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The food pyramid. The inverted pyramid. Michelle Obama's MyPlate. Low-fat, then low-carb, then keto, now carnivore. American nutrition guidelines have kept us spinning for decades—a new shape every few years. But what if the answer isn't another US framework, but one from Singapore?

In this first episode of "The Balanced Plate" series, Ashok and Meera introduce Singapore's "My Healthy Plate" approach—also known as Quarter Quarter Half. One quarter wholegrains. One quarter protein. Half vegetables and fruits. No calorie counting. No kitchen scales. Just look at your plate.

This episode covers: the dizzying history of American dietary guidelines, why Michelle Obama's MyPlate was a step forward but still had issues, the elegant simplicity of Singapore's Quarter Quarter Half framework, and how this approach reflects generations of food wisdom from cultures around the world.

Coming up in the series: we'll apply this framework to breakfast, lunch, and dinner—with ideas spanning Asian, Indian, Mediterranean, and Western cuisines.

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#TheBalancedPlate #PayTheFarmerNotthe Pharmacy #QuarterQuarterHalf #MyHealthyPlateSG #NutritionSimplified #WholeFoodNutrition #PlantForward #HealthyEating #GlobalCuisine #FoodWisdom #WellnessPodcast #MeeraVasudevan #AshokVasudevan #CSAW #HealthHubSG

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Hosted by Meera & Ashok Vasudevan

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https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/pay-the-farmer-not-the-pharmacy/id1512934794

https://open.spotify.com/show/34nzNQQ62O8tygMaut2h8V

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This is the 4th and the final episode in the inflammation cycle: stress hijacks your cravings, wrecks your sleep, and pushes you toward quick fixes that make everything worse. Now it's time for the exit.

In Part 4 of "Break the Inflammation Cycle," Ashok and Meera break down anti-inflammatory eating—not as a restrictive diet, but as a direction. It's not about perfection. It's about adding the foods that calm your system and crowding out the ones that don't.

This episode covers: what chronic inflammation actually does to your body, the four pillars of anti-inflammatory eating (omega-3s, polyphenols, fiber, and fermented foods), sneaky inflammation triggers beyond obvious junk food, and how to build an anti-inflammatory plate without overthinking it.

You've got the knowledge. Now run your own experiment.

#BreakTheInflammationCycle #PayTheFarmer #AntiInflammatory #FunctionalFood #GutHealth #Omega3 #Polyphenols #FermentedFoods #WholeFoodNutrition #NutritionScience #WellnessPodcast #HealthyEating #FoodIsMedicine #PayTheFarmerPodcast #MeeraVasudevan #AshokVasudevan #CSAW

Thanks for tuning in to "Pay the Farmer, Not the Pharmacy"!

Hosted by Meera & Ashok Vasudevan

Stay Connected

#PayTheFarmerNotThePharmacy

#PlantBasedWellness

#NaturalFood

#AffordableWellness

#GutHealth

#ImmunityBoost

#NutritionTips

#CSAW (Centre for the Spread of Affordable Wellness)

#Meeravasudevan
#Ashokvasudevan
https://umaglobalfoods.com/

https://csaw.co

https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/pay-the-farmer-not-the-pharmacy/id1512934794

https://open.spotify.com/show/34nzNQQ62O8tygMaut2h8V

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You're stressed. You're exhausted. You know you need to eat "healthy." So, you reach for a protein bar, a shake, maybe some beef jerky. It feels virtuous. But is it actually helping—or just a different kind of overcorrection?

In Part 3 of "Break the Inflammation Cycle," Ashok and Meera tackle the protein obsession that's taken over grocery aisles and gym bags alike. We're not anti-protein—protein is essential. But somewhere between "eat enough protein" and "protein everything," we lost the plot.

This episode covers: why tired people reach for protein (and what they're actually craving), the 1g per pound myth vs. what research actually shows, what's really in those bars and shakes, what gets crowded out when you're chasing protein grams, and whole food sources that outperform powders.

Next episode: we bring it all together with anti-inflammatory eating—the real exit from the cycle.

#BreakTheInflammationCycle #PayTheFarmer #ProteinMyth #WholeFood #FunctionalFood #NutritionScience #ProteinObsession #RealFood #GutHealth #AntiInflammatory #WellnessPodcast #HealthyEating #PayTheFarmerPodcast #MeeraVasudevan #AshokVasudevan #CSAW

Thanks for tuning in to "Pay the Farmer, Not the Pharmacy"!

Hosted by Meera & Ashok Vasudevan

Stay Connected

#PayTheFarmerNotThePharmacy

#PlantBasedWellness

#NaturalFood

#AffordableWellness

#GutHealth

#ImmunityBoost

#NutritionTips

#CSAW (Centre for the Spread of Affordable Wellness)

#Meeravasudevan
#Ashokvasudevan
https://umaglobalfoods.com/

https://csaw.co

https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/pay-the-farmer-not-the-pharmacy/id1512934794

https://open.spotify.com/show/34nzNQQ62O8tygMaut2h8V