If you have picky eaters, you’ve probably tried everything to get them to eat their veggies: new recipes, sneaking vegetables into meals, and making their meals into food art. It can be really frustrating, but no matter how picky your kids are, there are ways to encourage them to eat their vegetables without a ton of work and stress.  In this episode, I sat down with Nikki Dinki, foodie, chef, TV host, comedy writer, and author of More Veggies Please!: Easy Kid-Approved Meals and...

Although we’re all well-meaning parents, oftentimes we fall into a trap of trying to encourage or even coerce our kids to eat. We say things like “just take a bite,” “try it, you might like it,” or “but you ate it last week!” No matter what we say, however, it either doesn’t work or it backfires and we all leave the table feeling totally discouraged. The goods news is that picky eating can be a thing of the past with some simple tweaks to how we approach mealtimes and feeding our kids.  In...

Starting solids is one of the most exciting times for new parents and their babies. There are no shortage of options when it comes to store-bought and organic baby food delivery solutions, yet not all are created equal. Companies often market their products as healthy and call out certain ingredients and superfoods, but many baby food options are actually fruit-heavy, super-sweet, don’t have a ton of vegetables, and lack the balanced nutrition babies need.  In this episode, I sat down with...

School might be out for the summer, but whether your kids are at camp or at home, packing and serving lunch is a task that never stops. If you're feeling bored, uninspired, or frustrated because they won’t eat what you pull together, you need some new, healthy lunch ideas for kids. In this episode, I sat down with Gillian Fein, creator of LaLa Lunchbox, the best-selling meal planning app that empowers kids to have a voice in the age-old question “what’s for lunch?” Gillian and I talk about...

Seeds aren’t something we often think about feeding babies, toddlers, or big kids, yet in recent years, there’s been a growing interest in them. In fact, U.S. Google searches for chia seeds, in particular, have grown a whopping 800% since 2009. If you're a mom starting your baby on solids, or trying to get more plant-based, healthy options in your kid’s diet, you might have wondered about chia seeds’ benefits and if other seeds are something you should be serving up too.  In this episode, I...

The summer is in full swing and whether your kids will be in camp, you’ll be traveling, or staying close to home, one thing you can count on is that they’ll be asking for plenty of snacks. Although snacks made with organic foods are ideal, they’re not all created equal. Many options may still have pesticides, heavy metals, and toxins, which we definitely don’t want in our kids’ bodies, but figuring out whether a product is clean or not—even if it is organic—isn’t always easy.   In this...

Starting solids is one of the most exciting milestones for you and your baby. Whether you’re serving up purees or following baby-led weaning, offering a wide variety of new flavors, tastes, and textures can lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits. When it comes to feeding baby solids, however, it’s important that they’re exposed to vegetables frequently and from the start which helps to foster a love for these foods and can go a long way in helping kids to be healthy,...

One of the most common questions for parents of newborns is how can you prevent a food allergy? A whopping 5.6 million kids in the U.S. have food allergies, and for their parents, keeping them safe is no easy feat. They spend so much of their time preventing accidental exposures and allergic reactions. They avoid foods, read food labels, ask questions, talk to people who care for their child, have care plans, and carry epinephrine.  Although the guidance for preventing a food allergy was to...

Whether your kid won’t eat fruits and vegetables, refuses to try new foods, resists certain tastes or textures, or won’t eat much of anything at all, you’re not alone. A recent survey out of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital found that 35% of parents say they deal with picky eating behaviors. As a result, finding healthy meals for picky eaters, that are kid-friendly and easy and convenient for parents is no easy feat.  In this episode, I sat down with Jennifer Chow, co-founder of Nurture Life, a...

Welcome to season 6 of the podcast, which is focused entirely on mompreneurs who are solving for the issues around feeding kids. In this episode, I sat down with Lauren Rockteacher, founder of Smash Cake, to talk about healthy first birthday cake alternatives and added sugars in baby and toddler foods.  When Lauren’s son was about to turn one, she wanted to have a smash cake for his birthday—and all the adorable photos that went along with it. Yet all of the cake mixes she found in the...

During pregnancy, we get information about what to expect, what tests we need, and what’s safe and what’s not. Yet when it comes to what to eat while you’re pregnant, healthcare providers usually don’t have much information to provide and what women do get is often confusing, and may even be misguided.  In this episode, I sat down with Aimee Aristotelous, a certified nutritionist specializing in prenatal, gluten-free, and ketogenic nutrition, and author The Whole Food Pregnancy Plan, among...

Like anything else in parenting, when it comes to feeding our kids, sometimes we bring in ideas and pre-conceived notions about food, meals, and eating habits and the right way to raise healthy eaters.  Some of it comes from our own experiences in childhood, or from family, friends, or social media and we quickly realize what we think should work, isn’t working.  Therefore, if we want to raise healthy eaters, we need to be flexible, make small adjustments, and re-think our approach. In...

Between tons of websites, social media, and books, there’s a lot of information and advice available for parents of picky eaters. Unfortunately, a lot of it isn’t evidence-based or true, leaving parents to feel frustrated and think that getting their kids to eat better is a lost cause.  In this episode, I sat down with Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, a registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of Kids Eat in Color®, a public health company that helps parents reduce mealtime stress and help...

During pregnancy, you’re more aware of your health, and what’s safe and what’s not, and you learn about certain conditions that can occur, like gestational diabetes. According to a 2021 study in JAMA, rates of gestational diabetes have increased 30% in the last decade. While there’s no denying that gestational diabetes can lead to complications, you may not be getting the whole story.  In this interview, I sat down with Lily Nichols, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), certified...

Picky eating is super-frustrating and it’s one of the most common challenges we have as parents. Yet when you look for solutions online, a lot are focused on recipes, sneaking vegetables, and new meal ideas. Although those ideas can certainly help, it’s important to first figure out what is causing picky eating in the first place.  In this episode, I sat down with Katie Kimball, founder of KitchenStewardship.com, and the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse. Katie says food and eating are two...

There’s no getting around the fact that we all have to eat and feed our kids, but when dinner time rolls around, you’ve had a busy day, you’re exhausted, and hangry, figuring out what you’re going to cook—and what everyone will eat—can feel impossible. Yet with some easy, stress-free meal planning ideas, you can get dinner on the table in no time and bring back the joy in cooking. In this episode, I sat down with Laura Fuentes, founder of the popular site, MOMables. Laura has helped...

We’ve all heard the phrase "breast is best,” but for moms who have breastfeeding pain, low milk supply, or other breastfeeding problems, that may not be the case, and trying to figure out a solution isn't always easy. Moms are told to feed more and pump more. They try supplements, teas, and cookies to increase lactation. They check their latches, change their positions, and do everything they can to get breastfeeding pain relief. But for some women, no matter what they do, breastfeeding...

Added sugars in kids’ meals and snacks are something parents have been paying more attention to, but when it comes to restaurant meals—whether it’s fine dining or fast food— it’s not always top of mind but many of these meals can be loaded with sneaky sources of the sweet stuff. In this episode, I sat down with Jim White, a nationally-recognized registered dietitian nutritionist, American College of Sports Medicine Exercise Physiologist, and owner of three Jim White Fitness and Nutrition...

What we feed our babies can set the stage for healthy eating habits down the line, but how we feed them is just as important. You already know about starting solids, purees, and baby-led weaning, but there’s a term that maybe you haven’t heard of: responsive feeding.  In this episode, I sat down with Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP,  a certified speech-language pathologist, a pediatric feeding expert, international speaker, media expert, and an award-winning author of several titles including...

We all know our kids shouldn’t be eating so many sweets and so much junk food but it’s not always easy. Processed foods are everywhere, plus there’s picky eating, peer pressure, food marketing, and the high cost of food, not to mention that we’re all time-strapped and stressed out. Yet getting more real food in your child’s diet is possible—and it all starts by setting up your real food kitchen.  On today’s episode, I sat down with Heather Englund, founder of the popular food and wellness...

This week, we’re doing something a little different on the podcast: we’re talking about food and faith. The Bible has a lot to say about love, trust, wisdom, and following Jesus, but have you ever wondered what the Bible says about food and feeding our kids?   In this episode, I sat down with  Susan U. Neal, RN, MBA, MHS, an author, speaker, and certified health and wellness coach. Susan’s passion and mission are to improve the health of Americans. Her latest book, “Eat God’s Food: A Kid’s...

Welcome to Season 5 of the podcast! It’s only February so maybe you’re still working on your new year’s resolutions, but with inflation and the high cost of food, it’s not easy to eat healthy and feed your family on a budget. The good news is that there are quick and easy ways to save money at the grocery store—as much as $30 a week!   In this episode, I sat down with Erin Chase, founder of 5DollarDinners.com. Erin’s mission is to help busy, overwhelmed people spend less money on groceries...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6.1 million children in the U.S. have ever been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopment disorder marked by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.  Although medications are often necessary and the first line of defense for medical providers, nutrition may be an effective treatment as well.  In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Uma Naidoo, a Harvard-trained nutritional...

Everyone mom-to-be knows that nutrition during pregnancy is important, but postpartum diet, which isn’t talked about as often, is vital for both mom and baby’s health.  In this episode, I sat down with Kaleigh McMordie, a registered dietitian who shares delicious, real-food recipes on her blog Lively Table. Kaleigh is a wife and mom of two toddlers who is passionate about helping moms reduce stress and raise competent, happy eaters. Kaleigh and I talk about the role that diet plays in your...

Rates of anxiety and other mental health conditions in kids have been on the rise over the last decade, and it’s no surprise that the pandemic has only made them worse. In October 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association declared the mental health crisis in kids a national emergency.  Although factors like genetics, trauma, and stress can all increase the risk for anxiety, diet may be one, we as...