The Midlife Feast

Isn’t it wild that you can do everything “right”-be the devoted mom, caregiver, spouse, or friend, and yet still feel like you’ve lost touch with the “real” you? That’s where our conversation with writer, speaker, and coach Jen Butler begins. It’s a candid look at how midlife cracks open our default scripts around food, alcohol, and identity, and how choosing peace can be much more fulfilling than trying to take up less space in the world. Jen shares her early entry into diet culture, the moment a nutritionist prescribed restriction that stole her period and presence, and the turning point when she stopped paying for being smaller with health and joy. We also talk about alcohol as a coping mechanism, how honesty sparked change, and why removing the fog made room for deeper work: food freedom, identity beyond motherhood, and creative ambition. Now, as a coach and author of Mom Rediscovered, Jen invites women to reclaim their space and redefine midlife on their own terms. If you’re ready to trade perfection for presence and roles for a richer identity, this conversation will resonate. Connect with JenGrab the Book: Mom Rediscovered Instagram: @jenbutlerwritesWebsite: jenbutlerwrites.comLike what you learned? Check out these other episodes!Navigating Motherhood and Perimenopause: Embracing Identity Shifts with Jessie HaroldUnfiltered Motherhood in Midlife with Tova LeighStory Session: The Mindset Shifts Laura Needed to Embrace Food FreedomWhy You're So Tired in Perimenopause and Menopause with Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, NDWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!Ditch the food guilt for a more peaceful (and nourishing!) relationship with food.  Grab my free Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoder📚 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

Feeling lost in a sea of conflicting advice about autoimmune disease? It can be especially tricky during perimenopause and menopause when hormones throw everything off. Dr. Alison Danby, a naturopathic doctor who specializes in autoimmune health, is here to break it all down with clear, science-backed guidance that feels like a sigh of relief.What you won’t hear is any ideas about cutting out gluten, dairy, or sugar, or following strict AIP protocols. Dr. Danby explains why those extreme diets can actually hurt your gut and why a Mediterranean-style approach supports your microbiome, heart, bones, and overall wellbeing, without the stress.We also chat about the surprising role of stress in triggering autoimmune flares and how simple things like better sleep, gentle movement, and stress management can be more powerful than complicated food rules.Whether you’re just starting to figure out your autoimmune journey or have been managing it for years, this episode gives you permission to relax around food and focus on what really helps your body heal.Connect with Dr. Alison Danby Listen to the Podcast Autoimmune SimplifiedInstagram: @dr.alisondanbyWebsite: www.alisondanby.comLike what you learned? Check out these other episodes!What Every Woman Needs to Know About Cholesterol, Heart Health, & Menopause with Dr. Alex Verge NDIs it Hunger, Food Noise, or Hormones?Gut Health & Hormones in Midlife: What You Need to Know with Dr. Kim Bretz NDIntuitive Eating in Menopause: A Conversation with Evelyn Tribole  What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!Ditch the food guilt for a more peaceful (and nourishing!) relationship with food.  Grab my free Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoder📚 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

“How could I, an educated scientist married to a doctor, not know this was happening to me?” At 45, Béatrice Séguin was floored to realize she was already in menopause, after years of missing the signs.In this honest and energetic story session, Béatrice shares how that wake-up call turned her into a menopause advocate and led to her podcast This Time of the Month (TTOM). We talk about why so many women are caught off guard, how old research still shapes today’s care, and the new pressure to “do menopause right” with the perfect diet, supplements, or hormones.But there’s good news. We encourage trying what works for you! From hormone therapy and vaginal estrogen to lifestyle shifts and antidepressants, this episode opens up the full menu of options.Most importantly, it’s a reminder you don’t have to figure this out alone. Whether you’re in perimenopause, menopause, or supporting a friend, this conversation brings validation, real talk, and community to the midlife transition.Connect with Dr. Béatrice: Website: www.thistimeofthemonth.comInstagram: @ttomcommunity Watch This Time of the Month on YouTube: @TTOMcommunityLike what you learned? Check out these other episodes!How to Appreciate Your Changing Midlife BodyCooking for Pleasure Not Perfection with Chef Andrea BuckettBeating the Brain Fog of MenopauseStory Session: How Early Menopause Led to Food Freedom with Sarah DosanjhQ&A Episode: Food Tracking, Plant Proteins, and CollagenWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!Ditch the food guilt for a more peaceful (and nourishing!) relationship with food.  Grab my free Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoder📚 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

Ever walk into a room and instantly forget why you’re there? Or struggle to find words you know are on the tip of your tongue? I have good news for you! You’re not losing your mind.  Your brain is simply changing.In this episode, neuroscientist Dr. Sarah McKay reveals what’s really behind midlife “brain fog” and why it’s part of a powerful transformation. From hot flashes and sleep struggles to surprising cognitive strengths we gain in menopause, she shares what’s happening inside the brain, as well as how to support it through the transition.You’ll walk away with science-backed strategies, a fresh perspective on midlife cognition, and maybe even a laugh or two (yes, we talk creatine and the importance of laughing at ourselves in this season). This is a conversation that will leave you feeling reassured, informed, and ready to support and embrace your evolving brain.Connect with Dr. Sarah McKayGrab the Brain Health BooksInstagram: @drsarahmckayWebsite: www.drsarahmckay.comLike what you learned? Check out these other episodes!Beating the Brain Fog of Menopause5 Things My Sister Wants You to Know About PerimenopauseWhen Mental Health Meets Menopause with Dr. Stephanie Bayliss ND​​Why Healthcare Needs to Break Up with Diet & Wellness Culture with Dr. Sylvi Martin  What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!Ditch the food guilt for a more peaceful (and nourishing!) relationship with food.  Grab my free Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoder📚 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

This week’s episode is extra special for TWO reasons! For one, we are kicking off Season 6, and my sister Friedel is interviewing me! We’re diving into my new book, Eat to Thrive During Menopause, and why I felt called to write it after my own surprising start to perimenopause at 37.Instead of talking about what to cut out, I share why I focus on what to add, such as fiber, phytoestrogens, and carbs that actually satisfy. We also bust some common menopause myths and talk about how intuitive eating can help you feel at peace with food in this season of life.Friedel shares some of her favourite recipes from the book  (pumpkin flax muffins, anyone?) along with some of her behind-the-scenes memories of me while I was writing it! Join us for a sweet conversation about food, midlife, and finding joy in this season of life.Like what you learned? Check out these other episodes!5 Things My Sister Wants You to Know About PerimenopauseIntuitive Eating in Menopause: A Conversation with Evelyn TriboleWhat to Do When Intuitive Eating Doesn't Work with Julie Duffy Dillon5 Things I Wish I Had Known About Intuitive Eating 10 Years AgoWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!Ditch the food guilt for a more peaceful (and nourishing!) relationship with food.  Grab my free Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoder📚 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 menopause wasn’t something to endure, but something to embrace? After asking my Instagram community about the unexpected gifts of midlife, their answers revealed just how liberating this season can be. From deeper friendships and renewed creativity to freedom from dieting and people-pleasing, their stories echoed a powerful shift, and one rooted in self-awareness, strength, and permission to live more authentically.These insights inspired my new book, Eat to Thrive During Menopause, which blends intuitive eating with symptom-supportive nutrition. No tracking, no rules, just nourishment. Even though this is the Season 5 finale, this episode invites you to see menopause not as an ending, but as a new beginning.Like what you learned? Check out these other episodes!8 Things I Wish I'd Known About Perimenopause Before My Last PeriodFeasting with Gentle Nutrition in Midlife with Rachael Hartley, RDDear Diet Culture Diary: What the 80s Taught Us About FoodYou Are More Than What You Eat with Dr. Emma Beckett, PhDWhat 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

In this story session, April MacKinnon, founder of Anointment Natural Skin Care, opens up about nearly a decade of navigating perimenopause. From the early waves of anxiety and disrupted sleep to the surprising strength she found through resistance training, she shares her very relatable experience. We explore how resistance training helped April through anxiety when running no longer worked, how skincare evolved from function to connection, and why saying “no, thank you” with no explanation might be one of the best midlife skills of all.This honest conversation is a reminder that growing into ourselves doesn’t always mean doing more. It often means redefining what matters most.Connect with April🏷 Save 20% on Anointment products with the code FEAST20 The Website: anointment.caMagnesium Products:  nourishedmagnesium.comInstagram: @anointmentLike what you learned? Check out these other episodes!Rest to Reset: Redefining Rest and Self-CareHow to Stop the Burnout Train in Midlife with Dr. Leigha Saunders, NDWhy You Need to Put Capacity, Self-Compassion, & Self-Care on the MenuHow to Appreciate Your Changing Menopause Body with Dr. Charlotte OrdWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!Ditch the food guilt for a more peaceful (and nourishing!) relationship with food.  Grab my free Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoder📚 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

In this engaging discussion, Tova Leigh, an author, performer, and digital creator, challenges the stigma around gossip and highlights its power as a means of connection among women in midlife. She shares insights from her book, 'Good Girls Gossip,' advocating for breaking free from societal expectations of perfection. Tova introduces her innovative 'and also' mindset, encouraging women to embrace their complexities. The conversation celebrates the importance of sisterhood, shared stories, and the value of authentic connections.

In this episode, I sat down to chat with our very own Joyful Movement Coordinator in the Midlife Feast. At 49, Christine received an ADHD diagnosis after years of masking. She shares how perimenopause brought long-overlooked symptoms into focus.We unpack how midlife hormonal shifts can amplify ADHD traits and why rigid fitness plans rarely work for neurodivergent brains. As a movement coach, Christine offers a refreshing approach to movement in trading consistency for persistence, flexibility, and self-compassion.We also bust the motivation myth and share simple mindset shifts that make movement feel doable, even on low-energy days.If traditional routines haven’t worked for you, Christine’s approach might be the reset you’ve been looking for. And if you love what you hear, don’t forget she shares more inside The Midlife Feast community, including videos and tips for all fitness levels.Connect with ChristineWebsite: hellofitnesschristine.com Instagram:@hellofitnesschristineLike what you learned? Check out these other episodes! Story Session: Navigating ADHD in Midlife & MenopauseWhy We Binge: Unpacking the Restrict-Binge Cycle with Toni Rudd, RDHow to Un-Diet Your Relationship with Movement in Midlife with Christine ChessmanHow to Fall in Love with Movement While Rejecting Anti-Fat Bias with Louise GreenWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!Ditch the food guilt for a more peaceful (and nourishing!) relationship with food.  Grab my free Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoder📚 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 you’ve ever felt guilty for not finishing your plate, even if you’re full, and you’re not 100% sure why, you might be a member of the Clean Plate Club.In this episode, I invited registered dietitian Emily Sucher to explore how messages from childhood are still impacting our food decisions today. Whether you grew up hearing about starving children or just hate the idea of wasting food, this conversation offers a fresh perspective. Emily shares compassionate ways to tune back into your body’s cues, reframe what food waste really means, and help the next generation build a healthier, more intuitive relationship with eating.Connect with EmilyThe Website: www.livewelldietitian.comInstagram:@livewelldietitian_Like what you learned? Check out these other episodes! How to Decode Your Cravings in MenopauseCooking for Pleasure, Not Perfection with Andrea BuckettWhat to Do If Intuitive Eating Doesn’t Work with Julie Duffy DillonThe Capacity Crisis: Why Women Feel Emotionally Exhausted in Midlife with Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, RDParenting Without Diet Culture with Oona HansonWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!Ditch the food guilt for a more peaceful (and nourishing!) relationship with food.  Grab my free Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoder📚 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