ASK.Mariella

An empty nester seeks advice on how to tailor her cooking to her own needs

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Q Dear Mariella, My children are all at university and suddenly I don't need to cook meals every night. I feel I've lost my mojo and I want to be healthy, especially as I am VERY menopausal, but where to start?

Well, I think I can help you, as my new recipe book, Menolicious, has just been published and it's packed with recipes designed specifically for the menopausal woman.

First of all, congratulations on a job well done. My second is just off to university, and it's a rite of passage that's both a relief and a sadness. Embrace the freedom!

I always think that this is an optimal time of year for reinvention – back to school or university, leaves falling, seasons turning and so on. Autumn feels far more significant than New Year's Eve and all its "new year, new you" tropes. Becoming a better version of me can wait until I turn the central heating off.