Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become one of the most talked-about topics in nutrition, but how much of what we hear online is actually supported by evidence?

In this episode, Talia is joined by Registered Dietitian Maeve Hanan to chat about the growing fear around UPFs and explore what the research really tells us. Together, they discuss how foods are classified, why processing does not determine nutritional value, and the impact that anti-UPF messaging can have on our relationship with food.

Episodes drop every Thursday.

What You'll Learn:
• What ultra-processed foods actually are — and why the definition is more complicated than most people realise
• What current research does (and doesn't) tell us about UPFs and health outcomes
• Why food processing doesn't determine whether a food is nutritious
• How anti-UPF messaging can contribute to food anxiety, disordered eating, and guilt around eating
• The role convenience foods can play in supporting health, recovery, and everyday life

Resources & Links:
Website: https://dieteticallyspeaking.com/

Instagram: @dieteticallyspeaking

Maeve's Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/dieteticallyspeaking/sign-up

About our Guest:
Maeve Hanan is a Registered Dietitian who specialises in eating disorders, disordered eating and food freedom. She’s the founder of Dietetically Speaking, a platform offering evidence-based information, practical tools, courses, and one-to-one support to help people build a healthier, more peaceful relationship with food. Maeve advocates for a compassionate, weight-inclusive approach to nutrition, and is passionate about cutting through the online nutrition BS by sharing clear, evidence-based and practical messages (via her website, weekly newsletter and instagram page).

Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome & introduction
01:02 – What are ultra-processed foods?
06:54 – Are UPFs really harmful? Understanding the evidence
14:00 – Food fear, eating disorders, and the impact of demonising foods
19:17 – Convenience, privilege, and accessibility in nutrition
24:03 – Label reading, food rules, and nutrition misinformation online
29:33 – When food anxiety becomes a concern
30:51 – Final takeaways and practical advice

Connect with Talia:

• Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition
• Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod
• Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com
• Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact

Support the Podcast:
If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by:

• Following or subscribing to the podcast
• Leaving a 5* review
• Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful

Disclaimer:
This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.

In this episode, Talia Cecchele breaks down what intuitive eating truly is, dispelling common myths and exploring its core principles. Whether you're recovering from disordered eating or looking to foster a healthier relationship with food, this episode provides clear guidance on how to approach intuitive eating at different stages of your journey.

Episodes drop every Thursday.

What You’ll Learn:

• Clarifying common misconceptions about intuitive eating, such as it being about just eating whatever you want, when you want
• The 10 principles of intuitive eating and how they support a compassionate, anti-diet approach
• How you can apply the different principles at different stages of recovery
• When and how to transition into intuitive eating during recovery from disordered eating

Resources & Links:

• Intuitive Eating, 4th Edition: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach, by Elise Resch and Evelyn Tribole
• Intuitive Eating Official Website - https://www.intuitiveeating.org

Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Understanding Intuitive Eating
03:32 The Principles of Intuitive Eating
20:00 Navigating the Journey to Intuitive Eating

21:54 – The importance of physical and psychological readiness to embrace intuitive eating
30:03 Indicators of Readiness for Intuitive Eating

Connect with Talia:

• Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition
• Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod
• Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com
• Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact

Support the Podcast:
If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by:

• Following or subscribing to the podcast
• Leaving a 5* review
• Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful

Disclaimer:
This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.

GLP-1 medications are everywhere right now, but are they appropriate to use in the context of healing relationship with food and long-term wellbeing?

In this episode of Food is Food, Talia is joined by eating disorder dietitian Aoife McMahon for a compassionate, nuanced conversation about GLP-1 medications, weight stigma and food noise.

Together, they chat about how GLP-1 medications work, why they’ve become so popular, and the growing concerns around nutrition, food preoccupation, eating disorder risk, and long-term outcomes. They also explore the rise of the term “food noise,” the impact of diet culture and healthcare stigma, and why individualised care matters so much.

Episodes drop every Thursday.

What You’ll Learn:

• What GLP-1 medications are and how they influence appetite, fullness, and food pleasure
• The potential nutritional risks and side effects associated with GLP-1 medications
• How GLP-1 use may intersect with disordered eating, eating disorders, and food preoccupation
• Why “food noise” may actually reflect hunger, restriction, or disconnection from body cues
• The role weight stigma and healthcare inequality play in access to GLP-1 medications

Resources & Links:

• Follow Aoife on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatirishdietitian/
• Aoife’s website: www.centreforliberatingnutrition.com
• Listen to Aoife McMahon’s podcast: Inside Bariatrics

Key Research Referenced:

Ryan, D. H. et al. (2024). Long-term weight loss effects of semaglutide in obesity without diabetes in the SELECT trial. Nature Medicine, 30(7), 2049–2057. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-02996-7

Ragen Chastain Substack Article

About our Guest:
Aoife McMahon is a CORU and HCPC Registered Dietitian specialising in relationship with food, body image, and inclusive nutrition care. Aoife has extensive experience across bariatric care, GLP-1 support, and weight management services. She is passionate about helping people navigate these complex decisions with less shame and more autonomy, recognising that the desire to pursue weight loss is deeply understandable in a world where weight loss products, treatments, and messaging are everywhere. Aoife is the host of podcast: Inside Bariatrics.

Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome & introduction
01:02 – What GLP-1 medications are and how they work
05:00 – Appetite suppression, food pleasure & side effects
07:16 – Safe GLP-1 use in eating disorder recovery
17:40 – Why relationship with food support matters alongside GLP-1s
19:38 – Weight stigma, healthcare inequality & access to medications
25:05 – What the research says about long-term GLP-1 outcomes
29:00 – Weight stigma in healthcare settings
36:58 – “Food noise” vs food preoccupation explained

Connect with Talia:

• Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition
• Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod
• Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com
• Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact

Support the Podcast:
If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by:

• Following or subscribing to the podcast
• Leaving a 5* review
• Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful

Disclaimer:
This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.