Lift the Shame: Mothering Free From Diet Culture, Food Guilt, and Body Shame

Are your post-holiday struggles with food and body image leaving you feeling lost and guilty? I'm Crystal, your host and intuitive eating dietitian, and today I'll be sharing my personal journey, along with practical tips to help you lift the shame. I'll be your guide as we navigate these struggles, highlight the power of self-compassion, and understand the importance of prioritizing self-care. We'll also chat about the benefits of seeking support and connection to effectively manage food guilt and body shame. Ready to break free from the cycle of binging and restricting, especially during the holiday season? We'll unveil strategies and benefits of adopting a more automatic approach to feeding ourselves to ensure you're getting enough to eat. We're also going to address the overlooked issue of under eating and its relation to feeling out of control around food. Together, we'll reflect on our eating experiences, pinpointing physical or emotional triggers that might lead to overeating. By the end of our time together, you'll be equipped with invaluable insights to ditch diet culture, heal your relationship with food and body, and raise intuitive eaters confidently. So, let's embark on this healing journey together!Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

As the holiday season rolls around, we're embraced by the warmth of family gatherings, yet often find ourselves confronting the frosty undercurrent of diet culture. In today's heartfelt episode of Lift the Shame, I, Crystal your intuitive eating dietitian, share my personal experiences and insights into arming our precious children against the ingrained food traditions and body image remarks that can sour our festive spirit. With a focus on creating a secure relationship built on trust and open communication, I offer a nurturing guide for parents to help their little ones affirm their food choices and body autonomy—because when we empower our kids to stand tall against generational pressures, we're also mending our own childhood stories and breaking free from the cycle of shame.In our gathering today, we not only discuss strategies for fostering resilience in our children but also how we can prepare them to be their own champions in the face of societal norms. I delve into the nuances of family dynamics and how we can proactively support our kids to voice their insecurities and maintain a steadfast belief in themselves, even in our absence. The journey through proactive parenting is filled with practical tips and heartfelt scripts that you as a parent can adapt, all while ensuring our actions resonate with sincerity and genuine engagement. So come join me as we build a resilient foundation for our children, helping them to navigate not just this holiday season, but their entire futures, with a healthy, autonomous relationship with food and their bodies.Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Ever wondered how to navigate the difficult terrain of parenting during the festive season while breaking free from the chains of family trauma and shame? This heartening episode of Lift the Shame is your guiding compass. Equipped with insights from a recent parenting conference and personal experiences, we tackle the high-pressure responsibilities that come with holidays and the compulsion to overcompensate. We stress on the necessity of self-care and the courage to keep your mental health at the forefront. Remember, the ultimate goal is to create a secure bonding with your children and build a nurturing environment. The second part of our discussion meanders towards the seldom-addressed issue of grieving and its link to parenting. We unfold the significance of the grieving process, its individuality, and the indispensable need for supportive companions. We illuminate different facets of grieving and introduce the concept of re-parenting oneself. It's a journey of self-discovery and growth, not a destination. Be kind, forgive, and allow yourself to grieve for what you didn't have. This empowers you to move forward and provide your children with a healing touch. This episode is a gentle nudge towards self-acceptance and creating a safe space for your emotional health.Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Navigating the murky waters of food dyes and their potential impact on children's behavior can be overwhelming. It's a topic that has puzzled scientists and parents alike, stirring up a sea of mixed research and inconclusive results. As a mother of neurodivergent children, I've walked this path, wrestling with research studies, and trying to make sense of it all. I've been sharing my personal journey and learnings about food dyes, guiding you on how to critically analyze these studies, and helping you draw your own conclusions.In the midst of these perplexing questions, I emphasize the importance of safeguarding our children's relationship with food and maintaining a holistic perspective on their health. Join me in this conversation, where we lift the veil of shame associated with food, and aim to foster a healthy, responsible approach to eating.Show Links: [Blog Post]: Does Sugar Make Kids Hyper? 5 Reasons Why Your Child Has a Sugar HighQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

As mothers, we're not just feeding our children; we're helping them build a lifelong relationship with food, their bodies, and their self-image. This journey becomes particularly challenging during candy-centered holidays like Halloween. In this episode, we delve into the tools, strategies, and proactive understanding needed to navigate these sugar-coated occasions. We'll start by focusing on understanding our children's individual needs, temperaments, and personalities to foster a positive rapport with food and their bodies.As a parent, do you find certain situations triggering? We've been there too, and we believe that the key to mindful parenting lies in recognizing our triggers. As we discuss our children's strong emotions and our own body size and appetite, we challenge the belief that restricting our children's food access or body size will keep them safe. Discover how such triggers can surface during candy-centered holidays and how we can use them to show up as better parents.Lastly, we'll share our experiences and tips for handling triggers and parenting challenges during these holidays. Embracing the need to be gentle with ourselves, recognizing our triggers, and addressing them proactively is crucial. Learn how to ask for support when needed and communicate your love and acceptance for your children. Join us as we emphasize the importance of repairing situations with our children, apologize when we mess up, and show them that it's okay to be human. Embark on this journey with us to raising courageous, confident, and resilient children.Show Links:[Podcast Episode]: "Your Step-by-Step Halloween Candy Game Plan to Rewrite the Script on Sweets"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Are you ready to revolutionize the way your household perceives and interacts with candy? If so, our comprehensive discussion on understanding and navigating the world of sweets with your children is a must-listen. By breaking away from the societal stigmas surrounding sweets, we elucidate the significance of nurturing a healthy relationship with food, particularly candy. Rather than demonizing these treats, we highlight the importance of teaching our children to self-regulate their intake.As we venture through our own experiences with food, we shed light on how these can shape our approach to introducing sweets to our children. We delve into the concept of creating a safe space for our children to explore various foods, especially sweets. This inclusion of sweets on special occasions like Halloween or birthdays is instrumental in aiding our children's understanding of self-regulation and trust in their bodies. As we transition into the holiday season, we share key insights on how to navigate these candy-centric occasions. We encourage trust and learning through experience, fostering positive relationships with food. Join us as we debunk societal food myths and foster a new generation of intuitive eaters.Show Links: [FREE Halloween Workshop]: "Rewrite the Script on Halloween Sweets to Help Your Kids Self-Regulate Sugar!"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Ever wonder why we're so quick to snatch that Halloween candy from our kids? What if, instead of demonizing sweets, we use them as a tool for teaching self-regulation and a healthy relationship with food? This is the intriguing conversation we unpack in today's episode, challenging the tradition of the SwitchWitch and the potential negative implications it may pose.We expose the potential pitfalls of the Switch Witch tradition, such as fostering distrust and negative associations with food in our children. The language and strategies we use around candy consumption can significantly affect our children's perception of food. We're not just talking candy here; we're examining the broader issue of how our actions and words can influence our children's relationship with all kinds of food. Wrapping up, we pivot towards a more positive approach to managing the Halloween candy mania. We ditch the Switch Witch in favor of legalizing candy, allowing our children to keep their treats as an expression of trust. We walk you through a free workshop on rewriting the script on Halloween sweets and even suggest how to handle the candy surplus that your kids aren't interested in eating, such as donating to our troops overseas. So join us to discover a fresh perspective on navigating the sweet-filled world of Halloween traditions.Show Links: [FREE Halloween Workshop]: "Rewrite the Script on Halloween Sweets to Help Your Kids Self-Regulate Sugar!"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Are you feeling spooked by the avalanche of Halloween treats your child is about to encounter? As a dietitian and a mom, I understand your apprehensions. However, it's time to unmask the myths and fears around sweets. This week, we're starting a mini-series that's going to help parents like you build a healthy, guilt-free relationship between your child and sweets. We'll start by examining the fears around sugar and why it's crucial not to create a hierarchy of food. We'll also delve into the science behind sugar metabolism and the harmful pressures you may be under about your kids' consumption of sweets.What if you - and your children - could enjoy Halloween without the guilt or worry about sugar? It's possible, and I'm going to show you how. We'll be pulling apart the simplistic and false messaging around sugar that only serves to fuel fear. We'll question why we often allow our children to have multiple serves of vegetables, but not sweets, and why such invisible hierarchies can disrupt your child's intuitive eating abilities. We'll also discuss the biochemistry of sugar and how our bodies metabolize it from various sources, including fruits, grains, dairy, and sweets.Lastly, we're going to confront the larger health picture and the fear-mongering tactics often used to sell products. We'll debunk the myth that eating sweets directly causes diseases like diabetes and look at the real dangers of restricting sugar for our children. I want you to feel empowered to guide your children in cultivating a healthy, positive, and guilt-free relationship with sweets. Let's embark on this journey together and create a Halloween season that's both fun and free from food stress. Don't miss out on this enlightening exploration.Show Links: [FREE WORKSHOP]: "Rewrite the Script on Halloween Sweets to Help Your Kids Self-Regulate Sugar!"[FREE GUIDE]: "5 Reasons Your Child's Obsessed With Sugar and How to Resolve It"[Blog Post]: "5 Myths About Sugar and Kids: Sugar and Diabetes Myth Vs Fact"[Blog Post]: "Sugar Addiction Myth: Is My Child Addicted to Sugar?"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

What if diet culture in schools is more impactful than we think? That's what we'll be exploring today, holding up a magnifying glass to the subtle influences our children encounter and discussing how we, as parents, can support them in navigating these murky waters. We'll be examining the systemic issue of curriculum standards at a state and nationwide level, and asking the tough questions about the necessity of health or nutrition lessons.We're not just challenging the status quo but also talking solutions. We'll be weighing in on the power of food education, a subject distinct from health or nutrition curriculum and an essential tool to discuss food in a neutral, non-judgemental way. Plus, we're going to be diving into the importance of making our children media literate and empowering them to critically evaluate the information they are exposed to. The goal? To equip you, dear listener, with the tools you need to foster positive relationships with food and body image for your children. Let's get into it!Show Links: Podcast Episode: "So You Want Your Kids to Be Healthy?"Lift the Shame Virtual Support GroupQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Are your children being influenced by diet culture without you even knowing? We're peeling back the layers on how diet culture sneaks into classrooms, curriculum, standardized tests, and sports teams. As parents, it's impossible to shield our children entirely from these harmful messages. Instead, we need to arm them with the ability to challenge these narratives with sound critical thinking. We'll talk about the importance of maintaining a calm presence and best practices to handle unsettling situations related to diet culture at school.Understand that your child's behaviors often communicate their emotional state. We'll explore how to tune into these signals and comprehend how their environment may be impacting them. The creation of a hierarchy around food can have unintended consequences, leading to confusion, shame, and anxiety in children. We delve into the necessity of advocating for our children in such scenarios. Learn how to effectively approach conversations with teachers and send clear messages to your child's school. Together, we can lift the shame around food and body image, creating a healthier relationship with food for our children. Let's start this important conversation.Show Links: Lunch Box CardLetter Regarding Harmful School Assignment With Diet CultureLetter Regarding Food Policing at SchoolLift the Shame - Free Virtual Support Group for ParentsQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Hey mama, ever felt disheartened seeing your child encounter diet culture outside of your safe home environment? Well, it's time to arm them with critical thinking skills to navigate this tricky landscape. We're about to set out on an exploration of diet culture in schools, understanding its layers, and sharing our thoughts on how to lift this shame together.When was the last time you thought about the Presidential Fitness Test? Many of us might remember it as a harmless school ritual, but could it be a subtle harbinger of diet culture? This episode exposes the damaging impact of diet culture in our education system, specifically through the lens of such health campaigns. We share personal experiences of how such initiatives could potentially fuel eating disorders, body shaming, and undue comparisons, manifesting not just in schools but also doctors' offices, social media, and other forms of media.We also turn our spotlight on the unseen effects of diet culture on anti-bullying campaigns, curriculum, and statewide testing. The episode also discusses the pressures children might face when they're food policed at school, and how food shaming can lead to anxiety in children. Parents, we'll be sharing some tips and resources to support your children in navigating these issues. Buckle up for an enlightening journey that tackles the diet culture in our children's schools. Tune in and let's start lifting the shame together.Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Overwhelmed with the daunting task of packing your child's school lunch? Fear not, we're here to take on this challenge together. Equipped with tried-and-true techniques from my own experience and work with clients, this episode is a goldmine of practical advice to help you navigate the school year with a picky eater.First, we share a simple and fool-proof approach to assembling school lunches that are nutritious and enjoyable. We emphasize the three Ps - packaged items, protein and produce. Let's ditch any pressure or guilt associated with feeding our children and instead, focus on creating a relaxed and positive meal experience. Additionally, we reveal the perks of involving your child in the lunch-packing process. It not only makes the task fun and educational but also offers an opportunity to introduce varied produce options in an appealing way.Lastly, we address the importance of being responsive to our children's food interests and incorporating them into their school lunches. No food should be off-limits or put on a pedestal. We also highlight potential red flags in their eating habits at school. Tune in to learn how to build a positive food environment, set effective boundaries, and make sure there are healthy snacks to fill the gaps between meals. Together, let's ensure a great school year for our children!Shownotes Links:[Free Guide]: "Simplify Snacking: The Snack Guide For Busy Moms Raising Intuitive Eaters"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Ever felt like you're standing on the battleground every mealtime, with your picky eater child on the opposing side? You might be surprised to uncover that the roots of picky eating can be traced back to our own childhood experiences and narratives. This episode uncovers the deeper issues that influence our reactions to picky eating, urging us to look at our own food traumas and how they affect our attitudes towards our child's eating habits. It's a riveting journey into understanding why picky eating can be so triggering for us as parents, how it impacts our family dynamics, and the significance of acknowledging our own food narratives.Trigger alert! Dealing with our unresolved food trauma can lead to heightened reactions to our child's picky eating. This episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing our triggers and how understanding our own food story can help us in maneuvering through the maze of selective eating. In addition, we also examine how childhood experiences, neurodivergence, and unmet needs shape our relationship with food and our approach to our children's eating habits. We've also touched upon how our own neurodivergence, or that of our children, can affect our relationship with food, and how our needs as parents can often be overlooked.This isn't your regular advice episode. We're looking beyond short-term fixes and focusing more on raising intuitive eaters who can confidently trust their bodies. We're offering some valuable tips on how to create an environment of acceptance and understanding around food. But remember, it's not just about resolving picky eating, but also about understanding our triggers, practicing acceptance, decreasing our alarm responses, attending to our own needs, and giving ourselves grace.Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Celebrating a year of the Lift the Shame podcast, I, Crystal, am thrilled to take another lap around the sun with you as we tackle one of parenting's most intriguing dilemmas - picky eating. Have you ever felt like you're running in circles when it comes to feeding your little one? Trust me, you're not alone. Drawing from my personal journey in feeding my two selective eaters, we'll discuss various aspects of picky eating, from its emotional tug of war to its potential triggers. Who would've thought that making meals fun could amplify feeding difficulties? A recent study suggests so! Treading lightly on this path, we navigate the stress surrounding a picky eater's weight, nutrition, and health, offering solace and strategies to wriggle out of the anxiety. Remember, it's okay to be worried, but let's channel that concern into understanding and helping our little ones develop healthy eating habits.But be wary, moms, as we delve into the potential pitfalls of wielding nutrition info as a feeding stick. Respect your child's autonomy, let them explore at their own pace, and avoid making meal times a battleground. The feeding relationship is a delicate one, and your trust can make all the difference. So join me, as we shed the shame, embrace our mistakes, and journey towards fostering a healthier relationship with food for our children.Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Hey Mama, ever been steeped in shame and guilt over your child's picky eating habits? Take heart; you're not alone on this journey. I'm Crystal, your intuitive eating dietitian and mom of five, here to help unshackle you from the burden of those misconceptions. My experience with my own picky eaters has given me insights I'm eager to share. Let's start debunking those myths together, shall we? You're not spoiling your child by allowing them to enjoy their safe foods. Instead, you're creating a stress-free mealtime environment that helps your child bridge the gap between accepted foods and new ones.Now, let's talk health. It's a common belief that selective eaters are unhealthy - a myth that needs challenging. Health is nuanced and contextual, especially when it comes to our children. It's time to debunk the overestimated expectations we have about our kids' eating habits. A picky eater's nutrition may not be as dire as you might think. Our foods are fortified, and your child is probably getting the nutrients they need, even if their plate isn't a rainbow of different foods.To round off our myth-busting mission, we'll be addressing the impact of diet culture on our perceptions. Who said a child's reluctance to try different foods equates to parental failure? Not so, Mama. Our goal isn't to eradicate their picky eating tendencies, but rather to teach our children to become the best experts of their own bodies. Let's encourage them to trust and accept their unique eating experiences. It's time to lift the shame, embrace acceptance, and start raising intuitive eaters. Tune in, let's free ourselves and our kids from the guilt and expectations.Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Welcome back, mamas, to another episode where we challenge the myths of diet culture and the standards imposed on our children. As a mama of five and an intuitive eating dietitian, I've seen first-hand the impact of these standards, especially with two of my own kiddos who are selective eaters. We're going to debunk some common misconceptions about picky eating that often lead to stress and guilt. It's time we redefine the narrative around our children's eating habits. We start off by breaking down the myths that can make meal times more of a struggle than they need to be. Understanding the factors that influence a child's eating preferences, such as biology, genetics and sensory profiles, can help us feel less responsible and more understanding. Remember, there's no need to 'fix' a selective eater. Exposing our little ones to new foods is crucial but so is acknowledging and accepting their individual preferences. In our final chat, we tackle guilt – a common emotion that many of us parents feel when dealing with a picky eater. This guilt often leads to power struggles, creating a vicious cycle that benefits no one. We're going to talk about how to change the dialogue around selective eating and stop using labels like 'picky eater'. It's crucial to remember that the language our kids hear from us can become their inner dialogue. So let's end the shaming, embrace acceptance, and remind ourselves that we're doing the best we can. Join me on this journey to a more relaxed and enjoyable mealtime!Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Ever been swallowed by the raging waves of shame when it comes to your child's body and eating habits? You're not alone, mama. Join me, Crystal, as we tackle this pervasive issue head-on, creating a safe haven of acceptance and unconditional love for our little ones. This empowering episode focuses on the immense weight of shame many mothers carry, especially those healing their own relationship with food and their bodies.We delve into the tumultuous journey of our children's body transformations, particularly during the fragile stages of pre-adolescence and puberty. No subject is off-limits, as we scrutinize society's fat phobia, its influence on our children's eating habits, and the emotional turmoil it causes within us. Remember, it's okay to reach out, it's okay to feel, and it's okay to ask for help.Moreover, we shed light on how our childhood traumas can manifest in our parenting style, leading to the perpetuation of unhealthy generational cycles. But don't worry, we also explore the healing power of self-reflection, reparenting and the importance of understanding our own stories. After all, it's only by making peace with our past that we can fully accept and champion our children's narratives. Trust me, you – yes, you – are parenting superbly, and your kiddos are truly blessed to have you in their corner. Let's journey together towards a shame-free parenting experience.Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Ever grappled with your child's constant hunger pangs right after meals? Fear not, for this episode is designed to help you navigate those mealtime challenges and put your worries to rest. Together, we'll demystify why your child might be feeling hungry soon after a meal, helping you understand their needs better. We'll also delve into recognizing your triggers and finding ways to ensure your child knows that food is never off-limits. You're not alone in this - I'm right here with you, and we're going to tackle this together!This episode doesn't stop at troubleshooting; it digs deeper into the pivotal role of environment during mealtimes. We'll uncover how to create a nurturing and stress-free atmosphere that encourages your child to enjoy their food without pressure. It's not just about the food, rather the connection and relaxation that comes along with the meal. We'll discuss the importance of having regular eating schedules and self-care practices for parents. Let's redefine meal times together, transforming them into an enjoyable experience for both you and your child, and put an end to the legacy of diet culture in our homes for good.Show Links: [Podcast Episode]: School's Out For Summer: How to Deal With All the Food Requests?[Free Guide]: "Simplify Snacking: The Snack Guide For Busy Moms Raising Intuitive Eaters"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? As your trusted family dietitian, I'm here to debunk the myth that sweets and a healthy relationship with food can't coexist for your children. In this enlightening conversation, we delve into the critical reasons behind children's obsession with sweets and its impact on their behavior and concentration. We shed light on the difference between simple enjoyment and the unhealthy fixation with sweets, while guiding you on how to spot the signs early on.If you feel as though you've been taking steps to normalize sweets in your home but your child still seems obsessed with sugar - this episode is for you! Shownotes: [Podcast Episode]: "5 Positive Signs Your Child Has a Healthy Relationship With Sweets"[Sweets Audit]: Resolve Your Child's Preoccupation With Sweets With a Personalized, Done-for-you Plan! Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

What would it mean to you to finally break free from the generational legacy of body shaming and diet culture in your family? This is the thought-provoking question we're tackling today as we discuss the complex issue of supporting our children in building a better body image. During our conversation, we'll be answering a question from one of our listeners about their 11-year-old daughter who is currently struggling with negative body image.Our role as parents is not to prevent our children from feeling discomfort or disliking their bodies—these feelings are natural and part of the human experience. Instead, we aim to offer them a reassuring presence, to let them know they are not alone. We are not here to rescue our children from pain, but to guide them in learning how to tolerate these feelings and co-regulate with trusted individuals who can empathize with what they're going through. So, how can we best support our children in their journey towards a healthier body image? It's not about rushing to the quickest fix. It's about acknowledging their feelings and responding with empathy, not empty compliments. This episode emphasizes the importance of building a deeper, more meaningful connection with our children, one that fosters positive body images and nurtures their overall well-being. Join us, and let's explore together the best ways to navigate these challenging emotions and support our children's journey to self-acceptance.Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Hey mama, ever wondered how we can break the cycle of body shaming and build a positive body image for our little ones? We're tackling this pressing issue head-on today, discussing the alarming trends of body dissatisfaction amongst kids and the urgent need to change this narrative. We're arming ourselves with the tools needed to foster a home environment that encourages children to love their bodies and feel safe in their skin. Don't miss out as we share practical tips and powerful strategies to help you raise confident, body-positive children.Ever noticed how our words and actions have a significant impact on our kids' perception of their body? Well, we're diving deep into the importance of speaking kindly about our bodies, normalizing body changes, and celebrating body diversity. Let's learn together how to emphasize non-physical traits in our children and guide them to appreciate the beauty of being uniquely created. Join us as we challenge the damaging diet culture narrative and endeavor to end the generational legacy of body shame. Because no child should ever feel their body is wrong. So, are you ready to start this journey, mama? Let's do this together.Show Notes: [Podcast Episode]: "3 Ways to Help Your Kids Love Their Bodies (Even if You Don't Love Yours)"[Free Support Group]: Lift the Shame Virtual Support GroupQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

The summertime months can often be a tough season for body image. You might desire to show up more fully and present for your children but may find it challenging to do so when you're holding shame around your own body. Motherhood brings intense changes around our bodies, which can trigger old body image wounds right to the surface.  Tune in to today's short episode to listen to Crystal share some encouragement from her personal body image journey in motherhood. Know that whatever season you might be in, you're not alone! Show Links:[Blog Post]: "A Love Letter to My Postpartum Body"[Free Support Group]: Lift the Shame Virtual Support GroupQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Kids didn't come with a feeding manual. And yet, in our present day diet culture, you may feel overwhelmed with all the things you think you should be doing to raise a healthy, competent child. Feeding kids isn't transactional though. It's not about checking boxes off a list and ensuring you've done everything "right". It's about nurturing the relationship that's growing between you and your child. Chronic stress in the feeding dynamics between you and your child can make it challenging to build trust and connection, which are essential to raising intuitive eaters and breaking generational cycles of diet culture. But instead of shaming yourself for showing up stressed, let's take a look at some of the common reasons why feeding kids is so hard. You're not alone, and awareness is the first step toward growth. When you can identify what may be challenging for you in engaging with your child around food in a positive way, you can be learn how to move forward in a meaningful way - for you and your family. Show Links: Postpartum Support International[FREE GUIDE]: "The Mistakes I've Made As a Mother Raising Intuitive Eaters, & How You Can Avoid Them!"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

You're on a mission to raise an intuitive eater and end generational legacies of food guilt and body shame. But when it comes to sweets, what does this actually look like? You might wonder if your efforts to normalize sugar in your home are paying off or if you're really helping your child learn how to self-regulate sweets. In today's episode, we'll walk through 5 positive characteristics a child may exhibit who has a good relationship with sweets. We'll also discuss some signs you might observe in a child who is obsessive with sugar or preoccupied with eating sweets. [FREE SWEETS GUIDE]: "5 Reasons Your Child is Obsessed With Sweets and How to Resolve It."Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

If your kiddos are home for summer break, you might find this adds to the stress around food. With increased costs of groceries coupled with more frequent requests for food all day long, you might feel unsure as how to best navigate feeding your children outside the structure their school schedule provided. If you're feeling unnerved by your child's more frequent requests for food now that they're home for summer break, be sure to tune in to today's episode for tips to help you through this. You can respond to your child's food requests in a way that doesn't perpetuate the shame that diet culture can bring around appetites. Let this summer be a season where you can reclaim the joy that should be found in eating and sharing food as a family. Shownotes Links: Stop Stressin' Over Snacking - Snag Your Free Guide: "Simplify Snacking: The Snack Guide For Busy Moms Raising Intuitive Eaters"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Scripts are popular in the world of parenting. As you learn how to raise an intuitive eater, you might find yourself relying on scripts to help you figure out how to talk to your kids about food and their bodies. But sometimes, scripts can become a crutch and prevent us from doing the deeper work that is needed to break those generational legacies of food guilt and body shame. Tune in to this episode to learn more about the role scripts can play as you parent your children and why these shouldn't be your only solution to building up your kids to become resilient to diet culture. Show Links: [Podcast Episode]: "Why Re-parenting Yourself Around Food and Your Body Matters for Raising Intuitive Eaters"[Podcast Episode]: "5 Practical Steps for Re-parenting Yourself Around Food and Your Body"[FREE GUIDE]: "The Mistakes I've Made As a Mother Raising Intuitive Eaters, & How You Can Avoid Them!"[FREE Support Group]: Lift the Shame Online Virtual Support Group Interested in Group Coaching to help you raise an intuitive eater while you're learning to become one yourself? Get on the waitlist here! Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Using polarizing language about food with kids has the potential to create hierarchies around food in their minds. While we want to avoid any diet culture rhetoric or food terminology that can become external eating rules, this doesn't mean you can't have any conversations around food with your child. It's possible to have neutral food conversations that preserve their intuitive eating abilities and nurture a positive relationship with their bodies. Tune in to today's episode where we'll discuss 5 tips for  navigating food conversations with your child without a side serve of diet culture. Show Links: [Free Guide]: "6 Phrases to Say to Your Kids to Raise Intuitive Eaters and End Mealtime Battles."Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Diet culture purports that our kids need lectures about nutrition in order to eat in a "healthy" way. In reality, we see that leveraging health information in effort to steer how our kids eat can create hierarchies around food in their minds. This can form external rules about eating that separates our children from their intuitive eating abilities. The good news is that kids don't need nutrition information in order to eat in a manner that best supports their overall health.  Letting go of binary language to describe food (such as healthy vs. unhealthy, good vs. bad), can help you better raise an intuitive eater.  For more ways you can support your child's health without harming their relationship with food, be sure to tune in to today's episode! Show Links: [Free Guide]: "7 Mistakes I've Made Raising Intuitive Eaters and How You Can Avoid Them"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

So you want your child to have a good relationship with food, but you may find that when it comes to how you talk about food, old habits die hard. While you might buy in to the whole raising an intuitive eater thing, it may be harder to trust the process - especially when your kiddo never seems to willingly choose to eat veggies and has a high affinity for sweets. Out of your own uncertainty, you might find yourself leveraging nutrition facts or categorizing food in effort to get your kids to make a "healthier" choice. Whether talking about food in terms of healthy vs. unhealthy, good vs. bad - this type of language can create hierarchies in a child's mind, which can directly interfere with their ability to eat intuitively. Listen in to this week's podcast to learn more about the effects of describing food as healthy to children and what you can do instead. Show links: [Podcast Episode]: "So You Want Your Kids to Be Healthy?"[Podcast Episode]: "Do your kids need to learn about nutrition to be healthy?"[Podcast Episode]: "Veggies won't save your child's health, but here's what can help"[Free Guide]: "6 Phrases to Say to Your Kids to Raise Intuitive Eaters and End Mealtime Battles."Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Does it make a difference if you serve dessert alongside dinner and let your kids eat in whatever order, amount, and what they want? How should you navigate situations where you feel your child has had enough sweets for the day but they're asking for more? Is telling your child, "That's not on the menu today" a hidden agenda or controlling feeding tactic? And how should you handle birthday parties when there are a variety of options of sweets for your child to choose from? These are the questions we're covering today in Part 4 of our series on your frequently asked questions about kids and sweets. Show Links: [Podcast Episode]: "Can I say no to food requests without causing my child to feel deprived?"[Free Guide]: "5 Reasons Your Child's Obsessed With Sweets and How to Resolve It"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Have you ever wondered if eating sweets will cause a sugar high in your child? Or are you worried about sugar being a cause of hyperactivity in your kids? Sugar is highly demonized by diet culture and is often made to be the culprit for many negative effects or undesirable behaviors you might observe in your kids. These ideas around sweets can influence fear-based tactics in feeding kids, which may unconsciously cause you to restrict your child from having sweets. Scarcity around sweets can cause a host of complications in a child's relationship with food. But if you're worried that sweets are problematic to your child's behavior, what should you do? This is what we're covering on the podcast today. Tune in as we look into some of the factors that can influence a child's behavior around sweets outside of sugar itself. Show Links: [Free Guide]: "5 Reasons Your Child's Obsessed With Sweets and How to Resolve it"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

You've taken steps to normalize sweets in your home, but what if your child seems to binge eat sweets whenever they're available? Or what if your child's appetite for sweets seems insatiable? If you're concerned about your child's erratic eating behaviors around sweets, this show is for you. Listen is as we discuss some of the more common reasons that influence binge eating behaviors, especially around sweets, as well as cover practical steps you can take to help minimize binge eating in children. Show Links: [Podcast Episode]: "Why Re-parenting Yourself Around Food and Your Body Matters for Raising Intuitive Eaters."[Free Guide]: "5 Reasons Why Your Child's Obsessed With Sweets and How to Resolve It"[Free Guide]: "Simplify Snacking: The Snack Guide For Busy Moms Raising Intuitive Eaters."Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

So you're ready to start normalizing sweets in your home to support your children in learning how to self-regulate all foods. But maybe you're feeling stuck on some practical things when it comes to kids and sugar. Such as, how can you provide more frequent access to sweets without compromising your child's dental health? Will more frequent access to sweets cause cavities in kids? What age should you start introducing sweets, and is it harmful if you offer your child sweets before age 2? What if you're offering your children sweets but they still seem obsessive about them? We're covering all of these questions on the podcast today, so be sure to tune in to feel more confident in how you're navigating sweets with your intuitive eaters. Show Links: [Blog Post + Dentist Script]: "Does Sugar Cause Cavities in Kids?"[Free Guide]: "5 Reasons Your Child's Obsessed With Sweets and How to Resolve It"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

If you've struggled with an eating disorder or have had a difficult relationship with food and your body, you likely want to do everything possible to prevent your child from facing these same challenges. Eating disorders are complex conditions that are influenced by a multitude of layered factors. While you may not be able to prevent your child from developing an eating disorder entirely, there are many things within your realm of control you can focus on to help minimize your child's risk of having this condition. Tune in to today's episode as we walk through 5 key areas to consider in your parenting approaches that can function as protective factors for your child and ultimately, support them in building a positive relationship with food and their bodies. Show Links: Podcast episode: "Why You're Triggered by Your Child's Appetite and Body Size"Podcast episode: "5 Practical Steps for Re-parenting Yourself Around Food and Your Body"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Feeding children has a way of bringing old wounds around food and your body right back to the surface. As you work toward raising intuitive eaters, you might inevitably find yourself feeling triggered by the way your kids eat, their appetites, and/or the sizes of their bodies. This doesn't make you a bad parent. Understanding why you're feeling triggered by these things can help you learn how to manage your discomfort so you don't project this on your child. Tune in to today's episode where we dive into this topic and discuss why you might be feeling triggered and how to manage these triggers effectively so you can extend unconditional acceptance to your child around food and their body. Show links: Podcast episode: "5 Practical Steps for Re-parenting Yourself Around Food and Your Body" Lift the Shame Virtual Support GroupQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

An important part of parenting is setting healthy boundaries with our children and creating reasonable expectations from which they can learn and grow. Food is no exception in this piece of parenting. However, if you're healing from a difficult relationship with food and your body, you might worry about the potential implications of turning down your child's food requests. Will saying no to that cookie they want cause them to feel restricted with food? Does raising an intuitive eater mean you should always say yes to every food request? This is what we're unpacking in today's show. Tune in for practical things to consider when responding to your child's food requests, as well as ways to respond that don't trigger feelings of restriction around food. Show Links: Free Guide: "5 Reasons Your Child's Obsessed With Sweets and How to Resolve It"Podcast episode 10: "Is Sugar Addictive and Are Your Kids Addicted to Sugar?"Podcast episode 9: "Here's Why You Should Let Your Kids Eat Candy For Breakfast"Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Another candy-centered holiday is upon us, and depending on how you feel about kids and sugar, this might make you feel overwhelmed. Let's face it: there's a lot of misinformation out there about kids and sweets that can make it challenging to know how to best approach it in your home. If you're looking to rewrite the script around sweets and help your children learn how to self-regulate sugar sans shame, then it's important to work through these fears and myths. In today's episode, we're going to talk through 4 common myths about kids and sugar so you can feel more confident in how you're approaching sweets in your home. Need more help with sweets? Snag this free guide: "5 Reasons Your Child's Obsessed With Sweets and How to Resolve It."What other myths around kids and sweets do you want to see Crystal cover? Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Raising a healthy child is likely a top priority for you, though this goal can sometimes feel in direct conflict with trusting a child to eat intuitively. After all, if your child seems to avoid veggies and only want to eat sweets, can you trust that these eating tendencies will really lead to healthier outcomes for your kiddos? If you're worried about your child's overall nutrition status or wonder if raising an intuitive eater really does support your child in building a healthier relationship with food, today's show is for you! Listen in as we cover the nuanced topic of nutrition, unpack the dietary guidelines that are recommended for children, and discuss the most important factors that shape the trajectory of your child's overall health. Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Welcome back to the show, mama! Diet culture loves to dish out rules about what your child needs to eat or how their bodies should look to be "healthy". But in reality, rigid rules steeped in diet culture that micromanage your child's body and appetite will not create healthful outcomes over their lifetime. In fact, it can make them more susceptible to disordered eating and poor body image. Be encouraged though, there are ways to shift this narrative in your family and for your children. Listen in to today's episode for ways you can cultivate healthy behaviors in your home around food and bodies that will support your children toward more positive experiences physically, mentally, and emotionally. We're moving away from control and rules to connection in order to develop a trusting feeding relationship with your children that will give them a secure foundation for years to come. Are you a mother needing more support in healing your own relationship with food and your body? Be sure to check out our free virtual support group and community, Lift the Shame.Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Welcome back to the show, mama! We're continuing our conversation around ways to support your child's overall health that won't perpetuate diet culture into another generation. When it comes to feeding kids, diet culture overemphasizes what our kids "should" be eating - promoting the idea that if kids just eat the "right" foods, like tons of veggies, then they're guaranteed to be healthy. However, nothing could be further from the truth. This idea only makes feeding more stressful than it needs to be. In reality, your child's health and well-being is shaped by a variety of factors. Listen in to the episode as Crystal shares some practical ways to support your child's healthy relationship with food and their bodies while shifting away from traditional diet culture practices. If you're a mama healing your relationship with food and your body, check out our free virtual support group, Lift the Shame.Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Teaching kids about nutrition and health can seem like a good idea in theory. While nutrition facts are often shared with our kids with good intention, there's the potential for causing more harm than good. Diet culture often purports that in order to raise a healthy child, we need to inundate them with health concepts, which can become food rules that undermine their innate intuitive eating abilities. You can challenge this notion about health that is often passed through generations to build a trusting feeding relationship with your child and to move from fear to freedom around food as a family. Tune in to today's episode, where Crystal will break down 5 main reasons why it isn't necessary to teach kids about nutrition in order to support them in building a healthy relationship with food. Learn more about our free virtual support group for mothers who are healing their relationship with food and their bodies, Lift the Shame: https://www.crystalkarges.com/lift-the-shame-online-support-groupQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Happy New Year, mama! This time of year is often saturated with diet talk and diet culture disguised as wellness. This can directly influence your perception of health for your children as well as the culture of food in your home. Separating health from diet culture can give you the freedom to care for yourself and your children in a more life-giving way that truly does support your overall health. Listen in as we unpack the nuanced and layered concept of health, as well as discuss the factors that actually have more of an influence on your child's health than food, exercise or weight alone. This episode is the first of our mini-series on what it means to raise a healthy child who's an intuitive eater. Show Links: Join the Lift the Shame Support Group: https://www.crystalkarges.com/lift-the-shame-online-support-groupShare your feedback on this brief listener's survey  to better serve you through this podcast: https://forms.gle/BPrSdkitVFXwbpPK8Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

With a New Year on the horizon, you may be thinking about resolutions or goals you want to implement in your home. 2023 can be the year you leave diet culture behind and embark on a journey of rewriting your feeding legacy in your family. Tune in for some practical New Year's resolutions that can support you toward raising body confident kids, shifting generational cycles of diet culture and help you on your journey with raising intuitive eaters. Show Links: Lift the Shame Virtual Support Group for Moms: https://www.crystalkarges.com/lift-the-shame-online-support-groupBlog: "Ditch the Diet: Your New Year's Resolution For Food Freedom as a Family" https://www.crystalkarges.com/blog/ditch-the-diet-your-new-years-resolution-for-food-freedom-as-a-familyShare your feedback on this brief listener survey so I can better serve you through this show: https://forms.gle/YJkLaVkY8pBfxEfi7Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Diet culture shows up in many sneaky ways and can be especially loud during the holidays. As a parent raising intuitive eaters, you want to do everything in your power to protect your kids from diet culture. What may be even more important is supporting your children's abilities to withstand diet culture in the many forms they may encounter it. In today's episode, Crystal will walk you through ways to spot diet culture as well as share 3 practical tips for you to help your children build resilience to diet culture messages this holiday season. Show Links: Blog: "Diet Culture Drop: Best Advice for Feeding Kids" https://www.crystalkarges.com/blog/354aok7pc38u0130gtlu0i1rb27lkwChristy Harrison Book, Anti-Diet: https://amzn.to/3PStC0YPodcast Episode 19: "5 Tips for Navigating Holiday Sweets with Kids to Support Self-Regulation" https://www.buzzsprout.com/2032465/11880513-5-tips-for-navigating-holiday-sweets-with-kids-to-support-self-regulationNeed more support raising an intuitive eater? Snag your free guide: "The Mistakes I've Made As a Mother Raising Intuitive Eaters, & How You Can Avoid Them!" https://crystalkarges.activehosted.com/f/14Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Tis the season for holiday sweets and sugar galore.And you know what? Our kids are totally here for it.But as a parent, on the other hand, you might be feeling overwhelmed with the sight of sweets at every corner and the constant requests for “More cookies!”, “More candy!”, “More chocolate!”You may feel unsure about how to best handle this influx in sugar and sweets.You likely want your kids to enjoy the tastes and treats of the holiday season without any guilt or shame attached.You might also be worried about the amount of sugar they're intaking or unsure how to handle the sugar overload without them feeling restricted from it.You might feel uncomfortable by the sheer volume of all the sweets in your house or tired of the constant obsession around all things sugar.If you've found yourself in this position this holiday season, please know you're not alone.This can be challenging for MOST parents and givers, and navigating sweets with kids can feel like a sticky situation.So what's the best way to work through these fears in order to support your children in not only building a healthy and positive relationship with all foods, but to enjoy the holiday season without a side serve of diet culture?Listen in for 5 helpful tips to support you in navigating holiday sweets with your kiddos to support them with self-regulation and intuitive eating. For more help, snag your free guide: "5 Reasons Your Child is Obsessed With Sweets and How to Resolve It": https://crystalkarges.activehosted.com/f/3Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

For many of us, motherhood and parenting can bring up our unresolved issues and trauma, especially around food and our bodies. But instead of recycling these things to our children, we have an opportunity to heal to help shift dysfunctional patterns in our families as we learn to reparent ourselves. Today's show is a conversation with Catherine Counihan, trauma-informed Integrative Psychotherapist and mother of twin girls, who shares her expertise on the intersection of trauma and parenting. Show Takeaways: Listen in as Cath and Crystal discuss how to breakdown generational trauma and shameDiscover what “Good Enough” Parenting is, what it looks like, and how that can be sufficient in supporting attuned relationships Learn how to hold space for your children's' big emotions while also dealing with your own About Catherine: Catherine Counihan is an Integrative Psychotherapist working in private practice in London. She is the mother of twin girls and one of her areas of expertise is the intersection between our own trauma and our parenting. Cath specialises in complex trauma, perfectionism, nervous system healing, shifting dysfunctional patterns in our families and reparenting. Her passion is to shift shame and help each client gain an embodied sense of being good enough. Cath had done a lot of her own personal work and her own trauma therapy prior to kids and, despite this, was set back to emotional ground zero by motherhood. Cath hosts a weekly podcast 'Grow Yourself Up' focused on how we can learn to tend to ourselves in adulthood when we have not had our needs met as children, and the challenges of doing this as we parent. She also writes, has taught at the Bowlby Centre in London and will begin teaching for the International Attachment Network in 2023. She has more than a decade of clinical experience and had a previous career in financial services.Listen to Cath's Podcast, "Grow Yourself Up": https://www.psychotherapymum.com/grow-yourself-upConnect with Cath on Instagram @psychotherapy_mum: https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/Cath's website: https://www.psychotherapymum.com/Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

You may've grown up learning how to diet or believing your body couldn't be trusted. You may've learned that your body was something that needed to be controlled and that shrinking your body was a worthy cause. You may've learned to take up as little space as possible and that your worth was defined by how much you weighed. These are messages that may've been passed down to you from your family or origin, which are perpetuated by the dieting culture we live in. And you can unlearn these messages and challenge these harmful narratives to support a more positive relationship with food and your body and to be able to model behaviors that you would be proud for your children to emulate themselves. Tune in for 5 practical steps to help you start to shift the generational cycles of diet culture and body shaming in your life to rewrite the narrative and support your kiddos in building resiliency against these harmful messages. Learn more about Lift the Shame, a virtual support group and community for mothers and moms-to-be who are healing their relationship with food and their bodies to raise intuitive eaters: https://www.crystalkarges.com/lift-the-shame-online-support-groupQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Thanksgiving can be fraught with mixed emotions as you navigate through a food focused holiday. You might be faced with a few triggers around food and your body, or you might not be sure how to confront the inevitable diet talk that comes up around the table. Wherever you might be today, know that your needs matter and you are not alone. Tune in for 5 practical tips and ways to care for yourself on a holiday that can often be overwhelming and to help protect your relationship with food. Show Takeaways: Listen to Crystal walk you through what can commonly surface on holidays, like ThanksgivingLearn practical tips for taking care of your physical and emotional needs and creating safety within your own body.Re-discover what your values are and how centering your values can help you rewrite the script for your family and relationships by attuning to your needsAre you a mother needing more support around food and body image? Check out our free virtual support group and community, Lift the Shame: https://www.crystalkarges.com/lift-the-shame-online-support-groupQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

The holidays are upon us and that can bring up some pressure and stress around food, especially with our kids, especially with other family members involved. You may feel under a microscope when it comes to feeding your kids when sharing a meal with your loved ones. Listen in as Crystal shares about the things we need to face within ourselves as we navigate the holidays before we project onto our children.  Today's episode is the perfect pep talk for supporting your children through holiday dinners!Show Takeaways: Listen to Crystal walk you through what your child may be feeling at large family dinners.Learn about how to set healthy holiday meal expectations for ourselves and our kids.Discover what you may be projecting onto your child when other family members' opinions are present. Notable Quote: Eating is not just about the food and it's not just about the nourishment. I think holidays are a wonderful time to re-experience that and to renegotiate what food means. It's really about connection. It's about tradition, and it's also about honoring your body and allowing yourself to find pleasure and joy in food again, because that is also part of a healthy relationship with food. Download your free guide: "6 Phrases to Say to Your Kids to Raise Intuitive Eaters and End Mealtime Battles." https://crystalkarges.activehosted.com/f/9Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

*CW: Mention of food and body trauma.Mama, we all have food stories that have impacted our relationship with food today and the way we approach feeding our kids. Our minds have been shaped around ideas, beliefs and experiences around food that may be impacting how we parent our kids today. Today's episode dives into the narratives we created, how to break them down to begin reparenting ourselves around food and our bodies and practical questions to dig into this necessary topic.When you learn to make sense of your food story, this allows to more fully show up for yourself and your children. Show Takeaways: Discover why you should process and try to understand your own food story.Learn about the common wounds and traumas around food.Listen in to hear your next steps in reparenting your relationship with foodIf you are a mother or mom-to-be healing your relationship with food and your body or recovering from an eating disorder/disordered eating, learn more about our free virtual support group & community, Lift the Shame: https://www.crystalkarges.com/lift-the-shame-online-support-groupQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

We are going to start transitioning into a different topic here on the show, which I'm super excited about, and that has a lot to do with you. We are going to learn about how to reparent yourself around food and your body and why this matters to rewriting your feeding legacy for your children. This is such a crucial topic and part of raising an intuitive eater and something that is even more important for parents who are working on healing their relationship with food and their bodies. So much of how we interact with our kids, how we feed our kids, and how we relate to them when it comes to food and their bodies, stems from us and the experiences we've had growing up that shaped our attitudes and beliefs around food and our bodies as well. Listen in for an introduction to this topic, as well as applicable tools for your daily life. Show Takeaways: Why examining your relationship with food and your body matters in rewriting your feeding legacyThe encouragement I have for you today about parenting and breaking generational patterns in your familyThe core themes that our children need from us in order to have a good relationship with foodAre you a mama or mom-to-be needing more help as you heal your relationship with food and your body? Come join our free virtual support group and community, Lift the Shame: https://www.crystalkarges.com/lift-the-shame-online-support-groupQuestions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to hello@crystalkarges.com or connect with Crystal on Instagram.