoutouchedonsomethingthatIdowanttogodeeperon,becauseIthinkit's


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superimportant,whichisthere'sthemisconception,oryouseealot,it'sprettywidespreadonline,thatanykindofanimalproductsareabsolutelyhorriblefortheenvironment,andvegetablesarehealthy,andthatvegetariansaresavingtheplanet.AndIthinktherearemany,like,positivesthatcanbetakenfromvegetarians,andI'mnotheretobashthematall,butIwouldloveifyouguyscouldgoalittlebitdeeperintothat.BecauseIknowfrommyresearchonpermaculture,forinstance,thatthereisasystemthatdoesboth.SoI'dloveforyoutotalkaboutthat.Amber:Yeah,andanytimethatyouhaveamonoculturesystem,Imean,youdon'thavethevarietytomaintainahealthyenvironment,whetheryou'retalkingaboutsoil,water,air,theanimal,theplants,Imean,yougrowthesamethinginafieldoverandoveragain,eventuallyit'sgoingtorobthesoilofthenutrientsthatitneedstobeahealthyplant.Andsojustlikewe'retalkingaboutthehealthyanimalsinapermaculturesituation,whereyou'vegotthecowsthat,youknow,stomponthesoil,andtheypooponit,andthenthechickenscomebehindthem,andthechickens,like,peckaroundinthedirt,andtheygetthepoopdowninthesoil,sothenyou'vegotgoodhealthysoilagain.Andthenyoucanintroduceothertypesofhoofedanimals,youknow,tohelpregeneratethequalityofthesoil,andyoudon'tgetthatwhenyouhaveamonocultureorvegetablefarm,youknow.Andwhenyouhavetheseanimalsinthesameenvironmentthatyou'regrowingthevegetables,thenyoudohavethatloopofimprovingthenutrition,and,youknow,thenutrientsthataretakenawayfromthesoil,fromthevegetablescanberegeneratedbytheanimals.Andso,youknow,togobacktoourvisitwith...youknow,we'vebeendownatWhiteOakseveraltimes,andit'salwaysamazingtoridearoundwithWillHarris,becauseheshowsyouthedifferencewhereanimalshavebeengrazedandthenthelandwheretheanimalshavenotbeengrazed,andit'slikenightandday.Imean,youcanseethehealthofthelandonwheretheanimalshavebeengrazedandwheretheyhaven't,thecolorofthegrass,thecolorofthesoil,thewaterrunoff,youknow.Wehavesomanyissueswitherosionthatcanactuallybesolvedbygrazinganimals.Andso,thatwasabigwake-upcalltomeevenmorethankindofwhatIhadknownor,youknow,hadgonetootherfarmvisits,wasreallyseeingatruepermaculturefarmandthenseeingonethatwasn'trightbesideit.AndWillcallsittheSouthernTrifectawheretheyjustgrowcorn,soy,andcotton.That'stheSouthernTrifecta.Andtoseethelandwherethosecropsarejustgrownoverandoveragain,Imean,they'vegottohaveherbicides,andthey'vegottohavepesticides,andtheyhavetohave,like,chemicalfertilizers.Andsothen,Imean,that'sawholeotherissue.So,youknow,justseeinghowbeneficialitisonthelandwasreallyagamechanger,anditwasprettylateinthegame.Imean,wejuststartedworkingprimarilywithWhiteOakabouttwoyearsago,andsoit'sbeenareally,reallygoodeducationforus.It'slikeweknewweweredoingtherightthing,weweresuperexcitedaboutit,andwewantedgrass-fedbeef,butthatwaskindof,like,theend-allbe-all.Whenwewentdownthere,wewerelike,"OhmyGod.Thisisamazing."Andwe'resuperexcitedtosupporthim.Katie:Yeah,I'llechothat.Becauseweusedtoliveinanareawithindustrialfarmingaswell.Andwherewewere,itwascorn,wheat,andsoybeans,andtheywouldeithergrowinagivenyear,Ithinkwheatandsoybeanswouldbegrowninthesameyear,andthencornwasonitsown,buttheygreweveryyear.Andtheysprayedsomuchonitthatwhenitwasn'tgrowingseasoninthewinter,like,nothinggrewthere,notweeds,nothing.Itwasacompletewasteland.Like,IwishIhadactuallytestedthesoil.Therewerenonutrientsinthatsoilatall.Andwhenyou'relookingatstatistics,like,40%ofkidshavesomekindoffoodallergy,andathirdofkidshaveautism,oreczema,orasthma.Like,wehavetobelookingat,like,whereisitcomingfrom.Whatdoallkidshaveincommon?Theyalleat.Maybeweshouldlookthere.


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Melissa:Coulditpossiblybefood?Nooneeverbelievedit.Amber:No,thatwouldbetooeasy..Katie:Right.Ifeellikethat'sthegap.Ihopethatconventionalmedicineisgoingtocatchup.But,likeyousaid,withdigestiveproblems,like,tome,thatwouldbetheonewhereyoustartthinkingabout,like,"Oh,maybeit'sfood."Sothere'ssomecatchinguptodothere,forsure.AndIwannatalkalittlebitmoreindepthaboutGoodKitchenandthetypesofmealsyouguysmakeandhowthey'rebalanced,becauseI'vealwayshearditkindofjokinglysaidthatthere'snothealthyfastfood,andalsothat,ifyouwant,youcanhavefast,easy,orhealthy,andyoucanpickatmosttwo.Andyouguyskindof,like,throwthatonitshead.SoI'dlovetohearyoujustdelveintomoreabout,like,howyoudeterminethemealsandthekindofmealsyouhave.Because,forourfamily,it'sbeenahealthyfastfood.Icangetfarm-to-tableonthetablein,like,under10minutes,whichisawesome.Amber:Well,andsothatwasthewholereasonbehindstartingthebusiness,iswestartedseeingthatpeoplewouldnotstickwiththislifestylechangeunlesstheyhadsomething,likeyousaid,thatwashealthyandquick.And,there'snotalotofoptionsoutthereforhealthyandquick.Andwhenyou'renotprepared,thenyoutendto...youknow,Ialwaystellpeople,yougotoFiveGuys,andyougetburgersandfries.Andsoreallyseeingthatniche,thattherewasaservicemissingthere.Andsowhenwestarted,youknow,wewereprimarilyonthePaleotemplate,andIhavebeeneatingthatwayforalongtime.Andsoourmealswereproteinandcarb,andwewouldsay,youknow,justaddfat.And,aswe'veevolvedintoTheGoodKitchen,we'vewantedtoopenitupto...youknow,wehavealotofcustomersthattheywouldtakeourmealsandtheywouldputthemoverrice.Andit'slike,okay,well,youknow,that'sfineifthat'swhatyoudo.AndIeatrice,butlet'stalkaboutthesourceoftherice.AndsowestartedusingAnsonMillsproducts,andit'saheirloomgraincompanyoutofSouthCarolina.Theyofferfourdifferenttypesofgluten-freegrain,andoneofthemisCarolinaGoldrice.Andsoforthosepeoplethatareincorporatingriceintotheirdiet,we'relike,"Hey,let'sgivethemawell-sourcedrice."Andsowe'realwaysevolvinginthislifestyleof,youknow,notjustlookingsostrictlyatthedifferenttypesoftemplatesanddietsthatareoutthere,butgivingpeopletheoptions.So,youknow,youcangoonthere,andyoucanlookatthePaleooptions,andyoucanlookattheketooptions,andwehavevegetarianoptions,too.Let'snotleavethevegetablesoutoftheequation.They'resuperimportantandthevarietyofthem,youknow,reallyeatingontherainbowwhenyou'retalkingaboutyourvegetables.Andbecausethat'ssoimportant,you'regonnagetsomanydifferentnutrientsfromthedifferentarrayofvegetablestoincorporateintoameal.Andsowereallytrytohave,like,asuperdiversesetofmenuoptions.Wechangeourmenueveryweek,because,youknow,peoplecanalsogetboredeatingthiswayand,really,eatinganyway.Youknow,ifyouatethesamethingoverandoveragain,eventuallyyou'relike,"Ohmygosh.Ijustcan'teatthatanymore."Andsowetrytokeep,youknow,thevarietyupsothatpeoplereallystickwithitandtheydon'tgetburntoutonthetemplate,sotospeak,ofacleandiet.Melissa:Whenweplanourmeals,wedokindofaseasonaltemplate.So,youknow,you'renotgonnagetwatermeloninthedeadofwinter.I'mtryingtothinkofotherthings.Wetrytosourcewhatisactuallyavailableandnothavingtobe,youknow,crazilyproducedorthingslikethat.Amber:Yeah,sentfromGodknowswhere.But,youknow,oneofthethings,too,andwe'llgetthisalot,and


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it'sactuallycominguponthattimeofyearwhenwestartgettingcustomerstalkingabout,like,"Ohmygosh,canyouplease,like,giveusapieceofbroccoli?"orsomethinglikethat.Yeah.Andit'slike,yes,yes,yes,but,youknow,wereallydotrytostaywithinthattemplateofeatingseasonally,youknow.Andsometimeseatingseasonallymeansthatinthewinteryou'reeatingalotofgreensandyou'reeatingalotofrootvegetables.Andthenonceweexplainit,they'relike,"Allright.Fine.I'llwaituntilthespringtohavemybroccoli."Melissa:Butwehavebeenabletoaddsomemorevarietywithour...we'vebeenabletoaddfishinthelastfewmonths.Sothathasbeenwonderfultogivefolksalittlebitofalighterfeeltowhatwedo.Amber:Yeah.And,youknow,oneoftheotherthingstomention,too,isthewaythemealsarepackaged.WeuseaprocesscalledCryovacorvacuumseal,andsoweactuallyareabletogetalongershelflifeonfreshfoodwithoutusinganykindofpreservative.Andsowhenyoulookattheingredientlist,youknow,that'sreallyimportanttopointout.Becausewhenyou'retalkingaboutpackagedfood,alotofpeoplearelike,"Ugh,it'spackagedfood,youknow.Wecan'thavethat."Butitreallymatters,like,whatisinthatingredientlist,youknow.I'macrazytrainlabelreader,andwhenI'mpickingupaproductthatIgetsuperexcitedabout,I'mlike,"Allright,let'slookatit."AndsoI'mreadingthelabel,andI'mlike,"Ugh,there'salotofstuffinherethatIdon'twant."Andsoonthefrontofthepackage,itlooksamazing,butthenwhenyouturnitoverandyouactuallyreadthelabel,it'slike,"Oh,man,there'ssomanypreservativesinhere,becauseit's,youknow,tomakeitshelf-stable."Andsoourpackagingmethodactuallyenablesustogeta14-dayshelflifeonfreshfoodwithouthavingtoputanykindofpreservativeoranythinginthefood.Katie:That'sawesome.AndonetrickI'vebeendoingtostretchthem,becauseatfirstIwaslike,"Man,thiswouldbelikeprettypriceyifIwastryingto,like,getonemealforeverymemberofourfamilyofeight."ButIfindreallyitonlytakesliketwotothreeoftheactualmeals,andthenIjustspreadthemoutandaddafewfreshveggies,andwe'regoodtogo,orwe'vebeenmakingalotofsoups,becauseit'swinter,andwe'reallcravingsoups.SoIjustputitasisinasoup,andit'samazing.Like,Ihaveyettohaveonethatdoesn'ttastegoodinthesoup.So...Melissa:Oh,nice.That'sareallygoodidea.Imighthaveheardthatonebefore.Wewilltakesomeofthethingsandaddeggstothemandmake,like,abreakfastscramble,andthatstretchesthat,youknow,onemealwillgotofive,Ithink,thatway.ButIlovethatideaforsoup.Ihadnotthoughtofthat.Thankyou,Katie.Katie:You'rewelcome.Juststretchingthefoodatourhouseallthetime.But,yeah,likeIsaid,Ilovedthatit'safastoption.Ialsolovethatyoucancustomizeit,becauseIknowthere'speoplelisteningwithfoodallergies,orwhodon'teatacertaintypeofprotein,orcan'thavemammalmeat,thatkindofthing.That'sanotherpointIwantedtomake,isyoucangoinandcustomizeeachweekwhatyouwannagetornotget.Amber:Yeah,and,youknow,ourmenu,wehaveanywherefrom18to26optionseveryweek,anywherefromyoucandoPaleo,youcandoketo,youcandovegetarian.Wehavewingsthatareavailableeveryweek.Soifyoujustwantedtodo,like,wings,andthenyouwantedtomakeasaladathome,youknow,there'sareallygoodwaytomixitup.Andthenalso,likeyousaid,ifyou'vegotsomekindoffoodallergyorsomethingthatyou'retryingtostayawayfrom,thenthatmakesitreallyeasy.Alltheingredientsareinthemenuselectionarea.


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Melissa:AndIwouldreallyliketoplugourwings.Theyaredelicious.Amber:Melissaisobsessedwiththewings.Melissa:Iamobsessedwiththewings,becauseIlovewings.Andwhenyoustarteating,youknow,inacertainway,you'renotreallyallowedtohavethem,butyoutrynottohavethem,becausethey'refriedanddeepfriedinpeanutoilorwhateverthereisoutthere.And,Imean,thisway,Iknowexactlythey'recomingfromWhiteOakPastures.They'rebeautifulchickenwings.They'redousedinamazingsauce,andIgettoeatthem.OnSuperBowlSunday.I'mveryexcited.Katie:Ihavefedourwholeneighborhood,like,allthekidsintheneighborhood,somewingsacoupletimes.Melissa:That'sawesome.Katie:Iwannaswitchgearsalittlebit,though,becauseI'mgonnaputaquestionthatIgetaskedallthetime.I'mgonna,like,taketheeasywayoutandputitonyouguys.Iknowyou'rebothfemaleentrepreneursaswell.AndIgetaskedallthetime,like,"Howdoyoubalanceitall?Howdoyou,dealwiththebusiness?Howdoyouprovideforyourfamily?Howdoyouputfoodonthetable,allthesethingseveryday?Like,howdoyoufindbalance?"SoI'mgonnacheatandputthatquestiononyouguys.Amber:That'sreallyfunny.AndI'mgonnacheatandmakeMelissaanswerit.Melissa:That'sfine.So,fromthefoodstandpoint,youknow,it'sfunny.Iownthiscompany,andIforgetthatIownthiscompanyeveryonceinawhile.I'llcomehome,andI'mallfrazzled.I'vebeenworking,youknow,toomanyhours,andthekidsarehome,andeveryone'sstartingtoaskmewhat'sfordinner,whichisliterallythemostannoyingquestionontheplanettome,ever.Andit'sfunny,also.AndI'llthink,"Ohmygosh,IhavethemealsintherefrigeratorthatIcanpullout,orinthefreezer,"andIpullthemout,andIknockthatout.Andwe'lldo,like,alittlesmorgasbordor,likeyouweresaying,Katie,kindofmakeitstretchoverbyaddingsomeotherthingstoit.Sothat'sonewaythatIbalanceit.Therestofitismagic.But,youknow,it'sfunny.AmberandIhavebeentalkinglatelyabout,youknow,justasentrepreneurs,whathasbeen,youknow,acoupleofthemosthelpfulthingsforusovertheyears.Andwhatwe'vebothbeenrealizinglatelyisjust,likeIwassayingbefore,whenyou'reanentrepreneur,you'resortofonanisland,andnobodyreallygets,youknow,someofthethingsthatyougothroughexceptforotherentrepreneurs.Andwe'vebeenreally,reallyluckyhereinCharlotte.Wehaveanamazinggroupofentrepreneurs,maleandfemale,andwe'repartofsomeofsomenetworkinggroupsthatareincrediblyhelpful.Youknow,businessisbusiness,andweallgothroughsimilarthings,whetherit'semployeeissues,or,youknow,sourcingissues,operationalissues,andthingslikethat.Sothathasbeenoneofourbiggesthelpsherefromabusinessstandpoint.Andtherestofthebalancing,Idon'tknow.HowdoIdoit,Amber?Howdoyoudoit?Amber:Iwouldsay...Melissa:Sticks,andglue,andtape.Amber:Yeah,sticks,andglue,andtape.No,havingasenseofhumor.


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Melissa:Thereyougo.Amber:Imean,wewereactuallytalkingaboutthisyesterday,beingabletomakefunofourselvesandnottakeourselvestooseriously,andreallynotplayingintothewholeguiltandshameofbeingwonderwomananddoingeverythingperfectly,andgivingyourselfalittlebitofspaceandgrace.Andthat,Ithink,isreally,reallyimportant,andthat'sbeensomething,Ithink,forbothofus,hasbeenreallytough.Becausewelikeforthingstobeperfect,andwehaveacertainthoughtprocessabouthowthatperfectionshouldhappen.Andsotheuniversehaskindlyshownusthatsometimesit'snotthewaythatyouthinkthingsaregoingtoworkout,butthere'sareasonbehindthat.SoIthink,youknow,thehumorpieceofitishuge,andnothavingtotakeyourselfsoseriously,andknowingwhenyouhavetowalkawayforasecond,youknow.Youknow,havingthatthatself-careawareness,thatyoucan'tbeonburningthecandleatbothends,andyoudohavetotakecareofyourselffirst.And,youknow,touseanairplaneanalogy,it'slikeyou'vegottoputonyouroxygenmaskbeforeyoucanputitonanybodyelse.Andso,again,that'sbeenalessonthatIthinkwe'vehadtolearnoverthepastyearortwo,isifwe'renottakingcareofourselvesandwe'renothealthy,thenwecan'treallyhelpanybodyelse.Melissa:Yeah,Ilearnedalessonatanearlyageorinmy30sthatitis...Mybodybasically,youknow,justsaid,"Screwyou,"youknow,"I'mnotgoingtodoanymore."BecauseI'moneofthosepeople.Ithinkweallare.We'lljustkeeploadingstuffontolookat,youknow,"Icandoit.Icandoit.Icandoit."Andonedaymybodywaslike,"Yourbrainmaysayyoucandoit,butI'mnotdoingitanymore."And,youknow,asmuchasIwasmadaboutthat,nowI'mincrediblygrateful,becauseIrealizehowimportantitisto,likeAmberwassaying,puttheoxygenonyourselfsothatyoucantakecareofyourselffirstandthenothers.AndIthink,asmoms,aswives,aswomen,that'sjustsuchanimportantlessontolearn.And,unfortunately,somanyofusdon'tlearnituntilit's,youknow,waylaterinlifeortoolate.Youcaneathealthfully.Isthataword?Youcaneatveryhealthy.Butifyou'relivinginastateofconstantstress,you'renevergonnabehappy,Iguess,isoneofthewords.Yourhealthisnotgonnabewhereitwantstobe.You'renotgonnahavetherelationshipsthatyouwannahavewithotherpeople,becauseyou'relivinginconstant,youknow,stress.Amber:That'sright,yeah.Melissa:Exactly.Amber:Andwhenwelivethere,it'sjust,youknow,there'snoamountofhealthyfoodandexercisethatcancounteractlivinginfight-or-flight24/7.Youknow,oursocietyhasputthoseparameters,Ithink,aroundusthatit's,youknow,100%allthetime,andsowedon'thaveanyofthatdowntime.ButIthinkmoreandmorepeoplearebecomingawareofthat,andsoyou'restartingtohearpeopletalkaboutmindfulness,andmeditation,andtakingthattimeout,notbeinginfight-or-flightallthetime.Melissa:It'ssofunny.Justcomingfromthegymbusiness,peoplethinkexercisewillfixeverything,andit'sfunny.Myanalogyhasalwaysbeen,like,youhaveabruise,andyou'reliterallyhittingthebruiseagainwhenyouareinsuchastateofstress,andthenyouaddexercisetoit.It'sjustnotagoodidea.Youknow,especiallyasAmericans,wethink,youknow,moreisbetter,andthat'sjustnotthecase.Again,thatwasalessonlearned,youknow,intime,Ithink,forbothofus,so...Katie:Yeah,suchanimportantpoint.AndIthinkyou'reright,thatforwomen,especially,thatself-careissometimesthehardestaspectofhealthtotackleespeciallywithoutfeelingguilty.SoIlovethatyouguys


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talkedaboutthat.Andanotherthingyoumentionedinpassing,Ithink,isalsosuperimportanttohighlight,whichistheimportanceofcommunity.Becauseitsoundslikeyouguysreallyhavethatwhereyouare,andwe'venowfoundthiswhereweareaswell.Andifyoulookattheliteratureinthestatistics,itreallyisamazinghaving,like,solidrelationshipsthatsupportyouandfriendships.Thatisactuallyoneofthebiggestrankingfactorsinlongevityandhealthspan,whichisnotjusthowlongyoulive,buthowlongyoulivefunctionally,andhappily,andcognizantly.Sotalkaboutthat.Like,just,ifyoudon'tmind,sharealittlebitaboutthecommunityaspectofyourlifeandhowyou'veseenbenefitfromthat.Amber:Well,Ithink,youknow,thecommunityaspectkindofstartedwithintheCrossFitcommunity,youknow.We,myhusbandandI,Carter,livedinAtlanta,andthenwemovedtoBirmingham,andthenwemovedtoCharlotte.Andthen,youknow,inallthreeofthosecities,wewereinvolvedintheCrossFitcommunity,anditreallywashelpfulin,youknow,peoplethatwerelike-minded.Theyliketobeactive.Theyliketoeatacertainway.Andthat'sreallywherealotofourlifelongfriendsarenow.Andnow,youknow,Iwouldsay,we'renotreallyintheCrossFitcommunityanylonger,butwe'rein,youknow,moreofthetalkingabouteatinghealthfully,touseMelissa'snewword.And,youknow,sowe'reinadifferentcommunitythat'stalkingaboutregenerativeagriculture,andsustainability,andeatingpasture-raisedmeats,andsothenwefindcommunitythere.Andthen,inabusinesscommunity,wehaveagreatstartupandentrepreneurialcommunityhereinCharlotte.Sowe'vebeenableto...I'mpartofabusinessgroupthatmeetsonceamonth,andwego,andwespendadaytogether,andit'sreallymydaytobearoundotherCEOsthat,youknow,haveatonmoreexperiencethanIdo.Butit'sfunny,becausethere'speoplethatarerunning,youknow,$40-millionchemicalcompanies,andhereIamwithmylittlesustainablecompany,youknow,coveted,andwehavethesameissuesand,youknow,arereallyfightingthesamefightswhenyou'retalkingaboutbusiness.Andsothat'sbeenreallyimportant,too,tohavethoserelationshipssothatyoucandiscuss,youknow,justdifferentissuesthatyoumayhave.Andthenalso,justwithMelissaandI,Imean,beforeshejoinedthecompany,youknow,itwasliterallyCarterandIjustkindof,like,doingeverythingthatwecouldto,youknow,startthisbusinessandkeepitgoing.Andthenitwas,youknow,abreathoffreshairtohavesomebodythathadn'tbeeninthebusiness,theyhadneweyesonit,andthere'sapersonalconnectionthere,too.Soit'slikeIknowthatshehasmybackandIhaveherback,andatthesametime,wecanalsohavereallyhonestconversationsabout,youknow,businessandlifeandthatsortofthingandreallyhavesomebodyelsetheretoholdaccountableasyou'rekindofwalking.Sothecommunitythinghasbeensuperhugeforus.And,youknow,justhavingtheabilitytohavepeopletocallwhenyou're,like,Iliterally...Andwe'vebeensofortunatetohaveamazingpeoplesurroundingusthatwecancallfordifferentsituationsthatwe'vegottenourselvesintoandthatsortofthing.Katie:Yeah,100%agreewithwhatyoujustsaid.AndIthinkthekey,too,isinthisworld,becauseforsolong,formostofhistory,communitywasbuiltin.Youwerebornintoit.Youhadpeoplearoundyou.Youhadfamilyaroundyou.Andnowwehavetoreallymakeaneffortforit.Andso,like,currently,myfourbestfriendsliveinfourdifferentstates,actuallyonelivesinadifferentcountry,butwemakeanefforttogettogetheratleasttwiceayearwithourfamiliesandhavethatcommunity,andthenwekeepintouchinbetween.AndIhavealocalcommunitynow,too,but,likeintoday'sworld,wecan'tjustassumeit'sgonnahappen.Wehavetobeproactiveandbuildthecommunity.AndIalsothinkthatalonewillreallygotowardhealingthecultureandhelpingpeoplemakesustainablelifechangesbecauseofthatfactorofhavingthesupport,likeyouguysjustmentioned.


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Amber:Definitely.Melissa:Absolutely.Couldn'tagreemore.Katie:Awesome.Well,actually,whereIlive,it'sgettingreallyclosetodinnertime,andI'mabouttogomakesomeofyourfood.AndIdon'twanttotakeyourtimetoolongeither.Butbeforewewrapup,Iwouldloveforyouguystotellpeopletherewillbelinksintheshownotes,butjustgivethem,like,arundownonemoretimeofwhatyouguyshaveavailableandtheoptions.Wedidn'treallymentionthekids'foodforlunches.I'dloveifyouwouldhighlightthat.Andallthelinkswillbeintheshownotesatwellnessmama.fm.Ifyouguysareontheroadornotbycomputer,youcanfindthoselaterthere.Amber:Awesome.Yeah,so,toorder,youjustgotothegoodkitchen.com.Andyoucanalsofindusonsocialmedia.Ourhandleis@eatTGK.And,yes,ourlineofkids'meals.Sothinkhealthy,lunchable,andwe'reusinggrass-fed,pasture-raisedproteins,well-sourceddairy,andyummylittlevegetablesandcookies,andstufflikethat,butallmadefromscratchanddonewithoutanyyuckyingredients.Andwe'vemadethemfunforthekiddossothatthey,youknow,don'tgetgrumpyaboutwhat'sinthelittletrays.Melissa:Lowsugar,andthenAmberaddedsomedadjokesontheinsideofthebandsothatthekidscanreadthem.Amber:Becauseeverybodylovesadadjoke.Melissa:Everybody,notme.It'sjustAmber.Katie:Iloveit.Well,thankyou,guys,somuchfortheworkyou'redoinginadvancingsustainablefoodandgettinghealthyfoodinthehandsofsomany.Andthankyouforyourtimeandbeingheretoday.Ireallyappreciateit.Amber:Awesome.Melissa:Thankyou,Katie.Thanksforallofyoudoaswell.Amber:Thanks,Katie.Katie:Andthankstoallofyouforlistening,andIhopetoseeyounexttimeon"TheHealthyMomsPodcast."

Ifyou'reenjoyingtheseinterviews,wouldyoupleasetaketwominutestoleavearatingorreviewoniTunesforme?Doingthishelpsmorepeopletofindthepodcast,whichmeansevenmoremomsandfamiliescouldbenefitfromtheinformation.Ireallyappreciateyourtime,andthanksasalwaysforlistening.

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