Frostrup's Menopause Cookbook Offers New Hope

As reported by Henley Life Magazine, Mariella and chef Belles Berry, daughter of culinary legend Dame Mary Berry, teamed up to create Menolicious: Eat Your Way to a Better Menopause. They felt a real gap existed for a cookbook that genuinely addressed the nutritional needs of women in midlife, without making us feel like we have to subsist on lettuce alone. It’s about creating delicious, achievable meals, often in under thirty minutes, that actually nourish us. Mariella herself experienced a rough patch around age 48, dealing with anxiety and insomnia, and was initially misdiagnosed. She recounts being told her blood tests showed she wasn’t menopausal, a stark reminder of how tricky those fluctuating hormones can be, and how GPs aren't always equipped to handle the multifaceted nature of perimenopause symptoms. This personal struggle, as she shared with SheerLuxe, fueled her desire to ensure other women have access to better information and support.
What strikes me is Mariella’s pragmatic approach. She doesn’t pretend food is a magic cure-all, but she firmly believes it’s a vital tool for feeling our best. Her own eating habits shifted significantly after attending a health bootcamp, leading to a more protein-rich, vegetarian-focused diet, now including fish and seeds, which she finds essential for maintaining muscle mass as we age. She emphasizes listening to your body and adjusting, a concept that seems so simple yet can be so hard to implement when we’re used to old habits. It’s about making mindful choices, like swapping a sweet treat for a date, or enjoying a colourful, nutrient-packed meal.
This whole conversation around mariella frostrup and her work is a powerful reminder that embracing change, especially the physical changes that come with aging, is key. It’s about taking control where we can, and food is certainly a significant area where we have agency. Are we ready to embrace these changes and actively nourish ourselves, just as Mariella and Belles are encouraging us to do?