We are called to be stewards of the earth. Rita explains how we can try to eat in an uncorrupted manner to carry out this duty?

Rita reminds us that cooking can be a way to glorify God—to pray and to care for body and soul alike. In this episode, the listener will learn how to get back into the kitchen. 

In this episode, Rita shares a story from a monk that explains what is needed to cook. Whether you currently do not cook and know you need to start or are an avid cook, the wisdom in this story will provide you with a way to look at cooking as a component of our spiritual life. 

St. Gregory the Theologian cooked! And he used the expression “the magic and wizardry of the cooks.” It is beneficial for our health to eat foods that are prepared in the home. In this episode, Rita discusses quick cooking strategies.

When a fast is just around the corner, the fridge gets stocked with non-dairy creamer and margarine. Rita explains how these foods sabotage the very essence of fasting and are detrimental to health.

Rita explains that feeling hunger can benefit both our physical and spiritual wellbeing. She also discusses a few oil-free meal ideas.

This is the most celebratory time of the whole year! Rita shares ways to joyfully celebrate Pascha without forfeiting a healthy relationship with food.

Eating disorders are on the rise, and we see them in both men and women. Negative thinking and depression due to an unhealthy body image are also very common. Rita discusses ways to develop a healthy relationship with our bodies in keeping with the Holy Orthodox Faith.

How are we supposed to enjoy our bodies when advertising markets unrealistic ways of looking, living, and eating? Rita discusses ways to celebrate the Paschal season, and life in general, without succumbing to media-imposed standards of beauty.

Many of us have to eat away from home as a result of our work situation. Others are going to be eating away from home for extended periods of time due to vacationing. Whatever the scenario might be, how do we practice eating on the road with watchful attention? Rita offers several strategies.

The Holy Apostle’s fast is upon us. Fasting is not legalistic; rather, it is a medicine we choose to take to deepen our communion with God. Rita focuses on approaching the fast from a willing heart. She also discusses how joyful fasting can lead to health benefits.

For a variety of reasons, many of us have to eat alone. Rita presents strategies for eating alone in a healthful and satisfying manner. She also provides strategies for helping those who have to deal with the struggle of eating alone.

We all must embrace fasting with a willing heart. In addition, we need to nourish our bodies during the fast. Rita provides information about the nutritional value of various fasting foods, whether for children or adults. 

Proper prayer, helping others, hobbies, healthy laughter, simplifying our lives, and singing can all be ways for us to manage our stress and benefit our health and weight. This podcast will review these various concepts and give us strategies for how to implement them into our daily lives.

Fasting should not be legalistic, and it involves way more than just food. Rita explains the various ways in which we can help our children understand and practice all the aspects of a fasting period.

Many of us have family and friends who are not Orthodox. What do we do when company is in our home during a fasting day or period? Rita gives suggestions for showing the gift of hospitality and still keeping the fast. 

Rita answers two questions that she have received from listeners: (1) What do you do when someone prepares a meal for you that has not been made with quality ingredients? (2) What is the best way to participate in exercise while fasting?

Rita explores ways to care for health and lose weight and at the same time share alms through decreasing food waste.

Rita discusses ways to show brotherly love through feeding the sick.

What do you do when you are the only one in your home who is fasting? You have become Orthodox and your spouse has not, or you live with people who simply do not fast. What are some strategies for you to keep the fast? Rita offers some suggestions.

Stress that is not managed affects our health and increases our appetite. Rita discusses ways to handle stressors during this time of year.

Eastern Orthodox Christians eat in a very specific way. With all the discussions about the various diets out there, is this traditional way of eating a way to share the faith? Rita answers in the affirmative and explains why.

Did you overdo it during the fast-free period of the Holy Nativity? Are you frustrated with how you ate and that lack of attention you paid to your body? Do you struggle with overindulgence on foods and beverage? Rita discusses how and why we must forgive ourselves and move forward.

Around the tenth century, we hear the venerable St. Simeon the New Theologian explaining that many illnesses are caused by a disorderly and irregular diet. Does a saint speaking to us one thousand years ago have answers for our food choices today in the world of egg beaters, diet sodas, and fat-free foods?

St. John Chrysostom gives us a rule that can help with portion control in the era of Super Size and the Double Big Gulp. He states that we should “eat just to alleviate your hunger.” This sounds like a very good rule, but how do we apply it to our everyday eating practices? The listener will walk away from this episode with tips on portion control and being satisfied with less. The listener will also learn how this can help with longterm weight and chronic-disease management.

Rita explores ways in which to have a healthy relationship with alcohol.

In his book For the Life of the World, Father Alexander Schmemann writes, "In the Bible the food that man eats, the world of which he must partake in order to live, is given to him by God, and it is given as communion with God. Rita explains how we can work toward making eating a time of communion with God.

This will be the last podcast for quite some time as Rita takes a break to focus on conducting food and faith workshops. Here she reminds us of the importance of allowing the traditions of our church to be the basis for our health management.

St. Maximus the Confessor explains to us that nothing that God has created is in itself bad. It's the gluttony that is bad, not the food. In this session, Rita looks at snacking and how it can have a negative impact on our health. She also provides some practical tips for moving away from mindless snacking.

Many times we eat outside the home—be it at work, at a friend’s home, or at a restaurant. This podcast will provide strategies on how to eat in a spiritually minded manner in the work environment.

Rita introduces her new book Food, Faith, and Fasting: A Sacred Journey to Better Health, published by Ancient Faith Publishing.

Rita discusses dedicating a fast to someone to aid us in deepening our prayer for them.

Rita describes the benefits of creative almsgiving for both our spiritual and physical well being.

This PSA provides information about where to access ideas and guidelines for the FFF Group Setting.

Rita Madden shares the latest research regarding the way fasting helps our bodies to function properly, even as we keep our focus on prayer during Great Lent.

In this podcast, Rita discusses how fasting can actually lead to healthier food choices. She will also look at a 16-hour fasting approach and it's benefits to care for our body and soul alike.

Caring for our health and fighting our passions requires compassion. We need to start with showing compassion to ourselves to aid us in creating sustainable changes.

Rita encourages us to deepen our Advent Fast by simplifying our choices of what and where to eat, so that we can spend more time attending services, praying and serving others who are in need. She also introduces a new program called My Beautiful Advent which can be found at http://www.mybeautifuladvent.com.

Rita provides good insights into how we can keep the fast of Great Lent, and encourages us to stay connected to others who can help us be accountable and on the right path.

Rita discusses how we can face our health struggles in a way that aids in the healing and growth of our souls in Christ.

Rita shares her reflections on a short conversation by two desert fathers on laying new foundations in our lives.

Following the feasts and fasts of the Church cannot only help us care for our own health, but it can also benefit the environment and God's creation.

Rita discusses ways that we can create structure in our lives for silence and prayer.

Rita Madden encourages us to prepare our lives for the journey of Great Lent by working for the healing of the whole earth.

Rita Madden encourages us to continue the fast with words from St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain.

With fasting being such a buzz diet, craze right now, Rita Madden helps us to gain some perspective through the teachings of St. Issac the Syrian.

In this podcast, we see great teachings for our relationship with material things, our earth and body, through teachings from a saint that lived around 1500 years ago! Starting January 21, 2021, Rita will be offering my Food Faith and fasting workshop in the virtual format. Here is the website to learn more and sign up: https://foodfaithfasting.gumroad.com (Workshop Flyer is attached)

Rita Madden shares some wisdom from Abba Pambo to aid us in keeping the correct spirit for the Great Fast.

In this podcast we explore how guidance from St. John of Kronstadt to handle spiritual sickness, following Holy Orthodox Tradition, gives us the answers and when we do this, we just feel physically better.

In this podcast we examine a teaching from the Desert Mother Amma Syncletica to understand how to care for our health in a Christ centered manner.