#187 - Second Helpings - Decoding Cravings & Emotional Hunger in Midlife & Menopause

The Midlife Feast

The Midlife Feast
#187 - Second Helpings - Decoding Cravings & Emotional Hunger in Midlife & Menopause
Mar 30, 2026 Season 6 Episode 187
Jenn Salib Huber RD ND

If your cravings feel more intense than ever, you're not alone. 

In this second helping (my creative take on replay 🤣) of episode 117, I'm tackling one of the most-asked questions in my inbox: why do cravings feel so out of control in perimenopause and menopause, and what can you do about it? Spoiler alert: it's not about cutting out sugar or having more willpower.

I break down the three types of hunger (physical, taste, and emotional), explain why perimenopause symptoms like sleep disruption and hot flashes amplify emotional hunger, and share a framework for decoding your cravings instead of fighting them. Whether it's the 7pm snacking spiral, the weekend binge, or those intense drive-thru cravings when you're alone in the car, I walk you through how to press pause without judgment and respond in a way that addresses what you need.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt hijacked by a craving, blamed themselves for lack of control, or wondered if menopause is making everything harder. Because yes, your hormones matter, but the solution isn't another restrictive food rule.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Why cravings are normal and everyone is an emotional eater to some degree
  • The difference between physical hunger, taste hunger, and emotional hunger
  • How estrogen and progesterone influence appetite (and why perimenopause amplifies cravings)
  • Why restricting foods you enjoy intensifies cravings for those exact foods
  • The critical skill of pressing pause without saying no
  • Real examples of decoding evening cravings, weekend patterns, and alone-time eating

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Episode Artwork #187 - Second Helpings - Decoding Cravings & Emotional Hunger in Midlife & Menopause 29:01 Episode Artwork #186: GLP-1s, Intuitive Eating & Finding Food Freedom: A conversation with Sam Previte RD 39:18 Episode Artwork #185: The Science and Symptoms of Burnout: How to Build Capacity in Midlife with Dr Ashley Margeson ND 46:18 Episode Artwork #184: Pelvic Floor Freedom: Why Kegels Aren't the Answer & What Works Instead with Lauren Ohayon 42:07 Episode Artwork #183: Decision Fatigue and Menopause: Why "What's for Dinner?" Makes You Want to Scream 23:14 Episode Artwork #182: Visibility As Generosity: Rethinking Photos, Aging, And Confidence With Photographer Kristen Vallejo 36:44 Episode Artwork #181: The Political Hot Potato of Menopause: Cutting Through Noise with Fiona Clark 37:33 Episode Artwork #180: Seed Oils, Protein Obsession & Nutrition Misinformation: Cutting Through the Noise with Colleen Christensen, RD 39:45 Episode Artwork #179 - Fiber Without The Fuss in Midlife and Menopause 21:09 Episode Artwork #178 - Perimenopause Without Panic: Body Changes, Food Freedom, And Real Support 38:37 Episode Artwork #177 - Reclaiming ‘Selfish’ as a Midlife & Menopause Power Move with Suzy Reading 25:09 Episode Artwork #176: Anti-Diet Menopause in the Age of Ozempic With Dr. Mara Gordon 56:58 Episode Artwork #175: Food Guilt in Midlife: Why Your Alarm Keeps Going Off (Even When It’s Just Toast) 20:13 Episode Artwork #174: How to Rebuild Your Habits in Midlife: A Kinder, Science-Backed Approach with Signe Darpinian, LMFT 51:43 Episode Artwork #173 - How To Age Without Apology with Deb Benfield RDN 32:02 Episode Artwork #172 Q&A Episode: Soy, Metabolism, And Food Noise 22:02 Episode Artwork #171: Sleep in the Messy Middle of Midlife and Menopause with Dr Shelby Harris 30:09 Episode Artwork #170: The One Thing Menopause Dietitians Want You to Know About Nutrition 38:39 Episode Artwork #169: Style, Not Size: Dressing for the Life You’re Living with Jacquelyn Prattipati 34:55 Episode Artwork #168: ADHD, Menopause, and The Messy Middle with Diana Reid RD 40:37 Episode Artwork #167 - When Perimenopause Unmasks ADHD with Dr. Jen Wolkin 47:31 Episode Artwork #166: What if “healthy” is a pattern, not a prescription? Redefining lifestyle medicine in menopause 18:33 Episode Artwork #165- Mom Rediscovered: Jen Butler on Breaking Up with Diet Culture and Drinking to Find Herself Again 33:23 Episode Artwork #164 - Autoimmune Disease in Midlife: Beyond Diet Culture Myths with Dr. Alison Danby ND 42:26 Episode Artwork #163 - Story Session: From Scientist to Menopause Advocate: Dr. Béatrice Séguin's Unexpected Journey 33:24