It's Never JUST Food!

Noha Gerges
  • 5.0 (1)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

It’s Never JUST Food is for people who love to eat and also love to ask, “but WHY is it like this?” I'm your host Noha, a corporate escapee turned meal prep coach. As a lifelong self-proclaimed foodie, I love everything about food. Here we talk the whats, whys, and hows behind it: why we crave certain eats, how certain recipes came to be, what’s cultural, and why some of our choices run on autopilot. Some episodes get science-y. Some are story-driven. Some are pure history and curiosity. Most will combine all of these. So, grab a snack and come hang out with me, fellow foodie!

Episodes

  1. 4D AGO

    Episode 3 - The delicious world of dumplings

    Dumplings are everywhere, and people love arguing about what counts, what doesn’t, and what the “best” dumpling is. So, today we’re covering these delicious bites, but with one rule: this is not a competition and there will be no winner, because I have never met a dumpling I didn’t enjoy. In this episode, we’re taking a historical and cultural trip around the dumpling world. We’re covering what counts as a dumpling, how so many cultures have their own versions, wrapper and filling differences, cooking methods, dipping sauce options, a quick health check, and a few meal-prep friendly dumplings that are worth freezing. In this episode: What counts as a dumpling How dumplings exist everywhereA world tour of dumplings Wrappers vs fillings vs cooking methods Dipping saucesAre dumplings healthy? Connect with Noha: If you have a topic you want covered next, send an email to ⁠itsneverjustfood@gmail.com⁠ Follow the It’s Never JUST Food podcast on Instagram Follow Noha on Instagram and TikTokLearn more about working with Noha here References mentioned in the episode: Britannica Dictionary. “Dumpling” definition Monash University. About FODMAPs and IBS (what FODMAPs are and why they can trigger IBS symptoms).

    21 min

  2. FEB 7

    Episode 2: Bread, the 14,000 year old bite!

    Every time you bite into bread, you’re taking part in something ANCIENT. In this episode, we go deep on bread as the ultimate “never just food” food. We’re talking what early bread looked like, how bread evolved through civilizations, and the science behind why yeast bread and sourdough taste and behave differently. Then we zoom out to the cultural side of bread, including why it shows up everywhere, and how it’s often tied to hospitality. In this episode: The oldest evidence of bread making (before agriculture was even a thing) What early bread likely looked like Bread in Ancient Egypt and what we’ve learned from scientific analysis of preserved loaves Pompeii’s carbonized loaves Fermentation 101 Yeast vs sourdough, and why sourdough can taste so different Bread as culture and hospitality Connect with Noha: If you have a topic you want covered next, send an email to itsneverjustfood@gmail.comFollow the It's Never Just Food Podcast on InstagramFollow Noha on Instagram and TikTokLearn more about working with Noha hereReferences mentioned in the episode: Arranz-Otaegui, A. et al. (2018). Archaeobotanical evidence reveals the origins of bread 14,400 years ago in northeastern Jordan. PNAS. Samuel, D. (1996). Investigation of Ancient Egyptian baking and brewing methods by correlative microscopy.Science. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Cereals and other starch-based staples: are consumption patterns changing? FAO. Engström, N. et al. (2015). Sourdough fermentation of wheat flour does not prevent the interaction of transglutaminase 2 with α2-gliadin or gluten. Mesta-Corral, M. et al. (2024). Technological and nutritional aspects of bread production. Nutrients.

    21 min

  3. JAN 31

    Episode 1: WHY do we eat?

    Meet Noha and learn about WHY we eat the way we eat. In Episode 1, I’m breaking down 5 reasons food is never JUST food. I'll cover reasons spanning biology, cravings, stress, culture and the modern food environment. Expect nerdy facts, real-life examples, and at least one “I had no idea” moment. Connect with Noha: If you have a topic you want covered next, send an email to itsneverjustfood@gmail.comFollow the It's Never Just Food Podcast on Instagram Follow Noha on Instagram and TikTokLearn more about working with Noha here

    19 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

It’s Never JUST Food is for people who love to eat and also love to ask, “but WHY is it like this?” I'm your host Noha, a corporate escapee turned meal prep coach. As a lifelong self-proclaimed foodie, I love everything about food. Here we talk the whats, whys, and hows behind it: why we crave certain eats, how certain recipes came to be, what’s cultural, and why some of our choices run on autopilot. Some episodes get science-y. Some are story-driven. Some are pure history and curiosity. Most will combine all of these. So, grab a snack and come hang out with me, fellow foodie!

Information

  • Creator
    Noha Gerges
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Noha Gerges
  • Show Website
    It's Never JUST Food!