Thought For Food Podcast

      Today we're pleased to bring you our conversation with Dr. Allen Lim, a Ph.D Exercise Physiologist from the University of Colorado Boulder (Jackson's Alma Mater), founder of the exercise hydration company Skratch Labs, lover of bikes, and proponent of eating food made from scratch. As Allen puts it - his parts are from China, made in the Philippines, and programmed in America. Allen grew up in Los Angeles, California and quickly developed a love for the bike, which allowed him to discover a passion for exercise physiology. He eventually did his Master's and Ph.D in Boulder, researching the stress involved in exercise. He then went on to work on developing the PowerTap, one of the first tools used to measure power output on the bike, and began working for professional cycling teams at big races like the Tour de France. While doing this, he started realizing that athletes were doing much better performance wise when they were fed real food. Armed with his rice cooker and kitchen utensils, he began feeding these athletes simple but nourishing meals, and they responded very positively. He then created a witches' brew cocktail in paint buckets of the perfect mix of sugar and electrolytes that was much easier on the gut than traditional sports drinks that he shared with his team. Soon, riders from other teams began asking for this drink and putting it in their bottles instead of their team's sponsored drink products. And thus Secret Drink Mix, and eventually Skratch Labs, was born. Allen has had a profound impact on the nutrition performance of athletes in cycling and beyond, shifting the culture away from a reliance on Powerbars and Gatorade into one focused on understanding how important making food from scratch can be. In this episode, we talk about the birth of Skratch, what about the mix makes it useful for hydration, general hydration strategies for athletes, and why we should stop talking about diet and just eat real food. We get into business, and how Skratch Labs operates from a happiness first perspective, and how important it is to just start when you develop a passion for something. Allen is funny, engaging, and has a lot of experience with a variety of subjects, so I hope you enjoy the conversation! -Jackson Are you enjoying the podcast? You can support our free content by sharing it with friends and family if you feel like they could get something out of our message. It would also help us out a ton if you left a quick review on the iTunes store, it really helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners (and it only takes 5 min)! If you want to go above and beyond, you can kick us some change by pledging your support on Patreon each month, which is a recurring crowd funding site dedicated to creators like us! It allows us to keep putting out the free content that you're used to, but helps us to invest more money into improving the quality of the show through better equipment (every penny we make on Patreon goes to bettering our setup to make the content better for you!). New shirts are LIVE! But (awesomely) we are nearly sold out. We have a limited run of a few sizes left, so go check them out! We will be making another order soon, so don't worry!

Dr. Allen Lim on Exercise Hydration, Cooking From Skratch, and Putting Happiness First

This week's (long) Random Show is all about the wilderness. Jackson and Aaron talk about their most profound and sometimes terrifying experiences in the outdoors. Get outside, get uncomfortable, and #doepicshit. Connect with TFF: Website: tfflifestyle.com Instagram: instagram.com/tfflifestyle Facebook: facebook.com/tfflifestyle Twitter: twitter.com/tfflifestyle Patreon: patreon.com/thoughtforfood YouTube: bit.ly/tfftv Podcast: bit.ly/TFFitunes

Random Show #7

This week's episode is something a little different. I'm incredibly excited to announce Vegan Alpletic: a collaboration between myself, Ian Moore, Gruffudd Pugh-Jones, Mercy For Animals, and Vegan Athletic Apparel. The first week of July, Ian, Gruff, and I are embarking on a fundraising expedition for Mercy For Animals by traveling through the French and Italian Alps in search of the hardest, most epic climbs to ride on our bikes. By raising awareness about the potential for a plant-based, vegan diet to fuel even the hardest athletic ventures, and educating others about the realities of factory farms, we are hoping to raise $10,000 for the animal rights organization MFA. Many people still believe that you cannot thrive as an athlete while on a vegan diet, that the consumption of at least some animal products is required to fuel the elite athlete. We are here to end that misconception. My friend Ian has been vegan since birth, and is an elite category 1 road cyclist. I have raced at the elite national and international level, and so has Gruff. The three of us are riding enormous mountains like the Stelvio Pass, Gavia Pass, Alpe d'huez, and even the grueling stage 9 of the 2017 Tour de France, which is 111 miles and climbs over 16,000 feet in elevation. Mercy For Animals fights for ending factory farming and the mass suffering of animals through education and outreach, completing undercover investigations, and lobbying for policy change. Here at TFF, we tend to focus on education about the health and nutrition side of eating a plant-based diet, which we believe is an essential component to ending factory farming and the unnecessary exploitation of animals. But it's also incredibly important to understand what is truly happening in our industrial food system and Mercy For Animals is at the forefront of that effort, so we felt compelled to raise money and awareness for this organization. I have deep passions for cycling in the mountains, doing epic shit, and getting out of my comfort zone, and documenting that adventure. Combining all of that with the education and awareness about the realities of factory farming and showing how we are fueling ourselves as plant-based athletes is an absolute dream come true. We are fully self-funding the trip, so all donations will go directly to Mercy For Animals. We need all the help we can get to meet our goal of $10,000, so please visit our awesome donate page over at donate.mercyforanimals.org/veganalpletic to help make a difference for farmed animals! And be sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Thought For Food TV, where we'll be posting regular vlogs about our adventures in the alps. We can't wait to kick this thing off, and we are so grateful for your support! Learn more in the links below. Are you enjoying the podcast? You can support our free content by sharing it with friends and family if you feel like they could get something out of our message. It would also help us out a ton if you left a quick review on the iTunes store, it really helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners (and it only takes 5 min)! If you want to go above and beyond, you can kick us some change by pledging your support on Patreon each month, which is a recurring crowd funding site dedicated to creators like us! It allows us to keep putting out the free content that you're used to, but helps us to invest more money into improving the quality of the show through better equipment (every penny we ma...

Cycling in the Alps for Mercy For Animals – Vegan Alpletic Announcement

      This week on the show we talk to Matt Frazier of the popular vegan/running blog, No Meat Athlete. No Meat Athlete, for those of you that are unaware, has been around almost a decade, and has since evolved into a podcast, a meal plan service, various products, and now a brand new cookbook. NMA, composed of both Matt and TFF podcast alumni, Doug Hay, is a tremendous resource for the plant-based athlete. From running and general exercise tips, nutrition information, and more, NMA is essential reading for any athlete thinking about eating more plants. Matt just released an amazing new cookbook, titled The No Meat Athlete Cookbook which has been a smashing success already, reaching the top 50 overall books on both Barnes & Noble and Amazon. That's pretty crazy, not only for NMA but for the plant-based movement in general! The focus of the book is simple, practical, and delicious whole food plant-based recipes for athletes. Meals that are both nourishing and satiating, while at the same time incredibly easy to make. We can't wait to get our hands on it!  We talk with Matt about: * the current state of No Meat Athlete * his plans for growth of the company and future goals * biggest challenges of growing an online business * his math background and how that fits into his future * all things No Meat Athlete Cookbook * his new supplement company called Lightdrop and why it's different than traditional supplement companies * and more! Definitely be sure to check out No Meat Athlete and their podcast, and pick up the new book. We hope you enjoy the conversation! Are you enjoying the podcast? You can support our free content by sharing it with friends and family if you feel like they could get something out of our message. It would also help us out a ton if you left a quick review on the iTunes store, it really helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners (and it only takes 5 min)! If you want to go above and beyond, you can kick us some change by pledging your support on Patreon each month, which is a recurring crowd funding site dedicated to creators like us! It allows us to keep putting out the free content that you're used to, but helps us to invest more money into improving the quality of the show through better equipment (every penny we make on Patreon goes to bettering our setup to make the content better for you!). New shirts are coming soon to the shop, so stay tuned for more info on that! If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts to get the new episode right as it comes out. Also, subscribe our YouTube channel, Thought For Food TV.  We really appreciate all the support guys,

Matt Frazier on Making Plant-Based Simple for Athletes with the No Meat Athlete Cookbook

This week on the Random Show, Jackson talks about his recent epic "Alps Camp" training weekend and we discuss our latest thoughts on the approach of TFF. Connect with TFF: Website: tfflifestyle.com Instagram: instagram.com/tfflifestyle Facebook: facebook.com/tfflifestyle Twitter: twitter.com/tfflifestyle Patreon: patreon.com/thoughtforfood YouTube: bit.ly/tfftv Podcast: bit.ly/TFFitunes

Random Show #6

      Welcome to the first installment of the new Plant Based Parenting Series! It's been a long time coming and Aaron is really excited to share this with all of you. On todays show, Aaron walks you through the current scientific consensus on strict plant-based pregnancies, some important literature on omnivorous pregnancies, what is currently recommended for vegans and vegetarians in terms of important nutrients, supplementation and weight gain and finally an interview with his wife Allison about her current and former pregnancy experience from conception to birth. Thank you all for listening. We hope you really enjoy the first episode and please let us know what you thought by shooting an email to tfflifestyle@gmail.com. Aaron has interviews lined up with some prominent pediatricians and looks forward to getting some parents on the show as well to talk about their experience raising plant-based kids. Want to support the show and what TFF is doing? You can share our content with friends and family if you feel like they could get something out of our message. It would also help us out a ton if you left a quick review on the iTunes store, it really helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners (and it only takes 5 min)! If you want to go above and beyond, you can kick us some change by pledging your support on Patreon each month, which is a recurring crowd funding site dedicated to creators like us! It allows us to keep putting out the free content that you're used to, but helps us to invest more money into improving the quality of the show through better equipment (every penny we make on Patreon goes to bettering our setup to make the content better for you!). You can also visit tfflifestyle.com/support to learn more and make a one-time donation. We also have a few shirts over on the shop page, so get 'em while you can! More are coming soon. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts to get the new episode right as it comes out. Also, subscribe our YouTube channel, Thought For Food TV.  We really appreciate all the support guys, so don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter so we can engage more with all of our awesome supporters. This is such a fun thing we're doing, and it's even cooler that we are having a meaningful impact on people's lives. So thanks! If you have any questions for future Q&A episodes, drop us an email at tfflifestyle@gmail.com or by visiting the contact us page on the website. Show Notes Useful Links: What's The Deal With Protein?  What's The Deal With Iron? Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Position Statement  

Plant-Based Parenting Series #1 – Pregnancy

  In this week's edition of the Random Show, Jackson and Aaron discuss censorship, our new business idea, and vlog life. The Random Show is a random show where we, and occasionally random guests, talk about random topics. No editing, no script, just randomness. Say hi: Website: https://www.tfflifestyle.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/tfflifestyle Facebook: http://facebook.com/tfflifestyle Twitter: http://twitter.com/tfflifestyle Patreon: http://patreon.com/thoughtforfood YouTube: http://bit.ly/tfftv Podcast: http://bit.ly/TFFitunes

Random Show #5

This week on the show, we are incredibly excited to share our conversation with Audrey Sanchez, Executive Director of a new non-profit organization called Balanced (balanced.org) that was started in collaboration with NutritionFacts.org. Balanced is dedicated to fighting for responsibility in the food system by demanding schools, hospitals, corporations, and beyond follow the latest scientific research to provide healthier food alternatives. With lifestyle related diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer crippling our healthcare system and leading to enormous costs and suffering being incurred, action must be taken to follow the latest evidence and remove unhealthy foods from these large organizations. With Audrey's background as an educator, animal rights activist, and parent, she is well poised to take on this antiquated system and move to make the healthier food choice more accessible - a limiting factor for eating well. Universities, hospitals, schools, and businesses have the opportunity to take a step forward and make a meaningful and lasting impact on the health of our society. We're incredibly excited to be teaming up with Balanced in this fight as members of their Advisory Board, alongside big names like Dr. Michael Greger, Matt Ruscigno, Dr. Michelle McMacken, and Pamela Fergusson in order to address these issues with SCIENCE! Balanced is brand new at only a few weeks old, so we felt compelled to have Audrey come on the show to share what the organizations goals are, some of their strategies, how you can get involved, and more. Be sure to follow Balanced on social media and join their mailing list to stay up to date and stay involved with the mission. We're super excited to see how they will grow and impact our healthcare system. Enjoy the show! -Jackson and Aaron Want to support the show and what TFF is doing? You can share our content with friends and family if you feel like they could get something out of our message. It would also help us out a ton if you left a quick review on the iTunes store, it really helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners (and it only takes 5 min)! If you want to go above and beyond, you can kick us some change by pledging your support on Patreon each month, which is a recurring crowd funding site dedicated to creators like us! It allows us to keep putting out the free content that you're used to, but helps us to invest more money into improving the quality of the show through better equipment (every penny we make on Patreon goes to bettering our setup to make the content better for you!). You can also visit tfflifestyle.com/support to learn more and make a one-time donation. We also have a few shirts over on the shop page, so get 'em while you can! More are coming soon. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts to get the new episode right as it comes out. Also, subscribe our YouTube channel,