Two Many Cooks in the Kitchen

Janel Ohletz
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Nutrition

Welcome to Two Many Cooks in the Kitchen, the podcast where a mother-daughter duo stirs up real food, real talk, and the occasional over-seasoned opinion. We’ll dish out healthy recipes, debunk food & health myths, trade kitchen hacks, and sprinkle in plenty of banter—because it’s not just the veggies that get roasted around here. If you love good food, good laughs, and the comfort of family conversation, you’ll feel right at home. Two voices, one mission: better food, better health.

  1. 6d ago

    Cereal Killer: Childhood Nostalgia Gone Bad

    Cereal is everywhere, but is it actually a healthy breakfast food, or just a sugar bomb in a box? Janel and Lauren pull back the curtain on the marketing myth that turned cereal into a “healthy” staple, and why your bowl may be setting you up for a crash before lunch. They trace cereal from its roots in sanitariums and the Kellogg era to the modern grocery aisle, where bright boxes, cartoon branding, and “fortified” claims still sell the same ultra-processed formula in new packaging. Along the way, they get into the real difference between whole foods and sprayed-on nutrients, why fortified vitamins do not behave the same way in your body, and how cereal became one of the most successful convenience foods in American history. You’ll discover: Why cereal was originally marketed as a health foodThe dark, weird history behind John Harvey Kellogg and the rise of boxed cerealWhy “added vitamins” are not the same as eating actual nutrient-dense foodHow cereal spikes blood sugar and leaves you hungry again fast

  2. Oct 7

    Cooking up Health Benefits with Adam Kingl - Author of Executive Eats

    Cooking itself is an act of mindfulness and one of the healthiest things that we can do. This is a great episode with Adam Kingl, author of Executive eats, speaker and business academic at University College London School of Management and Imperial College London Business School. While Lauren sat this one out to get into her studies, Janel and Adam chat about the overlap between food, health, performance, and creativity. Adam shares how his work as a business academic and his book, Executive Eats, led him to think about nutrition not just as fuel, but as a tool for better focus, energy, mood, and leadership.They also dig into the idea that cooking itself can be a mindfulness practice. The conversation moves from British cuisine and food culture to self-mastery, improvisation in the kitchen, and why learning to cook can improve confidence far beyond mealtime. Links: Executive Eats by Adam Kingl: https://bookshop.org/shop/ohletzgrow Adam Kingl Website: https://adamkingl.com/ Ditch the Mealtime Overwhelm FREE Masterclass Sign Up: https://renew.ohletzgrow.com/program Key topicsAdam Kingle introduces himself as a business academic at University College London School of Management and Imperial College London Business School. He explains that Executive Eats connects nutrition with personal and professional performance.Janel frames the podcast’s bigger mission around food and health, and helping people take more ownership of their well-being.Adam discusses the book’s concept: a cookbook for a better working life, with recipes designed to support focus, sustained energy, mood, concentration, and anxiety management.He explains the book’s structure: he and co-author Jakob, a molecular biologist, started with nutrients and ingredients that support performance, then built 100 recipes around them.Adam shares a formative cooking memory from college, when he made Christmas goose and flaming plum pudding from Julia Child recipes. The experience gave him confidence in the kitchen and respect for reliable recipe authors.Janel shares her own food journey from farm life to chef work, agriculture science, and soil science, and explains how her memoir weaves recipes into personal storytelling.The conversation turns to the food system and the gap between what people eat, how food is produced, and how food choices affect the environment and long-term health.Cooking is reframed as mindfulness: Adam says regular cooking can reduce stress and support lower blood pressure, less anxiety and depression, and better memory and motor function.Janel describes her Mindful Meals Mastery program, which helps people move past excuses like lack of time or skill and build a healthier relationship with cooking through simple recipes and reflection.They talk about self-mastery and growth mindset, including how learning to cook builds confidence and problem-solving skills that can carry into other parts of life.Both speakers highlight improvisation and creativity in the kitchen, from recipe accidents to signature desserts, arguing that mistakes can lead to breakthroughs.Adam closes with a practical message: cook more, know what you are putting in your body, and choose ingredients to support the outcomes you want—including better energy without relying only on caffeine.

  3. Sep 23

    Episode 20 - Real Food Chat with Victor Dedaj

    Let be real, we don't always eat right. But what should we eat, and how does that help keep us healthy. This Real Food Conversation covers the topics of questioning official health advice, personal health experiences, the limitations of the healthcare system, and the importance of holistic health and nutrition. We also delve into the myths and truths about health, the impact of medication, and the significance of real food and proper nutrition. Our conversation covers a range of topics related to nutrition, health, and holistic wellness. He emphasizes the importance of real food, the impact of ultra-processed foods, the significance of potassium, sodium, and gut health, and the role of antibiotics and natural healing methods. We even discuss the impact of laughter, gratitude, and social connections on overall health and wellness. Book: How to be Happy Healthy and Whole Seed Oil Scout App Takeaways Holistic health and nutrition are essential for overall well-beingThe healthcare system has limitations in treating chronic conditions Real food is essential for healthThe impact of ultra-processed foods on health is significant Chapters 00:00 Questioning Official Health Advice02:19 Personal Health Experiences06:03 Limitations of the Healthcare System13:14 Myths and Truths About Health15:28 Importance of Real Food and Nutrition23:56 Real Food and Ultra-Processed Foods24:29 The Role of Potassium, Sodium, and Gut Health25:29 The Impact of Antibiotics and Natural Healing42:23 The Importance of Laughter, Gratitude, and Social Connections

  4. Sep 7

    A Personal Backstory of Two Chefs

    Yes, we're getting personal in this episode. Reality, dreams, and what brought us to working in the food world. The podcast episode features an introduction to 'Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen' and delves into the hosts' personal culinary journey, emphasizing the impact of food on health and well-being. The conversation explores the intersection of food and health, highlighting the hosts' experiences and insights. The conversation delves into the challenges of balancing work and personal life, particularly in the food service industry. It also explores the impact of the industry on mental health and the vision for the future, focusing on holistic health and well-being. Takeaways Food and health as a central themePersonal backstory and culinary journeyThe impact of food on health and well-being Balancing work and personal lifeImpact of food service industry on mental health Chapters 00:00 The Journey Between Farm and Fork34:38 Navigating the Wilderness47:30 The Paradox of Being a Chef53:36 Vision for the Future Mindful Meals Mastery program

  5. Aug 26

    Looksmaxxing vs. Longevity: The Paradox of plastic surgery culture

    Looks maxing promises better beauty, but at what cost? Janel and Lauren unpack the internet’s obsession with cosmetic perfection, and make the case that true longevity has a lot more to do with health, confidence, and self-acceptance than chasing the latest trend.The conversation gets real fast as they break down what “looks maxing” actually means, from soft maxing basics like skincare and grooming to hard maxing extremes like plastic surgery, limb lengthening, and even the alarming bone-smashing trend. They also unpack the rise of “mogging,” the pressure young people feel from social media, and why so many people end up looking less like themselves and more like everyone else.Janel and Lauren share a deeper critique of beauty culture rooted in lived experience. They talk about the danger of optimizing for external validation, how social media distorts what is normal, and why fitting in at any cost can leave you more insecure, not less. Lauren introduces the idea of “longevity maxing” as a healthier alternative, while Janel brings the conversation back to body acceptance, strength, and what it actually means to age well. You’ll also hear them trace cosmetic enhancement from ancient Egypt and India to modern plastic surgery, separating genuinely restorative procedures from purely elective changes driven by pressure and comparison. They explore who benefits from these choices, where the line is between self-expression and self-erasure, and why community, mindset, and self-worth matter more than a filtered face. Then they pivot to the healthy food side of longevity with one of their favorite foods: avocados. From simple avocado toast to cucumber-avocado soup and easy no-cook ideas, they close with practical, nourishing ways to support your body without overcomplicating self-care.Perfect for anyone tired of beauty trends, curious about the psychology behind cosmetic culture, or looking for a healthier, more grounded way to think about aging, confidence, and taking care of yourself.

  6. Aug 12

    Food Fads: What Were We Thinking?

    Food Trends Through the Decades: From Canning to Dubai ChocolateLauren and Janel trace a century of food trends, from the rise of commercial canning and convenience foods to the modern push toward fermentation, high-protein eating, and real-food cooking. Along the way, they connect food history to changing family structures, industrialization, health messaging, and why some trends stick while others fade.This episode is a mix of food history, personal memory, and a broader conversation about how ultra-processed foods shaped American eating habits. Lauren and Janel also dig into why cooking skills matter, how food trends reflect culture, and what a healthier food future might look like. Timestamps 04:02 - Introducing the episode: food trends and America’s relationship with ultra-processed food 06:17 - Early convenience foods and the beginnings of mass production 08:24 - Commercial canning, mechanized meat packing, and the rise of food industry scale 10:34 - Oreo cookies, shortening, and how ingredient lists changed over time 13:22 - Prohibition cocktails and the legacy of Bee’s Knees, Sidecar, and Gin Rickey 15:01 - Depression-era cooking, rationing, Victory Gardens, and creative survival food 18:18 - TV dinners, casseroles, suburban convenience, and postwar food culture 20:19 - Tang, microwaves, astronaut food, and the rise of packaged novelty 24:21 - Farm-to-table roots, local food interest, and the push back against industrial food 25:21 - Jello salads, ambrosia, fondue, aspic, and the spectacle of 1960s food 30:47 - Fast food chains, car culture, and how mobility changed American eating 32:12 - Julia Child’s influence and the return of real cooking 34:40 - Fat-free diets, the Pritikin era, and the bad science around eggs and cholesterol 40:47 - Nouvelle cuisine, California cuisine, and the shift toward lighter, fresher plating 42:56 - Convenience foods for everyone: Hot Pockets, Lunchables, pizza bagels, and colorful cereals 45:25 - Food status reversals: lobster, monkfish, wings, sun-dried tomatoes, and balsamic trends 49:36 - The 2000s and 2010s: health food revival, gourmet fast casual, and molecular gastronomy 54:26 - Why ultra-processed foods feel unlike food to the body 57:26 - Endocrine disruption, pregnancy, synthetic additives, and how toxins get stored 61:05 - Crohn’s, health ownership, and the gap between symptom management and true prevention 63:40 - Food as medicine and the need for more nutrition education in medical training 67:55 - Prescription food programs and the importance of taking responsibility for health 70:21 - Slow food, food deserts, addiction to processed food, and rebuilding healthier habits 72:03 - Sourdough, fermentation, kimchi, kombucha, and gut health 73:19 - High-protein trends, gluten-free culture, and why some people react differently to bread 75:02 - Dubai chocolate, why it went viral, and the skepticism around trendy sweets 78:24 - Non-alcoholic drinks, THC beverages, and conspicuous leisure on social media 80:01 - Why cooking should not be gendered and why kids belong in the kitchen 83:08 - Teaching children knife safety, responsibility, and confidence through cooking 87:12 - Cooking as a life skill that improves outcomes, not just a hobby

  7. Jul 29

    Water: Drink to Your Health

    The conversation delves into the importance of water, the safety of tap water, contaminants in tap water, water filtration systems, and hydration and water consumption. It explores the significance of clean drinking water, the safety of tap water, the presence of contaminants, the effectiveness of filtration systems, and the recommended water consumption. The conversation covers various aspects of hydration, including the importance of water, electrolytes, remineralizing water, Kangen water, and the impact of microplastics in water bottles. It also delves into the health implications of hydration and the role of pH in water. Takeaways Water is essential for life and human healthTap water safety depends on location and qualityContaminants in tap water can be filtered outDifferent filtration systems have varying effectivenessRecommended water consumption is at least 8 glasses per day Proper hydration is essential for overall healthElectrolytes play a crucial role in hydration and mineral balance Show Links: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=FL4430259 https://waterfilterguru.com/best-under-sink-water-filter-reviews/ Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Water05:05 Is Tap Water Safe to Drink?10:58 Contaminants in Tap Water19:56 Water Filtration Systems24:00 Hydration and Water Consumption24:58 Hydration and Health25:41 Electrolytes and Hydration30:25 Remineralizing Water33:46 Kangen Water and pH37:25 Microplastics and Water Bottles

  8. Jul 15

    Fight Inflammation with Food

    The conversation explores the concept of food as medicine and the role of anti-inflammatory foods in promoting health. It delves into the impact of dietary choices on inflammation and discusses the use of anti-inflammatory ingredients in cooking. The conversation emphasizes the significant impact of food on overall health and well-being. The conversation covers topics related to mindful eating, inflammatory foods, and meal preparation. It delves into the impact of breakfast on inflammation, the relationship between stress and food, the benefits of oatmeal and turmeric, and various lunch options for an anti-inflammatory diet. Takeaways Food as medicineAnti-inflammatory foods Mindful eatingInflammatory foodsMeal preparation Chapters 00:00 The Power of Food as Medicine01:15 Inflammation and Dietary Choices02:38 Cooking with Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients03:26 The Impact of Food on Health05:46 Mindful Eating and Inflammation06:28 Breakfast and Inflammation07:10 Stress and Food09:06 Oatmeal and Turmeric12:05 Lunch Options

See All (22)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Two Many Cooks in the Kitchen, the podcast where a mother-daughter duo stirs up real food, real talk, and the occasional over-seasoned opinion. We’ll dish out healthy recipes, debunk food & health myths, trade kitchen hacks, and sprinkle in plenty of banter—because it’s not just the veggies that get roasted around here. If you love good food, good laughs, and the comfort of family conversation, you’ll feel right at home. Two voices, one mission: better food, better health.

Information