Cook healthy, delicious meals - without giving up flavor, fun, or your sanity.
The Empty Nest Kitchen Collective
Doors are currently closed
Join The Empty Nest Kitchen Collective, a cozy community for women in midlife who want to eat well, feel great, and actually enjoy cooking again.
Inside, you’ll find everything you need to make cooking simple, joyful, and stress-free - from Mediterranean-inspired menus and smart grocery lists to fun kitchen challenges, live cooking classes, and a supportive community that keeps you inspired week after week.
Join by December 1 as a Founding Member for just $19 for your first month (then $34/month).
Doors close Monday, December 1st (just in time to kick off our Holiday Cooking Challenge!)
Why The Empty Nest Kitchen Collective?
You’ve spent years feeding everyone else - now it’s your turn.
But here’s the thing: you’re not 25 anymore (thank goodness), and your body has changed. The old diets don’t work, the calorie counting feels exhausting, and honestly… You just want to eat real food that makes you feel good.
And yet, every day you open the fridge, it’s the same struggle:
“What should I cook today?”
You want to eat healthy, but not diet-y. You want flavor, not fads. And you want cooking to feel easy, not like another full-time job.
That’s exactly why I created The Empty Nest Kitchen Collective.
It’s a new way to cook and eat in midlife — built around the Mediterranean diet (aka delicious and proven to support women in menopause), but with zero guilt and tons of flavor.
We’ll help you simplify mealtime, nourish your body, and actually enjoy being in the kitchen again.
You deserve food that’s good for you and makes you happy.
Everything You’ll Get Inside The Empty Nest Kitchen Collective
This isn’t just cooking or a meal plan! It’s your new favorite corner of the internet.
When you join the Collective, you’ll get the structure, inspiration, and support to make cooking simple, joyful, and totally doable again.
Here’s what’s waiting for you inside:
Live Cooking Classes with Your New Favorite Chef
Join me live each month for members-only classes and demos that keep things fresh, seasonal, and full of flavor. Plus, you’ll have access to class recordings too.
A Supportive Community of Empty Nesters Like You
Connect, share, and laugh with other empty nesters who get it, because they’re in the same season of life and share the same love for food.
Mediterranean Menus
Bi-weekly
Nutritionally sound menus that are balanced, flavorful, and designed for women in midlife, plus access to dozens of ready-to-go menus. Healthy meets actually delicious.
Monthly Challenges & Kitchen Fun
Stay inspired with mini challenges (like our 5-Day Holiday Cooking Sprint!), weekly check-ins, and Friday “Kitchen Wins” to celebrate your progress.
Smart, Condensed Grocery Lists
Spend less time shopping and more time enjoying your meals. Every list is short, simple, and thoughtfully organized.
Member Spotlights & Recognition
We see you! Every month, we’ll celebrate members who are cooking up a storm, sharing their wins, and keeping the Collective kitchen buzzing.
See Your Progress (and Feel It!)
Inside the Collective, you won’t just get recipes - you’ll get a reason to actually use them.
Each month comes with a fun, focused challenge that helps you eat better, feel better, and finally break the takeout habit.
Mediterranean Recipe Sprints that get you cooking consistently again (and remind you how good homemade can feel).
Monthly Focus Themes like “Healthy and Delicious Holidays” or “No Takeout January” that keep you inspired and on track.
Weekly Check-Ins and Kitchen Wins so you can celebrate progress instead of chasing perfection.
Step by step, you’ll start noticing you’re eating healthier, wasting less, and feeling more confident in the kitchen (without even trying that hard).
Join by December 1 to become a Founding Member for just $19 for your first month (then $34/month).
This December Inside The Collective
Healthy, Delicious, and a Little Bit Festive
We’re kicking off the new Empty Nest Kitchen Collective with a holiday-themed month that’s all about bringing back joy — and flavor — to your kitchen.
Focus of the Month: Healthy and Delicious for the Holidays
Enjoy the season without the stress! You’ll learn how to balance festive indulgence with easy, feel-good meals that keep you energized and happy.
Live Cooking Class: Festive Mediterranean Favorites
Join me live to cook, laugh, and connect — and pick up clever tricks for making holiday dishes that taste indulgent without being heavy.
Challenge of the Month: 5-Day Mediterranean Holiday Sprint
Cook your way through five simple, mouthwatering recipes — the perfect mix of comfort and balance. You’ll be amazed how much better you feel (and how much less takeout you order!).
Community & Connection
Weekly check-ins, kitchen Q&As, and Friday “Kitchen Wins” posts will keep you inspired — and help you stay consistent through the busiest time of year.
Why Women Love Our Menopause Meal Plans
“When I saw that Chef Chris was offering a Menopause Meal Plan, it was a no-brainer to sign up. I’ve taken her classes in person and online over the years and have always loved how uncomplicated and delicious her recipes are. Now the added bonus of healthy recipes to support women in menopause: almost too good to be true! Just made my first recipe from week two: Italian Turkey Sausage Pasta Skillet and I’m trying not to eat both servings. So yum! As I expected the recipes have been a breeze to follow, not fussy, and easy to adapt with ingredients I have on hand. I’m planning to gift some subscriptions at holiday time. I’m looking forward to giving friends something I know will contribute to their good health! Loving Menopause Meal Plans!”
-Brenda C.
“I was nervous to re-commit to cooking. I spent SOOOO many years planning and preparing meals for my family. One of the things I’ve loved about empty nesting is the fact that I can eat popcorn and wine for dinner if I want to. But… that only goes so far so I did. Chris’s menopause meal plans have been a HUGE win and addition to my life. The decisions (and grocery list) are made for me. Meals are easy AND delicious!!! Don’t hesitate!!!”
-Kelly B.
“The Menopause Meal Plan is so accessible and easy to follow. The shopping list is categorized and explicit, the recipe directions are clear. What has blown me and my family away are the flavors. SO DELICIOUS! Skillet lasagna, sheet pan fajita bowls, BBQ turkey meatloaf, Mexican corn salad, are just a few of my favorites. There are lots of hints, suggestions, and notes from Christine, so it’s more than a recipe. There is so much flexibility with the plan. I am so happy to learn how to incorporate more vegetables in my diet without just making more green salads!”
-Susan H.
Why the Mediterranean Approach Works
(and Feels & Tastes So Good)
Science-backed. Flavor-packed. 100% delicious.
Here’s the thing: you don’t have to “go on a diet” to feel better during menopause.
You just need to eat the way science says actually works. That means real food, vibrant ingredients, and meals that love you back.
Fewer hot flashes and night sweats
Women who followed a Mediterranean-style diet had significantly fewer vasomotor symptoms (those lovely hot flashes and night sweats).
Up to 30% lower risk of heart disease
Following this way of eating supports heart health - a major win during and after menopause.
Lower risk of stroke
The benefits go beyond the plate. This way of eating supports your whole system — brain, mood, and energy included.
Source: Antonio Cano et al., Maturitas, and Elizabeth M. Ward, The Menopause Diet Plan
Pick the Best Plan For You
Our flexible pricing options make it easy for you to get started on your health journey.
All plans include full access to meal plans, shopping lists, and the exclusive community.
Pay $34/month or $79/quarter (save almost 25%!)
Get our weekly menopause-friendly meal plan featuring 3 delicious dinner recipes and a curated shopping list to make meal prep a breeze. Plus, join our private community for direct access to me—ask questions, get bonus tips, and connect with others who are on the same journey.
HOW IT WORKS
HOW IT WORKS
We’ve made this as easy (and delicious) as possible, because eating well shouldn’t feel like another chore!
STEP ONE
Join the Collective
Choose your plan $34/month.
Join by Dec 1 as a Founding Member and get your first month for $19! You’re free to cancel anytime, but we’re confident you’ll love staying with us!
Jump Into the Community
STEP TWO
Access your weekly Mediterranean-inspired menus, grocery lists, and fun kitchen challenges, plus instant access to the private Collective community, where you’ll find recipes, tips, and upcoming live events.
STEP THREE
Cook, Connect & Celebrate
Share your wins, get inspired by others, and join me live each month to cook, laugh, and keep the joy of eating well alive - together.
Join by December 1 for your first month at $19, then $34/month.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You might be wondering…
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Right now! Doors are open through Monday, December 1 — then we kick off our Holiday Cooking Challenge!
After that, enrollment closes until 2026. -
Membership is $34/month.
Join before December 1 as a Founding Member and get your first month for $19.
Cancel anytime — no minimum commitment, no fuss to cancel. -
This isn’t just meal plans - it’s a community experience for women in midlife.
You’ll get Mediterranean-inspired menus that support hormone and heart health, fun challenges that keep you consistent, and a community that makes cooking actually enjoyable again. -
Yes! They’re simple, flavorful, and designed for real life! Dinners you can typically make in about 20-30 minutes, with everyday ingredients you already have.
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Absolutely. You’ll find substitution ideas for most meals — whether you’re vegetarian, gluten-free, or just prefer to swap an ingredient or two.
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Our community lives in an easy-to-use private space (via Heartbeat). You’ll get onboarded into the community so you know where to find everything! Quick access to tasty menus, live classes, and the community — plus, we’re always here to help if you get stuck.
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Happy to help! Simply fill out this contact form and I'll get back to you.
MEET YOUR MEAL PLAN MAVEN
Hi, I’m Christine! Chef, cooking teacher, and your new kitchen cheerleader.
After decades of teaching, catering, and cooking for my family, life (and menopause!) taught me to rethink how I eat, and how I want to feel.
After a heart attack in 2020, I set out to make food that’s not just good for you, but full of joy and flavor too.
The key here is healthier, but not restrictive. Butter is delicious, but let’s use a touch instead of a stick. A splash of cream instead of a cup. And now that my kids are grown and living lives of their own, I’m re-learning how to cook for two, and loving every minute of it.
I’ve even dug into food as medicine, training through the American College of Culinary Medicine. My capstone project? Menopause and the Mediterranean Diet!
Now, through The Empty Nest Kitchen Collective, I get to bring together everything I love most just for you:
✨ Nourishing, Mediterranean-inspired recipes
✨ Community and connection
✨ And a big dose of “you’ve got this” energy in the kitchen
It’s a meal, not a mortgage, so let’s stop stressing and start savoring.
Woo hoo! Now let’s cook, shall we? 💛
Ready to Join the Collective?
Make this the season you fall back in love with cooking and yourself.
Join by December 1 to become a Founding Member for just $19 for your first month (then $34/month).
Doors close Monday, and our Holiday Cooking Challenge starts right after!