In this episode of Raising Healthy Mothers, I share a story I came across of a mum in her early 40s who was told to go on antidepressants and have CBT when she went to her GP with what she thought was symptoms of perimenopause and was wondering about HRT. This was a frustrating experience for her, so in this episode I talk about: Why symptoms of perimenopause can start earlier than many expect What's happening with your hormones beneath the surface How symptoms like brain fog, migraines and anxiety reflect your body recalibrating, not breaking down Why short appointment times make it tricky for GPs to fully explore what's going on at an early stage The small nutrition and lifestyle tweaks that can help you feel more balanced and resilient If you are noticing changes in your cycle, mood or energy, please do speak to your GP, and if you would like support to explore the nutrition and lifestyle side of perimenopause, you can find out more about working with me 1:1 at tashadcruz.com. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashadcruz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tashadcruznutrition Website: https://tashadcruz.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Apple Podcast. Subscribe to my YouTube channel @tashadcruz, leave a comment and a thumbs up. If you enjoyed this episode and want more support to feed yourself well, even when life is full on, join The Weekly Table and get your meals planned for you. I send you meal inspiration every Friday full of simple ideas, recipes and kitchen tips and a reminder that you deserve to feel good too. #raisinghealthymothers DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on tashadcruz.com is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you may have heard on the podcast or on the website. I may earn commission on shopping links to external sites, e.g. Amazon. This doesn't change the price you pay but gives me a small commission which goes back into keeping the podcast running.
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8:26
{15.8} Should You Let Your Kids Eat All the Sweets at Halloween?
It's Halloween, which means pumpkins, costumes… and a mountain of sweets about to take over your house. If you've ever found yourself hovering over your child's treat bucket wondering, "Should I let them eat it all? Should I ration it? Should I hide it behind the kale?", then this episode is for you. This week, I'm unpacking the big Halloween sugar dilemma – not with guilt or control, but with calm, practical guidance on how to help your children build a healthy relationship with food. I'll share how I approach Halloween in my own home, what I say to my kids about sugar, and how to help them tune into their bodies so they can enjoy treats without guilt or obsession. In this episode, I talk about: What to do when your child brings home a mountain of sweets How to talk about sugar without using words like "good" or "bad" When (and why) to limit sweets for toddlers under two How to help older children learn self-regulation around sugar What to do when you're the one tempted by the leftover sweets Why these moments build long-term food trust and calm around eating If every mealtime feels like a battle, or you're struggling with a fussy eater, my on-demand workshop How to Feed Your Fussy Toddler will help you bring more calm to your table. It's £25 and you can watch it in your own time, in short, easy-to-digest sections. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashadcruz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tashadcruznutrition Website: https://tashadcruz.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Apple Podcast. Subscribe to my YouTube channel @tashadcruz, leave a comment and a thumbs up. If you enjoyed this episode and want more support to feed yourself well, even when life is full on, join The Weekly Table and get your meals planned for you. I send you meal inspiration every Friday full of simple ideas, recipes and kitchen tips and a reminder that you deserve to feel good too. #raisinghealthymothers DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on tashadcruz.com is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you may have heard on the podcast or on the website. I may earn commission on shopping links to external sites, e.g. Amazon. This doesn't change the price you pay but gives me a small commission which goes back into keeping the podcast running.
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14:07
{15.7} Ask Me Anything: Following meal plans, sleeping with phones, swaping ingredients
This week's episode is a little different — it's an Ask Me Anything. These are the kinds of questions that come up inside my Resets, in The Weekly Table community and with 1:1 clients — the everyday, real-life questions about food, cooking and staying well when life feels full-on. As always, there's a running theme through my answers: it's not about perfection. It's about flexibility, instinct, and finding what works for you. Here's what we cover in this episode: Whether you should follow a meal plan exactly or just pick and choose what fits your family (and how I really feel about meal plans) If shop-bought foods like falafel, soups or sauces are "good enough" — and what to look for on the label The truth about mushrooms — are the exotic ones really better for immunity, and what's actually hiding in the stalks of your chestnut mushrooms Simple swaps for "wellness" ingredients like cacao nibs and enoki mushrooms, without losing their benefits Whether it's OK to fall asleep to a podcast and how to make your bedtime phone habits less disruptive Freezing ginger, garlic or lemon — does it change their nutritional benefits? How to stay on top of cooking and meal planning when life feels chaotic (including why progress over perfection always wins) If you love this kind of practical, gentle food chat, you'll love The Weekly Table — my weekly meal-plan subscription that's more like a guide than a rule book. Each week you get: Real-life, family-friendly meal plans Flexible prep tips and leftover ideas Nourishing recipes for when you've got 30 minutes or less Join via Substack: https://tashadcruz.substack.com. And if you have a question you'd like me to answer in the next AMA, send me a WhatsApp message — I'd love to include it. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashadcruz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tashadcruznutrition Website: https://tashadcruz.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Apple Podcast. Subscribe to my YouTube channel @tashadcruz, leave a comment and a thumbs up. If you enjoyed this episode and want more support to feed yourself well, even when life is full on, join The Weekly Table and get your meals planned for you. I send you meal inspiration every Friday full of simple ideas, recipes and kitchen tips and a reminder that you deserve to feel good too. #raisinghealthymothers DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on tashadcruz.com is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you may have heard on the podcast or on the website. I may earn commission on shopping links to external sites, e.g. Amazon. This doesn't change the price you pay but gives me a small commission which goes back into keeping the podcast running.
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28:58
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28:58
{15.6} You Don't Need More Health Advice (You Just Need to Know What to Do With It)
You probably already know what to do to feel healthier: eat more veg, get enough sleep, move your body, drink some water. But if you're anything like most mums I work with, the hardest part isn't knowing what to do. It's finding the space and energy to actually do it. In this episode, I'm talking about what happens when you finally put your own needs first, not in a grand, self-care-day kind of way, but through small, steady actions that build resilience and help you feel more in control of your health and your life. You'll hear real stories from clients who moved from exhaustion to energy: one who went from "I'll never have time to run again" to completing her first marathon, another who broke the afternoon sugar-crash cycle, and one who found the strength to start working out again after years of burnout. In this episode, we cover: Why knowledge alone isn't enough to create real change How small, consistent shifts can transform your energy and calm The power of eating for steadiness — especially at breakfast What resilience looks like in everyday mum life One simple mindset shift to start prioritising yourself today If you missed the Winter Wellness Reset, my Gentle Nutrition Kickstarter is the perfect next step — a short, focused way to get personalised tweaks that boost your energy and help you feel stronger heading into winter. Find out more here. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashadcruz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tashadcruznutrition Website: https://tashadcruz.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Apple Podcast. Subscribe to my YouTube channel @tashadcruz, leave a comment and a thumbs up. If you enjoyed this episode and want more support to feed yourself well, even when life is full on, join The Weekly Table and get your meals planned for you. I send you meal inspiration every Friday full of simple ideas, recipes and kitchen tips and a reminder that you deserve to feel good too. #raisinghealthymothers DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on tashadcruz.com is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you may have heard on the podcast or on the website. I may earn commission on shopping links to external sites, e.g. Amazon. This doesn't change the price you pay but gives me a small commission which goes back into keeping the podcast running.
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11:57
{15.5} Your Winter Prep Plan for Stronger Immunity
This week, we're talking about how to make this winter feel different from last year — no more resigning yourself to catching every bug your kids bring home. It all starts with being prepared. When your kitchen, mindset, and freezer are ready, you can move through winter feeling calm and resilient instead of frazzled and depleted. In this episode, I share: The key difference between powering through winter and feeling steady and strong How to stock your pantry and freezer so you can throw together immune-supportive meals fast Why soups, stews, and stocks are your body's best friend when illness hits How to use freezer dump bagso make nourishing meals effortless Simple prep steps to take this weekend to feel more in control when the next cold arrives If you're ready to stop being knocked flat by every cold and start feeling stronger, calmer, and more resilient this season, join the Winter Wellness Reset. In just two weeks, you'll learn exactly how to support your immune system, nourish your body, and prepare your kitchen so you can finally get through winter well. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashadcruz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tashadcruznutrition Website: https://tashadcruz.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Apple Podcast. Subscribe to my YouTube channel @tashadcruz, leave a comment and a thumbs up. If you enjoyed this episode and want more support to feed yourself well, even when life is full on, join The Weekly Table and get your meals planned for you. I send you meal inspiration every Friday full of simple ideas, recipes and kitchen tips and a reminder that you deserve to feel good too. #raisinghealthymothers DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on tashadcruz.com is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you may have heard on the podcast or on the website. I may earn commission on shopping links to external sites, e.g. Amazon. This doesn't change the price you pay but gives me a small commission which goes back into keeping the podcast running.
Raising Healthy Mothers is a podcast for busy, exhausted mums navigating the early years of motherhood. Whether you're pregnant, newly postpartum, or raising young children, this is your space for practical tips, expert insights, and real talk on making healthy choices without overwhelm.
Motherhood is relentless, and postpartum depletion, exhaustion, and burnout are real. I know how hard it is to prioritise yourself when you're constantly meeting everyone else's needs. This podcast is here to support you with simple, realistic strategies so you can regain your energy, feel in control, and enjoy motherhood more.
Each week, I dive into topics that matter to mums' health and wellbeing, from nutrition and self-care to managing stress and rebuilding your energy, with expert guests and honest conversations.
New Zealand