We constantly hear about what we should be eating—what’s “clean,” what’s “bad,” and which diet trend is the latest cure-all. But what if healthy eating wasn’t about rules, restriction, or guilt? What if it was about joy, sustainability, and truly nourishing ourselves?

In this episode of Curious Life of a Childfree Woman, Emily Paulsen sits down with Laura Pensiero, a chef, nutritionist, and culinary consultant, to explore how we can take back the narrative around food. Laura shares insights on how to make healthy eating feel good—without falling into diet culture traps. From understanding gut health and inflammation to building a positive, long-term relationship with food, this conversation is all about empowering choices, not restrictions.

Key Takeaways:

• Rethinking Nutrition: Why healthy eating isn’t about elimination, but about adding more of what nourishes us.

• The Mediterranean Diet & Longevity: What makes it one of the most sustainable and researched eating patterns for long-term health.

• The Role of Inflammation: How food impacts chronic inflammation, metabolism, and energy levels—and what to eat for balance.

• Gut Health & Well-Being: Why your microbiome matters and how to support it naturally through food.

• Breaking Free from Diet Culture: How to shift from restriction-based eating to a mindset of abundance and joy.

• Small, Actionable Shifts: Simple ways to make cooking and eating well easier and more enjoyable in daily life.

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way. 

Learn more about Emily on her website: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com  

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslifeofachildfreewoman/ 

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The guest on this episode is Laura Pensiero, a seasoned food consultant, dietitian, chef/restaurateur, and founding chef/nutritionist/partner of Just Salad. For over 23 years, she has owned and operated Gigi Trattoria, a successful Mediterranean restaurant in New York’s Hudson Valley, where she blends her careers in food and wellness with a hands-on approach. Her expertise spans recipe development, nutrition, writing, nutritional analysis, content creation, menu ideation/testing, and brand building. As an accomplished author, Laura penned Hudson Valley Mediterranean: The Gigi Good Food Cookbook and co-authored The Strang Cancer Prevention Center Cookbook. She has contributed to over 20 cookbooks and ghostwritten for renowned chefs. Additionally, Laura writes the Laura’s Corner Table column for Sanctuary Magazine. Oraph Magazine recognized her as one of the “Most Giving & Gifted Food Professionals.” With a wealth of knowledge and passion for food and wellness, Laura brings a unique perspective to every project, delivering high-quality, informative, and engaging content that resonates with audiences. She emphasizes practicality, helping people eat well, enjoy food, and curate a balanced, well-lived life. 

Learn more about Laura on her websites: 

https://laurapensiero.com/ 

https://www.gigihudsonvalley.com/