163. Do Small Changes Really Matter? with Mel Matthews
Buying in bulk, sourcing quality ingredients, embracing real food and different journeys towards healthier eating are just a few of the many topics we dive into in this episode, chatting with Mel Matthews of The Homestead Fam. A few takeaways:Homesteading is often romanticized, but practicality is so much more important.Bulk buying will lead to better quality ingredients at lower costs.Preserving food and saving time.Personal health journeys influence our food choices.Fermenting and replacing baked goods with homemade options for improving gut health.Community and family play a vital role in the homesteading experience. Sourdough and fresh flour can be beneficial for gluten intolerance.Shopping the perimeter of the grocery store.Recognizing personal progress, over time.Frustration with the broken food system.Social media can be a powerful tool for community building.Meet Mel Matthews on ig: https://www.instagram.com/thehomesteadfam/Mel's new book: https://amzn.to/4dcrDA7 Please check out our sponsors: https://soulyrested.com/salthttps://soulyrested.com/teashttps://soulyrested.com/soapsGo here to get show notes and special offers for podcast listeners in your inbox: https://soulyrested.com/podcast/ Grab my Pantry Checklist (loaded with discounts on my favorite ingredients) for free right here: https://soulyrested.com/pantry/Looking for more free resources? Choose from even more FREE e-courses here: https://soulyrested.com/howto/All my favorite ingredients: https://soulyrested.com/the-best-ingredients-in-my-kitchen/About Michelle VisserHi, so nice to meet you! I’m Michelle, a former processed food junkie turned real-food enthusiast.My husband and I live on a small New England farm and sugarbush with a lot of gardens. But I’m passionate about helping folks have more real food in their lives, no matter where they live. No farm or garden required.👋Find me in all the places:My book: https://amzn.to/45Pt8Pu My website: https://soulyrested.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souly.rested/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulyrested Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/soulyrested/ Podcast: https://soulyrested.com/podcast/ CONTACT: michelle@soulyrested(dot)com
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162. Food dyes, the FDA & what it all really means
If some details about food dyes and artificial ingredients and the FDA all left you scratching your head this last week, this episode will help you sort through the facts.We'll discuss recent FDA announcements about synthetic food dyes & what they REALLY mean... the good, the bad, and all the other things rolling around in my brain today. First and foremost, we need to be vigilant about food ingredients.Our conversation today explores the FDA's response to food safety concerns, the impact of synthetic dyes on our health, and some great suggestions for all of us for natural alternatives. Michelle encourages listeners to make small, manageable changes in their diets and always diligently being aware of Big Food's marketing tactics.The FDA's recent announcements about synthetic food dyes are significant, but what does it all really mean for the average consumer?Thankfully, consumer awareness is growing and many folks are more concerned about the safety of food ingredients.That, combined with the fact that small changes in dietary habits can lead to significantly better health outcomes, and the fact that natural alternatives to food dyes can be used creatively in cooking and baking (we discuss many in this episode), gives us reason to see this week's announcement from the FDA as a win.But the food industry often prioritizes profit over consumer health and the Delaney Clause, which we dive into in this episode, aims to protect the public from harmful additives but has grave limitations.Please check out our sponsors: https://soulyrested.com/azurehttps://soulyrested.com/botanicalshttps://soulyrested.com/flourGo here to get show notes and special offers for podcast listeners in your inbox: https://soulyrested.com/podcast/ About Michelle VisserHi, so nice to meet you! I’m Michelle, a former processed food junkie turned real-food enthusiast.My husband and I live on a small New England farm and sugarbush with a lot of gardens. But I’m passionate about helping folks have more real food in their lives, no matter where they live. No farm or garden required.Grab my Pantry Checklist (loaded with discounts on my favorite ingredients) for free right here: https://soulyrested.com/pantry/FREE resources:Learn how to use fresh milled flour: https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/k36hnsvbh7Learn about kombucha (and grab some of my favorite recipes): https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/b91bdd18-3581-414f-b145-8acd2e508a52Learn about dehydrating food: https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/fl36xcgpvqLearn about baking with maple syrup: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62116313e0eda1a0d870b747Learn about making your own maple syrup: https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/q5ecjrundzLooking for more free resources? Choose from even more FREE e-courses here: https://soulyrested.com/howto/All my favorite ingredients: https://soulyrested.com/the-best-ingredients-in-my-kitchen/👋Find me in all the places:My book: https://amzn.to/45Pt8Pu My website: https://soulyrested.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souly.rested/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulyrested Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/soulyrested/ Podcast: https://soulyrested.com/podcast/ CONTACT: michelle@soulyrested(dot)com
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161. Unpacking the truth about fresh flour
As you work towards improving the food you put on your family table, do you ever feel like maybe you're doing things the HARD way? Or started in the wrong order?This episode is for YOU. I think you'll be encouraged.I'm sharing my personal (rocky!) journey towards fresh flour and highlighting the benefits of using a grain mill to make your own fresh flour at home, contrasted to the limitations of commercially enriched flour.Please check out our sponsors: https://soulyrested.com/beef/And check out Fresh Flour University! https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/ykg2mfgxyxGo here to get show notes and special offers for podcast listeners in your inbox: https://soulyrested.com/podcast/ Grab my Pantry Checklist (loaded with discounts on my favorite ingredients) for free right here: https://soulyrested.com/pantry/
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160. Reclaiming the art of fresh flour
Have you wondered what's the hype about fresh milled flour? Or maybe you've wondered if you're gluten sensitive and are trying to understand why.Today we're going to chat about the significance of fresh flour, exploring its history, nutritional value, and the shift from fresh to processed flour. It's time we reclaim the art of milling flour at home. This episode might convince you to join the movement towards healthier eating through possibly the most important ingredient.Please check out our sponsors: Use code MVTLM10https://www.pjatr.com/t/TUJGRklGSkJGTElKSExCRkpIRk1K?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftrueleafmarket.com%2F%3Fsource%3Dpepperjam%26publisherId%3D174537%26clickId%3D4955110643%26utm_source%3DPepperJam%26utm_campaign%3DaffiliateUse code SOULYRESTEDhttps://bit.ly/3MAslZIGo here to get show notes and special offers for podcast listeners in your inbox: https://soulyrested.com/podcast/ Grab my Pantry Checklist (loaded with discounts on my favorite ingredients) for free right here: https://soulyrested.com/pantry/FREE resources:Learn how to use fresh milled flour: https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/k36hnsvbh7Learn about kombucha (and grab some of my favorite recipes): https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/b91bdd18-3581-414f-b145-8acd2e508a52Learn about dehydrating food: https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/fl36xcgpvqLearn about baking with maple syrup: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62116313e0eda1a0d870b747Learn about making your own maple syrup: https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/q5ecjrundzLooking for more free resources? Choose from even more FREE e-courses here: https://soulyrested.com/howto/All my favorite ingredients: https://soulyrested.com/the-best-ingredients-in-my-kitchen/About Michelle VisserHi, so nice to meet you! I’m Michelle, a former processed food junkie turned real-food enthusiast.My husband and I live on a small New England farm and sugarbush with a lot of gardens. But I’m passionate about helping folks have more real food in their lives, no matter where they live. No farm or garden required.Visit https://soulyrested.com/ for more, and subscribe to my YouTube channel to get new videos from me: https://www.youtube.com/michellevisser?sub_confirmation=1👋Find me in all the places:My book: https://amzn.to/45Pt8Pu My website: https://soulyrested.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souly.rested/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulyrested Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/soulyrested/ Podcast: https://soulyrested.com/podcast/ CONTACT: michelle@soulyrested(dot)com
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159. Loneliness is the true epidemic & social media is not the cure
Are you exhausted from the illusions of social media? Craving quietness but not sure how to create it? Craving meaningful friendship but not sure how to foster them?Join Michelle and Becky Harling, host of The Connected Mom podcast and author of the new book--Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World, as they explore the epidemic of loneliness and its profound impact on our health. We discuss how social media, promising connection, leads to depression and isolation. But we don't leave it there. We give hands-on, simple solutions to the epidemic of loneliness so that the listener is well armed and equipped to make a difference, in their life and in the lives of others.Find Becky's encouraging new book here: https://amzn.to/4iYhJUp And her free study guide here: https://beckyharling.com/Save $10 at True Leaf Market! Get the code (& see my favorite products) here: https://soulyrested.com/sprout/ Go here to get show notes and special offers for podcast listeners in your inbox: https://soulyrested.com/podcast/ Thanks for listening! Please leave a review at Apple Podcasts.Grab my Pantry Checklist (loaded with discounts on my favorite ingredients) for free right here: https://soulyrested.com/pantry/Looking for more free encouraging resources? FREE e-courses here: https://soulyrested.com/howto/All my favorite ingredients: https://soulyrested.com/the-best-ingredients-in-my-kitchen/About Michelle VisserHi, so nice to meet you! I’m Michelle, a former processed food junkie turned real-food enthusiast.My husband and I live on a small New England farm and sugarbush with a lot of gardens. But I’m passionate about helping folks have more real food in their lives, no matter where they live. No farm or garden required.👋Find me in all the places:My book: https://amzn.to/45Pt8Pu My website: https://soulyrested.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souly.rested/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulyrested Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/soulyrested/ Podcast: https://soulyrested.com/podcast/ CONTACT: michelle@soulyrested(dot)comWATCH THIS PODCAST EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/QlAYd09pGtU?si=ulR54khcYcMKI0V5
Ever wish you had a mentor to help you make healthier choices, one small step at a time? Someone to whisper encouragements in your ear? Someone who has been taking small steps for over a decade, learned a lot about real food, non-toxic living, and a holistic approach to wellness along the way? Tune in, each week, as your host—former suburban mom and junk food addict, turned homesteader, sugarmaker, and medicinal country gardener—Michelle Visser, offers you encouragement and practical insights on the beloved Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy podcast. We dive deep into topics like avoiding processed foods, incorporating whole foods into your diet, milling fresh flour, and understanding the powerful benefits of fermented foods, medicinal drinks, and other healthy, gut-friendly options. We explore everything, often with thought-provoking guests, from the importance of healthy fats and natural sugars to practical tips on gardening, creating simple recipes, and stocking your kitchen with the best pantry staples. Whether you're looking to improve your immune system, learn how to nourish your body with real, nutrient-dense foods, or discover nontoxic household products and companies, join in every episode and gain actionable advice for making sustainable, healthier choices.
South Africa