Food Issues

Getting healthy dinners on the table that our kids will actually eat and that also save us time and money is no easy feat. Maybe you have the same recipes on rotation and cooking is the last thing you want to do after a long, busy day. With some simple meal prep ideas, however, serving up healthy and delicious dishes in no time can be a breeze. In this special bonus edition of the podcast, I sat down with Catherine McCord, founder of the popular site Weelicious, co-founder of One Potato, 4-time cookbook author, and a go-to media expert who has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Food Network, and others. Catherine gives us her best tips for organizing our kitchens, simple meal prep ideas, and the system she uses every week to get dinner on the table without fail. She also lets us in on her favorite kitchen appliances and shares her favorite recipes from her new book, “Meal Prep Magic.” Welcome 2:41 Let's talk about your story! 4:25 Were you a healthy eater when you were younger? 5:03 What do you think are the biggest challenges parents have when it comes to feeding their kids? 6:35 How do you break free from mealtime boredom? 7:22 What are myths about getting healthy meals on the table? 9:12 What are your best tips for organizing and setting up our kitchens? 12:43 What are your best meal prep hacks that save time and money? 14:54 Are you a fan of buying pre-cut veggies and using other shortcuts to save time? 18:36 How can we cut down on multiple trips to the grocery store? 20:41 What are your favorite products that make cooking faster? 23:16 How can we speed up the clean-up? 24:06 What are your favorite recipes from your book, “Meal Prep Magic?” LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions Catherine's meal delivery company, One Potato. Julie mentions research that shows “children's choices depend on what is most visible and easily accessible.” Julie mentions Catherine's book, “Smoothie Project.” Catherine mentions Vitamix and KitchenAid Pro Line Series blenders. Pre-order a copy of Catherine's book, “Meal Prep Magic.” Learn more about Catherine on Weelicious.com. Follow Weelicious on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

When it comes to kids' snacks, there are a ton of so-called healthy options. You know the ones: they have buzzwords like "organic," "natural," and "made with real fruit.” But that doesn't necessarily mean they're good for our kids. Many are ultra-processed, high in sugar, and lacking in nutrition. In this episode, I sat down with Diane and Laurel Orley, co-founders of Daily Crunch Snacks, a company that makes superfood-infused, sprouted nuts that are made without added sugars, preservatives, or additives, minimal to no oil, and are what they call Uniquely Crunchy.™ We talk about how Daily Crunch Snacks came to be, the benefits of sprouted nuts for your kids, plus some healthy and easy recipe ideas. Diane also shares a personal story and how Daily Crunch Snacks is turning a family tragedy into hope for others. Welcome 2:12 Let's talk about your story! 3:17 What was it like to launch a company during the COVID-19 pandemic? 5:37 What are the greatest challenges you see with parents feeding their kids today? 8:27 What is different about the almonds you use? 9:43 What are sprouted nuts and why are they good for us? 10:40 What is the history of sprouting? 13:25 Are there myths about sprouted nuts or nuts in general that parents should know? 16:48 What are some of your favorite healthy and easy meal and snack ideas using sprouted nuts? 17:27 Let's talk about the flavors and different varieties of Daily Crunch Snacks? 19:48 Can we talk about what Daily Crunch Snacks does to give back and support mental illness? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Diane mentions this lentil salad recipe. Learn more about Daily Crunch Snacks on their website. Follow Daily Crunch Snacks on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

During the pre-teen and teen years, a lot changes, including how kids eat. They often have new food preferences, want what other kids are eating, and may be embarrassed by what you're packing them for lunch. They're exposed to a lot more food marketing and social media, and with more social opportunities, you realize you have a lot less control over what they eat. In this episode, I sat down with Kiran Dodeja Smith, a mom of 4, a certified integrative health coach, marketing expert, and founder of Easy Real Food. Previously, Kiran spent more than 8 years working with the popular brand, 100 Days of Real Food. Kiran and I talk about healthy eating for teens, TikTok, and dietary restrictions. She also shares a personal story about her child's eating disorder diagnosis and what she learned from the experience. Welcome 2:44 Let's talk about your story! 5:18 Can you talk about your health journey? 5:57 Did your interest in raising healthy eaters start when you became a mom? 7:08 Why is it important to lay the foundation of healthy eating from the start? 8:22 Around the infant and toddler years, why are kids more accepting of different foods? 9:32 What changes when kids get older in terms of how they eat? 12:08 What are you seeing on TikTok in terms of kids and food? 19:15 We see a lot of influencers promoting “clean eating” and organic. What are tips for parents looking to feed their kids healthy but also within their means? 22:38 What are practical tips for encouraging our kids to eat healthier? 24:24 Do you cook with your kids? 25:16 How can we navigate food allergies and dietary restrictions with older kids? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Kiran mentions 100DaysOfRealFood.com. Kiran talks about the Real Lunches, Real Easy! ebooks. Kiran mentions the Dirty Dozen. Learn more about Kiran on EasyRealFood.com Follow Kiran on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

In recent years, there's been an explosion of new organic baby food brands that are veggie-forward and focused on real food ingredients instead of highly-processed foods and those with a ton of sugar. We're also seeing a lot of really interesting flavor combinations that you're more likely to see on restaurant menus but can go a long way in raising healthy, adventurous little eaters. In this episode, I sat down with Shibani Baluja, a mom of 2 and founder & CEO of lil'gourmets, a company that offers fresh, organic, veggie-first meals with no added sugars. Shibani shares the amazing, deeply personal, story of how lil' gourmets came to be, why “flavor training” is so important, and how to foster a love of global flavors and curiosity in our babies. She also talks about what she's most proud of since launching the company, the challenges she has faced along the way, and what's next for lil'gourmets. Welcome 2:29 Let's talk about your story! 5:45 Why is starting solids such an important time for babies? 8:10 Why is it important to foster curiosity in babies through food? 10:00 What are some myths about baby food? 14:25 What do you think are the most common challenges today for parents when they start solids? 16:19 Pouches are convenient but what are some of the drawbacks? 21:08 What is unique about your lil' gourmets? 22:32 What are the challenges that you have faced in growing the business? 24:40 What is one accomplishment since launching the company you're most proud of? 27:23 What is next for lil'gourmets? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Shibani mentions the Partnership for a Healthier America. Learn more about lil' gourmets on their website. Follow lil' gourmets on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

If you're like most parents, your kids are picky eaters. Whether they refuse to eat vegetables, avoid certain textures and tastes, or have only a handful of foods they'll eat, maybe you've turned to vitamins in the hopes of filling in the nutritional gaps. But maybe you've thought about it and wondered, do kids need vitamins?   Vitamins for kids are a big business in the U.S. and show no signs of slowing down. By 2025, the global gummy vitamin market is estimated to reach 10.6 billion. Not only are there tons of brands on store shelves, but in recent years, we're seeing new subscription-based companies as well as influencers on social media pushing vitamins. Sifting through all the science and figuring out whether or not your kids need vitamins, and which types are the best and safe isn't always easy.  In this episode, I sat down with Krupa Playforth, M.D., FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician, founder of ThePediatricianMom.com, and a mom of 3. Dr. Playforth talks about nutritional deficiencies, explores whether or not kids need multivitamins and supplements in the first place—the answer may surprise you—and how to find the best, and safest brand for your kids. She also talks about vegan and vegetarian diets, kids who are lactose intolerant or avoid dairy, and the best way to deal with picky eating and encourage healthy eating habits.  Welcome 2:56 Let's talk about your story! 6:08 So many kids are sick lately and we're seeing a lot of COVID-19, Flu, and RSV—what's going on? 10:04 Should we be giving our kids vitamins to help combat some of these illnesses? 14:30 Most kids are picky eaters. How do you know if your kid has vitamin deficiencies? 16:40 Are there certain vitamin deficiencies that can lead to picky eating? 21:29 Do all kids need vitamins and supplements? 22:39 What about kids who are lactose intolerant or who avoid dairy? 24:16 Do kids who are picky eaters and have poor weight gain need vitamins? 25:42 For kids who are vegetarian or vegan, what should parents do? 27:45 Supplements aren't regulated by the FDA. How can parents find a quality brand of kids' vitamins? 29:18 What are your best tips for encouraging healthy eating habits in picky-eating kids? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Dr. Playforth mentions Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Dr. Playforth mentions that her kids drink Ripple Milk. Julie mentions her daughter takes NovaFerrum Liquid Iron. Dr. Playforth talks about ConsumerLab.com, NSF International, and US Pharmacopeia (USP). Dr. Playforth mentions the Ellyn Satter Institute. Learn more about Dr. Playforth on ThePediatricianMom.com Follow Dr. Playforth on Instagram or Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

When it comes to plant-based, non-dairy milk for kids who are lactose intolerant, have a dairy sensitivity, or are avoiding cow's milk for another reason, the options are endless: almond, oat, pea milk, coconut, and many more. By 2028, the global plant-based dairy market is expected to reach 31.5B, and while demand continues to grow, what you may not know is that not all plant-based milk for kids is created equal. In this episode, I sat down with Lauren Abelin, co-founder of PlantBaby and Kiki Milk, an organic, plant-based milk for kids that is made with only whole foods and nothing else. Lauren has dedicated her life to researching and developing human-centered solutions to problems impacting mental and physical well-being. Lauren and I talk about whether or not kids need cow's milk, why not all plant-based milk is the same, and how to make the best decision for your family. She also talks about her journey to grow the company, her commitment to transparency and pure ingredients, and what's next for the brand. Welcome 2:08 Let's talk about your story! 10:33 After the first year of life what are the benefits of milk for kids? 15:01 The Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids guidelines state kids shouldn't drink plant-based milk because it often lack key nutrition—what do you think? 18:08 Why has interest in plant-based milk for kids grown? 20:30 Is pea milk a good option? 26:05 Let's talk about your journey to launching the company: what were the steps you took to get it off the ground? 30:00 What were the challenges you encountered that you were grateful for? 31:38 Can you talk about a call you took early on with another plant-milk company and what you learned from that experience? 35:32 Can you talk about new products you're working on? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Lauren mentions this study in the journal Pediatrics that shows only 25% of babies are breastfed exclusively at 6 months. Julie talks about the Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids guidelines. Learn more about Kiki Milk on their website. Follow Kiki Milk on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

Picky eating is one of the most common challenges we have as parents. We all want our kids to eat healthy and we know it's important for their growth, development, and overall health. But we often find ourselves encouraging them to “just take a bite!,” eat the meal we took the time to make, or try new foods. And when they flat-out refuse, it can be super frustrating. In this episode, I sat down with Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and Intuitive Eating Counselor. Crystal and I talk about the common myths around feeding kids, the problem with “kid food Instagram,” and why there's a lot more to feeding kids than the food we put on their plates. Crystal also shares ways that we can change our mindset at mealtimes, how to talk about food with our kids, and how to raise healthy eaters without it feeling like one more to-do on your list. Welcome 3:34 Let's talk about your story! 5:15 Have you always been passionate about healthy eating and food? 7:54 Why are most kids picky eaters? 12:17 What are common feeding mistakes parents make? 14:54 What are common feeding myths? 21:15 Can eating a lot of fake food alter a child's palate for fresh, whole foods? 23:09 What are the ways we can encourage our kids to eat more vegetables and eat healthier overall? 26:32 What are the scripts that you teach in your workshops? 30:05 Why is cooking important and what are some realistic ways to make it happen? 32:31 Should parents use intuitive eating habits with their kids? 36:25 How can we be consistent with healthy eating without it feeling like one more thing to do on the list? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Learn more about Crystal on her website. Join her Lift The Shame community, a free, virtual support group for mothers and moms-to-be in eating disorder recovery. Listen to Crystal's podcast, “Lift the Shame: Mothering Free From Diet Culture, Food Guilt, and Body Shame.” Follow Crystal on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

We all know that childhood obesity has been a complex problem in the U.S. for years and solving for it hasn't been easy. We've looked to policymakers, pediatricians, parents, and new programs, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the issue. Although we've seen a lot of progress, more needs to be done because the latest research shows childhood obesity rates are on the rise. In this episode, I sat down with Karla Lester, M.D. a pediatrician, a certified life and weight coach, a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, and founder of IME Community, the first web-based life and weight coaching platform for teens. Dr. Lester talks about what the latest research shows about childhood obesity, why BMI isn't always the best indicator of weight, and what you can do at home to raise healthy kids. She also talks about how to avoid passing on your own fears about weight to your kid, and she shares her ideas about the so-called “almond mom,” a story that recently went viral. Welcome 2:50  Let's talk about your story! 5:04 What does the latest research show about childhood obesity? 6:30 Why are rates on the rise? 10:59 What are the risk factors for childhood obesity? 13:20 What are the health risks of childhood obesity? 14:34 Are there other, non-food related risk factors such as trauma and social determinants of health? 15:46 Do you think inflation will have an effect on childhood obesity? 18:54 Why do you think as a nation we've been unsuccessful in addressing childhood obesity? 21:03 Why should we not be focused solely on BMI? 23:13 If you think your kid has a weight issue, how do you know and what should you do? 26:38 What do you think needs to happen as a nation to address childhood obesity? 30:00 What can parents do to prevent childhood obesity or intervene when there's a weight issue? 34:53 Can you talk about the “almond mom” story? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Dr. Lester mentions this study in the journal Pediatrics which shows childhood obesity is on the rise. Dr. Lester talks about her article on KevindMD.com., “Health care's 3 epic childhood obesity failures.” Dr. Lester mentions “The Obesity Code,” by Jason Fung, M.D. Read Dr. Lester's Today.com interview about the “almond mom.” Learn more about Dr. Lester on her website IMECommunity.com. Follow Dr. Lester on Instagram and TikTok. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

About 50% of infants younger than 3 months spit up at least once a day, but what if it's a chronic problem for yours? Or maybe you have a toddler or big kid who has trouble swallowing and seems miserable at mealtimes—it could be acid reflux. The good news is that there are plenty of natural remedies for acid reflux in babies and big kids. In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Sheila Kilbane, a board-certified pediatrician, who is also trained in integrative medicine, and the best-selling author of Healthy Kids, Happy Moms: 7 Steps To Prevent and Health Common Childhood Illnesses. Dr. Kilbane shares everything you need to know about acid reflux, the 11 foods that cause 90% of the issues, and which foods to focus on. She also lets us in on other natural remedies for acid reflux, including the best supplements she uses with her patients and when the right time is to start using them. Welcome 2:19 Let's talk about your story! 7:19 What is the definition of acid reflux and what causes it? 9:54 Can toddlers have acid reflux as well and what are the causes? 12:53 If acid reflux is untreated, can it lead to other problems? 13:46 Will a conventional pediatrician take a different approach than an integrative pediatrician? 15:30 Are antacids effective and are there drawbacks to using them? 18:42 What happens if you stop antacids abruptly? 21:57 What are natural remedies for acid reflux? 24:51 Should kids avoid foods like gluten and dairy? 26:16 What are the best foods to focus on for acid reflux? 33:22 Do you recommend probiotics and prebiotics? 34:42 Do kids have to follow the protocol forever? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Dr. Kilbane mentions Eosinophilic esophagitis. Dr. Kilbane talks about her line of supplements including BiAloe and Plantadophilus. Learn more about Dr. Kilbane on her website and register for her course. Purchase Dr. Kilbane's book, Healthy Kids, Happy Moms: 7 Steps To Prevent and Health Common Childhood Illnesses. Follow Dr. Kilbane on Instagram and Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

Today on the show we're talking about kids' constipation which affects approximately 30% of children in the U.S. Chances are, it's something that has affected your kids at one point or another, and around the holidays when there's a lot of cookies and sweets, it's a common challenge for kids. The good news? There are natural remedies and several foods to help kids poop. In this episode, I sat down with Jessica O'Connell MBA, RD, LD, a registered dietitian, owner of Jessica O'Connell Nutrition, and co-owner of The Constipation Gurus. Through diet and natural supplements, she counsels parents on helping their kids accept more foods that help with constipation. She's also an expert in using osmotic laxatives to help kids return to normal life without the fear of accidents and belly pain. Jessica and I talk about the common causes of constipation, why conventional ways to treat it may fall short, and natural fixes including a ton of foods to help kids poop. She also talks about pelvic floor therapy, probiotics, and her favorite recipe for poop chocolates (yes) that can ease constipation in kids. Welcome 2:14 Let's talk about your story! 4:41 What is the definition of constipation? 6:10 How common is kids' constipation? 6:28 What are the reasons kids can suffer from it? 8:30 Can food intolerances lead to constipation? 8:49 For kids who have Celiac disease, how do parents go about getting a diagnosis? 12:16 How does trauma affect kids' constipation? 13:35 How do parents go about trying to figure out the reason for constipation? 14:42 If it's not identified or being treated, can constipation lead to other problems? 17:41 What are some conventional ways to treat it? 26:16 What are natural remedies for kids' constipation? 29:28 What are the best foods to help kids poop? 36:24 Should kids take probiotics? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Jessica mentions that research shows fruits such as kiwis and dates can help with kids' constipation. Learn more about Jessica and The Constipation Gurus on their website. Sign up for their Poop Bootcamp. Follow The Constipation Gurus on Instagram and Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

Food allergies affect 5.6 million children in the U.S. and if you're a parent, you know how challenging it can be to keep kids with them safe at school, birthday parties, and restaurants. Around the holidays, however, there are so many new foods, tons of cookies, and homemade family favorites that often have secret ingredients, and plenty of places where food will be so avoiding an allergic reaction can be tough. In this episode, I sat down with Kelly Woyan Rudnicki, a writer, producer, and television personality who has nearly twenty years of experience in the business. She is also the author of several cookbooks, including The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book, Vegan Baking Classics, and The Food Allergy Mama's Easy, Fast Family Meals, and her newest title, The Food Allergy Baking Book. Kelly shares her amazing journey caring for a child with severe food allergies and serves up her best tips to prepare for the holidays whether you're hosting, going to someone else's home, or going out to eat. Kelly also talks about how to help your kids advocate for themselves, and she shares simple ingredient swaps and her favorite allergy-safe baking recipes. Welcome 2:29 Let's talk about your story! 7:58 How did you become a cookbook author? 9:56 Let's paint the picture of what it's really like to have a child with food allergies. 16:43 How can parents prepare ahead of time if they'll be going to someone else's house, or a holiday party or event? 20:45 If you're hosting, how can you ensure that the food other people bring is safe and prevent your kid from having an allergic reaction? 24:35  How can we prepare our kids to advocate for themselves? 28:20 What are the best ways to modify recipes to ensure they're safe? 31:10 What are your favorite recipes from your book? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Kelly mentions that 32 million adults and 5 million kids in the U.S. have food allergies. Kelly talks about oral immunotherapy (OIT). Purchase a copy of Kelly's book, “The Food Allergy Baking Book." Learn more about Kelly on her website. Follow Kelly on Instagram or on Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

Artificial sweeteners have been around for more than a century, but today, it seems that they're showing up almost everywhere: in snacks, sports drinks, and tons of processed foods. And just like sugar, kids are getting too much. In fact, more than one in 4 kids consumes artificial sweeteners on any given day. Although they may seem like a step up from sugar, you might be wondering, are artificial sweeteners safe for kids? In this episode, I sat down with Kimberly Gomer, a registered dietitian nutritionist with a master's in nutrition who specializes in medical nutritional therapy. She has over 25 years of experience coaching clients for health and wellness and is currently the Director of Nutrition at Body Beautiful Miami. Gomer is also a well-known media expert who has been featured in leading media outlets including CNN Health, Fox News Health, and Prevention. Kimberly talks about how to spot artificial sweeteners on labels, the surprising foods they show up in, and what research is revealing about their safety. She also talks about ways to limit artificial sweeteners and sugar in your kid's diet and dishes up healthy and creative snack ideas for kids. Welcome 2:34 Let's talk about your story! 7:47 What's the sugar problem with kids in the U.S.? 15:27 What are artificial sweeteners and how can we spot them on food labels? 17:53 What are some surprising ways they hide? 20:19 Are companies using artificial sweeteners more? 21:09 What are myths about artificial sweeteners? 25:08 Are there certain kids that should avoid them? 29:08 What are your best tips for limiting sugar and artificial sweeteners? 36:02 What are your favorite snack and treat ideas that use real food ingredients? 37:39 What should we be mindful of when it comes to artificial sweeteners around the holidays? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Kimberly talks about the Pritikin Longevity Center. Kimberly mentions that 16.2% of children ages 10-17 have obesity. Julie mentions non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Kimberly talks about Primal Kitchen ketchup. Kimberly mentions phenylketonuria (PKU). Learn more about Kimberly on BodyBeautifulMiami.com. Follow Body Beautiful Miami on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

Between homework, after-school activities, and the holidays right around the corner, it's a busy time of year.  So when it comes to getting dinner on the table, it's hard to find the time to cook. Maybe you find yourself calling out for food or going through the drive-through more often than you care to admit. The good news? Getting a healthy dinner on the table doesn't have to be time-consuming or complicated. In this episode, I sat down with  Sarah Walker Caron, a writer, recipe developer, and founder of the blog Sarah's Cucina Bella, where she shares quick and easy recipes and advice for home cooks. Sarah is also the author of 8 books including her latest title, "Disney Princess Tea Parties Cookbook." Sarah teaches us how to cook faster with her best kitchen hacks and food prep tips. She also explains how to multitask in the kitchen and transform leftovers in delicious ways, and she shares her favorite quick and easy meal ideas. Welcome 2:12 Let's talk about your story! 6:55 What do you see as the biggest challenges parents have today when it comes to feeding their kids and cooking dinner? 10:45 What are myths about getting healthy meals on the table? 11:34 What are your best food prep tips to help us save time in the kitchen? 13:44 What are pro tips for setting up our kitchens? 14:47 If we're trying a new recipe, should we wait until we have more time? 16:55 What types of foods can we purchase to save time? 20:44 What are ways we can multitask? 21:40 How can we use downtime when we're waiting for water to boil or food to cook in the oven, for example? 22:13 How can we use leftovers in a way that everyone will enjoy? 24:37 What are your favorite products that make cooking faster? 26:20 Does cooking with your kids help you save time? 26:55 What are your favorite easy and quick meal ideas? 29:09 How can we speed up the clean-up time? 30:25 Do you have other insider hacks for how to cook faster? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Sarah mentions Melissa Clark, a food writer and cookbook author. Sarah talks about General Mills' Tablespoon.com Sarah mentions her books, including "The Super Easy 5-Ingredient Cookbook" and “Easy Frugal Cookbook.” Learn more about Sarah on her website. Follow Sarah on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

Baby-led weaning has become super-trendy in recent years with a ton of websites, new books, and influencers all talking about it. And on Google, the term gets more than half a million searches every month. Despite its buzzworthy-ness, however, it's not a new idea by any means, dating back more than 20 years. What is new, however, is the concept of adapted baby-led weaning for babies who have developmental delays and feeding challenges. In this episode, I sat down with Gill Rapley, PhD. who is considered the pioneer of baby-led weaning, and Jill Rabin, MS, CCC-SLP/L, a pediatric speech pathologist and an international board certified lactation consultant who developed the adapted baby-led weaning approach. Together, they authored the new book, “Your Baby Can Self-Feed, Too.” Gill and Jill talk about how to recognize feeding challenges and where to get help. They also describe what adapted baby-led weaning is, how it works, and why it's so beneficial for kids with developmental delays and feeding challenges and their families. We also talk about tools that can help make feeding easier and how to get family members and caregivers on board with adapted baby-led weaning. Welcome 2:28 Let's talk about your stories! 6:06 What is baby-led weaning? 9:26 How has it evolved through the years? 12:53 What are the feeding challenges that babies can have? 14:20 How common are feeding challenges? 16:24 What are the signs your child may have feeding difficulties? 17:08 What happens if they aren't identified? 20:41 What is adapted baby-led weaning? 23:10 What does research show? 24:57 What are the core elements of it? 26:34 What are bridge devices? 27:48 Does adapted baby-led weaning require that caregivers get on board with it? 28:26 How do people get help with adapted baby-led weaning? 28:58 For parents who have started solids, how do they transition from purees to baby-led weaning? 31:52 How can grandparents and daycare providers get on board? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Gill mentions the World Health Organization's feeding recommendations. Jill mentions Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett's book, “Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide." Jill mentions the Instagram handle @ableappetites. Jill mentions her courses, “A Sensory Motor Approach to Modified Baby Led Weaning” and “Adapted Baby-Led Weaning for Babies with Feeding Challenges.” Purchase a copy of Jill and Gill's book, “Your Baby Can Self-Feed, Too.” Learn more about Gill Rapley on her website and follow her on Twitter. Learn more about Jill Rabin on her website and follow her on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

Whether you have babies, toddlers, or big kids, chia seeds are a superfood for the whole family. And if you're wondering how to eat chia seeds, the good news is that there are a ton of quick and easy ways to serve them up. In this episode, I sat down with Malina Malkani, a registered dietitian nutritionist, speaker, and best-selling author of "Simple and Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Manage Portion Sizes and Identify Allergies." Malina is also a media expert, Forbes Health Advisory Board Member, and former national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Malina and I talk about the health benefits of chia seeds and what you should keep in mind before serving them to your kids. She also explains how to eat chia seeds, and lets us in on her favorite ways to use them in meals and snacks. Welcome 1:45 Let's talk about your story! 4:53 What are chia seeds? 5:37 Why do you think people are becoming more interested in chia seeds? 7:03 What are the nutritional benefits of chia seeds? 9:39 Why are chia seeds a great food for kids? 10:11 Are chia seeds a good option for kids who have chronic constipation? 11:05 For families who are avoiding dairy, are chia seeds a good option for calcium? 12:11 Do you have to grind chia seeds to get the full nutritional benefit? 15:41 Do you have to soak chia seeds or can you eat them as is? 17:48 Can chia seeds go bad and do they have to be stored a certain way? 18:35 What is the recommended serving size for babies, toddlers, and kids? 20:08 What are your favorite ideas for serving chia seeds to kids? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions the video of Malina singing the national anthem at FNCE. Malina mentions her blog post, “Serving Chia Seeds To Babies and Kids.” Malina talks about BabyLedFeedingCourse.com and StartBabyLedFeeding.com  Learn more about Malina on her website. Follow Malina on Instagram and TikTok. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

More than one-third of kids and teens in the U.S. eat fast food on any given day and there's no doubt it makes our lives easier. After all, it's quick and convenient, and we know our kids will eat it. But when it comes to marketing fast food to kids, companies are spending some serious money— to the tune of  $5 billion a year. Plus, with so many media channels vying for our attention, companies have had to get really creative with their messaging and how and where they target kids.  Although kids from all racial and ethnic backgrounds are being targeted, companies are disproportionately focusing on Hispanic and Black populations, where fast food consumption is already higher and there's an increased risk for obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases. While these companies are well aware of how detrimental fast food marketing is, profits continue to be prioritized over health.  In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Jennifer L. Harris, Senior Research Advisor at the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health. She is also a research consultant and a leading international expert on the extent and health impact of food-related marketing. Dr. Harris and I talk about why companies focus their marketing on black and Hispanic kids, the sneaky ways your kids are being targeted, and why those healthier options are marketed differently.  We also talk about what has been done—and what needs to be done—to address these issues and what you can do today to change the future for our kids.  Welcome  2:40 Let's talk about your story! 4:42 Why is there a higher concentration of fast-food restaurants in predominately black communities or lower-income communities? 6:01 What does the latest research show about fast food marketing, including ad spending and racial disparities? 9:20 Why are racial disparities a problem? 10:17 What is concerning regarding how companies position their brands and market their meals? 14:16 In what channels are kids being targeted and has anything changed in recent years? 18:52 Some fast food restaurants offer healthier options—has it been effective? 20:27 The UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health recently published a report that looked at the disconnect between fast food companies' racial justice statements and the unhealthy marketing that persists. What did it find? 22:30 What has been done so far to change how marketers target children? 25:25 What needs to happen to address these issues? 27:38 What can we do as parents to change fast food marketing to kids? 29:50 What changes do you expect will come about after the recent White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Dr. Harris mentions Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D. Dr. Harris talks about the Fast Food FACTS 2021 report. Julie mentions Bettina Elias Siegel, author of the book, “Kid Food" and her interview. Julie mentions this report that looked at the disconnect between fast food companies' racial justice statements and unhealthy food marketing. Learn more about the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health on their website.  Follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy,

There's been a lot of buzz in recent years about sensory issues and sensory processing disorder, which research shows affect between 5 and 15% of kids. Kids with sensory challenges often have trouble with clothing that feels scratchy, or sounds that are too loud, for example, but they can also show up at mealtimes. Kids may only eat white foods, refuse to eat foods with a certain texture or smell, or gag when they try new foods. Sensory issues and sensory processing disorder are certainly more complex than picky eating, but figuring out what's going on with your kid can be a challenge.  In this episode, I sat down with Lara Dato, MS, OTR/L, a pediatric occupational therapist with a specialty certification in feeding, eating, and swallowing—one of approximately fifty professionals in the U.S. with these credentials. Lara is also the author of Raising Adventurous Eaters: Practical Ways to Overcome Picky Eating and Food Sensory Sensitivities. Lara and I talk about why sensory issues seem to be on the rise, how to tease out what's really going on with your kid, and how to go about finding the right help. She also explains easy ways to help your child overcome sensory issues, how you can model intuitive eating, and encourage healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. Whether your child has sensory processing disorder, sensory sensitives around food, or is simply a picky eater, this episode will help you get to the bottom of what's going on and give you the tools you need to help your child. 2:42 Let's talk about your story! 5:10 Most kids are picky eaters. How do you know your kid's behavior is more than what's typical? 6:10 Is there a difference between sensory issues and sensory processing disorder? 10:00 Are more kids being diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and sensory issues, or is it our ability to better identify them? 11:29 For parents who have kids with sensory issues that play out at mealtime, what does their life look like on a daily basis? 14:14 What can happen if these issues aren't identified?  15:22 How can parents go about identifying the problem? 19:17 Once parents know that sensory issues are affecting their kids' eating, what can they do? 25:06 What about kids who have texture issues? 27:36 Why is the intuitive eating approach important now and as kids get older?  29:46 What are the most effective ways parents can encourage healthy eating habits?   LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Lara mentions that 25%  to 45% of kids have difficulty with eating. Purchase Lara's book, Raising Adventurous Eaters. Follow Lara on Instagram and Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

Welcome to the launch of season #8! The new school year brings new teachers, new schedules, and new expectations, plus sports and after-school activities. And with that comes the need for nutrition that supports kids' brain function, and helps with memory, focus, and attention. When it comes to brain foods for kids, there are a ton of options, but they're not always the easiest to prioritize especially if you have picky eaters.    In this episode, I sat down with Mark Brooks, co-founder, and co-CEO of Brainiac Foods, a company dedicated to supporting the whole family's brain development, performance, and health. Launched in 2018 with Jonathan Wolfson, Brainiac Foods is on a mission to help families get critical nutrients scientifically proven to support brain health and wellness in every day, delicious foods. Mark and I talk about what the latest research shows about kids' brain health, the critical nutrients kids need, and what the gut has to do with the brain. Mark also explores a list of brain foods for kids and easy, creative ways to get them into your kid's diet.  Welcome 3:50 Let's talk about your story! 6:09 How did Brainiac Foods come to be? 9:53 What does research show about kids' brain health today? 9:53 What are the brain nutrients most kids are missing?  15:36 We know gut health is related to brain health, but what do parents need to know? 20:38 What are the best brain foods for kids? 24:36 Are there other nuts and seeds that are good for the brain? 25:37 What are the best fruits and vegetables for brain health? 26:18 What about oats and quinoa? 27:11 What are your favorite ways to get more brain-healthy foods in our kids' diets?  30:56 What does Brainiac Foods offer? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Mark mentions the What We Eat in America report. Learn more about Mark and Brainiac Foods at BrainiacFoods.com. Follow Brainiac Foods on Instagram and Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

With the kids back in school, it's almost inevitable that they're going to get sick. Kids, especially toddlers and preschoolers, are swapping germs all day long and their hand-washing habits usually aren't ideal. Plus, the foods your kids eat, how much sleep and activity they get, and stress all have a lot to do with their immune systems. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to boost your child's immune system and they don't have to take a lot of time or effort. In this episode, I sat down with Taz Bhatia, M.D., a board-certified integrative medicine physician, wellness expert, and founder of CentreSpring MD, an award-winning medical and wellness practice in Atlanta, GA focused on health transformation.  Dr. Taz is also the best-selling author of, “What Doctors Eat,” “The 21-Day Belly Fix," and “Super Woman RX.” She has also appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and CNN, is a contributor for FOX Good Day Atlanta, and is the host of the Super Woman Wellness podcast. Dr. Taz provides the latest updates on COVID-19, vaccines, and monkeypox and gives you everything you need to know about how to boost your child's immune system. She explores nutrition and the best superfoods to focus on, which vitamins, supplements, and probiotics your kids need, how to help your child be more active, and what you can do to help your child with stress, anxiety, and sleep.  Welcome 2:28  Let's talk about your story! 6:23 What types of viruses and illnesses should parents expect to see and be concerned about this fall? 10:17 When the Omicron booster comes out, should kids be vaccinated if they've already been vaccinated? 14:17 Most kids are picky eaters. What are your best tips for getting fruits and veggies in their diets?  19:08 We want to avoid sugar because it's inflammatory. Are there other foods to avoid without making our kids feel that they're missing out?  21:42 Should we give our kids vitamins, supplements, and probiotics to boost their immune systems? 23:46 How can we get our kids to be more active?  25:43 How much sleep should kids get and how can we ensure they get it? 22:42 How can we help our kids cope with stress and anxiety? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Learn more about Dr. Taz on her website and join The Superwoman Circle. Follow Dr. Taz on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

You've seen the photos on Instagram—you know, the ones of clean, beautifully-organized refrigerators with food strategically placed in a rainbow-colored fashion. Sure, they look amazing, but they're all in the name of marketing and not realistic unless you have a ton of time on your hands. Yet if you're trying to get your kids back on track with healthy eating this fall season, and you want to save time and money in the kitchen, learning how to organize your refrigerator (without all the bells and whistles) is key.  Oftentimes, we have food in our refrigerators that we don't even know is there, and as a result, it usually goes to waste. Or, we don't see anything appealing so we call for take-out. The good news? It doesn't have to take a lot of time or work to organize your refrigerator.  In this episode, I sat down with Kristen Hong, founder of HelloNutritarian.com, a site where she shares about fridge organization, meal prep, and plant-based recipes, and author of “Fridge Love: Organize Your Refrigerator for a Healthier, Happier Life—with 100 Recipes.” Kristen is a self-described “junk food junkie,” and says she struggled with food addiction and binge eating for years until she discovered Dr. Joel Fuhrman and the Nutritarian diet and everything changed—including how she organized her refrigerator. Kristen talks about how to get started with fridge love and how to organize your refrigerator, her 5 easy fridge goals, and her best shopping tips. She also talks about how to meal plan and prep—even if you hate to do it—and shares her favorite recipes from her book.  Welcome 2:53 Let's talk about your story! 7:17 Have you always been passionate about healthy eating and food? 9:15 What are the basic premises and benefits of Dr. Fuhrman's Nutritarian diet? 13:30 What do you think is the biggest challenge parents have when it comes to feeding their kids? 19:00 What is “fridge love” and why do we need it? 22:21 Are there other benefits of “fridge love” for kids? 24:33 What's the first step to getting started? 26:36 What are fridge goals? 30:15 What are your best shopping tips? 31:48 How can we get started with meal planning or prepping even if we hate it? 33:14 What are your favorite recipes from your book?  LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Kristen mentions Dr. Joel Fuhrman and his book “Eat to Live." Julie mentions FIRST for Women magazine.  Julie mentions research that shows “children's choices depend on what is most visible and easily accessible.” Kristen mentions her chipotle lentil recipe.  Purchase a copy of "Fridge Love." Follow Kristen on her website and on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

It's back-to-school season, and with that comes new schedules, sports, after-school activities, and a whole lot of busyness. We're all well-intentioned and want to make sure our kids are eating healthy, but with all we have to do, it's a challenge. With some simple meal prep ideas, however, you can make sure your kids are off to a good start and get the nutrition they need all year long.  In this episode, I sat down with Rebecca Huff, a mom of 6, creator of ThatOrganicMom.com, and host of A Healthy Bite podcast. Rebecca shares her easy approach to packing healthy lunch boxes your kids will actually eat, simple meal prep ideas to help you get a healthy dinner on the table every night, and how to save a ton of time in the kitchen. She also shares ways to break out of meal ruts, feed kids when you have practices and games during dinner time, and why getting your kids in the kitchen can make life easier.  Welcome 2:08 Let's talk about your story! 4:07 Back-to-school is right around the corner. What are the most common challenges when it comes to feeding kids this time of year? 5:56 What are some ways we can ensure our kids are getting a healthy breakfast without spending a lot of time in the kitchen? 8:16 How can we prepare and ensure we're feeding our kids healthy meals and snacks? 9:53 What are your best tips for ensuring lunches are healthy and kids are happy? 12:49 What are some easy ideas for after-school snacks? 17:00 What are your best meal planning tips for dinner? 20:39 What are some of your favorite recipes and meal ideas that are quick and easy? 21:22 How do we get ourselves out of dinner meal ruts? 22:54 What are simple meal prep ideas and tips for saving time in the kitchen? 24:43 With sports often around dinner time, how can families manage meals?  LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Rebecca mentions PlanetBox lunch boxes. Rebecca talks about having a Cookbook Club. Learn more about Rebecca on ThatOrganicMom.com. Follow Rebecca on Instagram and YouTube. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

Prices for food, especially meat, eggs, and fish, are sky-high these days and families are feeling the pinch. Although shopping sales and clipping coupons can definitely help, trying some new plant-based meal ideas can go a long way in helping you to save money, give your kids a nutritional boost, and help you to model healthy eating habits. In this episode, I sat down with Nicole Centeno, a French Culinary Institute-trained chef, founder, and co-CEO of Splendid Spoon, a meal-delivery platform that offers more than 50 ready-to-eat, plant-based meals. Nicole is also the author of “Soup Cleanse Cookbook: Embrace a Better Body and a Healthier You with the Weekly Soup Plan.” We talked about the benefits and misconceptions about plant-based eating, how to get started, and how to get more plant-based foods in your kid's diet. Nicole also shares some of her favorite plant-based meal ideas for kids—including delicious alternatives to hot dogs. 2:03 Let's talk about your story! 2:43 How did Splendid Spoon come to be? 5:05 Have you always been a plant-based eater? 6:09 What do you think are the most common challenges today for parents when it comes to feeding their kids? 8:02 How can we spend less money on food? 9:56 What are the benefits of plant-based diets? 14:06  What are some misconceptions about plant-based eating? 18:00 What are some ways we can get more plant-based foods in our kids' meals? 21:25 How do we get started with plant-based eating? 23:05 What are some of your favorite plant-based meal ideas? 24:46 Are there ways to get plant-based foods in at breakfast? 25:56 What about plant-based snacks?  28:40 What are your best tips for modeling healthy eating habits? 31:16 What is Splendid Spoon and what can new customers expect? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions that the cost of meat, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 14.2% over the last year. Learn more about Nicole on Splendid Spoon.  Follow Splendid Spoon on Instagram.  FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

We all know “breast is best,” but that doesn't mean breastfeeding always comes naturally or is easy. Many moms struggle with pain, low milk supply, and other breastfeeding problems and often don't have the support they need. In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, a health psychologist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and author of Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck. She is also the owner and editor-in-chief of Praeclarus Press.  Kathleen and I talk about the most common breastfeeding problems, why our breasts actually have a storage capacity, why moms quit breastfeeding, and where they can turn for help and support. We also talk about how complex trauma and mental health issues can come into play for breastfeeding moms, why the healthcare system—and society—often fails moms, and what all new moms need to know.  Welcome 2:03 Let's talk about your story! 3:30 What is the biggest challenge for breastfeeding moms today?  9:00 Who should moms see to get help? 12:16 What should moms know about the effects of trauma on pregnancy, labor/delivery, postpartum health, and breastfeeding? 16:05 For moms who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, should they see a therapist to tease out these issues? 17:13 What is lacking when it comes to healthcare and support after moms give birth?23:26 What are the most common reasons moms quit breastfeeding?  23:41 How can women determine if they have a low milk supply? 27:28 Does nipple pain always have to do with an incorrect latch? 29:30 Can you talk about research that shows moms who have epidurals are less likely to exclusively breastfeed? 30:14 What are tips for moms dealing with breastfeeding problems? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Kathleen mentions this article in the journal Clinical Lactation which found that breastfeeding moms get more sleep than moms who supplement with formula.  Kathleen talks about Dr. Jack Newman.  Kathleen mentions this 2008 study in JAMA Pediatrics which found that pediatricians are less likely to believe breastfeeding works.  Kathleen mentions Tina Smillie. Kathleen mentions Survivor Moms' Companion.  Julie mentions the book Mother Hunger, by Kelly McDaniel.  Purchase a copy of Kathleen's book, Breastfeeding Doesn't Need to Suck.  Learn more about Kathleen on her website. Follow Kathleen on Facebook and Twitter. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

In the U.S., a whopping 40% of food is wasted, and some of it starts at the grocery store and in our kitchens. We may purchase more than we consume, toss perfectly good food scraps, food that's past a certain date, or leftovers that no one wants to touch. Although the intention is to eat everything we buy, our kids are picky and we're super-busy too, so it's not always realistic. If you want to how to reduce food waste at home, however, it's not as tough as you may think.  In this episode, I sat down with Alison Mountford, a chef, speaker, and the founder of Ends+Stems, a meal planning membership that's designed to help families reduce food waste. Alison also hosts a series of online courses for easier weeknight meals and feeding picky eaters with less stress. Alison talks about what those dates on packages actually mean, and how to reduce food waste at home by conducting a fun food audit with your kids, meal planning, and using leftovers and food scraps. Plus, with more parties and the holidays right around the corner, she talks about what to do with all the extra food.  Welcome  2:04 Let's talk about your story! 4:21 Why do we waste so much food in the U.S.? 10:56 What about throwing out food when you have babies and young kids?  13:26 What should we know about “best by,” “use by,” and other dates? 18:14 What are ways that families can reduce food waste at home? 21:29 How can we make meal planning easier? 24:03 What can we do about leftovers?  26:11 How can we use food scraps? 28:17 How can we use the freezer? 31:17 You say we should eat ugly—what does that mean? 33:29 How can we get kids involved? 36:13 How can you donate cooked food? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions 108 billion pounds of food is wasted in the U.S. each year.  Learn more about Alison's course: Chef Alison's Stress-Less Family Meals. Alison mentions the Olio app. Learn more about Alison and Ends + Stems on EndsandStems.com Follow Alison on Instagram and TikTok. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 Family-Friendly Comfort Foods with Surprising Veggie Twists.” As a kid, Nikki Dinki was called “picky Nikki” because she was the pickiest kid around, living off only bread and cheese, even into her young adult years. She found a way to turn it all around and today, she's helping parents find creative ways to add more veggies into their kids' meals.  Nikki talks about her best tips to get kids to eat their veggies, her meat-on-the-side approach, and how she gets healthy meals on the table every night by using her freezer.  Welcome  1:52 Let's talk about your story! 5:38 Do you think kids should be rewarded for eating their vegetables? 10:24 Why do you think it's so hard for parents today to get their kids to eat healthy? 11:56 What should parents know that can re-assure them about feeding their kids? 16:37 You take a meat-on-the-side approach—explain! 20:43 What are your best tips for getting kids to eat their veggies? 23:21 We're all so busy. What are your tips and tricks to get healthy meals on the table every day?  26:25 What are your favorite recipes from your book? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions this recent study that suggests rewarding kids for eating their vegetables is effective.  Julie mentions Dr. Mark Hyman and his “condi-meat” approach. Nikki mentions the book, “Modern Freezer Meals," by Ali Rosen. Purchase Nikki Dinki's book, "More Veggies Please!" Learn more about Nikki on her website NikkiDinkiCooking.com Follow Nikki on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 this episode, I sat down with Stephanie Meyers, MS, RDN, founder of Families Eating Well, a nutrition practice that trains parents to coach healthy eating habits, and the author of End the Mealtime Meltdown: Using The Table Talk Method to Free Your Family From Daily Food Struggles and Picky Eating. Stephanie is also The Nutrition Manager in The Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and she presents worldwide seminars on mindful eating, family nutrition, and cancer survivorship. Stephanie says the way to get our kids out of their picky eating ways is to change how we talk to them about food. She also talks about how to nurture what she calls gastronomic intelligence, and offers simple questions and scripts that you can use with your kids that will help them become more healthy, adventurous, and happy eaters and make mealtimes easier and less stressful for your family. Stephanie is also giving away a copy of her book. All you have to do is sign up for my FREE 5-day challenge. Welcome 2:56 Let's talk about your story! 3:45 How do you deal with picky eating at home?  5:20 Do you think the things we say to our kids about food come from our own childhoods? 6:06 What does the latest research show about picky eating and feeding kids? 8:17 What are the reasons feeding kids in 2022 is so hard and dinners so stressful? 10:43 What's important to keep in mind as we're trying to raise healthy eaters? 15:29 What are the phrases we should be saying and avoiding? 21:47 You say conflict at the dinner table is a normal part of parenting—say what?! 22:57 What is the Table Talk method and what are the benefits? 27:00 What are examples of specific words and scripts? 29:30 What is the difference between gastronomic intelligence and intuitive eating? 30:41 What are the best practices for Table Talk? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Learn more about Stephanie Meyers, MS RDN on her website FamiliesEatingWell.com Purchase a copy of her book on End the Mealtime Meltdown. Follow Stephanie Meyers on Instagram and Facebook.  FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 Katie Thomson, MS, RD, co-founder and CEO of Square Baby, which has been described as the Blue Apron of baby food. Thomson spent her career pioneering nutrition strategy for some of the biggest and most respected brands and was the first nutritionist for Starbucks, working to shape their first health and wellness strategy.  When her firstborn started solids, and she realized there wasn't a company providing healthy, balanced, and convenient options, she decided to launch Square Baby, the only baby food that offers 100% daily nutrition customized for babies' specific dietary needs. Katie and I talk about organic baby food delivery, and why there's so much confusion and shame for new moms about what's best for their babies.  She shares her incredible journey to launch Square Baby, despite having a major setback, and her steadfast determination and ability to flex which proved key to moving the company forward. She talks about why her company puts nutrition science at the center of every decision, their veggie-forward approach, and focus on palate development and early allergen introduction. Katie also shares her best tips for feeding babies and toddlers and lets us in on her and her children's favorite Square Baby meals.  Welcome  2:47 Let's talk about your story! 4:18 Have you always been passionate about healthy eating and food? 6:02 What do you think are the most common challenges today for parents who are starting solids with their babies? 7:43 One of the most common questions parents have today is why are food allergies so prevalent? What do they need to know and how can food allergies be prevented? 10:05 Why did you start Square Baby? 12:40 Can feeding your baby too much of the fruit-heavy purees create a preference for sweet in the short term and over time? 14:38 How did you know parents were willing to pay for the service? 17:38 What can customers expect and what makes you different from other organic baby food delivery solutions? 23:04 Let's talk about your journey to launching the company: what were the steps you took to get it off the ground? 29:49 What were the challenges you encountered in recent years? 32:57 What is the future for the company? 34:09 What is your and your kids' favorite Square Baby meal? 35:40 What are your favorite tips for feeding babies and toddlers? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions Katie's interview on season #3 of the “Food Issues” podcast when she talked about sugar in baby food. Katie mentions that food allergies have increased 50% from 1997-2011. Katie mentions the LEAP and PETIT and EAT studies about early allergen introduction. Katie mentions Partnership for a Healthier America's Veggies Early and Often campaign and white paper.  Katie mentions Kendall Glynn, MS, CGC, her co-founder and COO, Square Baby. Learn more about Square Baby on their website.  Follow Square Baby on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the...

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 how she came up with the idea for LaLa Lunchbox, her journey to launch and grow the company, the lessons she learned, and the hard decisions she's had to make. Gillian also shares why the lunch room at school can be an opportunity for children to express and own what makes them unique, and her best healthy lunch ideas for kids. Welcome  2:11 Let's talk about your story! 7:00 Have you always been passionate about healthy eating and food? 8:36 When you were growing LaLa Lunchbox, how did you know other parents wanted this product? 14:21 What can people expect with LaLa Lunchbox? 16:42 Let's talk about your journey to launching the company: what were the steps to get it off the ground? 21:10 What were challenges you encountered along the way that actually turned out to be lessons learned? 23:55 What advice do you have for other parents who may want to start this type of business?  25:04 What is the future for LaLaLunchbox? 26:09 What are your favorite tips for packing healthy school lunches? 27:08 What are your favorite lunchboxes that you post on Instagram? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Gillian mentions her IG account @teenlunch. Learn more about LaLaLunchbox on their website.  Follow LaLaLunchBox on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 sat down with Kim Pabla and Tina Rajani, best friends and co-founders of Tiny Sprouts Foods, the first seed blend—and the only one in the world—designed for babies, toddlers, and children.  Kim and Tina share the story behind Tiny Sprouts Foods and the ah-ha moment that led them to launch the company on Mother's Day in the midst of the pandemic. We explore chia seeds' benefits, the nutritional value of other super seeds, the importance of probiotics in your kid's diet— and the best type—and why seeds are better than fermented foods. They also share how they got the business off the ground, the significant challenges they have faced along the way, the high standards they refuse to compromise on, and what the future holds for Tiny Sprouts Foods.  Welcome  3:10 Let's talk about your story! 5:27 Have you always been passionate about healthy eating and food?  6:19 What are the most common challenges parents have today when it comes to feeding their kids? 7:31 Gut health and probiotics for kids are topics we're hearing more about it. What should parents know? 12:36 What are the benefits of seeds vs fermented foods?  13:31 Plant-based foods like seeds are not foods most parents are feeding their kids. What are the benefits? 18:03 What is the product and what can people expect? 18:31 What was your ah-ha moment—when did you know you needed to bring this product to market? 25:31 Let's talk about your journey to launch the company: what were the steps you took to get it off the ground? 28:00 What were the challenges you encountered that you were grateful for? 29:46 What advice do you have for other parents who may want to start this type of business?  32:03 What is the future for the company? 32:37 What are your favorite Tiny Sprouts Foods products? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions her interview with Dr. Michael Goran and Dr. Emily Ventura, co-authors of “Sugarproof.” Julie mentions Dr. Mark Hyman and functional medicine.  Julie talks about her interview with Meenal Lele, founder, Lil Mixins. Kim mentions Proposition 65. Learn more about Tiny Sprouts Foods on their website.  Follow Tiny Sprouts Foods on Instagram and Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 episode, I sat down with Colleen Kavanaugh, co-founder, and CEO of ZEGO, the first purity-transparent food company that produces products with superfoods that are tested for over 400 chemicals including glyphosate, heavy metals, common allergens, and gluten. Colleen initially founded ZEGO because she was looking for healthy, nutritious snacks that weren't overly processed and safe for kids with food allergies. She decided she would also go on a quest to learn more about the food industry and try to uncover a link between certain foods and autoimmunity and cancer. Later down the line, someone told her about glyphosate, a toxin found in food, and she discovered that companies aren't required to test for toxins. As a result, her business evolved and she added purity testing and standards.  Colleen and I talked about why she started ZEGO, the void she's filling in the marketplace, and some of the challenges she had that turned out to be blessings. She also shares advice for parents who want to start similar businesses and her best tips for getting kids to eat better, even when parents don't have a lot of time. Welcome  2:55 Let's talk about your story! 6:46 What did you discover about requirements—or lack thereof—for food companies?  11:32 What should parents know about toxins? 14:02 What does ZEGO offer and what makes you different from your competitors? 18:35 Why did you start the company? 23:11 How did you know other parents wanted these products? 27:03 Let's talk about your journey to launching the company: what were the steps you took to get it off the ground? 31:01 What were challenges you encountered along the way that turned out to be a learning lesson? 33:43 What advice do you have for mom entrepreneurs who may want to start this type of business? 35:08 What is the future for the company? 37:28 What are your best tips for parents who want their kids to eat better, but don't have the time?  LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Colleen mentions Proposition 65. Colleen talks about Dr. David Lustig and Jonathan Shambroom, her co-founder. Colleen mentions Indiegogo, Astia Angels, One World, and WBENC. Learn more about ZEGO on their website. Follow ZEGO on Instagram and Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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, adventurous eaters now and throughout their lives.  Rates of childhood obesity, type-2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are on the rise, and although there are many factors at play, diet is one of the best ways to prevent these conditions.  In this episode, I sat down with Betsy Fore and Sofia Laurell, co-founders of Tiny Organics, an early childhood nutrition company on a mission to build a healthier generation of adventurous eaters with vegetable-first foods for babies and toddlers. Betsy, Sofia, and I talk about their backstories, why they started Tiny Organics, and their journey to launch a food business in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also talk about their veggie-first approach, their focus on real, whole foods and the flavor window of 4 to 7 months, and why comfort food can actually be savory. They also talk about what makes them different from other baby food solutions, how they are building valuable relationships with their customers and engaging them in their brand, and how they're changing the conversation around feeding baby solids without making moms feel any guilt or shame. Welcome  3:15 Let's talk about your stories! 10:00 Have you always been passionate about healthy eating and food? 11:56 Why did you start Tiny Organics? 21:55 What was one challenge that you think was a great learning lesson? 25:25 What can people expect when they become customers? 28:54 What is your direct-to-community approach? 32:57 What are your favorite tips for feeding little ones? 35:33 What is your and your children's favorite Tiny Organics meal? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Sofia mentions Human Ventures. Sofia explains that Tiny Organics partners with the Food Bank for NYC. Betsy mentions that Brooklyn Decker is one of their investors. Betsy talks about the Tufts School Of Nutrition Science and Policy. Betsy mentions Michelle Obama and Partnership For a Healthier America. Learn more about Tiny Organics on their website. Follow Tiny Organics on Instagram and Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 avoid allergenic foods for a period of time after starting solids, in recent years, research shows that early introduction of allergenic foods is actually effective.  In this episode, I sat down with Meenal Lele, founder and CEO of Lil Mixins and a mom to a child with a food allergy. As a busy working mom, Meenal knew there had to be a better way to make early introduction easy, so she took the research, and her knowledge of food science, and developed infant powders that are protein supplements which make early introduction of peanut, tree nut, and egg protein simple and easy.  Meenal and I talk about a baby's microbiome, gut health, and what it has to do with food allergies. She also talks about her ah-ah moment when she knew, without a doubt, that she had a solution that parents needed and pediatricians would recommend, her journey to launch and grow her company, challenges she encountered, and what the future holds. We also talk about her new book,“The Baby and the Biome: How the Tiny World Inside Your Child Holds the Secret to Their Health," and new research that is likely to identify a cure for food allergy. Welcome  4:00 Let's talk about your story! 4:46 We hear a lot about the gut microbiome, but why is it something that new parents need to know about? 6:28 What do you think about infant probiotics? 8:35 What are the causes of infant gut disruption? 10:32 What has changed in recent years and what do new parents need to know about introducing allergens to babies?  13:20 The protein in peanuts can trigger food allergies—explain! 16:30 Can food allergies and other immune conditions be prevented?  17:48 Is early introduction effective for all allergens? 19:34 Are there babies for which early introduction isn't a good idea? 21:33 Can food allergies be cured? 26:26 Why did you start Lil Mixins? 28:27 What is Lil Mixins? 28:56 Did you conduct market research to determine that parents would buy the product? 30:39 What were the steps you took to get it off the ground? 31:55 What were the challenges you encountered that were also big learning lessons? 34:05 What advice do you have for other parents who may want to start this type of business? 35:09 What is the future for the company? 36:00 Your new book, “The Baby and The Biome” is coming out in September—what can readers expect? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions her interview with Dr. Tracy Shafizadeh from Evivo about infant gut health.  Meenal mentions this 2021 study that found that gut microbes trigger inflammation that exacerbates brain injury in extremely premature infants.  Meenal talks about this 2016 study that found babies from Russia had different gut microbes than babies in Finland and Estonia, and a higher incidence rate of e.coli.  Meenal talks about the LEAP study, which found early introduction of peanuts can reduce the risk of peanut allergy.  Meenal talks about her new book, “The Baby and the Biome: How the Tiny World Inside Your Child Holds the Secret to Their Health.” Learn more about Lil Mixins on their website. Follow Lil Mixins on Instagram and Facebook.  FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists,

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 kids' meal delivery service that provides freshly-made, nutritious, and ready-to-eat meals for babies, toddlers, and kids.  As a lifelong foodie and the daughter of a registered dietitian, Jennifer already knew the importance of fresh, healthy food, and home-cooked meals when she had her first child. Yet when her son became a toddler, she realized that most of the options for kids his age were heavily-processed meals, frozen foods, and convenience options that made life easier for parents but lacked the key nutrients kids need. Foods like chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and puff snacks. She decided to make all of her son's meals from scratch, but as a busy working mom, she knew there had to be an easier way—and Nurture Life was born. Jennifer and I talk about how she knew other parents needed a service like Nurture Life, her journey to start and grow the company, the biggest lessons she learned, and new products she recently rolled out. She and I also talk about the reasons why babies go from starting solids with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and real food, to a diet made up mostly of highly-processed, convenience foods. She shares her best tips for parents who want their kids to eat their vegetables, try new foods, and eat better overall, and how to get healthy meals for picky eaters on the table every day.  Welcome  2:52 Let's talk about your story! 3:29 Have you always been passionate about healthy eating and food? 4:40 Throughout your career journey, did you ever think about becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist or doing something with food?  6:12 How did the company come about—was the pain point picky eating?  9:49 Why do you think feeding kids falls apart around the toddler years? 16:07 How did you know other parents wanted this service? 20:13 What is Nurture Life and what can people expect? 25:47 What makes Nurture Life different from its competitors? 28:12 How did you figure out how to launch and grow the business? 29:36 What was one of the biggest challenges that ended up being a good learning experience? 32:00 What advice do you have for other parents who may want to start this type of business?  32:59 What is the future for the company? 34:05 What are your best tips for parents who want their kids to eat better but don't have the time?  LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions the USDA's universal school meal waivers that are set to expire June 30. To get 50% off your first order and 20% off your next three orders at Nurture Life, use code FOODISSUES.  Follow NurtureLife on Instagram and Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements,

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 grocery store were filled with added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners, added salt, artificial flavors and colors, hydrogenated oils, and other unhealthy ingredients. A quick Google search pulled up a ton of healthy smash cake recipes, but as a busy working mom, she didn't have the time to make the cake from scratch.  Lauren couldn't believe that with all the new products hitting store shelves every day, there weren't any healthy first birthday cake alternatives available to parents. As a seasoned food scientist with experience in USDA and FDA labeling, nutrition, quality control, and research and development, she knew the ins and outs of how products are formulated and brought to market, and she quickly realized she could make the smash cake mix herself.  Within just a few weeks, she developed the original Smash Cake, and moved on to new flavors and a healthy frosting mix. Smash Cake's healthy first birthday cake alternatives use a handful of real, simple ingredients, including fruit, and none of the artificial, unhealthy ingredients.   Lauren and I talked about why she knew she needed to bring Smash Cake to market, and her journey to launch and grow the company with no business background to speak of. She talks about the challenges she encountered and the lessons she learned, what the future holds for Smash Cake, and the new products she plans to develop. Hint: it includes healthy gummy bears.  We also talk about how you can limit added sugar in your kid's diet and why “no added sugar” is actually a misnomer.  Welcome 2:30 Let's talk about your story! 5:51 What does a food scientist do and what kinds of projects have you worked on? 7:57 What is something that happens behind the scenes that maybe we don't realize as consumers?  9:12 Why do you think babies and toddlers are consuming so much added sugar? 14:07 Why did you start Smash Cake? 17:28 What makes Smash Cake different from other cake mixes on the market? 18:51 Smash Cake can be for any occasion, right? 19:42 Let's talk about your journey to launching the company—what were the steps you took to get it off the ground? 28:30 What were the lessons you learned? 30:21 What advice do you have for other parents who may want to start a food business?  31:01 What is the future for the company? 33:26 How do you think your company can change the conversation around added sugars for babies and toddlers?  33:58 What are your best tips for limiting and avoiding added sugars? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions that the 2020-25 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend babies under 2 avoid added sugars.  Julie talks about how studies show nearly 85 percent of babies and toddlers are eating foods that have added sugars and artificial sweeteners on any given day.  To get 15% off Smash Cake products, use code FoodIssues15. Follow Smash Cake on Instagram and Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids.

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 several other books. Aimee is also a go-to media expert and has been featured in a variety of outlets including Health, People, and HuffPost.  We talk about why the information about what to eat while you're pregnant isn't necessarily rooted in science and how that may be contributing to pregnancy risks and complications.  We also chat about everything nutrition during pregnancy, including the nutrients and superfoods to focus on, how many extra calories you actually need, and how to deal with food cravings and morning sickness.  Welcome  3:15 Why is it important to eat healthy when you're pregnant? 5:06 Can your diet affect your propensity for developing postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety? 5:48 In your book, The Whole Food Pregnancy Plan, you say that nutrition guidelines that are often delivered by doctors and dietitians may actually be contributing to obesity and gestational diabetes rates—explain! 9:23 How many extra calories do pregnant women need in each trimester? 10:03 What are the key nutrients women need?  14:10 What should women limit or avoid? 20:20 What are the best pregnancy superfoods?  22:14 How can women cope with nausea and morning sickness? 24:25 How can women deal with food cravings and food aversions? 26:48 What are the best foods to eat or avoid for heartburn, constipation, and gas? 28:05 What are some guidelines for pregnancy nutrition? 29:43 What are your favorite recipes from your book, The Whole Food Pregnancy Plan? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Aimee mentions that the U.S. is the only developed country where maternal mortality is on the rise, this 2020 study found. Aimee talks about the book “Sugarproof” and Julie mentions that Drs. Goran and Ventura were on an episode of “Food Issues” Aimee mentions MyPlate. Julie mentions that vitamin B6 was like “magic” for her morning sickness.  Learn more about and purchase books by Aimee Aristotelous on Amazon.  FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 this episode, I sat down with Polina Shkadron, MA, CCC-SLP, MSNE, CFTP, ADHD-RSP, a trauma-informed speech-language pathologist who specializes in autism, ADHD, language, and literacy. Polina is also a parent coach, nutrition educator, and founder of Play to Learn.  Polina talks about the different types of pressure, how to “consume with intent,” and why the environment and the words we use matter. She also offers easy ways we can change our approach at mealtimes, her 5 food rules—which are really simple to follow, fun activities you can do to encourage healthy eating habits, and how she got 2-year-olds to eat Brussels sprouts for breakfast. Welcome 2:06 Let's talk about your story! 2:57 What is a trauma-informed speech-language pathologist? 4:45 We have a lot of influence on our kids' food choices, but sometimes it can be in the form of pressure tactics. What are the 3 different types of pressure when it comes to feeding kids? 8:48 You talk about the importance of “consuming with intent.” Explain! 10:40 What are some mistakes we make when feeding our kids?  13:57 Do the words we use matter when we talk about foods and meals? 15:30 What is our role as parents when we're feeding our kids? 21:58 What are some strategies you use to get kids to eat better and healthier? 26:14 How do our food choices impact the ways in which our bodies move? 28:57 How can we change our approach to feeding kids and focus on raising healthy eaters? 31:81 What are your 5 food rules? 36:00 What are some food family activities that we can do with your kids? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Polina talks about Ellyn Satter and the Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding (sDOR). Polina mentions the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Learn more about Polina at Play2LearnSLP.com and follow her on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 their kids eat better.  We talked about why there's so much conflicting information about feeding kids, and Jennifer debunks many of the common picky eating myths such as “kids will eat when they're hungry,” and “just keep serving the same foods and they'll eventually try it.” You'll walk away feeling reassured that you're doing a great job as a parent and that there is hope no matter how picky your kid is. 1:48 Let's talk about your story! 3:11 What exactly is “picky eating,” and how common is it? 4:25 What are myths around picky eating severity? 8:52 Why do you think there's so much conflicting information for parents about feeding kids? 16:54 Let's start debunking the myths. The first one is: all kids are picky eaters. 17:44 “My child's pediatrician said everything is fine, so I'm not going to worry.” 20:43 A child needs a certain amount of exposures of the same food until they're willing to try it.  23:40 Picky eating is a phase. 25:14 Is there research that shows that if kids are picky eaters they'll continue that way into young adulthood? 27:27 Kids will eat when they're hungry.  29:39 There's so much shame and guilt put on parents today and they feel picky eating is their fault. 32:56 Pureeing vegetables and sneaking them into meals will get kids out of their picky eating habits. 34:57 Put your child in front of the TV so they'll eat.  36:32 Talking about the health benefits of certain foods can encourage kids to eat them.  39:32 Bribing kids with dessert can get them to eat the food you want them to eat.  LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions the scientific term for picky eating is food neophobia.  Jennifer mentions that between 40% and 60% of parents say they have a child who is a picky eater. Julie mentions pediatricians get about 24 hours of nutrition education in medical school.  Julie mentions the “dessert deal,” coined by Dr. Dina Rose in her book, “It's Not About The Broccoli.” Learn more about Jennifer on KidsEatInColor.com. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 diabetes educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition and exercise. Lily is also the author of two bestselling books, "Real Food for Gestational Diabetes" and "Real Food for Pregnancy." Lily talks about why rates of gestational diabetes are on the rise, how your own mother's health can have an effect on your pregnancy, and which tests you should be asking for. She also talks about why a lot of guidance from providers about a gestational diabetes diet and what to eat during pregnancy may be contributing to the problem and what to do instead. 1:26 Let's talk about your story! 3:34 What is gestational diabetes?  7:00 Is there research that shows how many women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes have pre-diabetes or type-2 diabetes before becoming pregnant? 9:38 How common is gestational diabetes and what are the causes and risk factors? 11:59 Are there certain risk factors that you think are driving up rates of gestational diabetes? 14:17 How should women talk to their providers about which screening tools are right for them?  18:19 If you're diagnosed with gestational diabetes, what are the risks to you and your baby?  22:35 What is the conventional nutritional approach to treating gestational diabetes? 26:16 What is the gestational diabetes diet you think is best?  28:19 What are the best pregnancy superfoods to focus on to manage blood sugar? 33:38 Is keto safe during pregnancy? 37:25 How should women with gestational diabetes approach exercise? 39:03 Studies show gestational diabetes increases your risk for type-2 diabetes. What should women do after pregnancy to reduce their risk?  LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Lily mentions that the California Diabetes and Pregnancy Program (CDAPP) Sweet Success recommends using HbA1c as a first trimester screening tool for gestational diabetes. Lily talks about this 2015 study in JAMA which found that between 49% and 52% of the population have either type-2 diabetes or prediabetes. Lily mentions the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (HAPO) study. Lily mentions this 2015 study in the Journal of Nutrition that shows protein requirements in late pregnancy (32-28 weeks) are 73% higher than the current recommendations. Julie mentions that the recommendations for exercise during pregnancy are 150 minutes a week yet research shows women aren't meeting them. Purchase a copy of Lily Nichols' books, "Real Food for Gestational Diabetes" and "Real Food for Pregnancy." Learn more about Lily Nichols' online course, “Real Food For Gestational Diabetes.” Learn more about Lily Nichols on her website, LilyNicholsRDN.com, and follow her on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO,

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 different things and that kids can be labeled as picky eaters when there's actually something else going on such as food allergies, constipation, or sensory processing disorder. She talks about what she calls the “5Ps of picky eating,” how to figure out why your kid won't eat certain foods —or eat enough— and how to encourage your kids to be healthy eaters.  1:49 Let's talk about your story! 5:18 Studies show about 50% of kids are “picky eaters” but so much of the solutions for parents are recipes, meals ideas, and fun ways to turn food into art projects. But you say food and eating are two different ideas—explain! 8:05 What have you discovered from your research and training in the SOS feeding approach to feeding? 10:58 Do you think our perspective about feeding kids in the U.S. is doing our kids a disservice? 13:30 Can kids be incorrectly labeled as picky eaters? 17:18 What are your 5Ps of picky eating? 22:40 What are your best tips to investigate these issues and get help? 24:57 Regardless of what is going on with your kid, what are your best tips for getting picky eating kids to eat healthy? 29:00 What are ways to instill a healthy relationship with food? 32:00 Although it's not about the food, can new recipes, meal ideas, and food art projects encourage kids to eat healthy? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions that Katie Kimball was on season #1 of “Food Issues” in the episode, “Cooking With Kids Through COVID-19.” Katie talks about the SOS Approach To Feeding and Kay A. Toomey, Ph.D. Katie mentions that approximately 15% of children have sensory processing issues. Julie mentions Katie's TEDx Talk, “Picky Eating Isn't About the Food.” Learn more about Katie Kimball on KitchenStewardship.com and her Kids Cook Real Food ecourse. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 thousands of families improve their health and wellness by establishing healthier eating habits as a family with her Family KickStart Program and weekly meal plans. Laura is also the author of 5 cookbooks, including her most recent title, Clean Treats for Everyone: Healthy Desserts and Snacks Made with Simple, Real Food Ingredients, an entrepreneur, public speaker, and spokesperson.  Laura explains how to make meal planning easy and enjoyable, how you can save 5 hours of cooking and cleaning in just one hour a week, and how to make cooking enjoyable even if your kids don't eat what you make. Her realistic meal planning ideas will give you a ton of inspiration in the kitchen and make mealtimes pleasurable again.  Welcome 2:34 Let's talk about your story! 7:02 More people took up home cooking during the pandemic and it seems it's a trend that has stuck, but parents are too busy and stressed to cook. How do we bring back the joy to cooking? 10:00 Why is it not a good idea to become a short-order cook? 12:10 When we hear meal planning, we think it's time-consuming, complicated, and overwhelming. True?  22:39 What's the easiest way to get started with meal planning? 26:11 You say people can save 5 hours of cooking and cleaning in one hour a week. How is that possible? 30:14 What are some ways to find healthy, delicious recipes that everyone will enjoy? 35:00 What are your favorite tips for making the most of your meals? 38:54 What do you think about the meal kit subscriptions? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions this 2022 survey which found 39% of people are cooking 3 to 5 times a week and this 2021 survey which shows parents are too busy and stressed to cook. Laura mentions her popular chili recipe.  Laura talks about her experience with Blue Apron.  Learn more about Laura Fuentes on MOMables.com, and follow her on YouTube and Instagram.  FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 doesn't work. There are wonderful midwives, lactation consultants, and La Leche League support groups women can turn to, but even among the medical community, there's no consensus about how to analyze and treat moms and babies. Perhaps even more surprising is that terms like "posterior tongue tie" and "lip tie" may not be accurate and can lead moms to make uninformed decisions.  In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Linda D. Dahl, an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor in New York City and the author of the new book, “Better Breastfeeding."  Dr. Dahl started her own breastfeeding practice and developed a methodology to help moms breastfeed without pain. She has treated more than 23,000 baby/mom pairs over nearly two decades with a nearly 90% success rate.  We talked about the latest research around breastfeeding rates in the U.S., the most common breastfeeding myths, and the surprising reason many moms have breastfeeding pain and aren't able to breastfeed. We also explore how moms can figure out what's going on with their babies, where they can turn for help, and what needs to change in the U.S. to better support them.  Welcome 1:57 Let's talk about your story! 5:07 “Breast is best” continuous to be a hot button issue for women in the U.S. Why do you think that is and what needs to change?  9:44 What does the latest research show about breastfeeding rates in the U.S.? 11:19 In what way do you think the U.S. and the healthcare system are failing moms? 15:36 What are common breastfeeding challenges? 19:30 How do you figure out what's going on in your baby's mouth and address it? 24:27 How do you know if the procedure is indicated? 28:13 What are the other breastfeeding obstacles that you learned about while researching your book? 29:02 What are the most common myths about breastfeeding? 30:57 Where can moms turn to start investigating the issue at hand and get support?  33:02 Where can moms turn if they can't afford care? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Dr. Dahl talks about The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and the origins of La Leche League  Dr. Dahl mentions data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in November 2021 which shows 84.1% of infants start to breastfeed, but only 58.3% are breastfeeding at 6 months.  Purchase a copy of Dr. Dahl's book, "Better Breastfeeding."  Learn more about Dr. Dahl on her website DrLindaDahl.com and follow her on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives,

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 Studios, three medical nutrition therapy practices, and a workplace wellness corporation. Jim is also a go-to media expert and has been quoted in thousands of publications and featured in hundreds of television and radio segments nationwide including ABC Family Channel, Today, TLC, Radio Disney, GQ, Men's Health, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and more. He's also a former spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Jim and I talked about how much added sugar kids are really getting, the common sources of added sugars in restaurant meals, and what to look for—and what to avoid—when eating out. Welcome 2:05 Let's talk about your story! 3:50 Why should kids avoid and limit added sugars? 7:52 What are the recommendations for added sugars and how can parents easily measure and track their kids' consumption?  9:57 How do you figure out the sugar content in restaurant meals?  11:38 Infants and toddlers are consuming too much added sugar. Why do we need to pay more attention to this?  18:46 What are the common sources of sugar in restaurant meals? 20:44 Are there other ingredients we should be leery of? 22:03 Can kids eat sushi and raw fish? 23:17 What are easy tips for parents when they're eating out and dining out? 26:15 What are your best recommendations for fast food? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Jim talks about his business which consists of three fitness studios, three medical nutrition therapy practices, and a workplace wellness corporation. Jim is also the founder of the LIFT Fitness Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps the homeless.   Jim mentions this 2020 study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics which found 84.4% of infants and toddlers consumed added sugars on a given day. Jim mentions this study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which found between 2017–2018, the average daily intake of added sugars was 17 teaspoons for children.  Jim talks about the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations for added sugar in kids' diets. Jim talks about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children in the U.S.  Jim mentions the film, Super Size Me. Learn more about Jim White on his website JimWhiteFit.com FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 her new book, “Responsive Feeding: The Baby-First Guide to Stress-Free Weaning, Healthy Eating, and Mealtime Bonding.” Melanie talks about what responsive feeding is, what the research shows about its benefits—and how it can help you raise a healthy eater—and how to get started whether you're feeding your baby purees or doing baby-led weaning. She also talks about the signs your baby may have a feeding disorder and where you can turn to for help. Welcome 2:20 Let's talk about your story! 3:46 A lot of people don't know you can turn to a speech-language pathologist for feeding difficulties. What should people know? 4:52 What are the most common questions new parents have about feeding their babies?  5:47 Do you think there's a lot of anxiety around feeding babies? 6:14 Is responsive feeding new and is it only for babies? 8:11 What are the major tenants around responsive feeding? 10:23 Where do you think the fear-driven mentality that we need to get our babies to eat more originates from? 11:52 Is there research about responsive feeding?  14:32 Is responsive feeding time-consuming? 15:47 Why is responsive feeding so important right now in the U.S.? 21:27 How do parents know their baby might be hungry? 27:27  Purees and baby-led weaning can be a part of the responsive feeding model. What should parents know? 28:36 For working moms who have a caregiver or have their children in daycare, what are some tips?  30:25 For kids with special needs, sensory disorders, or feeding disorders, where should parents go to get help, and can they still follow responsive feeding? 32:56 What are the signs that may indicate your child has a feeding disorder? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Melanie mentions that responsive feeding has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Unicef, and the World Health Organization (WHO). Melanie talks about the U.S. Dietary Guidelines 2020-2025. Melanie mentions this study which found that moms who practiced responsive feeding had babies who were more than twice as likely to accept bites of a meal.  Learn more about Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP on her website and follow her on YouTube and Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 blog Fit Mama Real Food. Heather is a certified nutrition coach, a certified group fitness instructor, a recipe developer, food photographer, and author of the new book, Everyday Muffin Party. Heather talks about what a real-food kitchen is and how to get started, plus the best pantry staples to have on hand, how to use your freezer to make your life easier, and how to save time in the kitchen. She also talks about easy, realistic ways to encourage your kids to eat healthy. Welcome 2:07 Let's talk about your story! 4:09 Most kids are eating too many ultra-processed foods. Why is this something parents should be thinking about more?  5:57 What are your tips for packing real, whole foods for school? 7:06 Do you rely on processed foods to make your life easier? 8:25 Why is it more important than ever that parents focus on mostly real, whole foods? 12:59 What is a real food kitchen? 14:56 What is important to keep in mind as you're setting up your real food kitchen?  17:22 What are the first steps to get started? 18:56 What are the pantry staples you like to have? 20:7 What are ways we can make healthier swaps?  23:05 How can we use the freezer to make our lives easier? 26:14 What are your best tips for encouraging kids to eat more real foods? 28:56 You have a new book: tell us about it! LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions that she was a guest on Heather's podcast, Fit Mama Real Food.  Julie mentions recent research that shows kids are eating too much ultra-processed foods. Julie talks about the NOVA Food Classification System Julie mentions MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Learn more about Heather on FitMamaRealFood.com and follow her on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 Guide to Healthy Eating” teaches kids about the differences between healthy and unhealthy foods, and helps them learn how to eat foods that are good and that God intended for us to eat. Susan talks about what the Bible says about food, and whether or not God cares about what we feed our kids. She also offers easy ways you can move away from processed foods and include more real food in your kids' diet, how to get them excited about healthy eating, and how we can all stop striving for perfect meals. Welcome 1:48 Let's talk about your story! 3:29 Food isn't something Christians talk about so what does God say about our bodies, the food we eat, and our eating habits? 5:12 What do you think about some Christians who believe we shouldn't eat meat? 7:27 What are your favorite Bible verses about food? 8:23 Does God care what we eat and feed our kids? 9:06 Why do you find that it's hard for families to stick to eating more real, whole foods? 12:47 In the U.S., all we think about is food. I love Matthew 6:25. How can we use this guidance in our lives? 17:50 Church is one place where food can be a main focus: events, classes, and of course, the candy for kids after they recite a Bible verse. Thoughts? 20:19 Parents are stressed and turning to food. What does the Bible say about overeating, emotional eating, etc? 22:18 In your book, you talk about “God's food?” What is it? 23:53 It's completely impossible to avoid processed foods so how do you approach that?  24:23 What do you recommend for parents who are looking to move from mostly processed foods to real foods?  26:56 I love how you break the book down into questions: why did God plant a garden? and Why did He give you fruits, vegetables, seeds? How can we talk to our kids about these ideas? 28:40 Are there ways to glorify God with our food and meals?  LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie talks about "Made to Crave" by Lysa TerKeurst. Susan talks about her books, “Healthy Living Series: 3 Books in 1: 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates” and “Eat God's Food:  A Kid's Guide to Healthy Eating.” Learn more about Susan U. Neal on her website. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

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 and get organized in the kitchen. In addition to saving money, she teaches people how to enjoy cooking again and feel less stressed and overwhelmed with feeding their families every single night. Erin lets us in on the sneaky ways you can spend too much at the grocery store, her favorite budget-friendly foods, and where to shop to get the best deals. She also talks about meal planning, apps, and how to eat healthy on a budget.  Welcome 1:58 Let's talk about your story! 3:05 Why are food prices so high and should we expect they will keep increasing? 5:13 What are some surprising ways you can unintentionally spend extra money? 9:50 How can we eat healthy and still save money? 10:02 How do we determine the unit price of food and save money on groceries? 15:00 What are your favorite budget-friendly foods? 16:25 Can buying frozen fruits and vegetables help you save money? 19:29 Is online grocery shopping a good way to save money? 22:40 Are there better retailers than others where you can save money? 25:13 What about the local butcher or farmers' market? 26:24 Writing a grocery list or using a grocery shopping list app is simple so how can it help you to save money? 27:26 What's the easiest way to do meal planning? 31:00 Is Wednesday the best day of the week to save money? 31:58 Do you have a favorite cashback or discount app? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions that she interviewed Erin for FIRST for Women magazine. Julie mentions this recent study which found food prices are up 6.4% over the past year. Erin mentions Sprouts stores. Erin mentions the Flipp app and Julie mentions the Fetch Rewards app. Learn more about Erin on 5DollarDinners.com and follow her on Instagram.  FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. 

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 psychiatrist, professional chef, nutrition specialist, and author of the national best-seller, “This Is Your Brain On Food.” We talked about what research shows about the role of diet in ADHD, and if it can take the place of medication. We also talked about which foods to avoid and which ones to focus on, nutritional deficiencies and anti-inflammatory foods, as well as quick and easy tips to pull together healthy meals and snacks every day.  Welcome 3:29 Let's start with your story!  6:36 We've all heard about ADHD, but what exactly is it and what is going on in the brain? 8:36 Can ADHD show up in other ways such as hyper-focus?  9:00 Why does it seem so many kids are being diagnosed with ADHD? 9:56 Do you think most doctors are too quick to prescribe medication? 12:45 Can diet work in place of medication and/or therapy for kids with ADHD? 16:23 How does a parent go about figuring out if their kids have nutritional deficiencies? 18:11 What does research show about gut health and ADHD? 19:35 What are your tips for getting kids to consume fermented foods? 21:33 Can food allergies and food sensitivities make ADHD symptoms worse? 22:02 Are there foods kids with ADHD should void?  22:35 What should parents keep in mind when they're trying to overhaul their kid's diet? 25:34 What are some good supplements for kids with ADHD? 26:38 Should parents eliminate gluten and dairy? 28:30 Can essential oils work? 29:23 How can parents deal with shame or guilt if they can't stick to the diet 100%? 30:25 What are your best tips for getting healthy meals on the table quickly and easily? 32:11 What can parents do if they want to go the route of nutritional psychology?  3:06 What are your favorite recipes from the book, “This Is Your Brain On Food.” LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Dr. Naidoo talks about this 2021 study which suggests those with ADHD are prone to have low levels of zinc. Dr. Naidoo also talks about this 2021 study out of Stanford which found fermented foods reduce inflammation.  Julie mentions she has used this Vetiver essential oil to help her child with focus.  Purchase Dr. Naidoo's book, “This Is Your Brain On Food.” Learn more about Dr. Naidoo on her website UmaNaidooMD.com and follow her on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener.    Thrive Market  Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift.  Vitamix 

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 risk for postpartum depression and mood disorders and the myths about nutrition after giving birth. We also talk about the best nutrients and superfoods, how many extra calories you need while breastfeeding, how to lose the baby weight in a healthy way, and how food can speed up the healing process.  Welcome 3:21 Let's talk about your story! 4:50 We all know postpartum nutrition is important, but why exactly? 6:44 What does research show about the role that diet plays in the risk for mental illness during the postpartum period?  9:26 What are myths about nutrition during the postpartum period and while breastfeeding? 10:09 What are your best tips for healthy weight loss?  15:01 What are the nutrients moms should focus on? 17:00 For women who are vegetarian or vegan, how can they get essential amino acids?  17:35 What are the best superfoods for the postpartum period? 19:03 What are foods that can speed up the healing process from childbirth?  20:59 What is collagen and how should moms consume it? 23:53 Do women need supplements and how do they go about figuring out which ones they need? 25:46 If women are breastfeeding, how many extra calories do they need and are there foods they should focus on? 29:45 Are probiotic-rich foods important during the postpartum period? 31:35 Are there foods women should avoid after giving birth?  32:47 Should women eat snacks throughout the day? 34:31 Moms are so exhausted and busy when they have a newborn. What are your best tips for making healthy eating easy? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Learn more about Kaleigh McMordie on her blog Lively Table. Follow Kaleigh McMordie on Instagram and Facebook. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener.    Thrive Market  Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift.  Vitamix  Unlike other blenders, the Vitamix blends everything up into a super-smooth consistency, much like a juicer would, except you get all the nutritious fiber that regular juicers leave behind. Yet Vitamix is for so much more than smoothies.  Every Vitamix has an entire range of textures to choose from so you can use it to make dips and spreads, nut and seed butters, hummus and guacamole, muffins, pizza dough, plant-based milk, and frozen treats. Vitamix has been around for 70 years and all of their blenders are powerful, durable, and built to last, and come with a full warranty.

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 a nation should take a closer look at.  As we continue this season focused on “food as medicine,” I sat down with Jess Cording, a registered dietitian, health coach, writer, and author of "The Little Book of Game Changers: 50 Healthy Habits for Managing Stress & Anxiety." Cording and I talked about why rates of anxiety are on the rise in kids, what research shows about gut health and the role that food and diet play, and if diet alone can prevent and treat anxiety. We also talked about foods to avoid, the best nutrients and superfoods to focus on, and if fermented foods, probiotics, and spices can help. Finally, Cording offered up easy ways for both and kids and parents to better cope with anxiety.  Welcome 3:30 Let's talk about your story! 9:45 Kids have a lot to be anxious about today. When a parent is concerned, what's the first step? 12:45 What does research tell us about the role that diet plays in causing, increasing symptoms of, and reducing anxiety? 15:03 What does research tell us about the role of gut health and anxiety? 16:48 How can ultra-processed foods affect kids' gut health and mental health? 20:14 Can diet alone prevent or treat anxiety in kids? 23:43 Can dehydration lead to symptoms of anxiety? 24:22  What are the best nutrients to focus on to help ease symptoms? 29:26 Should kids take a probiotic or are fermented foods best? 30:34 How do we get fish in our kids' diets? 32:59 Can spices like turmeric help with anxiety? 35:54 Why is it important to have meals with fiber, protein, and healthy fats especially if your kid has anxiety? 36:39 What are some healthy snack ideas?   38:20 What are your favorite tips for parents dealing with high levels of stress and anxiety?  42:56 Tell us about your second book. LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions she has interviewed Jess Cording for stories for EverydayHealth including, “12 Potential Signs You're Eating Too Much Sugar.” Julie talks about her interview on Jess Cording's podcast, “Drama-Free Healthy Living with Jess Cording.” Julie mentions research that shows kids are eating mostly ultra-processed foods. Jess mentions the Headspace app for kids. Julie and Jess talk about this study, which found 71% of U.S. children consume caffeine on a given day. Julie mentions she uses turmeric to make Golden Milk. Grab a copy of Jess Cording's book, "The Little Book of Game Changers: 50 Healthy Habits for Managing Stress & Anxiety." Learn more about Jess Cording on her website. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.  Subscribe and listen to Jess Cording's podcast “Drama Free Healthy Living with Jess Cording.”  FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener.    Thrive Market  Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products.

Clean eating has been trendy for years, but it hasn't been without controversy from those who say it can lead to eating disorders. There's also no standard definition for the term nor is it regulated, so there's been a lot of confusion about what it actually means. In this episode, I sat down with Michelle Dudash, an award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist, Cordon Bleu-certified chef, founder of Dash Dinners Spice Kits, and a television personality. She is also the author of the top-selling cookbook Clean Eating for Busy Families as well as Clean Eating Kitchen: The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook. We talked about the benefits of clean eating for kids and how to move from processed foods to real food, but still make room for your kids' favorite snacks. We also covered how to save money, save time, and get healthy meals on the table everyday, and Michelle talked about her favorite clean-eating recipes for kids.  Welcome 3:17 Let's talk about your story! 4:34 What is “clean eating?” 5:33 What does research show us about the benefits of clean eating? 7:25 Why is clean eating vital for kids?  9:40 What myths are there about clean eating? 13:24 What foods should parents focus on? 16:05 What are the best chicken and beef options?  18:11 What are the best drinks for kids?  20:23 What are some foods kids should avoid and is some processing ok? 21: 59 Does clean eating mean avoiding gluten and dairy? 23:47 What are easy tips for families to get more whole foods in their diets and follow a clean-eating approach? 27:03 If your kid has been eating a lot of processed foods and is a picky eater, how can you encourage healthier eating habits? 28:29 As kids get older, there are more opportunities for them to eat processed foods. How can parents encourage healthy eating habits without being too restrictive? 3:04 Can a hyper-focus on clean eating lead to disordered eating? 33:28 How can families follow a clean eating plan on a budget?  35:14 What are your best tips for busy families to get healthy “clean" meals and snacks on the table?  37:50 What are your favorite recipes from your book? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions this 2021 study that found there's no standard definition of “clean eating.” Julie mentions the NOVA Food Classification System Julie mentions her interview for Food Issues with Dr. Sheila Kilbane, “Help! My Kid Is Always Sick.” Julie talks about using the Pampered Chef pan for making homemade chicken nuggets. Michelle mentions her Dash Dinners Spice Kits. Grab a copy of Michelle Dudash's books, Clean Eating for Busy Families and Clean Eating Kitchen: The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook. Learn more about Michelle Dudash on her website and follow her on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener.    Thrive Market  Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift.  Vitamix 

During the fall and winter months, we're all thinking about colds and the flu and how to keep our kids healthy. We often read about foods and natural ways to boost immunity but the immune system is more complex than we realize.  In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Heather Moday, an immunologist, allergist, and functional medicine doctor, and author of a new book, The Immunotype Breakthrough. We talked about how the immune system works, why boosting the immune system may not always be the best idea, and the effects that COVID-19 may have on our kids' health. We also talked about the best nutrients, superfoods, and healthy habits that help support our kids' immune systems.  Welcome 3:17 Let's talk about your story! 5:25 Can you give us a primer on the immune system?  8:10 What happens to a child's immune system as they grow? 9:53 We hear a lot about “boosting” our immune systems, but I read that you say balance is more important—why? 13:12 What should parents know about COVID-19 at this stage of the game?  16:22 What do you think about the COVID-19 vaccine for kids? 17:29 Do experts expect to see—or are they already seeing—certain types of illnesses in kids this year? 19:08 Are there long-term effects to a kid's immune system because of COVID-19 masking, social distancing, etc.? 21:00 What are the best ways parents can keep their kids healthy this fall and winter?  22:21 What are foods kids should avoid? 23:38 There's controversy around the term “leaky gut syndrome,” so is it legitimate? 26:57 Which nutrients should kids focus on? 27:23 Are vitamin D, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids important for the immune system? 29:12 What are the best superfoods for kids? 30:27 Should kids take probiotics? 31:56 Should kids with allergies, eczema, and food allergies take antioxidants and probiotics? 32:54 How can parents make sure their kids are getting enough sleep—and quality sleep—every night? 34:59 How can parents get activity and exercise in their kids' days? 36:34 Kids are under a ton of stress, which can affect your immune systems. What can parents do to help their kids?  LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions the “Food Issues” episode with Dr. Tracy Shafizadeh from Evolve BioSystems and Evivo. Julie mentions that her young daughter had a severe case of COVID-19. Dr. Moday talks about Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) and Kawasaki disease. Grab a copy of Dr. Moday's new book, The Immunotype Breakthrough. Learn more about Dr. Moday at ModayCenter.com and follow her on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener.    Thrive Market  Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift.  Vitamix  Unlike other blenders, the Vitamix blends everything up into a super-smooth consistency, much like a juicer would, except you get all the nutritious fiber that regular juicers leave behind.