The Real Dish

What if the secret to healthy aging isn't another supplement, expensive gadget, or restrictive diet—but the small, consistent habits you practice every day? In this episode of  The Real Dish , Mareya Ibrahim sits down with wellness entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of  SUPERWELL  and  Well Inspired Travels ,  Lauren Pronger , to explore the eight pillars of wellness that support longev...

What is going on with the return of the super-skinny celebrity trend we thought we left back in the '90s? From red carpets to social media feeds, a new wave of dramatic weight loss has many women wondering if we're headed back to the era of heroin chic, crash diets, and impossible beauty standards. For those of us who grew up during the Kate Moss years, it feels eerily familiar—and frankly, a litt...

What happens when you stop waiting for someone to join you and simply say yes to the adventure? In this inspiring episode of  The Real Dish , Mareya explores the transformative power of solo travel with 74-year-old fitness competitor, adventurer, and vibrant ager Renee Landers (@reneefitat70). After spending much of her life putting others first, Renee began traveling the world on her own in her s...

Welcome to the season of life where you stop living on autopilot. In this episode of  The Real Dish , Mareya dives into the Midlife Audit—a simple but transformative process for evaluating where you are, where you've been, and where you want to go next. We'll unpack the signs that it's time for a reset, why change often feels uncomfortable before it feels liberating, and how to embrace reinvention...

What happens when you've spent your entire life pushing harder, doing more, and willing yourself through every challenge... only to realize your body isn't willing to come along for the ride anymore? In this deeply personal episode, I share the story behind my decision to start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after years of white-knuckling my way through menopause. Despite eating well, training...

We spend so much time chasing protein, cutting carbs, and counting calories—but what if the real key to energy, metabolism, and longevity has been living inside your gut this whole time?   Hot take: it's not that your metabolism is broken—it's that your microbiome is underfed. In this episode of  The Real Dish , I sit down with gut health expert and bestselling author Dr. Will Bulsiewicz—also know...

I've spent over 30 years in the food industry, but my relationship with what's on my plate started long before that, in the markets of Alexandria, Egypt. In this special episode, I'm sharing a conversation I had with Abby of One Potato, where we peel back the layers on something I believe in with my whole heart: food is agency, power, and responsibility. We get real about the moment my father's ca...

What do lasagna, punch, and your midnight cookie cravings have in common? More than you'd ever guess. Today, I'm serving up something totally different—a mashup episode that takes us from the surprising origins of the words on your dinner plate to the hidden spots where travelers find real food magic, and finally, into the deep conversation we don't have enough about: what's really driving your cr...

If you've ever dreamt of eating your way around the world—but without the jet lag, lost luggage, or questionable airplane food—today's episode is your passport.  My guest today is  Abby Cheshire , a private yacht chef, culinary arts teacher, and global flavor hunter who somehow manages to cook extraordinary meals in the tiniest kitchens… while floating on the open sea. She's the author of the  jus...

It's my birthday and I'm turning 57. And instead of giving you a highlight reel or a greatest-hits list, I want to give you something far more honest. Everything meaningful in my life— my health, my career, my faith, the brands I've built, the places I've traveled, the TV shows I've cooked on— all of it came down to  one good step . Not a master plan. Not perfection. Not having it all figured out....

I just stepped out of the intoxicating, earthy air of the White Truffle Festival in Alba, Italy, and my entire perspective on this culinary unicorn has changed. What if everything you thought you knew about truffles—their flavor, their cost, even that bottle of truffle oil in your pantry—was missing the point? In this solo deep-dive, I'm pulling back the curtain on the world's most mysterious and...

Welcome to another episode of The Real Dish.  I'm your hostess with the mostess, Chef Mareya, The Fit Foodie and I have a question for you. What happens when you take alcohol out of the equation? Do the celebrations stop… or do they actually get more meaningful? In this episode 151, we're exploring a movement that's gaining serious momentum: the  non-alcoholic and zero-proof lifestyle . During Sob...

September is Mental Health Awareness Month, today we're diving into something that affects way more people than you might realize—our relationship with food. Now, if you love food like I do but also care about your health and fitness, you've probably felt this at some point: Am I enjoying this too much? Am I eating too much? Too little? Should I be more disciplined? I've been on both sides of this...

https://chefmareya.mykajabi. com/offers/utUwBjkr You make over 35,000 decisions every single day—from whether to hit snooze to what you eat for lunch to how you respond to that passive-aggressive email. But there's one decision that rises above all the others, and it can set the tone for your entire week, your health, and your longevity: Prioritizing your mental well-being. In this episode, I'm sh...

Welcome back to a new season of The Real Dish! I'm your hostess with the mostess, Chef Mareya, The Fit Foodie and I'm here to dish up real food for thought on how to live well and thrive - especially in midlife.   If you described the way most people live in the U.S. to someone in the south of France or the heart of Madrid, they'd probably blink at you in disbelief. Early dinners eaten standing up...

The FDA is finally banning a few food dyes... but why are we still swallowing chemicals that Europe kicked to the curb over a decade ago? Your protein bar, your salad dressing, even your kid's cereal — they're all hiding ingredients that mess with your brain, hormones, and gut... and you probably have no idea. And here's the kicker: There are over 14,000 food additives approved for use in the U.S....

Welcome back to  The Real Dish , where we serve up the truth about food, health, and everything in between. I'm your host, Chef Mareya, and today, we're diving headfirst into the overflowing world of  supplements —because let's be real, the options are endless, and the confusion? Next level. Are those pricey powders and pills really doing anything? What does your body actually absorb—and what's ju...

Hey fitfam, welcome back to The Real Dish—where we keep it real about food, wellness, and living your best, most nourished life. I'm Chef Mareya, The Fit Foodie, and today we're diving into the sometimes ridiculous, often confusing world of TikTok food myths. We've all seen those 15-second videos that swear one food will change your life, heal your gut, cure your skin, and probably pay your bills....

Today we're diving into a topic that hits home for so many of us: Emotional Eating and Hormones: How to Control Cravings in Real Life. So, if you've ever found yourself elbow-deep in a bag of chips or searching for chocolate at 9 PM — and then wondering, "Why did I even do that?" — this episode is for you. We'll break down: 1) What is emotional eating 2) The Hormone Connection 3) Real Life Craving...

Today, we're diving into a controversial topic: intuitive eating. You've probably heard that intuitive eating is the ultimate way to build a healthy relationship with food. But does it really work for midlife women who want to manage their hormones, optimize their health, and build muscle? The truth is, while intuitive eating has some benefits, it's not always the best approach for midlife women....

Welcome to The Real Dish with Chef Mareya.  Today we're diving into a topic that's close to my heart—"How to Eat to Build Muscle and Burn Fat After 40." Now, as we age, our bodies change, and so do our nutritional needs. It's not just about shedding a few extra pounds; it's about fueling our bodies to build lean muscle, boost metabolism, and feel our absolute best. Over the next 30 minutes, we'll...

In today's episode, we're diving into our Fit Foodie February series. I'm thrilled to bring you "Cooking Up Confidence and Vitality." In this episode, we're going to explore how the food we eat can boost our energy, sharpen our minds, and build the kind of confidence that transforms our lives. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your journey toward a healthier lifestyle, stick wit...

Welcome back to The Real Dish! I'm your hostess with the mostest, Chef Mareya, and today, we're diving into one of the most talked-about and misunderstood topics in nutrition: protein. It's the holy grail of fitness enthusiasts, the buzzword in every diet plan, and the number one nutrient we're all told we need more of. But how much do we actually need to thrive? What are the best sources? And how...

  Welcome back to  The Real Dish —the place where we serve up no-fluff conversations about health, wellness, and all the juicy details women want to know but might not talk about enough. I'm Chef Mareya, and today we're diving headfirst into a topic that's been the center of many debates, doctor visits, and Google searches: Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, versus the natural approaches women a...

Detox Without the Drama" Welcome to  The Real Dish ! I'm Chef Mareya, your guide to practical, no-nonsense conversations about health, wellness, and living your best life. Today, we're tackling a hot topic: detoxing. But let's get real—most detox plans are dramatic, extreme, and, frankly, unsustainable. So in this episode, we're going to explore how to detox without the drama. No juice cleanses, n...