Quirky Cooking Chats

Welcome to the first episode of “Quirky Cooking Chats”!

2020 has been a year of changes, and as Jo nestled in to her home during lockdown and shared her everyday cooking via videos on social media, she found that her listeners were excited to have practical help with cooking for good health – not just the science and nutrition information, but how to put it all into practice in everyday life. So “A Quirky Journey” has become “Quirky Cooking Chats“, where you can listen (and watch!) as Jo cooks in her kitchen and chats about ‘real life’ nutrition and healthy living with her friends and guests.

• Watch practical, doable cooking videos, ask questions, and be inspired to make simple changes that will maximise your health and wellbeing without the stress and overwhelm.

Watch this episode on the Quirky Cooking YouTube Channel, and cook along!

Recipes & Useful Links:

• Our Program: “The Gut Health Formula” – 8 week group coaching program with Jo Whitton & Elyse Comerford

Ingredients & Products I use:

• Aussie Pink Lake Salt

The post QCC 156: Meat Stocks & Bone Broths – How & Why appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Join Jo and Fouad for a lighthearted chat about food, family, and life during lockdown! They discuss ‘quarantine cuisine’, what they’re cooking, how they’re coping, and ways they are finding the positives in the current situation.

Jo and Fouad answer readers questions about:

• how to make do with what you’ve got in the fridge, freezer and pantry

Note: Readers sent in so many questions on this topic that they couldn’t all be answered in one podcast, so Jo will be answering many of them in her Instagram and Facebook stories, and in an upcoming blog post on Quirky Cooking. If you’d like to add your questions, send them to [email protected].

Useful Links:

Preparing Your Pantry to “Stay at Home” – article by Jo

Livestream Webinars with Jo & Elyse Comerford, “Nourishing Your Family”

Life-Changing Food cookbook or iOS app, for delicious, whole food recipes!

Fouad’s hummus recipe – visit his instagram to watch him making it!

Fermented foods to make at home (recipes for beginners)

Willow & Sage Mushroom Teas & other immune support

Contact Fouad about web design at @fookassab on Instagram!

The post AQJ 155: Quarantine Cuisine, with Jo and Fouad appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Kriben Govender, Food Scientist, Registered Nutritionist and founder of Nourishme Organics, says kefir changed his life.

Kriben’s story began 8 years ago, when crippled with anxiety and depression, overweight, and lacking energy, he was told by his psychiatrist that antidepressants were the only option. But being a Food Scientist, he began to look at alternative ways including numerous research studies to treat his ill health. He attributes his health transformation largely to the GAPS diet and the ‘miracle food’ Kefir!

With more than 20 years of experience in the food industry (working in research and development and quality assurance), an honours degree in Applied Science (Food Science and Technology), and as a member of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology and Nutrition Society of Australia, Kriben knows what he’s talking about when he talks about the healing power of food.

Cultured foods like Kefir, Kombucha and Fermented Vegetables are some of the most beneficial foods for digestive health. And it’s super easy to make for your family every day. Kriben’s aim through Nourishme Organics is to guide people through the process of making their own traditional cultured foods, step by step, sharing the gift of digestive health and vitality which he has found so powerful for his own health.

Here’s a few of the benefits of milk kefir:

• Decreased Inflammation and Faster Healing

Learn lots more in this podcast!

Useful Links:

Nourishme Organics Website, Instagram, Facebook

Gut Health Gurus Podcast, Instagram, Facebook

The post AQJ 154: How Kefir & Cultured Foods Can Help With Weight Loss & Mental Health – with Kriben Govender appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Lucie McCullough, international interior designer and building biologist, aims to show the world that it IS possible to have beautifully designed homes that are also healthy sanctuaries from the world! In part 2 of “Designing a Healthy Home,” Lucie discusses questions that arise when we consider the bombardment of toxins in our homes and the environment around us, such as:

• Is it possible to recover from mould illness, sensitivity to EMFs, and other environmental overloads that can result in chronic illness?

As Lucie says, “Yes we live in a scary world, but all we can do is what we can do”. Technology has brought many changes to our lives, and it all seems to be gallivanting along at a rate that’s totally out of control, with minimal testing, so parents need to be proactive and make sure we are boosting our children’s immune systems as much as possible. Lucie talks about the importance of teaching our kids to “fall in love with living a healthy life”, so they can go off into the world and look after themselves, and have the best chance for a healthy future.

Jo, Elyse and Lucie end the podcast with a discussion about Lucie’s 350 year old luxury chalet in the Italian alps, Baita 1697, and the traditional, clean methods used in its building and design. “Baita 1697” is the ultimate in luxury, as it combines beauty, elegant design, and health – a true sanctuary from the world!

Come stay at Lucie’s beautiful chalet with us during our Luxury Health Retreat, and learn about healing from the inside out (gut health, reducing stress, slowing down and taking time to rest), and from the outside in (reducing the toxic load in your home and environment).

EARLYBIRD PRICE: Book in to this Luxury Health Retreat by Monday 17th February, 2o20, for 10% off! All the details here.

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Useful Links:

Lucie McCullough Interiors Website and Instagram

Lucie’s chalet in the Italian alps, Baita 1697 and on Instagram

Finding a Building Biologist in Australia, UK, or USA

Nourishing Your Family Events, with Jo Whitton and Elyse Comerford

The post AQJ 153: Designing a Healthy Home, with Building Biologist & Interior Designer Lucie McCullough – Part 2 appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

In the next two episodes of A Quirky Journey, Jo Whitton and Elyse Comerford interview Lucie McCullough, a successful, international interior designer who ‘developed an environmental and health conscience’ and altered her career to become a building biologist specialising in creating beautiful homes that are sanctuaries from the world. Her ideal of ‘living in nature, and building houses out of nature’ grew out of her own need for a naturally, healthy home.

Lucie had a rocky start in life with poor health from a young age. Her health issues grew worse as a young woman working in the fashion industry in Europe (for Valentino, Ralph Lauren and Vogue!), due to lifestyle stress, poor diet, and genetics that meant she didn’t detox well. She began suffering from anxiety, was told she had Parkinson’s Disease and mental health issues, then suffered through repeated miscarriages while trying to begin a family with her husband Ronan. During her second full-term pregnancy, Lucie learnt that she and the family had been affected by mould in their home in Hong Kong and they needed to leave. They bought a 350 year old home in the Italian alps which they renovated as a holiday home; and the family moved to the USA where Lucie studied building biology.

Lucie shares her thoughts on dealing with illnesses exacerbated by environmental toxins like mould and poor air quality, discusses electro-magnetic fields, wifi and other possible health hazards in the home, and she offers a wealth of practical advice for building or renovating homes in the healthiest way possible. Her beautifully calm way of approaching issues that can be quite overwhelming give hope that with a few small changes, great health benefits can be achieved.

EXCITING NEWS! This summer, Lucie will begin hosting gut health retreats at her luxury ski lodge in the Italian alps, with the help of Jo and Elyse!

This is your chance to hit the pause button and hide away from the world in a charming hamlet in the heart of the Italian alps. Take the time to rest, destress, and heal, with the help of an experienced team of nutrition, exercise, and culinary medicine experts, a traditional whole food chef, and a building biologist and interior designer with a vision for creating homes that are sanctuaries from the world.

Learn more about the Luxury Gut Health Retreat here. Dates for 2020 are June 8-11, and June 15-19.

Read about Lucie’s chalet, Baita 1697, in this Forbes Magazine article.

Learn more about Lucie and her interior design and building biology business on her website, Lucie McCullough, and on Instagram at @luciemcculloughinteriors.

The post AQJ 152: Designing a Healthy Home, with Building Biologist & Interior Designer Lucie McCullough – Part 1 appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

In our first episode for 2020, we (Jo and Fouad) chat about how we are working to begin the year with positivity, in the midst of a national crisis and all the stress that involves. In Australia, we are struggling to cope with high temperatures and drought in many parts of the country, which have contributed to the worst and most wide-spread bushfires on record. Fouad’s family have evacuated their home six times so far this season. We are feeling the stress of the constant barrage of bad news everywhere we look – social media, tv, newspapers, online news – and we know we are not the only ones suffering from feelings of overwhelm, anxiety and helplessness. What can we do to help our families and communities through this difficult time?

Listen in as we talk about:

• the pros and cons of being so “connected” online

If you love our recipes and would like to buy our Life-Changing Food cookbook app (for iOS), we are donating 10% of sales to the NSW Rural Fire Service for all of December and January.

We are also offering to replace Life-Changing Food cookbooks that have been lost in bushfires – please contact us at [email protected] with your details if you would like to apply for a replacement copy.

[Photo: Our friend Elyse and her son at the beach, surrounded by smoky skies]

Useful Links:

• Listen to a great podcast by Marcus Pearce on mindful news consumption: News stories are like sugar – a limitless amount will never nourish you

The post AQJ 151: Finding Positivity in the Midst of Crisis appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

In the last podcast for the year, Jo is on the other side of the microphone! Dr Natalie Challis (neuro-psychotherapist) and Leigh Shinde (neuro-nutritionist) recently interviewed Jo for their program, “Love Your Anxious Child“, on her experiences of supporting and parenting an anxious child. They discuss the importance of building connection with your children, spending the time to understand what they’re going through and what helps, and really being an advocate for your children in a world that can be very harsh and overwhelming for those with anxiety or developmental disorders.

Dr Nat says, “I really wanted the mums in our program to hear from another mum who’s been through the hard yards, that they CAN do this, and that life does turn out great, and you can enjoy the teenage years! Don’t listen to all the critics, everything turns out for the best, these children were given to us for a reason. Mums really appreciate hearing from someone who’s done it, who’s been there, and has come out the other side – still smiling!” (Photo above: Jo and her son Isaac celebrating his graduation from grade 12 this year!)

Listen in as Jo talks about:

• understanding your child’s needs, and adjusting their environment to help them thrive

For more one on one help with your anxious child, we recommend Dr Nat and Leigh’s program, “Love Your Anxious Child“. As a special offer for our listeners, use the code “Love100” to receive the Love Phase for only $97! Over 50% off!

Learn more about Dr Nat and Leigh and the work they do, here.

The post AQJ 150: Supporting Your Anxious Child appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

If there’s anything I love, it’s a special treat that’s not only delicious, it’s NOURISHING! So I’m excited to share with you one of my favourite producers of fine, quality, healthy treats – Nourishing Bites. Today I interview Shelley about her health journey and how it led her to a career of producing amazing, whole food deliciousness!

After struggling for many years with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Shelley Grainger made the life-changing discovery that she could manage her condition through changes to her diet and lifestyle. As she worked towards a gluten free, dairy free, grain free diet, her body found its natural rhythm and her wellbeing significantly improved. Shelley and her husband Daniel were overjoyed when she fell pregnant naturally with their son Pacey-James—a result they had previously been told by doctors would be very difficult.

While Shelley was thrilled with her new way of eating, it was hard to find options for eating out that met her dietary requirements —especially delicious snacks and treats. So she began experimenting with making treats and carefully refined her recipes until they were not only full of super nutritious ingredients, but tasted great too!

At this point, Daniel and Shelley saw an opportunity to combine her passion for creating healthy treats with their business backgrounds to offer treat options to others, and they founded Nourishing Bites in 2013 as a market stall. These days, they have a small, passionate team working in their custom-built commercial kitchen in Townsville, North Queensland. They are always working on new ideas to create delicious, healthy treats and love sharing them with their customers.

HAVE YOURSELF A NOURISHING (BITES) CHRISTMAS!

“Nourishing Bites Christmas treats and gifts are hand-crafted in small batches with great care in North Qld by our family-owed, Indigenous business. We use only the highest quality, wholesome ingredients available to us so that you can enjoy your treats while also nourishing your body.

Find Out More:

Website: https://www.nourishingbites.com.au

Christmas Shop: https://www.nourishingbites.com.au/christmasshop/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NourishingbitesAU/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nourishingbites/

Support Small Aussie Businesses via “Buy From the Bush”: https://www.facebook.com/buyfromthebush/

The post AQJ 149: Recovering from PCOS, Healing Food, and Healthy Treats – with Shelley from Nourishing Bites appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

In this episode, Jo chats with Elyse Comerford, Integrative Nutritionist and GAPS Practitioner, about where to begin on your gut healing journey when you suspect metal toxicity, parasites and/or candida are an issue. This is a question that comes up a lot in the Quirky Cooking for Gut Health chat group… Do you start with blasting the parasites to get them out of your system? Do you start with a gung-ho metal detox? Do you start with strong anti-fungal medications for candida? It is very tempting to take a ‘hard-core’ approach in the hopes of quickly removing these issues… but is this the best way forward?

Listen as Elyse explains how these issues develop, and why it is absolutely crucial to take a gentler, step by step approach on your healing journey by focusing on healing the gut first, and how damaging it can be when we take drastic approaches to health.

If you want to heal more quickly and cause less damage to your body, then this is a must hear!

Useful Links:

Upcoming “Nourishing Your Family” Seminars & Cooking Classes

Layers of Healing, episode 98 with Elyse Comerford (start at 20 mins for main interview)

Elyse’s blog post about meat stocks and bone broths

Podcast with Becky Plotner discussing meat stocks (and lots of other interesting things!) 

Contact Elyse Comerford, and Elyse’s Facebook and Instagram

The post AQJ 148: Navigating Parasites, Metals and Candida When Healing appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Dan and Leanne Cordner are the owners of Bellasato Farm, where they raise naturally grown, heritage breed chickens on chemical free pasture in North Queensland. The couple, along with their two young girls began farming life just four years ago, leaving their career jobs – Dan was an engineer and Leanne a microbiologist – in favour of working the land. Leanne struggled with chemical sensitivities in the big city, and Dan felt like he didn’t see his family enough due to long work hours. Driven by a desire for a better lifestyle and improved health, they decided to take their passion for food and knowing how it was grown to another level.

This is the story of a family farm where things are done differently. Dan and Leanne are farmers who are working for a ‘new normal’ in agriculture that is fair to soil, water, animals, and people.

On Bellasato farm, the chickens live a happy life – running around in grassy fields, scratching in the dirt and chasing bugs, nibbling edible plants grown just for them, and playing their part in regenerating the soil on the farm. The family’s maremma dogs keep an eye on the chickens 24/7, and are also an invaluable part of the team.

Small farm life sounds idyllic, but it’s not without challenges… flooding, snakes, hard work, and long days are all part of life for the Cordners. But they feel the lifestyle changes they’ve made are totally worth it. They get to spend much more time together as a family, Leanne has completely healed from her chemical sensitivities, and their chicken has won the state-wide Delicious produce awards twice!

Listen in and be inspired by this couple whose major lifestyle changes resulted in the healing of a chronic illness, a better life for their family, and a career that gives back to the land and community around them.

Useful Links:

Bellasato Farm on Instagram and Facebook

Article on Bellasato Farm by “Will Work For Food”

“Farming Democracy”, by Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (the book mentioned in the podcast that includes the Cordner’s story)

Episode 94: Joel Salatin – Regenerative wisdom from the world’s most famous farmer

Photo credit: Honey Atkinson

The post AQJ 147: From City Careers to Farming Life – The Story of Bellasato Farm appeared first on The Wellness Couch.