How much decision making power are you giving your kids when it comes to food, and how much power should you give? Should they be able to choose every meal, some of the meals, or just eat whatever you serve? Tune into today's episode for stories of other families facing this struggle and advice on how to handle it.

Have you ever wondered if your cultural background affects your medical care and diagnoses? Betsy and Jen tackle a difficult subject - cultural biases in healthcare and why not everything can be fixed with a pill. How do you know when your child is one of the few that should be off milk and dairy?

Are you nervous about sending your kids back to school in the coming weeks? In this episode, Betsy and Jen discuss the return to school during COVID-19: whether or not you should pack a lunch, what that lunch might look like, and much more.

Have you wondered about the safety of your groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic? Or is it truly safe to eat take-out? What about school lunch safety, with many kids heading back into the classroom? Listen to this amazingly informative podcast, with Betsy, Jen, and special guest Dr. Sarah Connolly, professor of biology and health sciences at DePaul University, and expert in virus studies.

Have you felt as if you have had a hard time staying healthy during quarantine? Us too! In this episode, Betsy and Jen discuss how to eat well and stay active while stuck at home and strategies you can use to help yourself stay on track when it's hard to find motivation.

Betsy and Jen discuss at home gardening. Did you know that even this late in the summer, there is still time to plant vegetables and have them ready to eat in the fall? You can hear all about that, Jen's indoor LED light gardens, and more in this episode! Also, be sure to check out Betsy's brand new website at feedtosucceed.com!

Betsy and Jen discuss Vitamin D - sources, supplements, benefits, and more. Did you know that there have been studies linking good Vitamin D levels to a decreased risk of death from COVID-19? Listen now to learn more!

It's not uncommon when kids and teens decide to be vegetarian or vegan. Many factors go into these thoughts, from environmental costs, to animal rights, and health! Young people are often thinking and experimenting with new ideas, and vegetarian diets CAN be healthy...    if done well. Join yours hosts Betsy and Jen, as they discuss their own experiences both following and providing guidance on how to help your child stay healthy and well, while supporting evolving eating preferences. 

In this episode, our hosts Betsy and Jen tackle carbs; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Are Belvita Breakfast Biscuits truly a nutritious breakfast? See how well you know your labels as we cover all things carbohydrates!

Join your hosts, Betsy Hjelmgren and Jen Karakosta, as they kick off the first episode of their 6th podcast season with an update on everything pertaining to quarantining, COVID-19, and food! Betsy shares the pros and cons of providing nutrition services by telehealth, and Jen shares her insights on food and comfort in times of crisis.

Join Betsy and Amanda for an in-depth and informative discussion on milk, milk-substitute, and nutrition. What is the best option for you and your family? Why does almond milk seem to have more calcium than cow's milk (but really doesn't!) Is cow, almond, or soy better? Or is cow's milk really an acceptable healthy choice? All these answers, plus more are awaiting for you in this info-packed episode!

How does a team of elite athletes fuel themselves before practice? What about after practice? And what do they do for hydration? These five teens joined our program during an energetic carpool, on the way to a distant practice, to bring you their tips and favorite foods for fueling for their sport. Listen in for different perspectives and ideas, and see if there is something you can try for yourself!

Join Betsy and Amanda on a lively scientific discussion about milk, as the review it's use for both basic hydration as well as for athletes both before and after workouts! Review and hone your understanding of milk and its sugar content, as well as the nutrient density of different milk substitutes. Are there benefits to adults who drink milk? Listen in for more details about milk and its relation to disease in adults from a recent study published in November.

Melanie Battaglia, dietitian, sports nutrition resident, and former college athlete, speaks with Betsy by phone from Texas, on this informative episode about teen athletes' protein and energy needs. Melanie shares food ideas including a smoothie recipe, to help teen athletes meet the demands for both strength, endurance, and growth! Do you know if trail mix is an adequate protein for an athlete? Betsy didn't! Listen in to this recording for all that plus more!

Betsy Hjelmgren interviews special guest, synchronized ice skater, Alyssa Hjelmgren, from Northbrook's very own Teams Elite Synchronized Skating Team. Betsy and Alyssa discusses sports nutrition topics, including hydration, and the "Athlete's Plate", including how Alyssa has utilized these resources to improve her endurance and stamina during tough practices and competitions. Alyssa shares her personal tips of what works and what helps for early morning practice and managing eating through...

Betsy is back, and bringing you a Thanksgiving episode and news about Feed to Succeed and where we have been these past few months. Listen in as she chats with newest team member, Meredith Estes. And what does it mean to eat "perfectly"? Or do anything perfectly, for that matter? Are we striving for that? How does one find the balance between good enough and being neurotic. How do we protect our children from body shame and unhealthy relationships with food? Share your thoughts and strategies...

Betsy and Jen review the series 4 on infant nutrition, and move on into what Jen calls other "Pish posh", including a personal update on each of them, with both Jen and Betsy following different experimental diets at this time - Keto and Anti-Inflammatory. As well as a sneak peak into series 5, coming later this fall! 

Terry Labanowski, mom of two young children, struggled as her oldest began dropping foods from her repertoire beginning at age 2 years. After months of evaluations, her daughter was diagnosed with autism, and with therapy, has been slowly increasing the accepted foods. So when her younger child began showing signs of feeding difficulties, Terry was cued in right away. But his issue was different - he had an over-active gag reflex.

Jen and Betsy are excited to share this fun episode, featuring guest dietitian and mom Christine Sharp; here to share her tips and tricks to making your own baby food and advancing your baby from purees to table foods. Is salt okay? What about a little spice? Who needs cereal... kale, basil and arugula anyone? 

Have you ever wondered if there is a different way to teach babies to eat other than with pureed, jarred baby food? Listen in to this episode featuring guest, mom, and New Trier teacher, Jessica Reimer to hear more about the pros and cons!

Ellie Trefz, feeding therapist extraordinaire, returns to join Betsy and Jen in a lively discussion about starting solid food with your baby! Solid food is just for fun, says Ellie. Does Betsy agree? What about nutrition and balance? What about preventing picky eating from the start? Listen in to this episode for tips, ideas, and in preparation for a fun adventure with your infant!

Amanda Gordon, infant nutrition expert and lactation consultant, returns to join an animated discussion with Betsy and Jen about choosing which infant formula is right for your baby. With so many choices available, what are the different purposes of each? Does spending more money mean a better product? Not necessarily! Tune in for more info!

If you have had any questions about how your infant eats, you won't want to miss this informative episode! Feeding therapist and lactation consultant, Ellie Trefz, is featured today, sharing her experience treating feeding difficulties for all infants who are struggling to feed well. Ellie shares her insight into how and why to choose bottles and nipples.

Baby cows drink cow's milk; baby goats drink goat's milk; baby camels drink camel's milk; baby humans drink... breast milk? Join Betsy and Jen in a discussion with Amanda Gordon, lactation consultant and infant nutrition expert, to learn more about choosing how to feed your baby with formula or breast milk, as well as a thought provoking insight to why we call human milk breast milk.