297. Breaking Free from Diet Culture: Joyful Rhythms for Nourishing Meals | Jillian Margaret Wellness

Jul 8, 2025

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From calorie-counting culture to kitchen confidence, Jillian Hankins shares her journey toward joyful, nourishing meals made with real ingredients. We chat about embracing food freedom, raising kids who eat what’s served, and the rhythms that make homemade meals feel doable—even three times a day. With tips for balancing your plate, using seasonal produce, making simple sauces, and working with your natural energy, this conversation is full of encouragement for simplifying healthy eating and making it work for real family life.

In this episode, we cover:

Jillian’s journey from junk food to holistic nutrition
Growing up in diet culture and learning to enjoy food again
How real food helped her heal hormonally and digestively
Discovering the joy of cooking after growing up on boxed meals
Why calorie-counting and food guilt are giving way to freedom
Reframing dessert as a tool for joy—and for picky eaters
Teaching kids to eat what’s served with a two-bite rule and protein emphasis
Honoring where food comes from and why that shapes how we eat
Using seasonal produce and sales to guide budget-friendly meals
Building a simple balanced plate: protein, carb, produce, sauce
How sauces transform meals without adding complexity
Weekly rhythms that support homemade meals without burnout
Why Jillian always plans snacks and treats—not just dinners
Doubling dinner for easy lunches and prepping in pockets of time
Using rhythms that match your energy instead of fighting it

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

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Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube

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Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series

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Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook

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Jillian Hankins of Jillian Margaret Wellness | Website | Instagram

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