Lizarondo launches '50 Sense' column to cover women's midlife changes
The former CEO of 412 Food Rescue will write monthly about menopause, identity, and the physical realities of getting older.
By Ryan Carter ·
Leah Lizarondo cites a statistic that only 1% of health research focuses on women’s health. She uses that figure to frame her new monthly column, 50 Sense, which debuts in Pittsburgh Magazine. The series addresses the physical and social shifts women face as they enter their 50s.
Lizarondo, 53, is returning to the magazine where she previously wrote the Brazen Kitchen column from 2012 through 2015. That earlier work began after she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and led to the founding of 412 Food Rescue in 2015. She served as the organization’s CEO until 2023. Now, with two children in college and one starting high school, she is turning her attention to her own aging process.
The new column will cover topics that Lizarondo says have historically been shrouded in silence. These include the impact of estrogen and hormones on joints, skin, hair, and mood. She plans to discuss practical resources such as doctors and physical therapists. The series will also address the "sandwich period" of caring for both children and aging parents, as well as career changes and relationship shifts.
Lizarondo notes that the column is a personal exploration of how she is adjusting to life at this stage. She compares it to her earlier food writing, where she shared her journey of using diet to manage symptoms. "I thought I could share my experience in the hope that it helps someone, and helps people see that they’re not alone," she said. She emphasizes that the goal is to make the process less isolating for readers.
Digital editor Ollie Gratzinger spoke with Lizarondo ahead of the column’s launch. Gratzinger previously won the Women’s Press Club of Western Pennsylvania’s Gertrude Gordon Writing Contest in 2020, an award determined by an interview with Lizarondo during her time as a CEO. Lizarondo says she waited until she was 53 to write about the topic because she wanted to have some concrete questions and experiences to share. She believes readers are ready for this conversation, pointing to growing momentum in women’s health advocacy.
She references Dr. Vonda Wright, a prominent voice in women’s health who started her career in Pittsburgh, as an example of that momentum. Lizarondo says the cultural taboo around age is fading. "Why are people ashamed to say their age?" she asked. She views aging as a gift and a celebration of being alive. The first installment of 50 Sense will appear in the next issue of the magazine.
