#40 Knowing What to Eat Isn't Enough: Menopause, Diets & Your Relationship with Food | Kara Roberts

Content note: This episode discusses eating disorders and disordered eating. Please take care when listening if these topics may be difficult or triggering for you. Why is it so hard to change our eating habits, even when we know what we should eat? And how do menopause, diet culture, body image and years of dieting influence our relationship with food? In Episode 40 of Mind Your Being, I talk with Kara Roberts, Accredited Practising Dietitian, founder of Pause Nutrition and part-time senior lecturer at the University of Wollongong, about the psychology of eating behaviours and how we can build a healthier, more compassionate relationship with food. This isn't just a conversation about what to eat. It's about understanding why we eat the way we do, the beliefs and habits that can keep us stuck, and how to move towards sustainable behaviour change without relying on restriction or self-criticism . IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE: • Why nutrition education alone isn't always enough to change eating habits. • How diet culture and food rules shape our relationship with food and our bodies. • Why afternoon sugar cravings may be linked to inadequate eating earlier in the day. • How restriction can contribute to overeating, guilt and repeated dieting. • Menopause, weight changes, sleep, stress and daily activity. • Why the number on the scales can become tied to our self-worth. • Practical ways to recognise hunger and fullness and understand our eating patterns. • How values and self-compassion can help us rethink our priorities in midlife. • A powerful future-self visualisation about how we might look back on our bodies and lives at 90. Kara also shares why slowing down, becoming curious about our behaviours and getting the right support can be more helpful than trying to force ourselves to change through willpower alone. ABOUT KARA ROBERTS Kara is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, founder of Pause Nutrition and a part-time senior lecturer at the University of Wollongong. Her work supports people to better understand their relationship with food, particularly during perimenopause and menopause. #MindYourBeingPodcast #KaraRoberts #Menopause #Nutrition #DietCulture #RelationshipWithFood #BodyImage #MidlifeHealth #IntuitiveEating #HealthyAgeing Links:  https://www.pausenutrition.au/    /     Website to book - Intuitive Eating (as mentioned by Kara): https://www.intuitiveeating.org/our-b... https://mindyourbeing.com.au/   / mindyourbeingpodcast   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... https://x.com/mind_yourbeing    / @mindyourbeingpodcast   Thanks so much for listening, Cass x Keywords: Kara Roberts, Pause Nutrition, Mind Your Being, menopause nutrition, perimenopause nutrition, menopause and weight gain, relationship with food, diet culture, food psychology, eating behaviours, why knowing what to eat isn't enough, afternoon sugar cravings, sugar cravings in menopause, emotional eating, restrictive dieting, intuitive eating, body image in midlife, self compassion and food, healthy eating habits, hunger and satiety, menopause health, midlife women's health, weight stigma, sustainable behaviour change, Accredited Practising Dietitian Australia, nutrition podcast, health and wellbeing podcast, healthy ageing Disclaimer: The information provided on the Mind Your Being Podcast is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. The content shared on this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or nutritional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Reliance on any information provided by the Mind Your Being Podcast, its hosts, guests, or others appearing on the podcast is solely at your own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast creators or hosts.