Health Mix

Host and brand consultant Yareli Quintana chats with Jimi Sturgeon-Smith, the chief operating officer of Cali'flour Foods—a brand dedicated to providing low carb, grain-free, and gluten-free pizza crusts with a wide variety of plant-based options. Listen now to learn about how to strategically adapt your company’s menu to dietary restrictions, and what lies ahead for Cali'flour Foods.

While all-natural and less processed products are becoming more accessible in the industry, foods are often misguidedly advertised as “healthy” via confusing label terms without fully revealing their true benefits—or potential harms.In this episode of Health Mix, host and brand consultant Yareli Quintana sits down with Kate Geagan, an award-winning dietician, author, and nutrition pioneer. Raised in an environment filled with highly processed meals, Geagan first felt the “world of food open up to her” when she traveled to Italy after graduation and attended a cooking school.“I became interested in the intersection of food, cooking, and health, and also the science of nutrition,” says Geagan. “It led me to this path of wellness: what is the science of nutrition and health and wellness? And how can food be that entry place to spark joy in people and connect them to all that’s so positive when they eat well?”For Geagan, conscience-based and value-based eating is key. Current food systems are largely designed around efficiency, growth, and affordability rather than sustainability.“We know from the data that most people are eating far less [beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds] than they should be, even just to meet basic governmental guidelines,” says Geagan, “but especially when it comes to cultivating optimal health for themselves and pursuing a sustainable diet.”Geagan argues that advocating for policy change is not enough, as policy is inherently a slow process that cannot quickly meet the needs of current science recommendations and an evolving market. Change has to start with grocery stores, restaurants, brands, and consumers themselves.And some marketers are not helping that process. The front label on a product “has a lot more room for marketing claims, and that’s where consumer confusion can abound,” adds Geagan. “Marketers are very savvy. Some are doing beautiful, honest, transparent work to communicate important brand values—others are trying to cozy up. The devil’s in the details.”And what should consumers do when they are confused? While consumers can always contact brands directly for information, they can also take comfort in the fact that the foods they buy at the grocery store that do not come with a food label are generally “the healthiest foods in the store.”Check out the podcast above to learn more about what Geagan would prefer in a food label, defining a sustainable diet, and how companies can work toward a more sustainable future.

Yareli Quintana sits down with Annie Ryu, the founder and CEO of The Jackfruit Company. Native to India, jackfruit is considered the “meatiest” plant on the planet. It is drought-resistant, naturally organic, a high source of fiber, low in calories, contains no saturated fat and cholesterol, and filled with vitamins and minerals.

The term “healthy” is often applied haphazardly when it comes to food. While so-called healthy ingredients are increasingly becoming the norm in the food and beverage industry, it can be hard for consumers to determine what is truly fresh, quality food that nourishes the body.In this episode of Health Mix, host and brand consultant Yareli Quintana chats with Sylvie Charles, M.D., the founder and CEO of Just Date Syrup. Just Date Syrup is a nutritional, natural sugar alternative extracted from organic California Medjool dates. Featuring a low glycemic index, these dates are filled with antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, and a number of other vitamins and minerals.“After doing some exploration, I realized that date syrup has been around for thousands of years,” says Charles. Growing up in a “food-centric” Indian household, dates were absolutely essential as a sweetener for meals. The ingredient, however, “just hadn’t made its way into American pantries.”Just Date Syrup ultimately aims to help consumers be more conscious of and care about the food they put into their bodies every day. Using alternatives like date syrup and cutting back on sugar in general can help prevent a number of diet-related illnesses, including diabetes.However, Charles is quick to remind consumers that regardless of its nutritional density, date syrup—like all other sugar alternatives—is still a sugar. “You should in no way be consuming an excessive amount.” For decades, notes Charles, “companies were actually funding scientists to hide research that sugar was behind a lot of our diet-related illness, and not fat.”Check out the podcast above to learn more about the benefits of date syrup, the importance of nutritional education, and some great recipe possibilities with this unique ingredient.

Cultured South is the offshoot creation of Wade’s original kombucha company—Golda Kombucha, the first and only kombucha company in Atlanta. The concept was inspired by Wade’s Grandma Golda, an avid kombucha maker and drinker. Golda Kombucha products are currently featured in over 100 Kroger and Whole Foods markets.

Learn more about the history of Puris, the company’s current goals, and the future of the plant-based industry.