The Midlife Feast

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!📚 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

What if the fear of “looking older” isn’t really about wrinkles at all, but about relevance, visibility, and power? I welcome registered dietitian and author Deb Benfield to dig into internalized ageism and the subtle ways culture teaches us to distrust our future selves. We walk about how it gets tangled up with diet culture, wellness trends, and perfectionism. Together we unpack why compliments like “you haven’t aged a bit” keep youth on a pedestal, how patriarchy and ableism shape appearance pressure, and what it takes to build a truly age-affirming life. We talk about:Defining internalized ageism and why it starts earlySeparating facts of aging from fear-based storiesNaming patriarchy, sexism and ableism in appearance pressureHow wellness trends can trigger relapse and obsessionAutonomy vs pressure in skincare, movement and foodHer book's framework for untangling systems and mending body trustPractical steps to notice, name and unlearn ageist thoughtsChoosing freedom and values over perfectionLearn more about Deb's work:https://www.debrabenfield.comOrder Unapologetic Aging: https://www.debrabenfield.com/bookIf 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 podcastsIf you're ready to take the next step towards thriving in midlife, head to menopause nutritionist.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 menopauseWhat 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

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

Feel like your sleep has gone missing in midlife? Join me and my guest Dr Shelby Harris as we break down why sleep changes in perimenopause, how culture has overhyped “perfect sleep,” and the tools that actually help. Dr. Shelby Harris also explains CBTi in plain language so you can stop chasing hacks and start building steady, restful sleep. We talk about:• The perfect storm of hormones, mood, and social load• Why sleep hygiene helps but won’t cure insomnia• Rethinking the “eight hours” rule and normal wakeups• HRT benefits and limits for midlife sleep• CBTi basics: wake time, stimulus control, time-in-bed tweaks• Letting go of sleep anxiety • Practical first steps and when to get helpLearn more about Dr Harris at: www. drshelbyharris .comFollow her on Instagram: @ SleepDocShelbyCheck out her books:The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia: Get a Good Night’s Sleep Without Relying on Medication The Essential Guide to Children’s Sleep: A Tired Caregiver’s Workbook for Every Age and Stage Looking for better sleep solutions in the kitchen? My book, Eat to Thrive During Menopause, has an entire section on sleep - Order wherever books are sold or visit www.menopausenutritionist.ca/Book.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