The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Broder, Melissa. Milk Fed. New York: Scribner, 2021.

Milk Fed follows Rachel, a woman in her twenties who lives and works in Los Angeles, California. She was born to Jewish parents and was raised in New Jersey. She moved to Los Angeles after college to pursue her dream of being a stand-up comedian. To make a living, she works at a talent management company. When she was a child, her mother frequently shamed her about her weight and her food intake. As a result, Rachel developed an eating disorder; she restricts her food intake and obsessively tries to keep her weight down. At the suggestion of her therapist, Rachel temporarily cuts off all contact with her overbearing, emotionally manipulative mother.

One day, Rachel goes to a frozen yogurt shop. The woman working there—Miriam—is about the same age as Rachel. She is Orthodox Jewish, and she lives with her Orthodox Jewish family. Miriam is friendly and somewhat portly. Miriam gives Rachel more frozen yogurt than Rachel requests. Miriam eventually begins making special frozen yogurt mixtures for Rachel. For the first time in a long time, Rachel finds herself unable to adhere to her unhealthy, overly strict diet. She begins eating more, and she also realizes that she has developed feelings for Miriam. Rachel is bisexual, although she has only had two relationships with women before. Rachel’s mother disapproves of same-sex relationships.

Rachel and Miriam begin to spend time together as friends. Rachel’s attraction to Miriam continues to grow. One day, Miriam invites Rachel to have Shabbat dinner with her family. Rachel enjoys spending time with Miriam and her family, as they are all very kind and welcoming. Like Miriam, they also enjoy eating very much. Rachel enjoys eating their homemade food. One evening, when Rachel and Miriam are watching a movie in a theater, Rachel holds Miriam’s hand. Afterwards, Rachel kisses Miriam, and Miriam responds with apparent pleasure.

Miriam then resists the idea of having a relationship with Rachel, as Miriam’s mother would not approve of Miriam having a relationship with another woman. However, Miriam later returns to Rachel, and they quickly develop an intense romantic/sexual relationship. Rachel finds the relationship very fulfilling. Additionally, she soon finds that her eating disorder has become almost completely remedied. She eats normal amounts of food each day, and she does not punish herself for it, or for enjoying the food. Unfortunately, Miriam eventually breaks off the relationship, as she does not want her mother to find out about it. Also, Rachel becomes no longer welcome at the household of Miriam’s family after Rachel criticizes Israel’s treatment of Palestine.

Although Rachel is understandably disappointed by the fact that the relationship has ended, she finds that she has still made considerable progress regarding her eating habits and her overall mental health. She reestablishes contact with her mother, and while the relationship is still not perfect, they are able to maintain healthier boundaries.