What is going on with the return of the super-skinny celebrity trend we thought we left back in the '90s?

From red carpets to social media feeds, a new wave of dramatic weight loss has many women wondering if we're headed back to the era of heroin chic, crash diets, and impossible beauty standards. For those of us who grew up during the Kate Moss years, it feels eerily familiar—and frankly, a little alarming.

In this episode of The Real Dish, Mareya takes a closer look at the cultural obsession with being thin and asks a more important question: What is it costing us?

As celebrities grow visibly smaller, women everywhere are being sold the same old message in a new package—that thinner is better. But science tells a different story. Muscle, not skinniness, is one of the greatest predictors of longevity, independence, metabolic health, and quality of life as we age.

Mareya shares her personal journey from growing up in the age of diet culture to becoming a passionate advocate for strength, resilience, and healthy aging. She also tackles the rise of GLP-1 medications, what happens when appetite disappears but nutritional needs don't, and why so many women are unknowingly sacrificing muscle in pursuit of a smaller number on the scale.

If you're tired of shrinking yourself and ready to build a body that supports the life you want to live, this episode is for you.

Because the goal was never to be skinny.

The goal is to be strong.

In this episode:

• Why the return of extreme thinness should concern women
• How the Kate Moss era shaped a generation's relationship with food and body image
• The surprising link between muscle and longevity
• What women need to know about GLP-1 medications and muscle loss
• Why protein becomes more important after 40
• Strength training strategies for every age and fitness level
• How to measure progress beyond the scale
• What it means to age with power, not fear

It's time to stop chasing smaller and start building stronger.

Your future self will thank you.

What happens when you stop waiting for someone to join you and simply say yes to the adventure?

In this inspiring episode of The Real Dish, Mareya explores the transformative power of solo travel with 74-year-old fitness competitor, adventurer, and vibrant ager Renee Landers (@reneefitat70). After spending much of her life putting others first, Renee began traveling the world on her own in her seventies—and it changed everything.

Together, they discuss how solo travel builds confidence, expands your world, creates meaningful connections, and reminds you that it's never too late to reinvent yourself. Renee shares how embracing the "Power of Yes" opened doors to new experiences, friendships, and a level of freedom she never imagined possible.

Whether you're dreaming of your first solo getaway or your next great adventure, this conversation is your invitation to stop waiting and start living.

Because sometimes the best travel companion is you.

Welcome to the season of life where you stop living on autopilot.

In this episode of The Real Dish, Mareya dives into the Midlife Audit—a simple but transformative process for evaluating where you are, where you've been, and where you want to go next. We'll unpack the signs that it's time for a reset, why change often feels uncomfortable before it feels liberating, and how to embrace reinvention as a natural part of growth. Whether you're navigating menopause, an empty nest, a career shift, or simply a desire for something more, this conversation will help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of possibility.

A midlife audit isn't about judging the life you've built. It's about making sure the life you're feeding next still fits who you've become.

Because your most powerful era isn't behind you - it's right now.

What happens when you've spent your entire life pushing harder, doing more, and willing yourself through every challenge... only to realize your body isn't willing to come along for the ride anymore?

In this deeply personal episode, I share the story behind my decision to start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after years of white-knuckling my way through menopause. Despite eating well, training hard, supplementing, and doing "all the right things," I found myself exhausted, depleted, struggling to build muscle, and feeling increasingly disconnected from the woman I knew myself to be.

I also open up about the emotional crash that followed my experience on Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef—a season of intense pressure, self-reflection, and ultimately, reinvention.

This isn't just a conversation about hormones. It's about what happens when we reach our breaking point and finally give ourselves permission to stop suffering in silence.

In this episode, we'll discuss: • Why three doctors told me I didn't need HRT • The lab results that finally gave me answers • The signs I missed (and the ones I ignored) • The emotional aftermath of chasing big dreams • What Madonna taught me about reinvention at every age • Why midlife isn't a crisis—it's an invitation

If you've ever felt dismissed, stuck, exhausted, or unsure of who you're becoming, this conversation is for you.

Because sometimes the breaking point isn't the end of your story. It's just the reinvention of it.

Check out http://www.therealdish.com and sign up for weekly DISH and for a limited time, get my FREE 'The Heart of It' ebook for women 40+, including a free meal plan, valuable health hacks and a heart-friendly habits to keep your ticker happy. Women over 50 are at the highest risk of heart disease.

We spend so much time chasing protein, cutting carbs, and counting calories—but what if the real key to energy, metabolism, and longevity has been living inside your gut this whole time?

Hot take: it's not that your metabolism is broken—it's that your microbiome is underfed.

In this episode of The Real Dish, I sit down with gut health expert and bestselling author Dr. Will Bulsiewicz—also known as "Dr. B"—to dig into the real power of plants and what they can do for your body, your brain, and your longevity.

As the author of the new book ,Plant Powered Plus, Dr. B breaks down the science in a way that actually makes sense—and more importantly, makes it doable. We talk about how to nourish your gut microbiome without giving up the foods you love, why diversity (not perfection) is the real goal, and how even small shifts can create massive changes in your energy, digestion, and overall health.

We also tackle some of the biggest misconceptions around plant-based eating—like protein panic, carb fear, and whether you really need to go "all in" to see results. (Spoiler: you don't.)

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by nutrition advice or stuck in an all-or-nothing mindset, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. It's not about restriction—it's about expansion, abundance, and getting back to what real food can do for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why your gut microbiome is the key to everything—from immunity to mood
• The truth about plant-based protein (and how to get enough without overthinking it)
• How to start adding more plants into your diet—without a total lifestyle overhaul
• The connection between food, inflammation, and long-term health
• Simple, realistic strategies you can start today

This conversation is empowering, eye-opening, and packed with practical takeaways that will help you eat—and live—better.

0:00 – Why your microbiome might be underfed (and why it matters more than your metabolism) 2:57 – What inspired Plant Power Plus and the "plus" beyond diet 5:30 – Dr. B explains acute vs. chronic inflammation 6:54 – Bio-individuality: Why one person's food is another person's trigger 8:53 – How the gut microbiome accounts for 99% of your genetic code 11:16 – Food allergies vs. intolerances: The truth about dairy, gluten, and your immune system 15:25 – The single most impactful change for gut health (and why 95% of America is deficient) 17:34 – Soluble vs. insoluble fiber: Which one feeds your microbiome? 19:58 – The truth about keto, carnivore, and why popular diets are misleading 23:23 – Why longevity is the long game (and the one food Dr. B recommends most) 28:34 – The case for legumes: Affordable, nonperishable, and microbiome-friendly 31:44 – The estrobolome: How gut health impacts perimenopause and hormonal health 35:25 – Rapid fire: Sprouts, lazy meals, fermented foods, coffee, and more 42:39 – Why consistent sleep is one of the best habits for gut repair 44:27 – How stress directly impacts digestion and the gut barrier 45:43 – The one ingredient causing the most damage to your microbiome

MENTIONED RESOURCES

• Fiber-Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz (previous book)
• Plant Power Plus by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz (new book)
• Trader Joe's (mentioned for garlic naan)
• ChefMareya.com (website)
• Dr. Will Bulsiewicz's YouTube channel

I've spent over 30 years in the food industry, but my relationship with what's on my plate started long before that, in the markets of Alexandria, Egypt. In this special episode, I'm sharing a conversation I had with Abby of One Potato, where we peel back the layers on something I believe in with my whole heart: food is agency, power, and responsibility. We get real about the moment my father's cancer diagnosis made food safety personal, and why my husband's health journey connected the dots back to the pesticides we accept as normal.

For National Nutrition Month, we're cutting through the noise of fear-based diet culture to talk about what truly nourishes us. We discuss reclaiming carbs without guilt, the "racist" undertones of America's food rules, and how to raise kids who cook without turning mealtime into a battle. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the grocery store or wondered how to thrive in midlife instead of just shrinking, this is the conversation you need to hear. Let's dig in.

0:00 – Intro: Why This Conversation Matters for National Nutrition Month 2:48 – Growing Up in Egypt: The Rhythm of Daily Markets and Family Tables 3:11 – Immigrating to the US: The Culture Shock of Sterile Grocery Stores 7:59 – The Wake-Up Call: Becoming a Parent and Facing a Polluted Food System 9:38 – Food as Culture: Why America's Protein Rules Feel "Racist" and Elitist 11:56 – Personal Connection: My Husband's Cancer and the Truth About Roundup 17:03 – Defining Clean Eating: It's Not About Restriction, It's About State 22:37 – The #1 Habit: Just Cook (And Why It's a Bonding Experience) 23:06 – Family Memory: The Emotional Power of Molokhia, the Soup of Kings 28:13 – Picky Eaters: 3 Tips to Get Kids to Try New Foods (Without the Fight) 37:44 – Thriving Over 40 42:21 – My Journey Back to Bread 44:52 – Essential Cooking Skills: Grilling and Poaching for Everyone 46:49 – Rapid Fire: Pantry Staples, Superfood Sprinkle, and Favorite Tools 55:23 – Outro & Listener Takeaways

Food as power, Chef Mareya interview, One Potato podcast, clean eating definition, how to raise kids who cook, picky eater tips for parents, immigrant food stories, Egyptian food Molokhia, pesticide residue on food, Roundup cancer risk, non-toxic living, thriving in midlife, recondition your taste buds, anti-diet culture nutrition, National Nutrition Month 2026, The Real Dish, Chef Mareya, the fit foodie, Podcastize

Mentioned Resources

• Eat Cleaner (now owned by Clean Boss)

• Superfood Sprinkle

• Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Becoming a Fit Foodie (Cookbook)

• ChefMareya.com

• Whole Foods Market

• Alfalfa's Markets

What do lasagna, punch, and your midnight cookie cravings have in common? More than you'd ever guess. Today, I'm serving up something totally different—a mashup episode that takes us from the surprising origins of the words on your dinner plate to the hidden spots where travelers find real food magic, and finally, into the deep conversation we don't have enough about: what's really driving your cravings.

I sat down with Mark Morton, author of Cupboard Love, who dropped some serious mind-benders—like the fact that lasagna is related to the word for bedpan (I'm still processing that one) and that companion actually means someone you break bread with. Then Kenny Dunn, founder of Eating Europe, joined me to talk about why the best meals aren't the Instagram-famous spots, but the tiny places where locals line up for just one thing. And in my solo segments, I get real about protein confusion, the truth about farm-raised versus wild-caught, and the emotional roots of the cravings that have us standing in front of the pantry at midnight.

If you've ever wondered where food words come from, how to eat like a traveler instead of a tourist, or why you're reaching for the cookie jar when what you really need is something deeper—this episode is for you. Let's get curious together.

0:00 – Intro: Why This Mashup Episode Is Different

2:14 – Interview with Mark Morton: The Surprising Origin of Lasagna

3:49 – Why Pantry Has Nothing to Do With What You Store

4:13 – The Beautiful Meaning of "Companion"

5:28 – Shakespeare Never Ate a Banana

6:35 – How Language Borrows From Invaders and Settlers

8:16 – The Punjabi Origin of Punch

9:58 – Interview with Kenny Dunn: Finding the Places Locals Love

10:50 – Why Instagram-Famous Spots Usually Disappoint

12:37 – What European Markets Teach Us About Community

15:04 – Solo Segment: The Truth About Protein Quality

22:14 – Farm-Raised vs. Wild-Caught: Why It Matters

24:27 – What Your Grandparents Knew About Eating Meat

29:10 – How to Calculate Your Protein Needs

31:45 – Solo Segment: Cravings Are Messengers, Not Enemies

35:20 – The Emotional Triggers Behind Late-Night Eating

39:10 – Restrictive Dieting and Disordered Eating

42:15 – Tools to Regain Control: The 90/10 Rule

44:35 – Final Thoughts and Challenge to Stay Curious

MENTIONED RESOURCES

• Book: Cupboard Love: A Dictionary of Culinary Curiosities by Mark Morton
• Company: Eating Europe (culinary tour company)
• Product: Superfood Sprinkle by Chef Mareya
• Program: Eat to Thrive program
• Tool: Meal prep app at mealprepapp.chefmareya.com
• Website: ChefMareya.com
• Discount Code: REAL DISH (for Superfood Sprinkle)
• Book: Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive by Chef Mareya

If you've ever dreamt of eating your way around the world—but without the jet lag, lost luggage, or questionable airplane food—today's episode is your passport.

My guest today is Abby Cheshire, a private yacht chef, culinary arts teacher, and global flavor hunter who somehow manages to cook extraordinary meals in the tiniest kitchens… while floating on the open sea.

She's the author of the just-released cookbook Passport to Flavor, featuring 100 global recipes inspired by destinations around the world—from Barbecue Short Rib Vermicelli in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, to Calypso Cracked Lobster in the Bahamas, Beef Bulgogi in Seoul, Schnitzel Sliders in Germany, and even Lomi Lomi Salmon on the Na'Pali Coast of Hawaii.

And this isn't just a pretty cookbook for your coffee table. The praise is already rolling in, including from Andrew Zimmern, who says:

"Bravo to Chef Abby for taking us around the world on her delicious journey. One hundred global recipes is so meaningful an effort in our mission to make the world a better place for everyone."

Abby spends her school year teaching high school culinary students, then trades the classroom for the galley—traveling the world by yacht and cooking with fresh, local ingredients wherever she drops anchor. If you've seen her viral videos on @abbyinthegalley, you already know she's the queen of making magic in small spaces.

Today, we're talking about food as a universal language, how travel shapes the way we cook and connect, and why opening yourself up to global flavors might just be one of the most joyful ways to expand your world—no matter where you live.

So grab a fork, fasten your seatbelt, and get ready to travel—one delicious bite at a time. Let's dive in.

It's my birthday and I'm turning 57.

And instead of giving you a highlight reel or a greatest-hits list, I want to give you something far more honest.

Everything meaningful in my life— my health, my career, my faith, the brands I've built, the places I've traveled, the TV shows I've cooked on—

all of it came down to one good step.

Not a master plan. Not perfection. Not having it all figured out.

Just one faithful, forward step… taken again and again.

This episode is a deeper dive into the 57 Good Steps to a Great Life, I share what they look like in real life (not reel life), why they matter, and how they've shown up in my body, my business, and my purpose.

So wherever you are today— overwhelmed, curious, rebuilding, or dreaming— I hope you hear this as permission:

You don't need the whole staircase. You just need the next good step.

I just stepped out of the intoxicating, earthy air of the White Truffle Festival in Alba, Italy, and my entire perspective on this culinary unicorn has changed. What if everything you thought you knew about truffles—their flavor, their cost, even that bottle of truffle oil in your pantry—was missing the point? In this solo deep-dive, I'm pulling back the curtain on the world's most mysterious and fleeting luxury ingredient.

We're moving beyond the hype to the heart of the matter: why truffles don't actually taste like anything, the shocking truth about most truffle products, and how a single shaving can teach us about patience, nature, and the art of savoring. I'll share exactly how to select, store, and savor real white truffles, what I learned from the legendary hunters and their dogs, and the surprising health benefits wrapped up in that earthy aroma. This is a conversation about reconnecting with the sensual, intentional joy of food. If you're ready to experience luxury in its most authentic form, join me at the chef's table.

0:00 – Introduction: The Intoxicating World of White Truffles

2:14 – The Sensory Experience: Why Truffles Are an Aroma, Not a Flavor

6:38 – The Hard Truth About Truffle Oil and Synthetic Products

11:25 – How to Select a Quality Truffle: Smell, Feel, and Look

15:10 – Understanding the Price: The Luxury of the Forest Floor

18:45 – The Art and Spirit of Truffle Foraging with Dogs

23:30 – Cooking For the Truffle: Pairings and Principles

27:15 – How to Store Truffles and Why Time is the Enemy

29:40 – The Surprising Health Benefits of White Truffles

31:20 – Final Reflections: Reverence for Nature and Seasonal Joy

32:50 – Closing Thoughts and Upcoming Culinary Adventures

Mentioned Resources

• Superfood Sprinkle (Chef Mareya's seasoning blend) - Available at ChefMareya.com with code REALDISH
• Free F.I.T. Guide (Fuel, Inspire, Thrive) - Available at ChefMareya.com
• Chef Mareya's Website: www.ChefMareya.com/therealdish
• Movie Reference: Pig