Food Budgeting for Busy Brains with Meghan Splawn

Food Budgeting for Busy Brains with Meghan Splawn

Food writer, recipe developer, and longtime meal-planning expert Meghan Splawn joins Catherine to talk about the emotional, practical, and very real work of getting a food budget under control. After realizing her family had spent more than $32,000 in a year on groceries, dining out, coffee, Costco runs, and food in general, Meghan began publicly documenting her effort to cut that spending in half. In this conversation, she shares why tracking is the first step, how food spending can become tangled up with shame and identity, and why budgeting does not have to mean giving up good food. Catherine and Meghan talk about impulse grocery buys, ADHD-friendly systems, low- and no-spend weeks, freezer meals, meal planning without perfectionism, and the joy of using up what you already have. They also get into the “sludge of shame,” unidentified frozen objects, pantry roulette, and why a plate of frozen dumplings and edamame can sometimes save the whole week. This episode is for anyone who loves food, feels overwhelmed by food spending, or wants a calmer, more realistic way to cook at home. In this episode: *  Why tracking your food spending comes before setting a budget  *  How money and food shame show up in the kitchen  *  Meghan’s food budget diary and weekly tracking system  *  Low-spend and no-spend week strategies  *  Meal planning for people who hate meal planning  *  ADHD-friendly fridge, freezer, and pantry systems  *  Budget-friendly “emergency meals” to keep on hand  *  How to spend less without taking the joy out of food

You Can Cook Indian Food at Home with Heartland Masala

When Indian food is on the menu at Catherine’s house, it usually means ordering dosa, saag paneer, and cauliflower Manchurian from a favorite local spot. But why do so many of us love eating Indian food while feeling intimidated to cook it at home? This week, Catherine is joined by Auyon and Jyoti Mukharji, the son-mother duo behind Heartland Masala, for a warm, funny, and practical conversation about bringing Indian cooking into your own kitchen. They talk about: *  Why Indian home cooking doesn’t have to feel overwhelming  *  Building confidence with spices, techniques, and pantry staples  *  Family recipes, tradition, and adaptation across generations  *  What American home cooks often misunderstand about Indian food  *  How Heartland Masala makes this rich culinary tradition more accessible  Whether you’ve always wanted to dust off your spice grinder or you’re simply curious to learn more about the depth and diversity of Indian cuisine, this episode is a delicious place to start. Subscribe to the newsletter at catherinesmart.com for companion essays, recipes, and more from Not From Concentrate.

Veg Forward Local Hawai'i Food with Alana Kysar

This week, Catherine chats with cookbook author, photographer, and recipe developer Alana Kysar about the rich, comforting world of local Hawaii food — and how she transformed some of Hawaii’s most beloved flavors into vegetable-forward recipes in her new cookbook, Aloha Veggies.  They dive into the cultural influences that shape Hawaii’s culinary identity, and why dishes like katsu, laulau, poke, and plate lunches are about so much more than vacation food. Alana also shares what it’s like to photograph her own cookbooks, navigate the modern food media landscape, and build a creative career that spans blogging, writing, recipe development, and photography.  Plus: *  Why Hawaii cuisine is far cozier (and more comforting) than people expect  *  The surprising challenge of “vegifying” traditional dishes  *  What Alana always keeps in her pantry  *  The creative freedom of writing a second cookbook  *  How California changed the way she thinks about vegetables  *  Cleaning as a strategy for calming a busy brain  If you love food, Hawaii, cookbooks, creativity, or thoughtful conversations about cooking and culture, this episode is for you.  Follow Not From Concentrate wherever you get your podcasts.

Chef Spencer Horovitz on ADHD, Finding Calm in the Kitchen & California-Jewish Cuisine

This week on Not From Concentrate, Catherine sits down with chef Spencer Horovitz , a 2025 James Beard semifinalist and the founder of Hadeem, a beloved California-Jewish Cuisine concept that's been popping up in San Francisco.  But this episode goes far beyond food. Spencer speaks candidly about living and working with ADHD in the high-pressure world of professional kitchens: the burnout, shame, impulsivity, time blindness, and sensory overload — but also the creativity, resilience, and self-awareness that ultimately helped him build a career that actually works with his brain instead of against it. Catherine and Spencer talk about: *  Why fine dining kitchens can be especially difficult for ADHD brains  *  The accommodations and systems that genuinely help in restaurant life  *  Hyper-focus, multitasking, and “boy dinner”  *  Why labels, handwriting, and putting things away can feel impossible  *  ADHD-friendly cooking strategies that actually work  *  The emotional side of feeding yourself when your brain is overwhelmed  *  Culinary school, restaurant culture, and redefining success  *  Spencer’s California-Jewish cuisine philosophy and the story behind Hadeem  This is one of the most vulnerable and practical “busy brain” conversations the show has had yet — packed with insight for anyone navigating ADHD, creativity, burnout, or simply trying to make dinner without spiraling. Find Spencer and Hadeem: *  Instagram: @wearehadeem *  Website: wearehadeemsf.com  [https://wearehadeemsf.com/] Subscribe to the Not From Concentrate newsletter at catherinesmart.substack.com for links to ADHD resources, recipes, and more from this episode.

Food, Bravery, and Hope in Ukraine, with Felicity Spector

In this episode, Catherine sits down with journalist and author of Bread and War Felicity Spector to talk about the role of food in one of the most difficult places on earth right now: war-torn Ukraine. Since 2022, Felicity has been traveling to Ukraine to support grassroots food initiatives—from mobile bakeries feeding frontline communities to chefs creating restaurant-quality meals for soldiers. Her work captures something often missing from headlines: the resilience, ingenuity, and humanity that keep people going. They talk about: *  How mobile bakeries are feeding communities without electricity  *  The surprising logistics behind getting bread to the front lines  *  Why small food businesses are the backbone of society  *  Ukrainian food culture—and why bread is so deeply symbolic  *  The emotional reality of telling these stories in an overwhelming news cycle  *  Simple ways you can help  This conversation is honest, emotional, and unexpectedly hopeful. Links & Resources *  Buy Bread and War by Felicity Spector  [https://www.amazon.com/Bread-War-Felicity-Spector/dp/1914613783?ref_=nav_custrec_signin] *  Donate to https://bakeforukraine.org/ *  Substack: Flour Power If this episode moved you, share it with a friend. It’s one small way to help these stories travel further.