What We Really Need to Know about Packaged Foods—with Food Innovator and Founder Parker Brook
Welcome to the premiere episode of ‘The PrimaFoodie Podcast’, a conversation series that looks at how we eat, our food system, and the changes we need to see for a healthier future. In our first episode we look at the world of packaged foods with guest Parker Brook. The Founder and CEO of Lovebird Cereal, a company that provides grain-free cereals made with no refined sugar and only whole ingredients, Parker is on a mission to change the food system with his profit-with-purpose business approach. He previously worked for a giant corporate food company, but with the birth of his daughter and the mounting pressures of his autoimmune condition, his outlook on food and health changed. Parker ultimately made a giant leap to start his company and follow his food values. In this episode, we learn about his health journey, the genesis behind Lovebird Cereal and what he hopes to achieve with the company. We also delve into conflicting philosophies of big food companies regarding nutrition and profit, and the many reasons why we all should avoid conventional packaged foods. Also, we find out why we can’t rely on the FDA to protect our health—and so much more. Parker’s insight is educational, inspiring, and something we all need to hear.
Key Points From This Episode:
Background about Parker and why he decided to start Lovebird Cereal.
Parker shares details about his autoimmune condition.
His health journey and how he discovered the autoimmune protocol diet.
We find out more about his previous role at General Mills.
The conflict between his health journey and working at a big food company.
What he hopes to achieve with Lovebird Cereal.
An overview of the ingredients that big food companies use in their products.
Parker offers advice for listeners on what ingredients to avoid and how.
Why natural flavor ingredients should be considered a red flag.
Learn about an FDA regulation to help the consumer assess ingredients.
We discuss the conflict of interest regarding nutrition and profit.
We delve into the price point of Lovebird Cereal.
How the consumer can help change the food system.
We hear about the development process of Lovebird recipes.
Whether Lovebird will focus only on cereal.
Parker shares some essential takeaways for listeners.
Tweetables:
“It really wasn't until I found the autoimmune protocol diet that I was able to really reduce inflammation and eliminate the things that could be causing it and really figure out what worked for my body.” — @eatlovebird [0:05:07]
“[Big food companies] will make what people will buy and eat. So it's on us as people to buy and vote with our dollars. I think that's very powerful.” — @eatlovebird [0:09:55]
“I think anytime there's profit interest when it comes to nutrition, it's most likely not a great result.” — @eatlovebird [0:22:34]
“In a roundabout way, your tax dollars are actually going to the funding of these subsidies for these ingredients that are actually eroding our health on the margins.” — @eatlovebird [0:29:54]
“I think that we exist in this food system where industry makes decisions and consumers deal with the effects.” — @eatlovebird [0:30:21]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: