https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1669741514760-DMZG38B41REVH1AJ4V80/image-asset.jpeg Blog https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/audhd-menopause-food-health monthly 0.5 2026-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/6da22428-a1f3-4938-84c6-084cf49137d0/AUDHD+menopause+food.png Blog - AuDHD (Autistic + ADHD) Menopause, Food & Health You're holding a plastic bag, inside, dripping green slime. Could it be radioactive? The bag used to represent hope and a plan. And now, guilt. You had every intention of making a salad; you've had the same desk lunch for weeks. Hello and welcome to the perimenopause AuDHD collision course. I believe that the AuDHD profile (autism + ADHD) is its own third thing, not necessarily a perfect Venn diagram. If it helps to have this complex profile explained by a duck, then here you go. If we haven’t met yet, Hi!, I’m Melinda Staehling. I’m an Oregon-based Certified Nutrition Specialist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. I’m also a highly perimenopausal, late-diagnosed AuDHDer. This post is a little different than my usual style. I’m sharing some current thoughts about what makes an AuDHD menopause particularly challenging in hopes of helping you to feel more informed and to be able to release any shame you’re carrying. This makes room for finding flexible systems that support, not strangle, you. The salad might not be happening for lunch on this day, but I’m of the mindset that we can scaffold in support systems (like dead-simple snacks) for when things inevitably don’t go to plan. Bottled shake and peanut butter toast to the rescue. https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/perimenopause-diarrhea monthly 0.5 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/31142707-2bc5-42f1-b231-86eb3397a10c/perimenopause+diarrhea.png Blog - How to Stop Perimenopause Diarrhea Because apparently, the hot flashes and sleepless nights weren’t enough. This month, we’re diving into the glamorous world of menopause and diarrhea. If you’ve found yourself sprinting to the bathroom more often lately and wondering if this is just another unexpected plot twist in the menopause saga, this post is for you. Pull up a throne, queen (preferably not the porcelain one), and let’s unpack it. Today, we’re exploring why diarrhea might feel more frequent or more dramatic in menopause, what the research says, and what you can actually do if your bowels seem to have entered their chaotic era. If we haven’t met yet, hi! I’m Melinda Staehling, an Oregon-based Certified Nutrition Specialist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner in private practice. Digestive concerns are among the most common reasons my clients visit me. Let’s dive into the possible “Why” behind the sudden rise in this annoying occurrence, and then look at what you can do about it, whether that’s at home or with some professional guidance. I’ll say it again throughout the post, but if you have bowel changes that have lasted for more than a few weeks, it’s time to get in to see a Doctor. If you have an accompanying fever, it’s time for urgent/emergency care. While I recommend specific products in this post, Melinda Staehling Nutrition does not have an affiliate partnership with any supplement company. https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/why-dont-i-feel-hungry-arfid-interoception monthly 0.5 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/5fbb40e7-3932-4a6f-a337-5043afa8cb17/ARFID+interoception.png Blog - Why Don’t I Feel Hungry? How ARFID Confuses Interoception It’s 5PM and there’s a mild pinch between your eyebrows. You reach for the Advil to get rid of the pain and light bulb, it’s been hours since your last snack. We’ve all had times when we don’t feel hunger in our usual way. Maybe there’s added stress, or you’re on a new medication. If you wanted me to eat a meal right before I gave a public talk, my nervous system would give a Hard Pass. But for some of us, a lack of a strong hunger signal (or, on the flip side, too much signal) can be a bigger part of our lives. Less noticeable or more pronounced hunger cues can point to differences in interoception. I’ll get into what interoception is in a moment, but the big idea is messages we get from our body’s internal sensory system. If we haven’t met yet, hi! I’m Melinda Staehling, an Oregon-based Certified Nutrition Specialist and late-diagnosed AuDHDer (autistic + ADHD). I’m here to help adult ARFIDers and selective eaters feel more connected with their sensory systems and more confident with their food choices. In this post, we’ll explore the world of interoception—what it is, how we communicate with it, and how we can learn to understand and work with both interoception and ARFID by paying attention to our body’s internal cues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/15e5d155-ba57-48a5-b5b0-276d754dc834/interoception+ARFID.png Blog - Why Don’t I Feel Hungry? How ARFID Confuses Interoception - Make it stand out Interoception includes physical sensations (hunger, fullness, pain, needing to use the bathroom) and emotional experiences (the flush of anger, the tightness of anxiety, the lightness of joy). https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/find-a-menopause-specialist monthly 0.5 2026-03-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/fc1ba260-8712-42df-bcca-a4d4be00dd9e/menopause+specialist+%281%29.png Blog - Expert Tips: How to Find a Menopause Specialist You’re collecting symptoms of perimenopause faster than a puppy slurps up treats. You randomly feel like a walking furnace, your brain is mush, and the soaked sheets are making sleep feel as likely as winning Mega Millions. What sleep, you ask? This post is for you when you’re first looking for a menopause hormone specialist and may feel overwhelmed with the options and information. Or, this might be a helpful boost to look for someone new, if you’re not quite satisfied or feeling heard by your current care provider. If we haven’t met yet, hello there! I’m Melinda Staehling, an Oregon-based Certified Nutrition Specialist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. I’m also highly perimenopausal, and sharing my first-hand experience of looking for providers. While I’m trained in menopause and always learning more, I’m a nutritionist, and therefore, I don’t diagnose or prescribe hormone therapy. Today, we’re focusing on the people who manage your prescriptions and medical care, and how we can find the best match and partnership to meet our needs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/141e2599-b013-4ab0-b5b9-df458abf44ed/Find+a+menopause+practitioner.png Blog - Expert Tips: How to Find a Menopause Specialist - Make it stand out The Menopause Society Search Tool - lots of different practitioner types here, not just OB-GYNs! https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/perimenopause-bloating monthly 0.5 2026-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1e92bcf2-f46f-4e01-9884-5f02121fc05b/perimenopause+bloating+%282%29.png Blog - What Works for Perimenopause Bloating & Constipation CW: brief mention of intentional weight loss, special diet options (e.g., low-FODMAP), and lots of poop talk While it's super common in perimenopause, bloating is an underserved topic. I’m highly perimenopausal, sleepless, and night-sweating, and I’ve also had some significant bloating in the last couple of months. We need to be talking more about the bloat. I’m out here looking for solutions, and across the interwebs, I find a bunch of consumer blogs offering generic advice that, in reality, are thinly veiled weight-loss ads. Bleh. This riled me up and made me want a more weight-inclusive bloating solution, with more help and less harm. Yes, bloating is not great for body image. Also, yes, we still need some better ideas for our tender, gassy tummies, not a calorie restriction plan. Hi there, if we haven’t met yet, I’m Melinda Staehling. I’m an Oregon-based Certified Nutrition Specialist, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and today, your guide down the tube of digestion from mouth, to, well, toilet. While niche, bloating is a favorite topic because when we get some relief, then wow, we’re all feeling better! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/c2b1c19a-dd5a-4ff1-8949-a2ff5d394998/low+fodmap+gentle.png Blog - What Works for Perimenopause Bloating & Constipation https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/menopause-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2025-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1763337063488-U1EN5ML444FOBIK52G1O/menopause+eating+disorders.png Blog - Menopause and Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions with many co-occurring physical health symptoms. They’re a difficult condition to treat at any age, but can be even tougher to navigate in the transition through the hormonal rollercoaster of menopause. Eating disorders stem from many factors, including genetics, core feelings, high rates of body dissatisfaction, and looking outward to a culture obsessed with looks and thinness. It’s no wonder that more people are having a tough time with their body image and mental health when they’re riding the tumultuous waves of perimenopause and menopause. Hang in there, friend, I’m here with a life raft and a path forward that is kind, gentle, and nourishing. If we haven’t met yet, I’m Melinda Staehling, an Oregon-based Certified Nutrition Specialist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. I specialize in the important work of supporting midlife people with eating disorders, and have special skills with ARFID, anorexia and atypical anorexia, and binge eating in the menopause transition. In this post, we’ll look at what eating disorders are (and what they’re not). Then, we’ll take a look at how the hormonal changes of menopause, combined with the pressures of midlife, might lead to an increase in eating disorders in midlife. And most importantly, we’ll chat about how to navigate this chapter of your life, cultivating true health and a better body image. Let’s dive in. https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/perimenopause-nutrition monthly 0.5 2025-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/153b3626-3ae2-4863-9886-95fe3d51c597/perimenopause+nutrition.png Blog - Perimenopause Nutrition from a Weight-Inclusive Approach When we’re talking about perimenopause and midlife nutrition, the topic of weight is usually at the center. Everywhere we look, there’s a menopause diet plan, another supplement touting fat loss, and a study out in the news listing the dangers of weight gain in midlife and beyond. The impact of all that noise is palpable. Each week, people show up in my private practice with body image distress and confusion about weight at the top of their list of concerns. If we haven’t met, hello, , I’m Melinda Staehling. I’m a Certified Nutrition Specialist based in Oregon, and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. This post offers a practical look at where midlife weight gain may come from, and an exploration of what’s real and what might be a social construct in how we perceive changes in the body. We’ll discuss real-world solutions to shift the perimenopause nutrition focus from weight to a weight-inclusive and non-diet approach for real midlife health. https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/arfid-safe-food-list monthly 0.5 2025-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/f6ff228a-e120-4ade-b068-f7730bbc9873/ARFID+Safe+Food+List++%281%29.jpg Blog - How to Build an Adult ARFID Safe Food List Living with ARFID or selective eating can be tricky. There might be a fine line between the desire for increased food options and variety and the pull of maintaining the status quo. Sometimes, life situations like increased pressure or burnout result in times when food feels more limiting. Hi! I’m Melinda Staehling, MS, CNS. I’m an Oregon-based Certified Nutrition Specialist and AuDHDer (autistic + ADHD). I’m here to help ARFIDers and selective eaters feel more empowered in their food choices. Let’s dive into an affirming approach to ARFID, followed by a closer look at one tool in the ARFID toolbox: creating ARFID-safe food lists. CW: ARFID, eating disorder, emetophobia https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/neurodivergent-affirming-nutritionist monthly 0.5 2025-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/93b550bf-cf88-49a2-86a1-0804dd1e544a/Finding+a+Neurodivergent-Affirming+Nutritionist.jpg Blog - Finding a Neurodivergent-Affirming Nutritionist or Dietitian CW: Mention of co-occurring neurodivergence and eating disorders If you identify as neurodivergent, finding nutrition support that works with your wiring can be a challenge. Sometimes, it’s the way information is presented - not all methods are effective for everyone. Or, it might be the communication style. We don’t expect to make eye contact all the time. Other factors may include the more specific challenges that the neurodivergent community might face with nutrition, like sensory sensitivities, social eating, or co-occurring medical conditions. Let’s wade through all this together. Hi! I’m Melinda Staehling, MS, CNS. I’m an Oregon-based Certified Nutrition Specialist and gifted, AuDHDer (autistic and ADHD). As someone with a late-in-life AuDHD diagnosis and my own basket of health issues, I know that finding the proper support can make a big difference. https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/adhd-meal-planning monthly 0.5 2025-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/579de3c4-9471-480f-8e1d-89e354fad7ad/ADHD+Meal+Planning+Cover+%282%29.jpg Blog - Mindset Shifts & Practical Tips for ADHD Meal Planning If you’re an ADHDer, you probably already know that meal planning is one of those things that could be a helpful addition…but when it comes time to do it, your ADHD brain says, “Oh, hell no.” If you feel like your eating pattern has some room for improvement…but ADHD feels more like a barrier to making changes, then this post is for you: a road map of how to work with your brain to nourish your body with less stress, guilt, and friction. If we haven’t met, Hi! Hello. I’m Melinda Staehling, an Oregon-based Certified Nutrition Specialist®, AuDHDer (autistic +ADHD), and your tour guide here for this ADHD meal planning experience. While there are so many meal planning guides out there with tips and food lists, I want to spin things a bit. Here, I’m sharing mindset ideas around ADHD meal planning that just aren’t discussed as much. This blog explores what ADHD actually is and how it relates to meal planning. We’ll go over how you can move forward with planning, while adding ease and reducing the guilt (and rotten romaine in the fridge). First off, let’s get back to the basics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/52df59e8-6c2b-4830-80a5-150a13a082f9/ADHD+MEAL+PLANNING_MINDSET+SHIFTS.jpg Blog - Mindset Shifts & Practical Tips for ADHD Meal Planning - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/3acc70b0-4d45-4850-8f6e-95cb7e03a3ca/ADHD+MEAL+PLANNING_INCUP+MODEL.jpg Blog - Mindset Shifts & Practical Tips for ADHD Meal Planning - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/406cd013-a3ba-4e48-9ff2-0ec83e9876e4/ADHD+MEAL+PLANNING_PLANS.jpg Blog - Mindset Shifts & Practical Tips for ADHD Meal Planning - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/10-stages-of-menopause monthly 0.5 2025-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/731075a0-f64a-4f6b-8e37-14b7fd445cf3/10+Stages+of+Menopause+Cover.jpg Blog - Signs & Symptoms of the 10 Stages of Menopause The menopause transition will happen to half the people on the planet. Yet, most of us haven’t had a meaningful chat with our healthcare providers about this stage of life. You want to know what to expect and what's really going on throughout the 10 stages of menopause. I’m here to help! Welcome, I’m Melinda Staehling, an Oregon-based Certified Nutrition Specialist®, empowering my clients to thrive through the menopause transition and beyond. In this blog post, I’ll cover the specifics of pre-, peri-, and postmenopause so that you understand the big picture of the menopause transition and feel more confident going through it. While we can generalize menopause stages by looking at the population, your menopause experience is unique to you. You deserve to have a health and wellness plan tailored to your unique life, goals, and health history. Let’s start with the basics - what is menopause, exactly? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/cfaca212-eafe-4e73-81e1-eb743d1fd461/STRAW+10+STAGES+FULL.jpg Blog - Signs & Symptoms of the 10 Stages of Menopause - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/66ec8ef7-48ba-421b-bbba-b33c74aab8c6/STRAW+10+STAGES+PREMENOPAUSE.png Blog - Signs & Symptoms of the 10 Stages of Menopause - Make it stand out Premenopause lasts from the start of the first period up until the beginning of perimenopause. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/8b285836-f27a-4c5c-8762-3a1a6060206e/STRAW+10+STAGES+PERIMENOPAUSE.jpg Blog - Signs & Symptoms of the 10 Stages of Menopause - Make it stand out Perimenopause lasts, on average, 4 years. However, it can last as short as 6 months, or up to 8 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/ef3657ea-2131-4c71-a516-f625b75cdf74/STRAW+10+STAGES+POSTMENOPAUSE.jpg Blog - Signs & Symptoms of the 10 Stages of Menopause - Make it stand out Postmenopause lasts from one year after the final menstrual period, or menopause, for the remaining lifespan. https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/category/Beauty monthly 0.5 https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/category/Photography monthly 0.5 https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/category/Fashion monthly 0.5 https://www.melindastaehling.com/blog/category/Blogging monthly 0.5 https://www.melindastaehling.com/about daily 0.75 2025-10-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/b8482c6a-1fbc-49ae-b2ee-60379eabbac4/Photo+Jan+10%2C+1+08+22+PM.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/9ef16a8c-df35-4c8d-91c7-20295236c02f/Photo+Jun+11%2C+6+33+03+PM.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1f5ad304-018e-42f0-b633-ce1af1a21b25/Photo+Mar+27%2C+7+38+27+AM.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/914fe9fa-e991-49fb-9fbf-00e90768fe62/ANA-Strategy-Logo-Cert-CNS.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/257e4c45-f4c6-4da4-be4e-d68055a55016/MSCP+2025+BADGE.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/0da521b7-09f0-413d-b763-c305a495552a/HEALers+Circle+Membership+Logo.png https://www.melindastaehling.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1672855650673-I7LBZ3I0TQYTQUMQC5VD/unsplash-image-Ir0VrE74xKg.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/6d8c8111-7bbe-4292-8dc7-f3a98436a178/website+background+%283%29.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1685750172027-XNW8YIN5ZFA0A0P32BP3/image-asset.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/6d8c8111-7bbe-4292-8dc7-f3a98436a178/website+background+%283%29.png https://www.melindastaehling.com/nutrition-counseling daily 0.75 2026-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1683993652231-ODPJSUEZL17HVDKLAG29/unsplash-image-e8X7oaj6tyM.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/8892a778-029a-4870-b314-e0b5b6ad4f4f/website+background+%283%29.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1710345569330-B2EN61WMJ8MB2NPTGN2Y/image-asset.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1710345496676-MOSBQYIJPBHJGL5FL77D/image-asset.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1690214130846-8SU7XXXZVPQRJNHY6JY9/image-asset.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1690216171415-QLKK3E9RPM36YCV2U5TQ/image-asset.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/0df54709-0920-4ce7-86c5-f9c18fc8caea/unsplash-image-mDOGXiuVb4M.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1673231212612-EXWH1BMHQB9HM36QQCMQ/unsplash-image-DC_gMe5H95k.jpg https://www.melindastaehling.com/home daily 1.0 2026-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/eb941b6f-62fd-4893-82e2-dae91a60ac1b/Photo+Dec+19%2C+6+25+16+AM.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/6d8c8111-7bbe-4292-8dc7-f3a98436a178/website+background+%283%29.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1685748900211-N4GTSW0QQ2V1TJ7ZB5CK/image-asset.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1679963447130-DL7SYT1RG8M4IXRNRZE6/unsplash-image-GaLWM8dX73U.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1673459574965-I1AXWFSX092I0DB0LC13/unsplash-image-s9CC2SKySJM.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/db57b23a-1592-4cc7-847c-047b57edb45b/website+background+%283%29.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1683145558608-WDP9Z1V1U4MSQVGQ9MYJ/unsplash-image-bGzmUBeGniU.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1685748660516-T632KP2BAS2RC421747V/image-asset.jpeg https://www.melindastaehling.com/newsletter daily 0.75 2025-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/585203c8-9998-4377-80c1-29385ba11c21/Untitled+design+%2827%29.png https://www.melindastaehling.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2025-08-30 https://www.melindastaehling.com/disclaimer daily 0.75 2025-08-30 https://www.melindastaehling.com/terms-of-service daily 0.75 2025-08-30 https://www.melindastaehling.com/september-virtual-meal-support daily 0.75 2023-08-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1692381658257-91110VU2I7G7W0TY70EI/image-asset.jpeg https://www.melindastaehling.com/weight-inclusive-menopause daily 0.75 2025-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1741895408869-CINE66AEUB0Z0B4AJQD9/unsplash-image-U-Kty6HxcQc.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/13c1f410-9c68-431a-abf3-b70ae76f52b7/IMG_0708.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63863bc46a76884fff8bb403/1741958425853-0NOIWIKGGC0HA1UE76N3/unsplash-image-hwATFTjwzo8.jpg