Connecting Gate
to Plate Blog
Insights on food, agriculture, and the science of communicating what matters most.
Featured Posts
Why food makes you feel so guilty
I have spent more than two decades connecting farm and food, collecting hundreds of food bullying stories from friends, audience members, farmers, dietitians, and consumers across North America. What I hear, over and over, is not confusion about which label to choose. I…
Dear farmer, your life matters more than your balance sheet
You are more important than your work. Your life matters more than your balance sheet. And your legacy won’t be determined by your ability to keep your multi-generational farm or ranch, but by the lives you touch. I understand you likely think you were created as a…
Potato, potahto, vegetable or grain? Episode 141
Coming from a family that has farmed America’s favorite vegetable for more than 100 years, Mitchell Searle offers a unique perspective on the cultivation, harvesting, and sustainability of this crop.
Healthy fields, happy farmers – drones deliver sustainability: Episode 140
Where’s the future of food production? You might want to look to the sky. In this episode of the Food Bullying podcast, Nicole and Michele chat with Sarah Hovinga of Bayer Crop Science in California and Bryan Sanders of HSE-UAV in Washington about how precision…
Pork Yeah, for your nutrition: Episode 139
No – you DON’T have to cook pork until it’s gray. This, along with the idea that pork is somehow not a healthy protein choice are two misconceptions that Jeanette Merritt, director of Communications for Indiana Pork, wishes would go away already. “Pork still has the…
Farming pain, inflated food prices, and Pad Thai: Episode 138
Sure, grocery prices are through the roof, but are farmers paying the ultimate price? This insightful podcast gives dietitians, consumers, and farmers insight on the impact of inflation around the food plate.
Farming pain, inflated food prices, & Pad Thai: Episode 138
Sure, grocery prices are through the roof, but are farmers paying the ultimate price? This insightful podcast gives dietitians, consumers, and farmers insight on the impact of inflation around the food plate. In this candid conversation, Michele and Nicole take a…
Dietitian’s top five super foods: Episode 137
One dietitian with three decades of experience believes RDNs must be a part debunking nutrition myths and overcoming food bullying so people can enjoy food. “My body is not a trend.”
Eggs, Angus, & healthy animal proteins: Episode 136
With the rise of Avian flu, should consumers take caution when buying eggs? What do dietitians need to know about the safety of animal proteins? And why are egg prices so high?
Science connecting dietitians & agriculture: Episode 135
Dietitians and agriculture professionals share more science than they realize. Michele Payn and Amy Hayes discuss sustainable farming, food misinformation, farmer mental health, and how to communicate science that builds – not breaks – consumer trust.
Food demons & dietitians as decongestants: Episode 134
IFIC RDN ilton Stokes shares why dietitians should listen before educating, what the 2024 Food and Health Survey reveals about consumer trust, and how RDNs can build meaningful connections with farmers – essential guidance for healthcare professionals navigating food …
Eat like a pig with high quality amino acids: Episode 133
NDSU meat scientist Dr. Eric Berg breaks down protein quality, the DIAAS score, what “high protein” food labels don’t tell you, and what a Western diet did to pigs – essential science for dietitians and agricultural organizations navigating meat and amino acid misconc…
Do dollar stores help meet dietary needs? Episode 132
Are dollar stores making Americans less healthy? Tufts food economist Dr. Sean Cash has studied 50,000 households to find out – and the answer isn’t what most nutrition professionals assume. His findings on compensatory purchasing, rural food access, and the online gr…
Science & sensationalism on the food plate: Episode 131
Algorithms. Shortened attention spans. Competition from uncredentialed food influencers. In communicating science, even the best in nutrition may occasionally fall prey to the siren song of sensationalism in an effort to deliver evidence-based information.
The gluten lie: Episode 130
Kansas dairy farmer and registered dietitian Heidi Wells unpacks the gluten myth, organic versus conventional farming, and how food misinformation stresses farmers – practical clarity for dietitians and agricultural organizations navigating nutrition noise.
Dairy safety and cognitive dissonance: Episode 129
PhD microbiologist Dr. Andrea Love explains why pasteurized milk is safe, why raw milk isn’t worth the risk, and how chemophobia and food anxiety are driving consumers toward decisions the science doesn’t support – essential listening for dietitians and agricultural o…
Cutting through nutrition science noise: Episode 128
Are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans actually killing us? Dr. Adrian Chavez has a unique perspective for dietitians and everyone interested in food.
What’s a mom to do about baby food?
Guest mom blogger MRS talks about the decision to buy baby food so she can spend more time playing and taking care of glamorous tasks like dirty diapers.
Southern belles, soil health, & sustainability: Episode 126
Fourth-generation Alabama farmer Wendy Yeager breaks down no-till farming, GMO realities, and the financial stress squeezing family farms. A must-listen for dietitians and agricultural organizations navigating food misinformation.
The heart of the wheat kernel: Episode 125
OSU wheat breeder Dr. Brett Carver confirms wheat is not GMO, gluten hasn’t changed in centuries, and the real cause of sensitivity may be FODMAPs – not gluten. Essential science for dietitians and agricultural organizations navigating wheat and gluten misinformation.
The art & science of farming citrus: Episode 124
Rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, many citrus varieties have earned their place on our breakfast tables, squeezed into our water (and cocktails), and in our favorite American recipes. There is both art and science in growing citrus that is in demand as part of our nutr…
Big bad agriculture: a transparent look at their science & safety
The biggest misconception about my work is that agriculture companies place pesticides or biotech products on the market without testing them for safety. The fact is that agriculture is one of the most strictly regulated and thoroughly investigated industries in the wor…
A.I. in your food (cattle, not computers): Episode 122
Utah cattle producer Brady Blackett explains artificial insemination in cattle, why grass-fed beef isn’t nutritionally superior, how AI improves animal welfare and feed efficiency, and the surprising connection between cattle reproductive science and human fertility med…
Food labels & nutrition choices driven by dollars: Episode 121
Food labels are supposed to help you eat better. But University of Georgia economist Dr. Chen Zhen has research showing they can have the opposite effect – quietly lowering prices on less nutritious foods in ways that harm lower-income shoppers most. His findings on s…
Food labels & nutrition choices driven by dollars: Episode 121
What’s the relationship between front-of-package food labeling and consumer choice, and how can it potentially impact grocery prices? Dr. Chen Zhen is a professor in Food Choice, Obesity, and Health Economics at the University of Georgia. His research focuses on…
Building up data for dietitians: Episode 120
“You can’t talk about what’s on the plate if you don’t know how it got there.”
As the founder of Build Up Dietitians, Leah McGrath has created a space in which dietitians at all stages in their careers (including students), can learn more about just that – …
GMOs & bacon with a side of bullying: Episode 119
Minnesota hog farmer Wanda Patsche breaks down antibiotic use in pork, GMO crop science, and the real cost of fear-based food labeling — with practical insights for dietitians and agricultural organizations navigating food misinformation.
Separating fact from fiction in food & farming: Episode 118
Grocery store costs are crazy, but what costs have gone up on farms? Are fields sprayed with “such harsh pesticides” that workers can’t enter the fields? Is hydroponic farming the wave of the future when it comes to leafy greens? Should you be worried about le…
Talking turkey – hormones, breasts, nutrition: Episode 117
Turkey farmer Peter Klaphake explains why turkey labels claiming “hormone-free” are redundant, how antibiotics support animal welfare, and what avian flu really means for farmers and food safety.
The great pumpkin! Episode 116
Pick a pumpkin – but what kind? A self-proclaimed Professor of Pumpkinology, John Ackerman is the owner and operator of the farm bearing the same name that has been in his family for over a century. And while you may hear “pumpkin” and think of the jack-o-lanter…
The great pumpkin! Episode 116
Pick a pumpkin – but what kind? A self-proclaimed Professor of Pumpkinology, John Ackerman is the owner and operator of the farm bearing the same name that has been in his family for over a century. And while you may hear “pumpkin” and think of the…
Gettin’ figgy with it: Episode 115
Kevin Herman is a diversified farmer who grows crops you may have not heard much about, but his biggest crops are figs. He joins Nicole and Michele to help dietitians understand more about this nutritious fruit.
Gettin’ figgy with it: Episode 115
“A little sugar is not always a bad thing!” Kevin Herman is a diversified farmer who grows crops you may have not heard much about, but his biggest crops are figs. And yes, there are more than one variety. He likens fig varieties to wine varieties -…
Fish farming, fear, and your food
Show Notes – Mike Freeze Is “wild” fish somehow better for you than the farm-raised variety? Mike Freeze, owner of Keo Fish Farm, conservationist, environmentalist, and naturalist, offers his perspective based on years of fish farming. “For a variety of health reasons…
Fish farming, fear, and your food: Episode 114
Arkansas fish farmer Mike Freeze makes the science-backed case that farm-raised fish are as safe as wild-caught – and explains why country of origin, water quality, and antibiotic regulations matter more than the “wild” label. Essential listening for dietitians and ag…
The Bad Press About Red Meat
It was much easier for me to read one article claiming that red meat should be avoided in the diet than it was to look for more perspectives on the topic. As time went on and I increased my exposure to cattle and pork production, I realized I could not have been more im…
Cheesemaking – paving the whey for fine spirits: Episode 113
Minnesota cheesemaker Alise Sjostrom explains why lactose intolerant people can eat aged cheese, how whey becomes a premium spirit, what antibiotics mean for dairy safety, and what farm tours reveal about food trust – innovation and transparency from Redhead Creamery.
Back to school with agriculture & nutrition: Episode 112
As misinformation can spread early in life, and it’s essential to keep an open door to help children learn about farming and nutrition. Katie Pratt and Amanda Radke creates a safe space for elementary and junior high school students to learn more about where their food…
Holistic animal agriculture for nutrition pros: Episode 111
If everyone went vegan, greenhouse gas emissions would drop by 2.6% in the U.S. – not the planet-saving shift most people assume. Colorado State sustainability scientist Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson brings peer-reviewed data to the animal agriculture and climate change c…
Sugar is sugar – and it’s sustainable: Episode 110
There is a farmer behind everything you choose in the grocery store. Even sugar. And the people who farm are frustrated with the guilt in the grocery.
Health & environment priorities to beef producer: Episode 109
California rancher Alli Fender answers questions on hormones, antibiotics, and other buzz words within the meatcase. While consumers may be fed content that drives fear and reinforces a negative connotation about beef, Fender spends a significant amount of time explai…
Beautiful beans from farm to plate: Episode 108
“The work ethic and pride most farmers have in what we do everyday is second to none. Family farms take care of the environment and land we use to make sure it is better for the next generations” points out a Michigan farmer responsible for the beans in your can….
Sweet strawberry safety: Episode 107
“The biggest misconception comes in when organic options are pushed as healthier than conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables.” This farmer hopes dietitians can help break that myth and talks about how they grow strawberries in Florida on this episode of the Food…
Sweet strawberry safety: Episode 107
“The biggest misconception comes in when organic options are pushed as healthier than conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables.” As operations manager for her family’s strawberry farm in Florida, Michelle Williamson shares concerns that the Environmental Working…
Cows with attitude & dairy debates: Episode 106
Derek Josi is approaching one million social media followers as a dairy farmer who doesn’t ignore misinformation – because silence makes it worse. He addresses the dairy case questions consumers are actually asking: is there pus in milk, what do water usage statistics…
Dietetic ethics, evidence, & evolution of food information: Episode 105
Connie Diekman is a former president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and co-author of a peer-reviewed paper on misinformation in food and nutrition science. She brings three practical tools every RDN can use right now – and a candid warning about where misin…
mRNA, myths, & why science in food matters: Episode 104
Dr. Folta emphasizes that technology has given us access to the safest, most abundant food supply in human history, and this access is worthy of appreciation – not fear. He wants dietitians to look for the evidence behind mRNA and genetics in food, rather than believing…
Ranching, your relationship with food, & wellness: Episode 103
The biggest hurdle for so many people pursuing health and wellness, including healing their relationship with food and being intentional about nutrition, has so much more to do with their mental and emotional state that we often realize. I believe that health should be …
Farm monoculture myths & soil nutrients: Episode 102
Is monoculture farming destroying soil health? Jennie Schmidt is a registered dietitian who left clinical practice to become a full-time farmer – and she’s heard every version of that claim. She explains what monoculture actually means, why cover crops matter more tha…
Apples, fungi, & pheromones: Episode 101
Michigan apple farmer Nick Schweitzer explains why fungicides protect your fruit, how pheromones replace insecticides, and why the dirty dozen list misrepresents how apples are sustainably grown.