Does your health plan stress you out more than it helps you? If navigating wellness feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Luckily, wellness doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode, Jenn shows us how. 

On this episode of Salad with a Side of Fries, host Jenn Trepeck is here to help you uncomplicate your health journey. From focusing on what works for your body to tuning out the endless noise of health content online, Jenn breaks down the essentials—clean eating, movement, sleep, stress management, including the power of social connection, and the role of supplements. Learn why consistency matters more than perfection, how to listen to your body's signals, and why sleep might be the ultimate biohack. It’s time to simplify, take control, and make wellness work for you—without the stress!

The Salad With a Side of Fries podcast is hosted by Jenn Trepeck, who discusses wellness and weight loss for real life, clearing up the myths, misinformation, bad science & marketing surrounding our nutrition knowledge and the food industry. Let’s dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store. 

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• (02:44) Don’t allow your health plan to stress you; focus on what works for your body and your life
• (06:19) Limit how many content creators you follow and the truth about protein and fiber
• (10:31) Clean, lean protein, veggies and fruit, and eating at certain times of the day
• (15:27) Fasting, the difference between unprocessed and processed foods, and movement
• (23:40) Listen to your body, stress, sleep and supplements
• (31:15) Social connection and community are key for longevity
• (33:08) Sleep is the ultimate biohack for a healthy body
• (37:02) The quality of a supplement matters

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• If your health plan feels overwhelming, it might do more harm than good. Simplify your wellness by focusing on what works for you and limiting the experts you follow to avoid confusion and decision fatigue.
• Our bodies are wired to respond to stress as a survival mechanism, but modern-day stressors—like emails and phone notifications—trigger the same physiological response as life-threatening situations. This prolonged fight-or-flight state shuts down essential functions like digestion, immune response, and detoxification, contributing to long-term health issues.
• Simple actions like deep breathing before meals, movement, quality nutrition, fresh air, and social connection can help regulate stress and improve overall well-being. Prioritizing sleep and establishing consistent routines further support mental and physical health.
• Supplements can be a powerful tool to add on, but they cannot take the place of other healthy lifestyle choices.

QUOTES: 

(07:48) “No expert knows your body better than you do. We teach ourselves not to listen to our bodies, we outsource all of that to the rules, and we follow the rules and ignore the signs and communication coming from our bodies.” Jenn Trepeck

(11:45) “The difference between a meal and a snack is how much we have at a time and how long till we might need to eat again.” Jenn Trepeck

(21:33) “We've heard sitting is the new smoking. Right? The thing we're doing that we don't realize is slowly killing us because sitting all day is not human.” Jenn Trepeck

(27:34) “The physiological response designed to save our lives now contributes to our demise.” Jenn Trepeck

(42:54) “Anything we're doing for one part of the body supports everything in the body.” Jenn Trepeck

RESOURCES:

Become A Member of Salad with a Side of Fries

Jenn’s Free Menu Plan

A Salad With a Side of Fries

A Salad With A Side Of Fries Merch

A Salad With a Side of Fries Instagram

Top Five Tips for Digesting Nutrition News

Nutrition Nugget: 30-30-30

The Ultimate Biohack

Sleep On It  

60 Second Health Quiz