Episode 12: Prioritizing Healthy Aging with Barbara Bray Artwork

Changing Plates

Hi! We’re Allison Pigatto and Bianca Mercouffer, two nutrition experts and food enthusiasts on a mission to transform the conversation around food. Tired of the negativity and fear-mongering, we created Changing Plates -- a forward-thinking podcast spotlighting fresh perspectives and impactful work.

Each episode features leaders, innovators and disruptors shaping the future of food. Together, we discuss challenges facing our global food system and transformative solutions paving the way forward.

Ready to discover the brighter side of food? Tune in for bi-weekly episodes!

All Episodes

Changing Plates

Episode 12: Prioritizing Healthy Aging with Barbara Bray

July 30, 2025 • Allison Pigatto & Bianca Mercouffer • Season 2 • Episode 4

In this episode of Changing Plates, we’re joined by Barbara Bray MBE - a registered nutritionist, food safety expert, and PhD researcher at Queen’s University Belfast - for a conversation on what it means to eat well as we age.

Barbara shares insights from her research on the dietary habits of older adults in the UK and explains why the gap between what we do eat and what we should eat as we grow older has never been more urgent. We unpack the difference between age span and health span, challenge common myths around aging and nutrition, and explore how food systems can better support longevity, equity, and accessibility for older populations.

Tune in for an evidence-based look at how we can all shape a healthier future.

Have questions, comments or stories to share? We’d love to hear from you!