About me
In Persian culture, food is never just food. It's how we gather, how we show love, and how we connect. Some of my earliest memories are around a table filled with colorful herbs, fragrant rice dishes, and family conversations that lasted for hours. Those are the memories that gave me a deep appreciation for food as culture and connection, but also an early sense that what we eat has the power to shape how we feel and how we heal.
At the same time, I watched many of the women around me move through endless cycles of dieting in pursuit of unrealistic beauty standards. That contrast of a culture that celebrated food alongside a constant pressure to restrict it sparked a curiosity that eventually led me to pursue a Bachelor's in Exercise Science and, later, a Master's in Nutrition.
After beginning my work as a dietitian, one pattern became impossible to ignore. Many women in their 40s and 50s were experiencing the same frustrating symptoms with little guidance on how to support their bodies through it. Watching my own mother navigate this stage with minimal support made it personal. Supporting these women, making them feel seen and heard, quickly became a passion of mine. Most importantly, it made me realize that so much of what women experience in midlife can be shaped, even prevented, by the choices made long before that transition begins. Raising awareness around how profoundly nutrition influences that journey became my mission.
That being said, I know firsthand that changing the way you eat is never simple, especially when food is so deeply tied to culture and identity. Shifting away from the meat-heavy dishes I grew up with toward a more plant-forward way of eating wasn't something that happened overnight. It was gradual, imperfect, and built one small change at a time. That experience is a constant reminder that lasting habits aren't born from restriction or willpower, they're built slowly, one bite at a time. And that is exactly the kind of change I am here to help you build, for the women I grew up watching struggle, for my mother, and for you.
- Ayda
