Ingrained Living: Functional Nutrition for Women

09/06/2026

I sat down with a cup of tea this Sunday afternoon and wrote a little catch-up letter. 🍂

I wrote about growing kids, perimenopause and midlife, some things I’m experimenting with for my health, and mostly about wanting to be present for the life right in front of me.

I’ve missed writing these kinds of letters. If you’d like to read along, you can find the newest Ingrained Living Letter here.

Ingrained Living is a place for women in midlife who want to care for their health without losing sight of the life they’re trying to live. I write about functional nutrition, hormones and midlife health, rest, faith, family, and the ordinary things I’m learning along the way. Ingrained Living L...

07/11/2026

I’m looking forward to joining the Gut Health Guru panel this afternoon at the Enliven Wellness Expo in Franklin, TN
Enliven Wellness Expo

If you’re attending, I’d love to meet you.

Stop by, say hello, and come ask your gut health questions. Looking forward to a wonderful afternoon with so many incredible women!

Enliven Wellness Expo
https://www.enlivenwellnessexpo.com

07/02/2026

Why do so many women in midlife feel so tired—even on days when they don’t feel like they have done that much?

I’ve been thinking about that question a lot lately.

As a dietitian, I spend a lot of time helping women understand the very real physical reasons they may be feeling more tired in midlife—from changing hormones and depleted nutrient stores to blood sugar regulation, inflammation, sleep, and nourishment.

But I’ve also become increasingly convinced that there’s another piece of the story we don’t talk about nearly enough.

Some of the heaviest things we carry never make it onto our calendars or to-do lists.

We carry people.

We carry worries.

We carry conversations, responsibilities, prayers, and stories that no one else can see.

Our bodies don’t separate our physical and emotional lives as neatly as we often do. Sometimes the invisible emotional load we carry quietly in our hearts shows up in our bodies, too.

In my newest podcast episode, I introduce a phrase I’ve been using with women in my practice: your emotional roof.

It’s the people and concerns you’ve made room for in your heart.

And sometimes simply naming that invisible load helps us understand why we’re more tired than we realize.

If you’ve been feeling exhausted and can’t quite put your finger on why, I hope this conversation offers a little clarity—and a gentle reminder that your exhaustion isn’t necessarily a sign that you’re failing.

It may simply be an honest reflection of all you’ve been carrying.

Listen here wherever you enjoy your podcasts:

Why do so many women navigating perimenopause and the shifting seasons of midlife feel a deep, unexplained fatigue—even on days that don’t seem particularly demanding?Sometimes our exhaustion can’t be measured by what’s on the calendar.Sometimes the heaviest burdens we carry aren’t listed ...

07/01/2026

Have you had a chance to catch your breath this summer?

To step away from the responsibilities of everyday life… to linger around the table… to enjoy meaningful conversation… to savor a thoughtfully prepared meal… and to make space for quiet reflection?

That’s the heart behind The Summer Table.

I’ve created a thoughtfully guided midday experience at our family farm where a small group of women will gather for seasonal food, freshly milled homemade bread, gentle reflection, and a few unhurried hours of nourishment for both body and soul.

I’ve reserved twelve guest seats around the table and would be delighted to welcome you.

And if someone comes to mind who might need a day like this, I hope you’ll feel free to share this invitation with her.

🫐 Learn more and reserve your seat:

Join us for a thoughtfully prepared midday gathering of nourishment, conversation, and rest at The Farm at Rivendell. A few unhurried hours to slow down, savor simple pleasures, and remember what it feels like to exhale.

06/11/2026

What if you could step away for a day this summer to enjoy life's simple pleasures in a peaceful setting with a small group of women?

I'm envisioning a relaxed gathering at our secluded farm in Middle Tennessee, about an hour from Nashville and Franklin.

Freshly baked bread and simple seasonal foods shared around the table.

Beautiful countryside views.

Meaningful conversation with other women.

Time to slow down and reflect.

Would that be something you'd enjoy?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.

05/29/2026

I've enjoyed evening strolls this week and have noticed the Queen Anne's lace beginning to pop up along the roadsides here on our Tennessee farm.

As I've walked, I've found myself thinking about how often we want growth to happen quickly. Yet so much of what matters most develops quietly, one small step at a time.

The same is often true with our health.

If you've been struggling with fatigue, digestive concerns, hormone changes, inflammation, food sensitivities, or simply feeling unlike yourself, perhaps this summer is an invitation to begin tending your health with a little more intention and support.
I am currently welcoming new nutrition clients and would be honored to help you uncover the next steps forward.

Most appointments are virtual, and many insurance plans provide coverage for nutrition visits.

While I'm based in Tennessee, I work with women throughout Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and several other states.

Learn more at ingrainedliving.com

05/24/2026

Lately, in conversations with many of my clients, I’ve been noticing something beneath the surface.

Not just tiredness…

but a deeper pattern of hidden depletion, overwhelm, and exhaustion in midlife and perimenopause.

Women who are trying very hard.
Women carrying full lives, full schedules, full mental loads…
and quietly wondering why everything suddenly feels harder than it used to.

Not because they’re failing.
Not because they’re lazy.
But because many have been carrying too much for too long without enough restoration, nourishment, or support.

In this week’s podcast episode, I’m gently exploring some of these deeper patterns I’ve been hearing again and again in the women I work with.

🎧 Episode 024
Hidden Depletion, Overwhelm & Exhaustion in Perimenopause: What I’m Hearing Beneath the Surface

My hope is that this conversation helps women feel less ashamed, more understood, and a little less alone in this season.

I’ll place the listening link in the comments.

Grace and peace,
Bethany

05/19/2026

I know many women in this season are carrying a tremendous amount while quietly running on empty themselves.

They’re often doing all the “right” things… yet still feeling exhausted, inflamed, overwhelmed, or not quite like themselves anymore.

As a registered dietitian, this is the work I care deeply about supporting.

I offer restorative, whole-person functional nutrition care for women navigating:
• fatigue & burnout
• hormone shifts
• digestive concerns
• inflammation
• autoimmune concerns

My approach combines functional nutrition with compassionate, sustainable support that helps women move away from overwhelm and toward steadier rhythms, nourishment, and grounded restoration that fits real life.

I offer virtual visits throughout Tennessee and am in-network with many major insurance plans including UHC, Aetna, Cigna, and BCBS.

You can learn more at ingrainedliving.com

If this sounds familiar, I’d be honored to support you.

05/03/2026

If you’re new here, welcome 💛

I’m Bethany—a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and holistic life coach—and I created this space for women who are tired… and ready for something different.

Many of the women I work with are in midlife, navigating hormone shifts, fatigue, or feeling like their body just isn’t responding the way it used to.
They’ve often tried a lot of things already—and still feel stuck.

If that’s you, you’re not alone.

My approach is a little different.
I don’t believe in pushing harder or trying to “fix” your body.

Instead, I help you:
✨ understand what your body is actually asking for
✨ support it with thoughtful, root-cause nutrition
✨ and begin to return to a place of steadiness—body and soul

Because healing doesn’t come from urgency…
it comes from learning how to listen, nourish, and respond with care.

This is a space for:
• midlife women navigating perimenopause and beyond
• women who feel overwhelmed, scattered, or exhausted
• women who want both practical answers and deeper peace

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

If you’re ready for support, I offer 1:1 nutrition therapy and holistic coaching—often covered by insurance.

You can learn more or schedule here:
www.ingrainedliving.com

I’m really glad you’re here.

05/03/2026

There’s a moment I see in so many women…
and honestly, I’ve felt it too.

You look at your body, your energy, your life…
and something in you tightens.

“I just need to get it together.”

But what if that pressure…
is actually part of what’s making this harder?

I released a new podcast episode today about this—
why it can feel so hard to take care of yourself in midlife…
even when you know what helps.

Not from a place of fixing…
but from a place of understanding what your body might actually be needing right now.

If you’ve been feeling tired…
or stuck…
or like you keep starting over…

this one might feel like a gentle place to land.

🎧 You can listen here on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts: https://share.transistor.fm/s/80c74fc6

Grace and peace,
Bethany

Why does it feel so hard to take care of yourself in midlife… even when you know what to do?If you’ve been navigating fatigue, body changes, or the quiet weight of everything you’re carrying…and finding it harder than you expected to follow through on what you know helps…you’re not alone...