Cutting through the nutrition science noise: Episode 128
Food Bullying Podcast
Are seed oils poison? Is it worth purchasing produce if it’s not organic? Are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans actually killing us? Today's guest has a unique perspective for dietitians and everyone interested in food. These are just a few of the questions Michele and Nicole pose to Dr. Adrian Chavez, who earned his PhD in nutrition and health promotion from Arizona State University. His own personal health journey began as a child experiencing asthma and severe allergies, the treatment of which left him with digestive issues that he learned to resolve with improvements...
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What the Washington Post got wrong about dietitians: Episode127
Food Bullying Podcast
When dietitians are offered a seat at the table of commodity boards, food brands, and non-profit associations, there are benefits for all involved - including the consumer. But what’s the emotional price tag the dietitian must pay when partnerships are erroneously scrutinized for all the world to see? Is the discussion more nuanced than recent articles would you to believe? , MS, RD, LD, and owner of Street Smart Nutrition, is a fierce advocate for fearlessly nourishing meals, and she uses a weight-inclusive approach in her work in private practice and nutrition communications. Working with...
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Southern belles, soil health, & sustainability: Episode 126
Food Bullying Podcast
“The biggest misconception about farming in the dietetic world is that GMOs are bad for the environment and human consumption - and that farmers are financially well-off.” Wendy Yeager is a fourth-generation farmer who, with her husband Jamie, owns and operates Bell Place Farm, a diversified row crop operation. They grow peanuts, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat managed through crop rotation over 1100 acres in west central Alabama (the heart of the Blackbelt). Given the rise in prices of multiple inputs including fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, and diesel fuel, the...
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The heart of the wheat kernel: Episode 125
Food Bullying Podcast
“If a food is free from something, then it must be healthy, right?” Dr. Brett Carver, a wheat breeder and researcher at Oklahoma State University for nearly 40 years, has found himself spending more time defending the plant to which he’s devoted his career in recent years. “A huge chunk of our population, based on easy-to-find survey data, makes dietary choices AWAY from gluten (wheat). That's about 9-12% of us, and millennials and Gen Z's lead the way. About 1 in 5 persons will reduce or eliminate gluten from their diet because they believe this to be a healthier option,” says...
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The art & science of farming citrus: Episode 124
Food Bullying Podcast
Rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, many citrus varieties have earned their place on our breakfast tables, squeezed into our water (and cocktails), and in our favorite American recipes. There is both art and science in growing citrus that is in demand as part of our nutrition. Citrus farmers continually met consumer demand for new flavors (think blood oranges), increased eye appeal (Cara Caras come to mind), and ease of use (seedless lemons). Amid so much innovation, the unfortunate reality is that citrus is at risk. In this episode of the Food Bullying podcast, Casey Creamer,...
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Big bad agriculture: a transparent look at their science & safety
Food Bullying Podcast
“The biggest misconception about my work is that agriculture companies place pesticides or biotech products on the market without testing them for safety. The fact is that agriculture is one of the most strictly regulated and thoroughly investigated industries in the world. Agriculture companies must strictly follow local and international regulatory guidelines and conduct hundreds of safety studies before launching a product. When a consumer has safety questions about pesticide residues or GMOs in their food, I hope all dietitians are well-equipped with knowledge about the agriculture...
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A.I. in your food (cattle, not computers): Episode 122
Food Bullying Podcast
Brady Blackett is a 4th generation cattle producer from Utah who’s passionate about the cattle industry and its ability to contribute to a healthy and wholesome food system in the U.S. and abroad. As the co-founder of IGA (Intermountain Genetic Alliance), Blackett is well-versed in the subject and application of AI (artificial insemination). In this episode, Blackett explains the many ways in which AI has a positive net impact on the environment and offers a wider array of consumer choices at the meat counter and in the dairy aisle. For example, by selecting traits...
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Food labels & nutrition choices driven by dollars: Episode 121
Food Bullying Podcast
What’s the relationship between front-of-package food labeling and consumer choice, and how can it potentially impact grocery prices? Dr. Chen Zhen is a professor in Food Choice, Obesity, and Health Economics at the University of Georgia. His research focuses on the impact of interpretative front-of-package labeling on consumer behavior and food prices. In this conversation, Zhen discusses policies that can discourage consumption of less nutrient-dense foods (such as taxation) versus those that focus on access (making more nutritious food more accessible and less nutritious food...
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Building up data for dietitians: Episode 120
Food Bullying Podcast
“You can’t talk about what’s on the plate if you don’t know how it got there.” As the founder of Build Up Dietitians, Leah McGrath has created a space in which dietitians at all stages in their careers (including students), can learn more about just that - and provides avenues for evidence-based practitioners to gain a better understanding of agriculture practices. But when searching for that evidence, how do we discern quality sources from those that are less-than? McGrath offers for dietitians so that YOU can empower the consumer to make choices based on fact - not fiction....
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GMOs & bacon with a side of bullying
Food Bullying Podcast
“I wish people would take a little time to understand where their food comes from and also to trust the farmer.” A great perspective for RDNs to remember! Wanda Patsche, alongside her husband Chuck, farms in southern Minnesota. They grow corn and soybeans and raise hogs. Patsche also utilizes her to tell her farming story. Unfortunately, she has recently experienced some food bullying as part of her efforts to help people understand farming. “I think GMOs and organic foods are still widely misunderstood by the consumer,” says Patsche. “I also think the fear-based...
info_outlineIn this special behind-the-scenes episode, Michele and Eliz welcome Callie (Eliz’s daughter and manager of the Food Bullying Facebook Page) for a wide-ranging Q&A session. Callie Greene is about to begin her second year at Lawrence University, where she studies psychology and harp performance.
Callie’s Questions:
What’s with all the Roundup in hummus and cereal?
- Roundup kills weeds and has been used and tested for many years
- Farmers treat the fields to kill weeds to protect the crop plant
- Weeds in chickpea field will cause mold after harvest
- If weed seeds get into harvest, the chickpeas the farmers can’t sell it
- Roundup like the sun is a carcinogen. The dose (or exposure) matters
- The EPA has stringent guidelines for residue measured in mg/kg/day
- A person would have to eat 36 Kg of breakfast cereal per day to be harmful.
- The Environmental Working Group is not a research group; they use their own, non-science-based measurement as a scare tactic.
- Farmers don’t dump chemicals on to their land
- Time-consuming and expensive
- Soil is the most important asset
- Your food is safe. Check the source of information for facts.
What can we do to eat better when we are eating dorm food?
There is room for all foods in your diet.
- Choose colorful foods
- Talk to the foodservice manager and ask for what you want
- Pay attention to how you feel after eating. Experiment with combinations of proteins, grains, and produce.
Why is there so much blame and fear about agriculture and the environment?
People working with the land care deeply about the land
- People are disconnected from the farm and get misleading information about what happens on the farm
- Ag is responsible for 9% of greenhouse gasses
- Electricity of the U.S. is responsible for 7 times the impact of Ag
- COVID19 drastically improved the air quality around the world - but there are the same number of animals.
- The FAO's Livestock’s Long Shadow study exagerated figures on the environmental impact of agriculture, and has been corrected by the author. The damage to ag’s reputation hasn’t been corrected.
- The study created distrust and fear.
- Ads like the recent Burger King ad continue to spread misinformation
- There is always room to do better, that’s called progress
- Ag is always trying to reduce environmental impact.
- GMOs are part of that effort.
- People may feel that changing their eating habits is something they can do to individually impact the environment:
- Check the sources of the information.
- Make choices based on your own standards
- Farmers deserve choice on how they farm, too.
Links:
Food Bullying Podcast’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/foodbullyingpodcast
Embrace Your Heart with Eliz Greene: http://www.embraceyourheart.com/
Food Bullying: How to Avoid Michele Payn: http://foodbullying.com