Today, in our last podcast episode for the year, we're diving into the whirlwind that was 2023 where we explore the stark contrasts in our personal lives.

Tracey's on the verge of being an empty-nester, savouring the quiet moments as she dives into this new phase of life.

While Jo's life is a whirlwind of activity with young, energetic children leading busy, sporty lives.

Sneak Peek into 2024: 🔮 As we wrap up reflections on 2023, we delve a little into what's brewing for 2024.

We are hosting our first ever in-person event in Perth – you can get tickets HERE.

We also allude to some big things that are coming in 2024 that you will have to stay tuned for!

Thank you so much for being a part of our community over the last year and beyond. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas spent doing the things you love with the ones you love.

Our podcast show will be taking a little break and will return again on 12 January 2024.

Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We hope 2024 brings you everything you wish for and more.

If you have found this episode (or any of our previous 217 episodes) helpful, then we would love it if you could leave us a review via your fave podcast app. Reviews really help us to know if our podcast content is resonating with you as well as getting our podcast out through the algorithm.

Much love, Jo & Tracey x

We cannot stress the importance of listening to this episode enough... we think everyone needs to hear it!

We talk to Benedict Freudenmann, Clinical Nutritionist & Functional Medicine Practitioner from Learn to Nourish.

In this episode we dive deep into gut health. A topic that has always seemed to complex to understand, but thankfully Benedict explains it all in easy to understand terms.

We cover:

1. What is gut health?
2. What can impact gut health
3. The gut / brain connection
4. Managing stress
5. Common symptoms of gut health problems
6. And more!

So pop those headphones on and have a listen.

For a more indepth look into this episode, head on over to our show notes HERE.

Much love, Jo & Tracey x

Every day, we expose ourselves to a wide range of toxins. These toxins can come from the food we eat, the products we use, and even the air we breathe. Over time, these toxins can build up in our bodies and have a negative impact on our health. So, in this episode, we will share four things you can do today to lower your toxic load.

We give hints, tips, and simple swaps for these toxic things:

1. Fragranced candles
2. Windex window cleaner
3. Carpet deodoriser
4. Fabric softener

Lowering your toxic load is a crucial step toward improving your overall health and well-being.

Get those headphones on and have a listen because this just may be the episode that you can relate to or know someone who would benefit from listening to it.

For the full show notes head HERE.

Much love, Jo & Tracey

If you’ve ever had a mysterious or ongoing health issue with your pet, you’ll know just how frustrating it can be to try and get to the bottom of the problem. With pet dogs now viewed as family members within the typical Australian household, we wanted to dedicate an entire episode to pet health! And who better to speak to than animal naturopath, Ruth Hatten. In this podcast, you’re going to learn about all the foods that can dramatically improve your pet’s health, particularly if you have a dog in the family. 

Jo’s 18 month old chocolate Labrador Molly has had ongoing issues with terrible, itchy skin. After countless trips to the vet, costly steroid creams and antibiotics, this dog just couldn’t stop itching. Jo has always fed her quite a wholefood diet, with everything cooked or slow-cooked, and plenty of grains on offer. After our chat to Ruth, Jo has implemented quite a few changes and noticed some pretty impressive differences in Molly’s skin problem.

Nature intends to have dogs and cats around for a long time, so by drastically improving their diet and feeding predominately raw, you’re doing everything you can to help your pet lead a long and happy life, free from disease.

Resources

Website: https://www.ruthhatten.com/ Instagram: @ruthhatten Facebook: @healingbyruth

We are over the moon to be recording this podcast on the very day our new website goes live. You guys are going to absolutely love all the hard work and love we’ve put into additivefreelifestyle.com, which resonates with everything that we’re now about!  

To be honest, we’re a bit sad to leave Sistermixin' behind, as it was such a massive part of our lives for a good four years. In saying that, all the sadness is totally outweighed by our excitement for our new branding. We’ve been thinking about it, and talking about it for so long, and we can’t believe it’s now a reality!

Our course we want to offer a huge THANKS to all our amazing listeners who have stuck by us, continuing to help spread our additive-free message to all your friends and family!

Now we need your help! Starting a new website means we lose all of our reviews, along with comments on recipes and shop products, that means all of your hundreds, if not thousands of positive reviews and comments have gone down the gurgler! If you could see us right now, we’re literally on our hands and knees, begging you to help us win these all back! So if you’ve loved one of our shop products, a recipe or a podcast episode, and have found that it’s made a huge change in your life, leave us a comment! Show the love, it means so much to us! To create just one recipe, it takes us a lot of time and resources, so your beautiful comments truly lift us up, and remind us why it’s worth all the late nights, weekend work and bucket loads of hard work. When we know we’re making a difference, it makes us feel amazing and helps us to forge ahead with our legacy!

Resources: NEW website: additivefreelifestyle.com www.digitallifementors.com   Episode 109 Why we’re re-branding: https://additivefreelifestyle.com/podcast-109/ Episode 100 What Sistermixin has provided us - A Celebration https://additivefreelifestyle.com/podcast_100/

Jo’s beautiful eight-year-old daughter Eva is the whole reason behind her shift towards an Additive-Free Lifestyle. We have so many questions from mums and dads around the country even the world, about what it’s like to live additive-free, we thought it was a great idea to interview Eva herself on living an additive and preservative lifestyle.  As you know, kids can be brutally honest and say the most unexpected things, so you know that what you hear in this interview is the straight truth. But there is a twist here... We get our listeners to ask all the questions!

What have some of the challenges been, in going additive-free? Jo: Wait, you were just three-years-old when food changes started to happen in our household, so you weren’t exactly at an age where you would remember these. In saying that, you do remember eating lots of packet food don’t you? Eva: Yeah, I miss my favourite rainbow coloured ice cream. But still have chocolate, vanilla or homemade mint ice cream so I don’t feel like I’m missing out too much.

As you can see, it’s not really that hard to eat additive-free, and Eva agrees that she never really goes without that much food. Hopefully, Eva’s interview has cleared up some of your fear about going additive-free when you have kids.

Resources Additive-Free Made Easy E-Course: https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/ You can watch the Facebook interview here: https://www.facebook.com/thermoliciousfood/videos/1765117903551423/ Vital Veggie Powder here : https://www.sistermixin.com/?s=vital+veggie+powder

As you know, we do live a fairly strict additive-free lifestyle, at least compared to most of the population! This has led to a lot of DIY moments around the house to help save money, make great thoughtful gifts, protect the environment and keep in line with our additive-free values. From the early days of focusing on additive-free, due to Jo’s daughter’s serious behavioural issues, right to Tracey’s love of natural body care, DIY just seemed to fit hand-in-hand with our healthy lifestyle changes. So whether you’re wanting to look into DIY body-care products, or DIY cleaning products (or both), our focus in this podcast is to compare costs of DIY vs purchased products to inspire you to go the extra mile!

We will send a word of warning on the amazing DIY cleaning products mentioned , you might find that you actually start to enjoy cleaning (in a strange way). That’s because the oils are uplifting and don’t come with the headaches, or other side-effects of chemical cleaning products. If you’re of the belief that you don’t have time to DIY, trust us, all of the products above take a few minutes to make! With your interest in safe and natural cleaning or bathroom products, together we’re all helping to turn around the cleaning industry, by their avoidance of using harmful chemicals. We’re starting to see the shift already and are super excited!  

Resources:

The Inspired Little Pot Books: https://www.sistermixin.com/product/inspired-little-pot-book-bundle/ The Inspired Little Pot DIY Recipes: https://www.theinspiredlittlepot.com.au/category/recipes/ Episode 102 with Krissy from The Inspired Little Pot: https://www.sistermixin.com/podcast102/ Soft scrub cleanser: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/diy-bathroom-soft-scrub Multi-purpose cleaning spray: https://www.sistermixin.com/recipes/multi-purpose-cleaning-spray/ Our top 5 essential oils for cleaning: https://www.sistermixin.com/podcast74/

This is such an important episode to us, because we haven’t really whispered a word of our own personal additive-free lifestyles for a while. It’s so good to re-touch on all the key foundations of being additive-free, and for us to inspire your own lifestyle integrations. With our re-branding due to go live any day now, we want to blend all our original values into our new and exciting name “Additive Free Lifestyle”.

Being additive-free is anything but a short-term fix rather, it’s a completely new and exciting lifestyle change. We just know that we’re leaving behind the best legacy for our children in their own positive food choices. While you might have periods of your teenagers rebelling against these changes, the knowledge is well and truly installed in their minds! It’s a great gift to be handing down to your children or even your grand-children!

We know that the lifestyle that we’re living, will see us still physically able to sit on the floor with our great-grand-children with plenty of energy! It all comes down to using natural products, eating right, exercising regularly and indulging in self-care.

Resources

Episode 109 on our re-branding: https://podtail.com/podcast/sistermixin-the-whole-circle/episode-109-we-re-rebranding/ Re-sparkle cleaning products: https://www.sistermixin.com/product-category/resparkle/ 123 Nourish Me Sunscreen: https://www.sistermixin.com/product/hello-sunshine-sunscreen/ Eco-tan: https://www.sistermixin.com/product/tanning-mousse/ Additive-free Made Easy E-Course closing on 6 May 2018 at midnight, with the course start date on 14 May 2018: https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/

We are back and chatting with Georgia Lienemann who featured in episode 108, where we spoke about reducing food waste by consuming all of the parts that make up an animal, including brains, hearts and livers! While we candidly admit that we haven’t yet implemented offal into our diet, the idea is well and truly etched in our minds. This episode will certainly add a few more ideas to your memory banks, where again we are hearing some incredible tips on how to reduce household food waste.

It’s a bit of a crime to be throwing away so many food items, where you can truly reap in all the health benefits of many of their offcuts, and save the environment at the same time. With this awareness, each and every one of us can very easily play our part in cutting down on overall food wastage.  Remember, any mind-set that you adapt about reducing your food wastage is passed down to your children and that’s a powerful thing. If we don’t raise our children to be a little conservative, they would grow up with the mind-set of being able to waste things, just because they can!

Resources: Registration is now open for our next round of Additive Free Made Easy!  https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/ Ep 108 Nose to Tail Nutrition: https://www.sistermixin.com/podcast108/ Top tips to avoid food waste: https://www.sistermixin.com/podcast111/ Milkwood apple scrap vinegar: https://www.milkwood.net/2016/04/26/apple-cider-vinegar/ Corn silk tea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5uiheCH01c The dirty dozen: https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/03/19/the-dirty-dozen-and-clean-15-fruits-and-veggies-you-need-to_a_21902784/ Watermelon rind pickle: https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/watermelon-rind-pickle/25da2303-7314-47dd-bbac-bcfc29f2d8b8

Based on the realisation that you can’t just give someone a nutrition plan, and expect instant results, Matty & Stacey have spent a lottt of time in uncovering the many other factors that help to create positive lifestyle changes, in both the short and long term. After all, it’s about creating realistic goals that actually fit into your busy life.In this episode we have a huge amount of short and sweet facts, advice and studies, all derived from Matty & Stacey’s very own Seven Pillars for optimal health. There’s something for everyone in our first everfour-way podcast, and we guarantee you’re going to walk away that much wiser after tuning in!

Resources Website: http://thechieflife.com/ Meal Plans: http://thechieflife.com/the-chief-plan/ Brad Yates Tapping Master: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heQvpti4uvo Book “Mindset": https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322 Negative impacts of watching the news daily: https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/this-best-selling-psychologist-says-watching-3-minutes-of-this-every-morning-rui.html On UV light: https://www.jackkruse.com/time-7-photoelectric-effect/ The truth about gluten with Dr Tom Bryan: http://thechieflife.com/tcl-ep-100/ Sleep doctor part 1 podcast: https://thechieflife.com/tcl-podcast-ep-40/ Sleep doctor part 2 podcast: https://thechieflife.com/tcl-podcast-ep-75/ How to wean yourself off coffee and why: https://thechieflife.com/quit-coffee/ Andy Mant on Blue Light: http://thechieflife.com/115-blublox/ Dr Jack Kruse- Water, light & why you shouldn’t eat watermelon: https://thechieflife.com/109-dr-jack/ Brian MacKenzie the art of breath: https://thechieflife.com/tcl-ep-85/ Alison Potts- the act of meditation: https://thechieflife.com/tcl-podcast-ep-86/ Amon Woulfe- out of your mind: http://thechieflife.com/tcl-podcast-ep-76/ JP Sears- how to be ultra-spiritual: http://thechieflife.com/tcl-podcast-ep-77/ Travis Thomas- live with a Yes and mindset: http://thechieflife.com/111-live-yes-and/

In this episode, we talk about all the ways you can reduce food wastage in your own home. According to AusHarvest, the government estimates that food wastage in Australia costs the economy a whopping $20 billion annually! There’s over five million tonnes of food that ends up as landfill, from households and the commercial sector. These figures become a little close to the heart, when it’s also revealed that 35% of the average household bin is full of food wastage. For this reason, it’s time to play your part in reducing this wastage, and in turn saving yourself a lot of money.

With a bit of meal planning, you’ll notice that you will no longer have those items that sit in the cupboard until after their use by date. There are so many ways to save food, that you would otherwise just toss into the rubbish bin. By planning ahead, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of money, time and also doing your bit for the environment!

Resources

Meals Made Easy program: https://mealsmadeeasy.recipes/ Vegetarian lasagne:https://www.sistermixin.com/recipes/vegetarian-lasagne-with-gf-df-options/ Easy corn relish: https://www.sistermixin.com/recipes/super-easy-corn-relish/ Tomato sauce: https://www.sistermixin.com/recipes/tomato-sauce-best-recipe-ever/ Bunnings indoor composter: https://www.bunnings.com.au/maze-12l-bokashi-indoor-compost-bin-twin-pack_p0025611 Compost inspiration: https://compostguide.com/18-cool-diy-compost-bin-designs/ https://greatist.com/health/compost-how-to-DIY-make-your-own

Today we are speaking with a previous guest, Jules who was on the airwaves way back on our second ever podcast show. Jules is a naturopath of close to 15 years, based near beautiful Byron Bay. Her biggest area of interest is in helping women overcome various levels of fatigue and biochemical glitches. She even refers to her work as detective work, as many clients have already been to see other naturopaths and come to her with unresolved issues.  In this episode we are talking about her incredible aid work across the globe, and how you too can make a huge difference by paying it forward.

One year ago almost to the day, Jules Crowd Funded an aid trip to a refugee camp in Greece. She was totally blown away by the generosity of all those that gave to this amazing cause. She ended up traveling with a team of around 30 doctors, naturopaths, nurses and other specialists. Little did she know, she would receive a call from one of the orginisation directors, inviting her to also be involved in aid work in Fiji. However, her first thought was ‘I wonder what they need in Fiji?’

For any listeners that are doctors, nurses, naturopaths, physios, nutritionists or dieticians available to travel, Jules would love to hear from you! Though for most listeners that are not able to embark on international aid trips, get in touch with Involvement Volunteers International (IVI), who can inform you exactly how you can contribute right from home.

Anything you do to give back, will ignite soo many warm and fuzzy emotions that will simply change your life for the better.

Jules- “Just pick somebody and make their day”

Resources

Jules on our previous podcast episode: https://www.sistermixin.com/podcast2/ Jules’ website: http://julesgalloway.com/ Involvement Volunteers International: https://www.volunteering.org.au/ The Hut Community Fiji: http://www.thehut.org.au/ OzHarvest Gold Coast: https://www.facebook.com/ozharvestbrisbane/

We wanted to share with you all the big changes that you’ll notice over the coming weeks and months in this short and snappy podcast. While the Whole Circle Podcast is remaining unchanged, Sister Mixin is getting a huge re-branding which is soo exciting. So let’s get straight into it!

Our brand new name is…. “Additive Free Lifestyle”!

And guess what? You as our doted audience are the very first to hear our new name! Over the last few weeks, we’ve been sharing on our many social media platforms, that exciting new changes are in the pipeline, so I’m sure you can agree it was well worth the wait! But there’s more…

Why are we changing the Sistermixin' name?

We feel it’s really important to offer to the world a more fitting brand, especially with all the growth that has occurred since Sisterixin' was born as just a food blog. That’s not to say we haven’t enjoying every single moment of the journey. When we named ourselves Sistermixin', we never could envisage where we are now, with all our programs, courses, blogs and podcast show. All of these many aspects truly make what we are a lifestyle. We have both grown exponentially and learnt an unforgettable wealth of information since the beginning.

Last but certainly not least we wanted to acknowledge you, as our listeners for all of your many reviews and incredible feedback, which will sadly be lost in the transition to the shiny new website. If you do stumble across a great recipe within our new website, we would love you to add a quick review keeping this data loss in mind. Throughout the many trials and tribulations of making this business happen, it brings us so much joy to do this job of ours. What we receive back from you simply fuels the fire. We are just so passionate about what we do! We hope you enjoy the many changes to come!

You may have already heard of Kate Mason as she has her own podcast show called Parenting and Personalities.

But did you know she is also an advocate of living an additive-free lifestyle? Yes, she sure is!

In this episode Kate covers her 18 year additive-free journey with us and how she has managed to maintain it for so long.

She gives us her best hints and tips of how she incorporates healthy recipes (even though she's not fond of cooking) into her families busy life.

Get those headphones on and have a listen because this just may be the episode that you can relate to or know someone who would benefit from listening to it.

For the full show notes head HERE.

Much love, Jo & Tracey

In this episode, we’re chatting with Georgia Lienemann, who is here to inspire variety in your diet, particularly from her passion of all things Nose to Tail.  If this term is new to you, it’s all about valuing and using the many different cuts of an animal. This includes the offal, which gives you a full spectrum of nutrients along with healthy fats, both often greatly diminished in traditional prime cuts of meat. But exactly what is offal we hear you ask?

Georgia: “It’s really just an umbrella term to describe everything that’s within the abdominal cavity of an animal. Think of it as the digestive organs of an animal. I know, I know! Push past your queasiness in reading that, trust me, it’s worth it for your health!”

Remember, when introducing offal into your diet, it’s all about taking baby steps and slowly desensitizing yourself to what’s in front of you. Through the continual exposure, you’ll reach a point where you won’t even think twice about making a main meal, that’s rich in brain or hearty goodness! When you begin to notice an improvement in your overall health and energy, you’ll be inspired even more to step back to your ancestor’s eating patterns.

Resources

Website: https://stirringchange.com/ Free recipes: https://stirringchange.com/freebies/ Facebook: @stirringchange What to Eat Facebook Chat Group: @stirringchangegroup Instagram: @stirringchange Nine-week online program to give you a life-long understanding of everything food: https://stirringchange.com/what-to-eat-program/ Brainy Frittata - https://stirringchange.com/2017/02/01/nose-to-tail-brains/ Hearty Bolognese - https://stirringchange.com/2016/09/15/offal-beginners-hearty-bolognese/ Bone Marrow Butter - https://stirringchange.com/2015/12/13/thermomix-recipe-healthy-marrow-butter/ Sister Mixin Bone Broth Powders:

Beef: https://www.sistermixin.com/product/beef-bone-broth-bundle/ Chicken: https://www.sistermixin.com/product/homestyle-chicken-bone-broth/

We won’t lie, it’s not exactly easy to be additive-free, when you embark on a family camping trip, but it’s still very achievable. Pre-additive free, it would be a running  joke that Jo’s family would always come home early from their camping trip, as her daughter would always get sick. All of the little ice cream treats, dips, chips, wines, two-minute noodles and biscuits all add up, in terms of nasty additives! With Easter coming up, we want to prepare you for your own additive-free camping trip! It’s time to get savvy, so you and your family can return from camping, feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

How to be super prepared and organised

It’s time to get a food plan in place before you even hit the road! It’s simply not going to work by planning your camping meals on the fly. Trust us, we know all too well from our own experience. Don’t make it hard for yourself!

Take the pressure off. Remember, it’s all about striving for the best in terms of additive-free options. But you are allowed treats from time to time. It’s totally OK to have fish and chips for dinner one night or let the kids get a chocolate ice cream from the camp store. Happy camping!

Resources

• Camping with your Thermomix top 10 meals: https://www.sistermixin.com/camping-thermie-top-10-meals/
• Cast Iron Solidteknics frying pan: https://www.sistermixin.com/product/solidteknics-iron-skillet-30cm/ If you have a cast iron pan, you’re able to place it directly into the fire pit. This will give you endless meal options including chilli con carne, pastas, scones, spaghetti Bolognese or damper.  These pans simply last a lifetime and are well worth your investment
• Listen to Episode 91 to learn more about Solidteknicks : www.sistermixin.com/podcast91

What is Meals Made Easy?

In a nutshell, this is a meal plan where you have eight weeks worth of dinner, lunch and snack ideas. You’ll pay $17 per month on our monthly subscription, or if you sign up for a year, you’ll pay just $97 (over half price) – plus, go into the draw to win a ThermoMix TM5 if you sign up on or before the 28th of February!

Our amazing reviews

We have been truly taken back by some of the reviews left from those that have completed the course. We hope that these reviews inspire you to start making your life that much easier with meal planning:

Jessica “Meals Made Easy has taken the pressure off having to meal plan each week. We have a very busy schedule, so it’s wonderful to know we’re reaching for additive-free food, instead of fast food. I love that you get to keep the recipes in monthly books to use at any time”.

Julie “I hate trying to think about what to cook for dinner, Meals Made Easy makes it easy, I’m making meals I’ve never made before and they’re easy and delicious, highly recommend!”

Jessica (2) “Meals Made Easy has taken away the stress of planning great, healthy meals for my family. I love that all of the meals are wholesome and do not have any nasties. My son has some specific dietary requirements and I’ve been able to adjust most meals to suit him. Thank you Jo and Tracey, I love the price it’s quite affordable also”.

Lauren “I’m now gluten-free and dairy-free, and I found Meals Made Easy, easily convertible to suit my needs. Quick, simple and delicious!”

Resources

We’re currently giving away a ThermoMix TM5! If you register for Meals Made Easy for 12 months, you go in the draw to win one! This is only available until 28 February 2018! https://mealsmadeeasy.recipes

Kym is one of those rare souls, who openly bares her struggles of being diagnosed with a chronic disease, and her inability to fall pregnant due to fertility issues. Through that soul baring process, Kym has been changing the lives of many other women, through the invaluable knowledge she has gained along the way. We have been so intrigued by her story, and totally blown away with how much she has accomplished along the way. In this episode, we hear all about the heartbreak she has been through but also the incredible power of controlling her chronic disease through natural approaches, and eventually falling pregnant and giving birth to a beautiful baby boy.

As a kid, Kym recalls how she was constantly sick. Her leading medical problem was that she always seemed to have irregular periods. She didn’t know it at the time but she was actually already showing symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) early on, including acne, insomnia, anxiety, depression and extra belly fat, even though she was quite active.

When she got married at around 30, her attempts to fall pregnant didn’t quite go to plan. It was around this time that Kym was diagnosed with PCOS, which is becoming increasingly common with around 1 in 5 women being diagnosed with PCOS.

What we find so incredible about Kym’s journey, is her discovery that modern medicine, is not always the right path to take. In fact, she has learnt the hard way that IVF can make some women even more sick, even though it holds its many strengths in medical breakthroughs. While much of the Western World holds the view that the ‘only way’ to treat infertility is through medication and IVF, Kym is first hand proof that holistic medicine is a much gentler approach that’s certainly worth giving a go.

Links 30 day PCOS challenge: http://www.smartfertilitychoices.com/free-30-day-pcos-diet-challenge/ 3 day PCOS diet meal plan: http://www.smartfertilitychoices.com/pcos-diet-plan/ www.smartfertilitychoices.com www.beatPCOS.com

In this episode, it’s all about hints and tips for better lunches. If you’ve got access to a microwave, toasted sandwich press or mini-oven for your work, or even at high school, then you have a lot more options and variety when it comes to lunch choices. Don’t worry if you’re a tradie or work outdoors with no access to these heating devices, we also have some great tips for you. If you’re one to always buy your lunches through shortage of time, or lack of inspiration, or perhaps you don’t eat lunch all together, it’s time to mix up your routine for the better!

We really want to focus on long-term gains from the nourishing food you’re putting in your body, especially when you’re on a busy schedule. Making it through the day on coffee and Red Bull, might give you a short spike in energy, but along with poor snack choices or skipped lunches, you’ll know all about that sluggish feeling that seems to follow you around all day. Obesity is also an all too common effect of a poor diet, and skipping out on lunch generally makes you eat anything in sight by the time you get home.

The good, the bad, the ugly on pre-packaged lunches

Having someone else cook or prepare your lunch, and present it in a tidy package is great for all those days when you’re just too busy to make your own. However, there’s just so many reasons why bought lunches should be left solely as a treat.

Remember, when it comes to healthier lunches, you’re allowed to put yourself first! If you’re not healthy and full of energy, it can be hard to give fully to your children, partner, work colleagues and boss. When you’re tired, moody and constantly feeling fatigue, then you can’t easily be of service to anyone else.

Resources: Nourishing lunches for kids https://www.sistermixin.com/podcast103/

Thermoses available at Sistermixin website https://www.sistermixin.com/product-category/back-to-school/

For great food ideas head to Sistermin website https://www.sistermixin.com/recipes/

We thought it was the perfect time to be talking about healthier lunches for your little ones, now that the first school term has started for the year, you’d be surprised at just how many questions we get asked from curious mum's, about what makes the best fillers for their kid’s lunch boxes. If you’ve got a desire to bring your kids up as healthy as possible, but not sure how to battle through fussy eaters or lack of ideas, you’ll find lots of inspiration in this episode. We get it. It can be super hectic organising school lunches for multiple kids, packing your own lunch and that of your partners’ lunch 5 days a week. This is not something your average person would label as fun! While next week’s episode will feature tips on healthier lunches for grown-ups, we want to get to the bottom of the best lunches for school-aged kids. The food you choose to put in your kids’ lunch boxes are so important, as this is exactly what’s fuelling their ability to focus and learn new information at school. They have to sustain enough energy for the entire day but also team sports, homework and after school activities.

Back in our days (and probably yours too) there just weren’t that many food allergies. Now, we seem to have an epidemic going on to the point where Jo received a letter from her school, saying that if her child was to bring in a boiled egg in their lunchbox, they would have to sit in isolation to eat it, then wash their hands before they returned to their friends.

This is proof that current food allergies are just getting so out of control!

Of course, we have to question why? It’s really time to look into all the chemicals in our food, and see what that’s truly doing to our health, and the health of our children.

Links and Resources:

additivefreemadeeasy.com mealsmadeeasy.recipes

Krissy shares with us how she’s held onto her slow burning passion for health and wellness over the years. She’s studied human movement, majoring in health promotion, and even taught health for 7 years at primary and high school level. It wasn’t until she became a mum that she one day woke up and a little light-bulb went off. As she gazed around her kitchen, she saw all the little bottles and boxes, and wondered what all the strange and unpronounceable ingredients were, that were listed on the products.

You can always control what you choose to put in and on your body

Krissy has always loved making a lot of her family’s food from scratch, as it makes her feel amazing to know exactly what was going into that food. She thought well why not control what also goes on our body too.

Through a lot of research, experimentation and sharing recipes for things like laundry powder and deodorant with friends, she became pretty pumped. She started a Facebook page and a basic website, and grew her business from there. Now she runs workshops across Australia, on how to make chemical-free products, inspiring and teaching others at just how simple it is.

“It’s just such a buzz for me, because I know they’re there, because they’re investing in their health”.

Resources:

Grab Krissy’s Inspired Little Book here https://www.sistermixin.com/product/inspired-little-book/ www.theinspiredlittlepot.com.au

We absolutely love Australia Day, as it’s a big social day on our calendars. Of course growing up, we always knew this day to be full of backyard cricket, trips to the beach and lots of laughs with friends and family. Like many, as you get a bit older, you discover the addition of alcohol and parties to fuel the fun. With Australia Day upon us, we want to dedicate this podcast to all the ways you can do your best to stay additive and preservative free, on this big day of celebration and other parties you might attend throughout the year.

You can still have fun, enjoy in the festivities and be additive-free, without feeling like crap the next day, or even a few hours later. Nobody likes a hangover, especially in the heat of summer! With that in mind, there’s still plenty of ways to let your hair down but still feel human the next day.

Better snack options How to have a healthier BBQ Bottled water over fizzy drinks Try a preservative-free beer or pure alcohol

Links and Resources:

Meals Made Easy: https://mealsmadeeasy.recipes/ Additive Free Made Easy E-Course still open for registration until 4 February 2018! https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/

In this huge 100th episode, we reflect back on how far we’ve truly come since the beginning of our journey, and the incredible people we have met and had on the show. We’ve had nearly 700,000 downloads since we launched the Sistermixin’ podcast show which has blown us away!

Our team expands We are proud to have expanded our team with some equally passionate staff, including some junior staff to help us out over the summer period. Without them, we would have been completely inundated with orders (which of course is not a bad thing!).

A switch of focus to ourselves

This was a big switch over the past 12 months, taking self-care and self-love on board. There’s so much room to grow in this area, but we’re definitely dedicating more time to looking after ourselves and the ones around us.

A switch of focus to ourselves

This was a big switch over the past 12 months, taking self-care and self-love on board. There’s so much room to grow in this area, but we’re definitely dedicating more time to looking after ourselves and the ones around us.

We had a great trip to Philippines for a conference, which ended up being one of the most life changing events we’ve ever attended. One of the best things to come out of this, was all the amazing people we met and there stories, but the friends we made along the way.

Our wins with our doTERRA business

We got super lucky and won a trip to Fiji with doTERRA, a competition we also took out again this year! We’re off to Uluru in South Western Northern Territory, within the next few weeks, where are also taking two of our team members along with us. We have proudly made it to the second highest ranking within doTERRA, which shows that our hard work is really starting to pay off.

Jo’s big interstate move, Tracey leaves the Navy and an unlikely business partner comes on board and so much more!

Meals Made Easy: https://mealsmadeeasy.recipes/ Additive Free Made Easy E-Course https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/

With the end in sight for our latest Additive Free Challenge, we wanted to share with you some of the most probing questions asked by our participants and our followers in general.

1. I don’t have time to make everything from scratch, what can I still buy and eat?
2. Where do I get my meat from?
3. What are ‘flavours’?
4. What do I put in a sandwich?
5. I’m feeling really overwhelmed, I don’t know what to eat now, and I’m terrified to go to the supermarket, what can I eat?

Links & Resources:

Our Additive Free Made Easy E-Program: https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/ Early Bird on SALE this Monday 15 January 2018! Aunty Betty Biscuits - https://www.sistermixin.com/recipes/aunty-betty-biscuits-makes-6-dozen/

If you want some tips that we implement to help us save money in the kitchen, then this is the episode for you!

We're not going to lie though as it will involve getting back in the kitchen, but never fear, it won't be as time consuming as you may think.

We dive into:

1. Meal planning
2. Batch and bulk cooking
3. Get everyone involved in the kitchen
4. Mindset tips to flip the switch to help you get back in the kitchen
5. Habit stacking to maximise your time

Plus lots more!

Get those headphones on and have a listen because this just may be the episode that you can relate to or know someone who would benefit from listening to it.

For the full show notes head HERE.

Much love, Jo & Tracey

If you have followed us for a while, then you would have noticed we have developed quite a bit of an obsession with essential oils. They have become massive part of our lives, and we wouldn’t be without them nowadays.

While it’s been a challenge, we have managed to narrow our favourite oils down to our top 10 (ish). We have found doTERRA oils to be absolutely life changing, and of course love that they have 100% pure, natural plant-based ingredients.

Lavender, Tea Tree and Peppermint Lemon Helichrysum oil TerraArmour Grapefruit and Tangerine Balance Easy Air

Through the use of essential oils each day, you’ll find that your instincts will begin to guide you towards which oil is the best, for each and every moment. Once you experience the effect of each oil, it’s pretty easy to turn into an addict!

doTERRA oils help to create that day spa kind of feeling every day in your own home! Like us, you might struggle to go anywhere without your pack of essential oils on hand!

Links

doTERRA on Sistermixin’ - https://www.sistermixin.com/essentialoils-doterra/ How to buy doTERRA at wholesale price - https://www.sistermixin.com/instructions/

If you don’t tame the thoughts in your mind, then it can become very easy to allow negative thought patterns to dominate your day. While you should never strive for 100% positive, because as humans we need to experience all ranges of emotion, we talk about ways to achieve more in your life through an improved mindset.

We talk about ways to steer away from a fixed mindset, and head more towards a growth mindset. You would have met plenty of people in your life, that operate on a fixed mindset. You know the type that never want to try anything new and become very set in their ways? They have so many fears about making mistakes, and trouble embracing anything new. We give a classic example of someone that won’t change their eating habits around additives and preservatives, due to a barricade of reasons. This is something we hear about all the time!

We discuss ways to take your old habits and beliefs, and change them for the better, so you’re able to create an overall improved mindset.

We discuss ways to take your old habits and beliefs, and change them for the better, so you’re able to create an overall improved mindset.

Links and Resources: www.mealsmadeeasy.recipes https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/

A teacher by trade, Nicole discusses how she talks to teenage girls who might be going through their own body issues, and how they can begin to create a healthy relationship with their bodies, and the food they are eating. She encompasses both mindfulness and intuitive eating, both aspects that don’t feature on the school curriculum! She keeps her lessons away from calorie counting, dieting and other strict measures, and rather spreads a message on a healthy balanced approach.

Links Website: https://www.nicolejoyinspire.com/ Instagram: @nicolejoyinspire Facebook: @nicolejoyinspire

Today we feel very lucky to have Jen Shaw on the show, who is the founder of Emerge, an incredible social impact project. Emerge is a mobile food van, that employs disengaged children. Teaching them to cook, clean and serve customers, along with learning many other life skills. These children face incredible hardship in their lives, but with the help of the food van, they are given hope and much needed skills to set them up for the future.

Holistic focus and sustainable funding streams

Jen loves helping those in her program to discover how incredible real food can be, and how it can help with overall health and wellbeing, particularly their mental health. She teaches the importance of cooking a meal from scratch, while blending a holistic approach, including the elements of food, physical fitness, goal setting and self-esteem.

Empowering kids to make their own empowering choices on eating  

Jen shows these kids how to make a basic fried rice, bolognaise with plenty of veggies, simple salads and why it is easier to batch make meals. The bottom line is, some of the best things these kids can learm is a simple approach to food, and meals that make you feel good mentally and emotionally. It’s all about exposure to this way of life, and building their knowledge base to healthy eating. Jen focuses on replicating a loving family and home environment.

These kids have survived the worst of the worst and are still standing at the end of the day. Their resilience is simply mind-boggling, as they are truly survivors with so many skills to cope (even without degrees under their belt). They are full of incredible ideas about the future and show great promise in fulfilling their dreams.

If you can support this in any way, please head to the links below and make a donation to this wonderful cause. 

Links

Website: http://emergecafe.com.au/ Facebook: Emerge Toowoomba Official Crowd Funding page: https://chuffed.org/project/emerge-for-toowoomba-youth

We are delighted to feature Maria from Roar Cordial in this episode of The Whole Circle. Maria is inspirational, full of life and one of the most giving people we have ever met.

Maria fills us in on her journey into creating her own natural cordial range. We discuss how Maria grew up in a family where food was sourced from the land, and food was just that - real food. It wasn’t until she had her first born, where she saw her daughter’s severe reaction to sulphur after consuming dried apricots. Her little body broke out in red hives and this marked the beginning of Maria's journey into additive and preservative free living.

Being a chef, she didn’t just stop at removing additives and preservatives from her family meals, but wanted to go one step further in creating her own cordial range, after realising there was no natural cordial product available on the Gold Coast. All of her delicious cordial flavours are based on high quality whole fruits and botanicals.

Let's discuss how your body goes through different responses to additives

Do you find that you used to really enjoy that smooth glass of red wine at the end of a hard work week, and now all you get is a migraine?  It’s funny how our bodies sometimes tell us that enough’s enough! Perhaps your treat would be some mouth-watering cheese and crackers, or a bowl of ice-cream, but now you get a reaction of some kind - headache, itchy skin, restlessness etc. These reactions are all consistent with eating additives and/or preservatives.

Maria talks about the many challenges she has faced in creating a natural based cordial, especially in preserving the fresh fruits so they don’t spoil.

Jo & Tracey x

In this episode we discuss what it means to start your own doTERRA business, including how you can go about making income (all the way from a little side income, right to full time earnings). The amazing thing about starting your own doTERRA business, is you’re the one in charge, setting your own financial goals and targets. Hey, you might even be able to give up your full time job like we did! You’ll also have the chance to travel to some great places around the globe. The point is, you can potentially have the financial freedom that you’ve been craving your whole adult life! It’s time to start living on your own terms.

doTERRA’s compensation plan is anything but secret. When we started out with doTERRA, we didn’t have any intention to start a business. However, after using their products for a while and totally falling in love, we then opened our minds to the financial opportunities that existed within this company - simply by sharing our love of the oils with the world. That’s where our passion started and still is today - sharing the benefits of these oils with everyone, but we couldn’t help but begin a doTERRA business.

As you progress in the ranks, just like any other business, you start to earn more and more. Here is a brief summary or what you may receive if you are actively growing your team

Check out doTERRA on Sistermixin here. We hope our transparency has inspired you to start your own business today!

 Links & Resources

Website: https://www.sistermixin.com/essentialoils-doterra/ Listen to Episode #92 - Why You Should Start a doTERRA Business

If you have followed us for a while you will know that we are super excited by essential oils, especially the company doTERRA. It fills our heart with joy, it has allowed us financial freedom to expand our business, it has given us the opportunity to travel and it has provided us with numerous ways to improve our additive free lives - past just flavouring food.

doTERRA is different. We don't know how to describe it, but it just is. Some might sit there and roll their eyes..."but they are a billion dollar company so it must be about the money." Well, after you hear the founders story, learn where they started from, learn that they turned down investors (who wanted majority control), learn that they instead mortgaged themselves to the hilt and created doTERRA from the ground up, learn that they didn't pay themselves a cent for around 13 months...you begin to understand that this company is about love, respect and integrity... and very little to do with the money - it is truly outstanding!

Don't get us wrong, we are not saying that money isn't important, because the reality is, that of course it is. WE ALL need money to survive, but that is another amazing this about this company - it allows thousands of families the financial freedoms that you only dream of, but they do it in a way that it not sleazy or pushy. Sharing the benefits of essential oils is powerful.

It’s really clear to us that the founders of doTERRA have people at heart, rather than profits. With a vision of offering families all over the world the benefits of essential oils, they are well on their way to achieving that vision.

Whether you’re wanting to set up a small business or simply register as a customer, everyone gets wholesale prices (25% off)

We’ve made it really easy to register for a wholesale account! Follow these simple instructions www.sistermixin.com/instructions

Website: https://www.sistermixin.com/essentialoils-doterra/

If you’ve ever been shopping for a frying pan, then you’ll be all too familiar with the overwhelming selections now available on the market. From aluminium and stainless steel to carbon steel, non-stick and standard, it can be a difficult decision to know which one to choose. It's even harder if you're trying to live as low tox as possible. That’s why it’s important to know some of the dangers of cooking with certain types of frying pans, and why it might be worth investing money on that pan that’s been on your wish list.

There’s not many people that have a two-decade desire to create a high-quality frying pan, but Mark is just one of those people. Big on science, mathematics and engineering, Mark fills us in on how he started out in the workforce at just 14 years old for Queensland Rail.

Hungry for innovation, we hear how Mark knocks back international deals, and the thought of mass production to create his own unique range of pans - Solidteknics made right here in Australia.

Are non-stick coatings toxic?

If you’re one to truly use your frying pan to it’s very last days, then you’ll know all about those small black pieces that have been slowly flaking off the non-stick coat. While other household bills might be in the forefront of your mind and take priority, your deteriorating frying pan may be doing much more harm than good.

The majority of non-stick frying pans are made from a carcinogenic chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). As you continually cook at high temperatures, the non-stick coating of your frypan slowly breaks down. This helps to understand the reason why over time, you start to notice the black flaky pieces coming off. This is where you realise it’s time to buy another pan.

Links & Resources

Website: http://www.solidteknics.com/

Jo & Tracey x

In today's episode we have Chey Birch, the visionary creator and founder of Black Chicken Remedies.

The company story started out merely a hobby as Chey had chronic sinusitis and couldn't figure out what was causing it. She consulted with a naturopath who then asked her about all the products she used in the body and she was horrified with how much toxins she put on her body. Sinusitis is due to the toxin overload as the body uses the sinus to detoxify the body thus her headaches and migraines. This led her to make her own body oil that will hydrate and nourish her body thus resulted to her very first product Love Your Body Oil.

As their product's success , their following continues to grow even if it seems like their price may be higher than what’s in the supermarket. Let's face it organic products are a bit pricey than the synthetic once out in the market but knowing that the ingredients are safe and that it can truly address your health concerns, I think it is totally worth it!

Chey, through her company, is leading this revolution to live an additive-free life. Through this act of helping herself address her own health issues, thousands of people today continue to benefit from Black Chicken Remedies.

Links and Resources: 

blackchicken.com.au Facebook : www.facebook.com/blackchickenremedies IG : www.instagram.com/blackchickenremedies/

In this episode we are so glad to have Wendy as our guest, who shares her fulfilling journey towards a better version of herself! Wendy shares her wellness journey that began four years ago, when she had lost all zest for life.

Not only was she overweight she was also floundering through her days, until she decided to join an event where she heard Cindy O'Mara speak and this was what ignited her inspiring journey that she revels until today and which she continues to champion.

Wendy has  started her own podcast with the goal of being able to change her life for the better. She has lost 43 kilos and enjoys being down by 5 dress sizes, now being a size 18 (almost size 16) when she used to be a size 26-28, the lightest and fittest she’s been, especially now that she is 48 years old. She was also able to batter her various health concerns such as anemia and type 2 diabetes especially after she had hysterectomy .

We can all agree that each health and wellness journey is unique and it is all about what will work for you and your family. What matters is that you make the decision to start, commit to it and never look back, keep pressing through your journey for no matter how far you have come, you still have a long way to go, so learning to care for your health and well-being is certainly the way to go!

Links and Resources:

www.wendysway.com.au Wendy's Way Facebook page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011209925324 Wendy's Way on IG: www.instagram.com/_wendysway/ Wendy's Way Podcast: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wendys-way/id1102704896?mt=2

In this era where most of us are used to pre-packaged foods from supermarkets, we have forgotten the power and usefulness of freezing foods. It is why in this episode, we dive into the art of freezing food, exploring its benefits, techniques, and some common misconceptions.

We have lost count of the number of times we have been asked about freezing food.... is it ok? Can it be frozen? Will it be safe? Will it last? And lots more! So let's dive into what we do regarding freezing foods.

We dive into:

1. The problem with lunchboxes
2. Additive to avoid
3. How your kids school clothing can be impacting their health
4. Solutions for a healthier lifestyle

Get those headphones on and have a listen because this just may be the episode that you can relate to or know someone who would benefit from listening to it.

For the full show notes head HERE.

Much love, Jo & Tracey

Today we are lucky enough to be speaking with Amanda, a mum of four and a nurse that is witnessing the direct result of increased chemicals in our everyday life, and the role they are playing in disease. Particularly she recognizes the rise in dermatitis, eczema and asthma in young children and makes a stand that she doesn’t want her children to walk the same path.

We probe into the challenges that come with nursing, including the type of processed food generally served to patients in hospital, and the treatment of disease, rather than the prevention of disease. Amanda sees many of her patients return because of this very reason.

After completing our Additive Free Made Easy Course, Amanda feels she has the confidence, knowledge and power to make changes in her local community. Living in Central Queensland, we thought Amanda may see an increase in her food bill going additive free, but she explains how with planning and preparation, very little has changed from a money perspective. We also hear positive changes in overall health, such as less colds and flus cascading through her kids, therefore less need for medication.

With the removal of certain additives and the allowance of these foods simply as treats, we hear how it becomes crystal clear to Amanda what the target of the problem is! We also discuss the need to educate our kids now, in order to create a generational change moving into the future. We all agree that only we know directly what it’s like to come from grandparents or parents, that knew only of real food.

Links & Resources

Online E-Course- Early Bird on sale now! http://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/

Today we are talking to Alannah who completed our course in 2016. She was inspired to take the plunge, after her two boys suffered from persistent asthma, and her husband had suffered a heart attack at just 35 years old. After battling through lack of sleep and low energy, she finally sought a natural alternative to help out her family, as medication simply was not working.

We hear about her additive free journey from the very beginning, and how she got started on eliminating products from her pantry, without getting overwhelmed with all the changes she knew she needed to make. Alannah describes what helps to motivate her on those challenging days that are sure to pop up along the way!

The most incredible part of Alannah’s story is the difference she noticed in her children’s behaviour and the direct link she so obviously recognised to additives in their food.

We bust myths on rising food bills and huge amounts of time spent in the kitchen, preparing meals from scratch when going additive free. Alannah brings her humour to the table, and humbly tells us the truth on all the positive changes that have happened along the way, since starting out additive free.  

Links & Resources

Online E-Course- Early Bird on sale now! www.additivefreemadeeasy.com

Over the next few weeks, you’re going to hear some amazing stories from our listeners on their own personal additive free journeys. These stories are life changing, so get prepared to be inspired!

In this episode we are interviewing Natalie, a soon-to-be mum, who completed our June round of the Additive Free Made Easy E-Course. We hear about what inspired her to join, including how she crossed paths with a medical expert who introduced her to additives and preservatives, and the link to her medical conditions. This was a breakthrough after finding no relief through multiple doctor appointments and medication. With a little one on the way, she dove deep into understanding the food she’s putting into her body.

If you’re currently looking for solutions to any of your medical conditions, then Natalie will inspire you that little bit more to explore the types of foods that are in your diet, and how that might be affecting your symptoms. This is also a great episode to listen to if you’re also at the beginning of your additive free journey. Natalie gives a great count on how her food bill has changed, and how costs have balanced out through our Additive Free course tips.

Links & Resources

Meals made Easy: https://mealsmadeeasy.recipes/

Additive Free Made Easy-Registrations now open! www.additivefreemadeeasy.com

Stepping out of your comfort zone is what it’s all about in going additive and preservative free. It’s truly so empowering when you get in tune with your body and educate yourself as to the foods you’re putting in your body, not to mention your family’s bodies!

We challenge you to check the ingredients on your packet and look for those numbers, sometimes not all numbers are bad so don’t just pick up a packet and think that since it has the numbers on it you can’t have that you need to know these numbers and this is what we teach you in Additive Free Made Easy. We’ll go through the really harsh additives and preservatives so you’ll be aware what you are eating. Don’t be fooled by the word “organic”, “artificial free” all those slogans that are on the packet, always be mindful and check your ingredients.

We also challenge you to cook something new, it might be just a cake, biscuit, adding new ingredients anything. We have tons of recipes available for you to follow it’s so easy and it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Get your families involved! We know this can be a challenge but it’s totally worth it. Make those simple steps and slowly introduce them the ingredients and the benefits of going additive and preservative free. The sooner we can educate our own families the better.

Links & Resources

Additive Free Made Easy E-Course (last round for 2017- Early Bird on sale on 9 October 2017!): https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/ 7 day Additive Free Challenge: https://www.sistermixin.com/product/7daybooklet/ Easy Butter Chicken Recipe: https://www.sistermixin.com/recipes/easy-butter-chicken/ Sistermixn on Facebook here Additive Free Made Easy on Facebook here

In today’s episode, we talk about healthy snacks for all those on-the-go parents specially on family days and sporting events that we can swap with the common snacks that are brought out at half time.

It’s so easy to grab junk foods whilst attending sporting and any  events so we challenge you to SWAP it up and bring your own snacks and lunch box. Take the time to make peanut butter sandwich you’ll get good healthy fats with it, some good breads and butter. Pack a whole big packet of fresh fruit instead of lollies, make a fruit salad of your own, instead of that super cheesy snacks bring your own cheese and cracker, pop your own popcorn, you can also make a smoothie just put ice cubes in there to keep it cool and of course instead of getting one of those coloured drinks bring water.

We press the point that kids simply aren’t athletes and therefore don’t need the sugary sports’ drinks and bags of lollies. It’s pretty easy to get fooled by the heavily marketed sports drinks and foods, that are actually aimed for full grown adults not small children. The crux of this episode is on making better choices and all the alternative options that are available for quenching your thirst or hunger, without all the hidden nasties and sugar spikes!

Another thing also is that If you’re training a lot at the gym or physically active in sport, it is highly recommended to have some protein or protein shakes of course the healthy ones, to get the protein back to your body post-exercise for optimal muscle recovery.

Links & Resources

Additive Free Made Easy E-Course: https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/

7 day Additive Free Challenge: https://www.sistermixin.com/product/7daybooklet/

Chocolate Bliss Balls: https://www.sistermixin.com/recipes/chocolate-bliss-balls/

If you’re anything like us, you love those treat days during the week, where you don’t have to cook and can simply grab takeaways for dinner. However, you may want to avoid some certain options after listening to what’s really in those foods!

We discuss what’s exactly in your standard cheeseburger, including a breakdown of every ingredient and lengthy list of preservatives such as:

Preservative 282 Emulsifier Mineral Salt 160B 160c And a lot more additives and preservatives We discuss common misconceptions especially the popular “but we grew up on McDonalds and we turned out fine”.

It’s crazy to learn that even ingredients that seem natural on the ingredient panel such as the pickles, onions, mustard and even the spices may not be as natural as you expect! Now these kinds of ingredients are linked to common mood swings, hyperactivity, headaches and skin irritations these are side effects to takeaway foods.

Don’t panic, there’s no reason to drop those treat days, you just need to explore much better options where you will feel so much better for it. Another tip, If you’re cooking on the weekend or any day you feel like you have time make sure to double it or poach some eggs the night before, make the easiest food on those busy nights. It doesn’t have to be complicated at all.

This episode is a bit of a reality check for where we are heading as a nation, and the levels of behavioural issues and diseases being diagnosed to school children, cancer rates, diabetes, obesity and even depression, all of these illnesses that are prevalent in today’s society leads us back to the product and food that we put on and inside our body.

Links & Resources

Additive Free Made Easy E-Course: www.additivefreemadeeasy.com 7 day Additive Free Challenge: www.sistermixin.com/product/7daybooklet/ Chicken Nachos Recipe : www.sistermixin.com/recipes/chicken-nachos/

Many modern day studies are only just being revealed as to what our food has truly become! In this episode we talk about how the final caramel product is created, including the lengthy process. The production process involved in making caramel or 150C or 150D will simply shock you.

We never know 100% what is in caramel, given how extreme the process is in making it. You’ll learn that caramel is not just used for flavouring, but also for colouring including:

Vegemite gravy mixes salad dressings BBQ sauce Brown vinegar Soy sauce Lollies Butter scotch flavoured stuff Soft drinks Biscuits Cakes Pancakes Ice cream Alcoholic beverages Studies have shown that Caramel that has been produced with ammonium (150c) has been linked to gastrointestinal problems, Irritable Bowel Syndromes and it also inhibits the absorption of Vitamin B6 and B vitamins which we all know is very important to our overall health. How scary you think that is?

There are switches that you can make and this is what we teach you on Additive Free Made Easy, rather than going without some of your favourite food products, you can either make your own or find something that doesn’t contain caramel, it’s just a matter of knowing the right place you can purchase additive free products.

We’re pretty excited about all the positive movement happening in the food world! discuss the switches you can make.

Links & Resources

Additive Free Made Easy E-Course: https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/ 7 day Additive Free Challenge: https://www.sistermixin.com/product/7daybooklet/ Common caramel colour terms: http://www.befoodsmart.com/ingredients/caramel-color.php Food Safety Standards: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx Easy BBQ sauce recipe: https://www.sistermixin.com/recipes/easy-bbq-sauce/

One of the major problems with food these days, is the need for food companies to dramatically increase shelf life. One of the most common preservatives found in these products is preservative 220. In this episode we dive deep into discussions on the common preservative 220 – you will be shocked just how many foods contain it.

Sulfur dioxide, or preservative 220, is linked to some pretty terrible side effects. And guess what? You’re likely to be eating far more of this preservative than you know

This preservative is commonly found in:

processed meat, poultry and game products chicken loaf, frankfurters, salami, devon and manufactured hams, sausages and sausage meat, sausage rissoles, chipolatas, dried fruit fruit juice wine coconut products and so much more Numerous studies show that this preservative may have the following effects on your health:

Neurological effects and behavioural changes Disturbance of blood circulation Heart damage Effects on eyes and eyesight Reproductive failure Damage to immune systems Stomach and gastrointestinal disorder Damage to liver and kidney functions Hearing defects Disturbance of the hormonal metabolism Dermatological effects Respiratory issues (including asthma) Making simple swaps and better options can really help us avoid these disgusting effects. Most of the time it is just about making super simple switches and choosing different brands. It is so easy once you know what to look out for.

Have a listen to the podcast recording to find out a whole lot more on this topic.

Links & Resources

Additive Free Made Easy E-Course: https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/

7 day Additive Free Challenge: https://www.sistermixin.com/product/7daybooklet/

Annatto, or 160B, is one ingredient we would love to see banned from our supermarket shelves. It is definitely on our hate list, for a few reasons, mainly the extremely long list of adverse reactions that have been reported after eating this additive.

The other reason we can't stand annatto is the fact that it is totally natural, derived from the seeds of the achiote tree. This leads many consumers to think they are purchasing a better choice of product (over artificial food colours). How can this be bad, I hear you ask. Well, let us point out that not everything natural is safe for consumption - tobacco and arsenic come to mind!

Symptoms and Side Effects

Annatto (160B) is linked to numerous health issues, such as:

Headaches Migraines Skin rashes Behavioural issues Irritability Restlessness Learning problems Inattention Sleep disturbance and so much more. There are also numerous reports that Annatto has increased the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Listen in to the podcast to hear Jo discuss her personal story of how her daughter goes into absolute meltdown, when she consumes products that contain annatto.  She also shares disturbing behaviour she witnessed in her job as an early years educator.

We hear, over and over again, countless stories of parents removing annatto from their child's diet and the incredible transformations that have come from this, it is incredible!

Oh, and don't be fooled into thinking that all organic products must be healthy, this is certainly not the truth with Annatto! Whether organic or not, annatto should still be avoided.

Links & Resources

7 day Additive Free Challenge: https://www.sistermixin.com/challenge

Additive Free Made Easy E-Course: https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/

Do you have any idea what preservative 282 is, or where it is hidden? Do you understand the impact it has on your overall health?

Day one of this challenge is all about preservative 282, so let us share with you what this preservative is and what some of the side effects may include… we think you may be a little horrified after learning this info, but please know, there are alternatives and you don’t have to go without a household staple.

Now what is Preservative 282?

Preservative 282, or Calcium Propionate, is used to slow down the growth of mould and other micro organisms, to give food a longer shelf life.

Calcium Propionate (282) is linked to various issues such as:

sleep disturbance behavioural issues skin irritations headaches migraines stomach ulcers it is also recommended that asthmatic people should avoid this Most loaves of bread these days last at least seven days without going mouldy, which is simply not what bread is supposed to do! If your bread last for more than 24 hrs then there might be something in there that you should be avoiding.

Links & Resources

7 day Additive Free Challenge: https://www.sistermixin.com/challenge

Additive Free Made Easy E-Course: https://www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/

If you are looking ahead to a healthier new year for your kids, you are in for a treat. In this episode, we will focus on what to look out for in lunchboxes and what additives we like to avoid as we send them back to school.

We dive into:

1. The problem with lunchboxes
2. Additive to avoid
3. How your kids school clothing can be impacting their health
4. Solutions for a healthier lifestyle

Get those headphones on and have a listen because this just may be the episode that you can relate to or know someone who would benefit from listening to it.

For the full show notes head HERE.

Much love, Jo & Tracey

This is one of the more serious topics we have covered on The Whole Circle, and one that we are super passionate about. As you know we are all about reducing the amount of artificial additives and preservatives that we consume, so in today's episode we run through ingredients in four different branded ice blocks (and we’re not afraid to name and shame!). You will most likely be horrified by the chemical craziness that hides inside many brightly coloured ice blocks.

It totally blows us away that children are given the chance to buy these ice blocks throughout the day. Or worse, handed them as rewards at school sports events, birthday parties and more. What’s more, they then go back to class and are told to focus, sit still and learn.  Did you know that (alarmingly) up to 80% of a teacher’s days can be spent controlling behaviour in the classroom due to hyperactivity.

Don't be alarmed, we always have an option or two, because no one want to miss out, right! We are excited to say that there are a couple of fantastic, and super yummy choices out there. Proud and Punch and Smooze are among our favourites. There are other 'ok-ish' options as well, that are much better choices than the chemical mess above. The standard lemonade icy-pole being one of them.

Links & Resources

Additive free made easy online course: www.additivefreemadeeasy.com

Register for our Free 7-day additive & preservative free challenge starting 25 September 17 > https://www.sistermixin.com/challenge

Nutritional panel links for:

Superdooper>https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/21662/zooper-dooper-8-cosmic-flavours Quelch> https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/49156/quelch-fruit-sticks-ice-blocks Proud and Punch> http://www.proudandpunch.com.au/product/orange-you-glad/ Smooze > https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/939336/smooze-simply-coconut

Why are we always so quick to see the negative things in life, yet it seems to take us a lot longer to see the positive - why is that?  It just seems a bit easier, I suppose (BTW I have no answers here people, sorry).

After a series of events took place, I realised that I had no idea just how far we had travelled down the path of additive and preservative free. That was until my husband pointed it out to me.

During a particularly crazy week in my household, where life got in the way of our regular eating habits, things went a bit haywire. Rude and obnoxious kids. Mood swings and intolerance from everyone. No one sleeping very well. It was not a nice household, let me tell you that.

The crunch came when my eldest contracted Influenza B and hubby returned from the doctors with some bright pink drink and a box of throat lozenges (because it was a virus, they don't give antibiotics, so there was nothing the doctors could really do). I can tell you my reaction was anything but nice (if you listen to the podcast you will hear me discuss this in more detail).

After sharing my total disgust (for this concoction of chemicals) towards my husband (in a manner very unbecoming), and telling him that I have a box full of natural remedies, that actually work, I stormed off into my office and went back to work for the rest of the day.

Later that evening, when I had calmed down, I decided to discuss this with my poor hubby, and this is what led to my epiphany moment. My journey into eating additive and preservative free was a lot further along than I realised. My families additive and preservative free habits were a lot better than I had given them credit for.

Tracey

This podcast is great to tune in to, if you’re wondering how to transition from using chemical cleaning products, to more natural remedies and also on eating additive and preservative free. We have some great pointers on how to integrate your new way of chemical-free living with your family in an inspiring way.

Alissa’s passion for kid’s health and hidden ingredients is clear to see, and in this episode we hear all about Alissa’s journey into creating her own beautiful chemical-free, organic company.

With multiple degree changes, Alissa has a colourful background in naturopathy, nutrition and complimentary medicine but her passion for her products came from simply being a mum! She’s a fierce believer that we’re not just what we eat, but we’re also what we absorb. She shares her views on all the chemicals found in lotions and everyday bathroom products that are increasing kid’s toxic loads straight from birth.

Alissa gives us a rundown on the gentle, organic ingredients featuring in her top products. Without naming and shaming mainstream market products, we cringe over the shocking ingredients that you might be using every day on your children’s skin. We also hear about packaging, such as using plastic for natural products and why it’s worth using glass, both for your health and for the environment. 

We hear about the challenges around the many laws of manufacturing sunscreen, chemicals that are linked to cancer and the journey Alissa has been on in creating (and soon to be launching!) her very own sunscreen range.

Links & Resources

Coupon Code: 15% discount for entire product range- use code “SISTER”

Website: https://123nourishme.com.au/

Facebook @123nourishme

Instagram @123nourishme

Sistermixn Facebook/Insta

www.facebook.com/thermoliciousfood/

www.instagram.com/sistermixin/

Additive free made easy: www.additivefreemadeeasy.com/