The Midlife Feast

If the word “selfish” still triggers guilt for you, this episode is the permission slip you didn’t know you needed. I’m joined by the ever-wise Suzy Reading to explore why so many of us in midlife struggle to receive support, set boundaries, and prioritize our own needs — even when we know better.We unpack the deep roots of people-pleasing, the pressure to be endlessly self-reliant, and how we can start to reclaim selfish as something powerful, not shameful. If you’ve been doing all the “right” self-care things and still feel depleted, this conversation will help you connect the dots — and offer a new, more compassionate way forward.Learn more about Suzy Reading and her new book How To Be Selfish here: https://www.suzyreading.co.uk/Did you enjoy this episode?#58 - Rest to Reset - Redefining Self-Care with Suzy Reading#132 - Why You Need to Put Capacity, Self-Compassion, & Self-Care on the MenuWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now!  Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.Looking for more about midlife,  menopause nutrition, and intuitive eating? Click here to grab one of my free guides and learn what I've got "on the menu" including my 1:1 and group programs. https://www.easy.link/menopause.nutritionist

Dr. Mara Gordon, a family physician and writer who calls herself an anti-diet doctor, explores weight-neutral menopause care. She explains how clinicians balance metabolic markers, eating-disorder recovery, and patient values. They unpack GLP-1 drugs, realistic expectations, and using a Mediterranean-style nutrition pattern without sliding into restriction.

What if the loudest voice at your meals isn’t hunger, but an overactive alarm telling you you’re doing it “wrong”? In this episode, I dig into the link between food guilt and relentless food noise, and show how midlife shifts, hormones, sleep, mood, and capacity can crank that alarm even higher. Instead of doubling down on rules, I'll walk you through the 3-step process that replaces food morality with neutrality.Grab The Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoderEpisodes mentiond:Episode 172: https://themidlifefeast.buzzsprout.com/1851576/episodes/18238090Episode 151:https://www.buzzsprout.com/1851576/episodes/17038620What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now!  Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.Looking for more about midlife,  menopause nutrition, and intuitive eating? Click here to grab one of my free guides and learn what I've got "on the menu" including my 1:1 and group programs. https://www.easy.link/menopause.nutritionist

Sometimes the routines that feel the hardest to change are the ones that once helped us cope. In this episode, therapist and eating-disorder specialist Signe Darpinian breaks down how those patterns get wired into the brain, why diet culture reinforces them, and how midlife is actually an ideal time to reshape habits with clarity and compassion.We dig into what it really takes to unwind the patterns that feel automatic, especially the ones that show up at the end of a long day or week. You’ll hear how small, well-timed shifts can loosen the grip of old routines and create space for choices that actually feel good.We also explore simple tools for calming the mental swirl that fuels cravings and second-guessing, along with a gentler approach to movement and nourishment that supports energy, mood, and a steadier sense of self. It’s all about building habits that fit your real life, not forcing yourself into rigid rules.If you’re stepping away from dieting and looking for routines that feel kinder, more sustainable, and more you, this conversation offers encouragement, clarity, and a practical path forward.Connect with Signe DarpinianGrab the Book:  A Woman's Guide to Menopause, Body Image, and Emotional Well-being at MidlifeInstagram: @therapyrockspodcastWebsite: www.signedarpinian.comLike what you learned? Check out these other episodes!Finding Your Movement Rhythm with ADHD & Perimenopause with Christine ChessmanHow to Cancel Your Clean Plate Club Membership with Emily Sucher, RDHow to Stop the Cycle of “Starting Over” Every Monday3 Reasons Why Intuitive Eating Might Feel Hard with Abbie AttwoodWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!The wait list for The Midlife Body Image Lab program opens soon! Join my newsletter community to be the first to hear. 🔗 https://bit.ly/onthemenunewsletter📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now!  Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.Looking for more about midlife,  menopause nutrition, and intuitive eating? Click here to grab one of my free guides and learn what I've got "on the menu" including my 1:1 and group programs. https://www.easy.link/menopause.nutritionist

Deb Benfield, a registered dietitian and author focused on age-affirming care, investigates internalized ageism and its ties to diet culture. She explores how fear of aging masks worries about relevance and power. Short, punchy takes cover patriarchy, ableism, wellness trends, and practical steps for noticing and unlearning ageist stories.

I'm answering three questions this week: how to get soy’s benefits if it bothers your gut, what really shifts in metabolism during menopause, and how to quiet food noise. We'll cover:• Non-soy protein swaps from beans, lentils and pulses• Flax lignans as a phytoestrogen alternative• Metabolism as a system of gears, not a dial• Hormones’ indirect impact through symptoms and routines• Defining food noise and why it returns after GLP-1s• Permission-based eating to rebuild trust and satisfactionEpisodes mentioned:#151 - Is it Hunger, Hormones or Food Noise?#155 - Q&A: Food Tracking, Plant Proteins & Collagen Supplements#127 - The Truth About Soy in Midlife#84 - On The Menu - Part 1 Your Menopause Nutrition Questions #87- On The Menu - Part 2 Your Menopause Nutrition Questions #90 - On The Menu - Part 3 Your Menopause Nutrition QuestionsJoin the live book club Q&A: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/bookclubWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now!  Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.Looking for more about midlife,  menopause nutrition, and intuitive eating? Click here to grab one of my free guides and learn what I've got "on the menu" including my 1:1 and group programs. https://www.easy.link/menopause.nutritionist

Join Dr. Shelby Harris, a behavioral sleep medicine psychologist and expert in women's sleep, as she unpacks the complexities of sleep during midlife. She shares why changing hormones create a 'perfect storm' for insomnia and discusses the common pitfalls of sleep hygiene. Debunking myths around needing eight hours, she offers practical strategies including CBT-I techniques for better sleep. Learn the role of hormone therapy and discover when to seek further help for sleep challenges.

We all want to simplify nutrition (and life!) but are we going down the wrong path when it comes to finding "one thing" for nutrition in menopause? Laura Clark RD and I  talk about how real progress in midlife comes from flexibility, self-trust, and simple, satisfying meals. We break down the hype around protein, fiber, and even the microbiome so food feels calmer, kinder, and more doable. In this episode you'll hear:• why chasing a single fix creates stress not change• how Laura’s practice shifted from weight-centric targets to nuance• protein without perfection and what steadies your morning• fiber and microbiome benefits without counting or 30-plant pressure• simple plate-building: protein, carbs you enjoy, and some crunch• escaping on-it off-it thinking and perfectionism loops• social comparison traps and giving yourself permission• redefining progress as small choices that stack• adding fun back into food and midlifeIf you're ready to take the next step towards thriving in midlife, head to www.menopausenutritionist.ca to learn more about my one-to-one and group coaching programs, free resources, and where to get your copy of Eat to Thrive during menopause.If you've loved today's conversation and found it helpful, please share it with a friend who needs to hear this and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts!You can learn more about Laura at https://www.lecnutrition.co.uk/ and on Instagram at @menopause.dietitian.What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now!  Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.Looking for more about midlife,  menopause nutrition, and intuitive eating? Click here to grab one of my free guides and learn what I've got "on the menu" including my 1:1 and group programs. https://www.easy.link/menopause.nutritionist

If your closet feels like a battlefield and getting dressed has turned into a daily reminder that your body isn’t the same as it used to be, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m joined by personal stylist Jacquelyn Prattipati, who helps women in midlife rediscover confidence and comfort through clothes that fit the body (and the life) they have now.We’re talking about what “feeling put together” really means, why style has nothing to do with size, and how to stop waiting for a smaller body to wear what you love. You’ll walk away with practical tips for finding clothes that fit today’s body, letting go of the “someday jeans,” and remembering that your body isn’t the problem, your clothes just need to catch up.Want to learn more about body image in midlife?🎙Episode 109 - The Body Acceptance Mistake That's Keeping you Stuck in The SuckLearn more about Jacquelyn at www.jgpstyledme.com and on Instagram at @jgpstyledmeWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!The wait list for The Midlife Body Image Lab program opens soon! Join my newsletter community to be the first to hear. 🔗 https://bit.ly/onthemenunewsletter📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now!  Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.Looking for more about midlife,  menopause nutrition, and intuitive eating? Click here to grab one of my free guides and learn what I've got "on the menu" including my 1:1 and group programs. https://www.easy.link/menopause.nutritionist

Menopause can scramble your mood, planning, memory, and appetite cues, especially if you’re living with ADHD.  My guest this week is Diana Reid, RD and we dive into how shifting estrogen affects dopamine in the brain and why that can make meal planning feel impossible, grocery stores overwhelming, and evenings vulnerable to emotional hunger and snacking. Together, we map the hidden steps that turn “what’s for dinner?” into a 30-step project and show how to lower the cognitive load and decision fatigue. Think forecasts instead of rigid schedules, two to three-day meal windows, and a “nutrition capsule wardrobe” you can refresh monthly for novelty. We also get real about dopamine seeking, emotional hunger, and the link between ADHD and binge patterns. The antidote isn’t restriction, it’s regulation and pleasure. Learn how to prevent primal hunger with predictable protein and fiber, add texture and heat for sensory satisfaction, and plan pleasure on purpose! If this conversation helps you feel seen, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more midlife listeners can find food freedom and confidence. Learn more about Diana at www.theglobaldietitian.com and on Instagram at theglobalrd.Like what you learned? Check out these other episodes!Story Session: Navigating ADHD in Midlife & MenopauseFinding Your Movement Rhythm with ADHD & Perimenopause with Christine ChessmanListen to Episode 167 - Part 1 of ADHD and Midlife with Dr Jen Wolkin.What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now!  Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.Looking for more about midlife,  menopause nutrition, and intuitive eating? Click here to grab one of my free guides and learn what I've got "on the menu" including my 1:1 and group programs. https://www.easy.link/menopause.nutritionist