Podcast appearances and mentions of katie kimball

If you thought choosing a sunscreen was as simple as looking for the words “mineral” on the front of the bottle, this episode might surprise you.In this conversation, Autumn Blum and I dig into the sunscreen label details that most parents never hear about—and some new ingredients to watch out for.In this episode, you'll learn:Why reading the active ingredients matters far more than the marketing on the front of the packageThe new sunscreen ingredient that's generating buzz and raising questionsThe little-known ingredient showing up in many mineral sunscreens that parents should understandWhy some “safe” ingredients from a decade ago are being reconsidered todayHow to make mineral sunscreen easier for kids to use (without the battles)The simple sunscreen habit that can better protect your kids every single dayIf you've ever felt overwhelmed standing in the sunscreen aisle, this episode will help you understand what really matters and what to look for on the label.Resources We Mention for Choosing a Safe SunscreenShop Stream2Sea – get 10% off with the code KITCHENSTEW!What you need to know about reef-safe sunscreenSee all of my natural, mineral sunscreen reviews – or take a look at the cheat sheet if you want all the info in one place!How to use the dabba-dabba method to apply mineral sunscreenStart your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

I was once called the Wikipedia of sunscreen by a morning news anchor.I consider myself a total sunscreen geek!Wait until you see my jaw drop in this conversation with cosmetic chemist and Stream2Sea founder Autumn Blum. She taught me things I had never considered before!In this episode, you'll learn:Why a scuba diving trip halfway around the world completely changed the way Autumn formulates skincare productsThe surprising connection between the sunscreen you put on in your backyard and ecosystems hundreds or even thousands of miles awayWhat researchers discovered about certain sunscreen ingredients that sparked bans in destinations around the worldWhy the word “organic” on a personal care label may not mean what you think it meansHow sunscreen ingredients can travel through both our bodies and our waterwaysWhy protecting your skin and protecting the environment may not be an either-or choiceThis is one of those episodes that will absolutely make you think differently the next time you reach for a bottle of sunscreen.Resources We Mention for Sunscreens and Coral ReefsShop Stream2Sea – get 10% off with the code KITCHENSTEW!What you need to know about reef-safe sunscreenIs Your Sunscreen Full of Estrogen?See all of my natural, mineral sunscreen reviews – or take a look at the cheat sheet if you want all the info in one place!Join the Monday Missions to get baby steps in your inbox.Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

If you've ever looked around your house thinking, “Why am I still doing everything for these capable humans?” — this episode is for you.I'm deeply passionate about helping parents raise kids who are not only healthy, but independent, resilient, and prepared for real life. And honestly? Chores and family responsibilities are one of the most powerful tools we have to make that happen.In this conversation with Hunter Clarke-Fields from the Mindful Mama Podcast, we talk about why chores are about so much more than getting help around the house. They help kids build confidence, ownership, problem-solving skills, and even better mental health.We also talk about:Why responsibility protects teen resilienceHow to start chores with toddlers and preschoolersWhat to do if your teen has never really helped beforeWhy contribution matters more than perfectionHow to stop nagging and build systems that actually workAnd yes — I share the exact chore system we've used in our family for over 10 years.Whether your child is 4 or 14, it's never too late to start building the life skills they'll carry into adulthood.Resources We Mention for Chores for TeensBuilding Strong Families, Connected Kids with Father Leo of Plating GraceThe Kimball Family Chores System That Works!Can Mindfulness Make You a Better Parent? (+ Bonus Guided Meditations for Kids!)Get some life skills, right now! Easy workshops for kids and teens to take ownership.Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks. Shop Third Rock Essentials at kidscookrealfood.com/thirdrock, and use code KITCHENSTEW for 20% off!Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Do you often feel like you're holding up a bunch of spinning plates in the air and if you step back for a second, they will all crash down? Do you feel like you need to hold a million bits of information in your head to the point of weekly exhaustion and burnout? Risa Williams talks to author, Lori Oberbroeckling, about the "invisible mental load" that parents carry and how it can often lead us into overwhelm, exhaustion and burnout.They discuss:-How parents (moms especially) are sometimes tasked with carrying around all the information for the week for the whole family as well as all the steps of daily tasks for everyone to complete-How the "invisible load" increases our exhaustion and often leads to frustration, conflict, and stress-How to start to delegate tasks to relieve some of the "mental load" and different approaches for doing this-Risa and Lori share their own "micro-break" tools where you bring down the stress by doing fun activities for five minutes at a time-How to schedule breaks and space to unwind into your week as priorities for your own wellbeing and self-care**Risa will be speaking at Lori's Supermom Summit on June 1st as well as at Katie Kimball's Life Skills Now Camp in June and you can sign up for both at the links here:  https://bio.site/risawilliams or at risawilliams.com/writingmedia. Sign up today - it's free!**Host: Risa Williams, risawilliams.com, @risawilliamstherapyGuest: Lori Oberbroeckling, secretsofsupermom.com, @secretsofsupermomSupport the showFor info on books, workshops, guests, and future episodes, please visit: risawilliams.com.*All tools discussed on the show are meant for educational purposes only and not as a replacement for therapy or medical advice.

Whether your kiddos are 2, 12, or 18, it's not too late to teach them life skills - the skills that will help them launch and help support them in adulthood. But life skills isn't just cooking and cleaning. It can include emotional intelligence, automobile maintenance, leadership, and much more. My guest is Katie Kimball from Raising Healthy Families, who is the mastermind behind the #LifeSkillsNow virtual summer camp, where kids ages 5-18 can learn more than 450 life skills in an approachable video format. Many of the lessons are taught by kids and teens. We chat about: - what life skills are versus chores - the three aspects of life skills (hands on, minds on, hearts on) as well as how to implement them to keep kids motivated - the benefits of teaching life skills including resilience, confidence, and personal agency - how to help kids who are discouraged by perfectionism when they're leaning life skills Katie Kimball of Raising Healthy Families helps change kids' relationship to food, both through work in the kitchen and helping parents of picky eaters. She's a former teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, writer, mom of 4 kids and creator of the Kids Cook Real Food Course, Teens Cook Real Food Course, #LifeSkillsNow virtual summer camps, and blogs at Kitchen Stewardship. Her mission is to connect families around healthy food, teach every child to cook, and instill those all-important life skills! Resources Mentioned: Sign up for camp here FREE - June 8-12, 2026 Connect with Katie on her website, podcast, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Related Episodes: Episode 80: Systems to Transform Your Home with Mom of 10 Laura Hernandez of Mama Systems Episode 104: 3 Habits That Empower Your Kids (and Make Your Life Easier) - with Rachel Norman from A Mother Far From Home Episode 156: Simple Chore Systems for Neurodivergent Moms (and Kids!) with Kelly Briggs from Simple Home Mom   *** I help moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts. Contact - > info@simplebyemmy.com  Podcast -＞ https://momsovercomingoverwhelm.podbean.com/ Learn -＞ https://www.simplebyemmy.com/resources Connect -＞ Join our free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms Instagram -＞ @simplebyemmy and @momsovercomingoverwhelm   *** Don't Know Where to Start? *** 5 Steps to Overcome Overwhelm -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/5steps/ 5 Mindset Shifts for Decluttering -＞ https://simplebyemmy.com/mindset/ Get podcast playlists for decluttering mindset, tactical decluttering tips, ADHD, getting kids & family on board, and more! https://www.listennotes.com/@momsovercomingoverwhelm/playlists/   Wanna work with me to kick overwhelm to the curb, mama? There are three options for you! Step 1: Join a supportive community of moms plus decluttering challenges to keep you on track at the free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Decluttering Tips and Resources for Overwhelmed Moms Newsletter and see samples here: https://pages.simplebyemmy.com/profile Step 3: Get more personalized support with in-person decluttering and organization coaching (Washington DC metro area)! https://www.simplebyemmy.com/workwithme

What life skills do kids and teens actually need before they leave home? And how can busy moms start teaching those skills without adding even more to their already full plates?In this episode of the Secrets of Supermom Show, Lori sits down with Katie Kimball of Raising Healthy Families to talk about helping kids become more independent, capable, and confident through real-life skills like cooking, meal planning, grocery shopping, budgeting, communication, and more.Katie shares practical ways moms can gradually release responsibility to their children, why teaching life skills actually helps reduce the mental load for moms, and how to prepare teens for adulthood without panic. They also discuss executive functioning, agency, motivation, and why some of the most important skills aren't taught in school.Katie is a former teacher, TEDx speaker, mom of four, and creator of Kids Cook Real Food, Teens Cook Real Food, and the #LifeSkillsNow virtual summer camp.Plus — exciting news! Supermom Summer Camp and LifeSkillsNow overlap June 8–12, making it the perfect week for moms to fill their own cups while their kids learn practical life skills that help lighten the load at home.In this episode, we cover:Why teaching life skills helps reduce the mental load for momsThe gradual release of responsibility for kids and teensCooking, grocery shopping, meal planning, and financial literacyHow to motivate teens to learn real-world skillsExecutive functioning and independencePreparing kids for adulthood without overwhelmThe importance of agency, confidence, and competenceHow moms can start small todayResources Mentioned:Katie Kimball / Raising Healthy FamiliesKids Cook Real FoodTeens Cook Real Food#LifeSkillsNow Virtual Summer CampSupermom Summer CampText us your feedback or questions!Stay connected!Join us in The Supermom Society! Get all the details at thesupermomsociety.com!Get all our show notes, buy the book Secrets of Supermom, and more at our website: www.secretsofsupermom.comSecrets of Supermom on FacebookSecrets of Supermom on Instagram

Does your child stop to think things through, or do they go with the first thought that pops into their head?Most parents want to raise kids who can think for themselves. But in a world built for quick reactions, that skill is getting harder to find, even in grown-ups. If your child is neurodivergent, strong emotions can make it even harder to see past one way of thinking.Here's what might surprise you: clear thinking and emotional regulation go hand in hand. And you can help your child build both, starting today.In this episode, Emily sits down with Katie Kimball, a food teacher, TEDx speaker, and mom of four, to talk about why thinking skills matter so much right now and how everyday tasks like cooking can help kids become more flexible, caring, and independent.What you'll take away:Curiosity, resilience, and trying new approaches are the roots of good thinking. Learn how to grow all three before middle school.A simple question, "What else could be true?" that helps kids move past black-and-white thinking and stay calmer when things get hardWhy small letdowns (like a sold-out ice cream flavor) are actually opportunities to build strength and self-controlHow real responsibilities help kids ask better questions and think more deeplyJoin the FREE class for parents: Emotional Regulation for Neurodivergent Kids https://emily-hamblin.com/classConnect with Emily on Instagram: https://instagram.com/emilyhamblincoachingGrab Your Free Ticket to Katie's Life Skills Now Camp: https://raisinghealthyfamilies.com/enlightening

How can we teach kids and teens everyday life skills in ways that actually stick? In this episode, Risa Williams talks with life skills expert Katie Kimball about a simple three-step approach to help kids and teens build confidence, responsibility, and independence through completing everyday tasks and projects at home.They discuss:-Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation tools-Collaborating as a team on a system and framework for everyday tasks and chores-Setting up expectations, rewards, and weekly check-ins-Using gentle questions and compassion as a way to gently guide our loved ones to figure out the next step forward with tasks-Taking a long-term learning approach by creating consistent weekly habits over many years-How learning and practicing life skills can reduce our kids' and teens' anxiety**Sign up now for Katie's Life Skills Now Summer Camp and hear Risa's presentation on Time Tools for Teens as well as 70 other life skills videos by experts on various subjects for both younger kids and teens! It's free and you can access it here: https://raisinghealthyfamilies.com/motivationmindset or at risawilliams.com**Host: Risa Williams, risawilliams.com, @risawilliamstherapyGuest: Katie Kimball, raisinghealthyfamilies.com, @raisinghealthyfamiliesSupport the showFor info on books, workshops, guests, and future episodes, please visit: risawilliams.com.*All tools discussed on the show are meant for educational purposes only and not as a replacement for therapy or medical advice.

What happens when the future changes faster than parenting advice can keep up?Artificial intelligence is already transforming jobs, schools, communication, creativity, and even the way businesses run day to day. And as parents, it can feel equal parts fascinating and terrifying.Should we be worried? What skills will our kids actually need? And how in the world do we prepare children for jobs that don't even exist yet?In this solo episode, I dive into the rapidly changing world of AI through the lens of parenting, critical thinking, life skills, and human connection. I'm exploring why parents can't afford to ignore this conversation… but also why panic probably isn't the answer.In this episode, you'll hear:Why AI might eliminate some jobs… but create entirely new industries we can't yet imagineThe surprising historical parallels between AI and the decline of family farmsWhy trying to predict your child's future career may be impossible (and that's actually okay)What Back to the Future got hilariously wrong about the year 2015The reason “human touch” jobs may become even more valuable in the AI eraHow my husband uses AI all day long and why he says he may never code manually againThe parenting mindset shift we need if technology keeps evolving faster than schools can adaptWhy life skills, critical thinking, adaptability, and human connection still matter more than everIf you've ever wondered whether AI is something to fear, embrace, resist, or simply learn alongside your kids, this episode is the beginning of an important conversation for every modern parent.Resources We Mention for Parenting in the Age of AIGet those kids #LifeSkillsNow!Here's my TEDx talk on why kids need critical thinking skillsMore about confidence and competence (especially as it has to do with learning to cook)Why chores aren't punishment – and here is my simple chores system if you need it!How to Help Kids Thrive with (and in spite of) Tech and ScreensNurturing Young Skeptics: Essential Guide to Teaching Critical Thinking to Kids and TeensDon't miss #LifeSkillsNow - register right now!Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

In this insightful and practical conversation, we sit down with Katie Kimball, founder of Kids Cook Real Food and author of Kids Cook Real Food: Healthy Kids, Happy Moms, to explore the real story behind picky eating.If mealtimes in your home feel like a constant battle, this episode offers a refreshing and evidence-informed perspective. Katie challenges the common belief that picky eating is simply about stubbornness or defiance, and instead helps parents understand the developmental, sensory, and relational factors that shape how children engage with food.We talk about why pressure, bribing, and “just one more bite” often backfire, and what actually helps children build confidence and curiosity around food. Katie shares simple, practical strategies that support autonomy, reduce stress at the table, and create a more positive mealtime experience for the whole family.This episode is especially helpful for parents who feel stuck, frustrated, or worried about their child's eating habits, and are looking for a more connected, sustainable approach.In this episode, we discuss:• Why picky eating is rarely just about the food• How pressure and control can make mealtimes harder• The role of independence and life skills in expanding food choices• Simple ways to involve kids in cooking and build confidence• How to create calm, connected, and successful mealtime routinesThis is a conversation about shifting the dynamic at the table, moving away from power struggles, and supporting children in developing a healthy, lifelong relationship with food.AuraYour kid's digital life doesn't come with a playbook.But that doesn't mean you have to stay in the dark.That's where Aura Parents comes in. It combines traditional parental controls—like content filtering, time limits, and Pause the Internet®—with newer digital wellbeing features that show patterns in sleep opportunity, screentime trends, social engagement, and even AI app usage insights.So instead of just limiting screen time, you get more context and insight into changes in patterns and can use that information to decide when to check in with your kid.It's not about control—it's about feeling informed and empowered as you navigate an always changing digital world.Learn more about Aura Parents and start your free trial at auraparents.com/icp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have that one cluttered desk drawer that's always driving you crazy? Or that old can opener that just doesn't work any more but you keep trying to use it anyway? What if we told you that these tiny little daily frustrations may be holding you back from experiencing little bursts of delight and joy each day? Risa Williams is joined once again by book author and Ted Talk speaker, Jodi Wellman, to discuss "tiny life tweaks" and how to improve your life by fixing really tiny little things that are getting in your way.They discuss:-The idea of "letting go" of stuff that's holding you back to allow room for little dally joys and delights-How our stuff sometimes represents the past and the future and might be keeping us from living in the "now"-"Swedish Death Cleaning" and how to embrace the "impermanence of stuff"-Procrastination and clutter and how it starts to stress us out each day-Applying positive psychology concepts to form healthier relationships with our daily habits and daily stuffHost: Risa Williams, risawilliams.com, @risawilliamstherapyGuest: Jodi Wellman, fourthousandmondays.com, @fourthousandmondays**This month, Risa will be guest speaking at Katie Kimball's The Life Skills Now Summer camp for kids and teens and you can join for free! Risa will also be speaking at The Supermom Summit in June, sign up for both here: https://bio.site/risawilliams or at risawilliams.com/writingmedia**Support the showFor info on books, workshops, guests, and future episodes, please visit: risawilliams.com.*All tools discussed on the show are meant for educational purposes only and not as a replacement for therapy or medical advice.

My kids are 11 and 14, and I will be the first to tell you that teaching them practical life skills is not my strongest suit. I am genuinely good at the emotional work, the hard conversations, the staying connected through difficult seasons. But the cooking, the chores, the keeping-a-home-running piece of parenting is an area where I know, with great compassion for myself, that we have room to grow. Summer has a way of opening up just enough space to do something new, and this episode will give you a clear and hopeful place to start if you're like me and it's not your biggest strength. This week's guest is Katie Kimball, founder of Kids Cook Real Food and a life skills educator who has been doing this work with her own four kids long enough to be living the results.She gave me so much hope that it is not too late — even if your kids are older, even if you feel like you've missed the window, even if you've been meaning to do this for years and just haven't gotten there yet, and even if, like me, you sat down with a life skills expert and within the first five minutes had to ask what a chef's knife was. Come join us to hear:

In this episode, Katie Kimball, award-winning speaker, author and podcaster, shares a refreshing and practical approach to parenting teens, centered on building independence, confidence, and real-life capability. She explains why the teen years don't have to feel chaotic if a strong foundation is laid early, and how a gradual release of responsibility, from toddlerhood through adolescence, can set kids up for success. Katie walks through simple systems families can implement to foster independence, including managing chores, creating routines, and encouraging decision-making, all while shifting toward an “external locus of control” that empowers teens to take ownership of their own challenges. The conversation is packed with actionable strategies, from teaching essential life skills like cooking and time management to motivating teens through their own interests, especially when it comes to food. Katie also dives into the impact of screen time on teen mental health and offers guidance on creating healthier boundaries around technology. She shares insights from her work teaching over 400 life skills through hands-on learning experiences, and highlights the powerful role of community and shared responsibility among families. This episode is a must-listen for parents who want to raise capable, confident teens without constant power struggles. Links: https://raisinghealthyfamilies.com/ https://www.instagram.com/raisinghealthyfamilies/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I love it when a conversation feels like it's been years in the making. This one really has!Today's guest is someone who has quietly, faithfully shaped the way I think about food for a long time—my friend Wardee Harmon from Traditional Cooking School.And if you've ever felt like the world of “healthy eating” is a swirl of contradictions…one expert says this, another says that…you are not alone. (Honestly, it can make your head spin before you even get dinner on the table.)Wardee has this rare gift of bringing clarity to all that noise.Her Eat God's Way plan isn't just another list of rules or trendy swaps. It's a grounded, thoughtful look at the foods humans were designed to eat, paired with traditional methods that real families have used for generations. Things like soaking, fermenting, sourdough…not because they're fancy, but because they work.And I've seen firsthand how she teaches. She doesn't overwhelm. She connects the dots.She makes it feel doable, even if you're starting from “we eat cereal for dinner sometimes and I'm just trying to survive.”I also love that her perspective is rooted in faith, but she holds it with such grace. If that resonates with you, you're going to feel right at home. And if it's new or not quite your thing, there's still so much practical wisdom here to take and run with.Wardee is also one of our incredible leaders for #LifeSkillsNow! This year she is teaching a delicious gluten-free Blueberry Oat Cake.So whether you're curious about traditional foods, wondering if sourdough is worth the hype, or just hoping to feel a little more grounded in what you feed your family…You're in the right place.Resources We Mention for Eating God's WayGet the Eat God's Way booksCheck out Wardee's book Fermenting: Pickles, Kimchi, Kefir, Kombucha, Sourdough, Yogurt, Cheese and More! (The Self-Sufficient Kitchen) – Amazon, Bookshop.orgHealing eczema naturallyHealth benefits of sourdoughSee all the Traditional Cooking School coursesDon't miss #LifeSkillsNow Season 5! Register now.  Shop Truly Free household cleaners and more at https://raisinghealthyfamilies.com/trulyfree!Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

If you've ever looked at your child's behavior and thought, “What is going on right now?”—you're not alone.In this episode, we go beyond surface-level parenting advice and get into something deeper: what your child's behavior is actually trying to communicate. Wendy Snyder introduces a powerful framework that helps you “translate” your child's actions in real time. Instead of reacting with frustration, you'll start to see patterns, unmet needs, and opportunities to teach life skills. It's a shift that can completely change how you experience everyday parenting moments.Along the way, you may find yourself rethinking what it really means to be a “strict” parent, and whether the strategies you've been using are actually helping in the long run.In this episode, you'll learn:The four hidden reasons behind most misbehaviorHow to tell if your child is seeking attention, power, revenge, or supportWhy punishment often makes behavior worse instead of betterWhat to do when your child says hurtful or dramatic thingsHow to stay calm when your child is upset with your rulesThe difference between firm boundaries and “strict” parentingHow to stop power struggles before they escalateWhy your mindset matters just as much as your parenting strategyIf you've been feeling stuck in cycles of frustration or wondering why nothing seems to “work,” this conversation will give you a new lens to look through ... and a few moments that might just change how you respond the next time your child pushes back.Did you miss part 1 of this episode? Watch or listen here.Resources We Mention for Understanding Your Child's BehaviorPre-order Wendy's new book at Amazon, Bookshop.org, or wherever you find your books, and then grab the preorder bonuses here.My mini-episode about boundaries especially for teensScripts for calm connection with Bryanna KappadakunnelListen to Wendy's episode on parenting "cactus kids"More on power struggles, positive parenting, and forgoing traditional discipline in this episode with Amy McCreadyMy episode on the Fresh StCheck out the cookbook FOR kids, BY kids at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr.  Get four free life skills workshops now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skillsKitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

There's a moment in this conversation I can't quite shake.A mom drops her child's favorite stuffed animal into the trash while her four-year-old begs her not to. If that makes your stomach tighten, you're not alone.Because even if you've never had a “trash can moment,” you've probably had that moment. The one where you hear yourself and think, “Wait…is this how I want to parent?”That's exactly where this conversation with Wendy Snyder begins. Not from perfection, but from honesty, growth, and a deep desire to do better than what we were handed.And the surprising part? She doesn't just share what went wrong. She shows us what to do instead in a way that feels doable and hopeful.If you've ever wondered why punishment doesn't work, why strong-willed kids push every button, or why you keep reacting in ways you swore you wouldn't, this episode will meet you right there.Inside, we talk about:The story behind that “trash can moment” and why it changed everythingWhat's really happening during power strugglesThe discipline belief most of us inherited and why it backfiresA simple 4-step process to set limits without yelling or shameWhy connection changes everythingHow to support strong-willed kids without breaking their spiritWhat breaking generational cycles actually looks likeThe long game of parenting and what success really meansUnderneath it all is a quiet shift. Maybe parenting isn't about controlling our kids better, but understanding them and ourselves more deeply.If that's the kind of change you've been craving, you're in the right place.Resources We Mention for Respectful DisciplinePre-order Wendy's new book at Amazon, Bookshop.org, or wherever you find your books, and then grab the preorder bonuses here.Listen to Michele Borba's interview about helping our kids build empathy.Scripts for calm connection with Bryanna KappadakunnelListen to Wendy's episode on parenting “cactus kids”My episode on the Fresh Start Family podcast about building connection through cookingCheck out the cookbook FOR kids, BY kids at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr.  Get four free life skills workshops now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skillsKitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

If you've ever thought, “Why can I not get my life together when it comes to time?”—you are absolutely not alone.This conversation felt like such a breath of fresh air because we're not talking about rigid schedules, perfect planners, or waking up at 5am (thank goodness). Instead, we're digging into what actually works for real moms with real lives… you know, the kind where kids interrupt everything and plans fall apart before lunch.I had so much fun hearing about Anna's real-life experiences in the professional world, SO different than my life, and wait until you hear what we both have in common when it comes to being POOR at time management! I couldn't believe her confession about getting in trouble at work for a time-related issue…What I love most is that Anna brings so much grace and practicality to this topic. She doesn't expect perfection; and honestly, that might be the most freeing part of all.In this episode, you'll learn:Why time management isn't really about your planner (and what actually matters instead)A simple “mind sweep” method to instantly reduce overwhelm and clear your mental clutterHow to figure out what actually deserves your time (and what you can let go of)Practical ways to involve your kids so you're not doing everything yourselfWhat to do when your plans fall apart (because… they will)A simple framework to handle those chaotic, stressful moments without spiralingIf you've been feeling scattered, behind, or just plain overwhelmed, this episode is going to meet you right where you are, and give you a few doable steps to move forward.Resources We Mention for Time Management for MomsGet Anna's Blueprint to Balance hereBuy Anna's book, Time Management Essentials: The Tools You Need to Maximize Your Attention, Energy, and Productivity on Amazon or Bookshop.orgWhen we talk about being an “upholder” or a “rebel,” that's from Gretchen Rubin's book The Four Tendencies.Learn more from my interview with Megan Sumrell about managing your time, and check out her TOP program for a free training on getting your life together!Check out the cookbook FOR kids, BY kids at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr.  Get four free life skills workshops now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skillsKitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

If you've ever stood in the middle of your house and thought, “Where do I even start?”… you are absolutely not alone.But what if the problem isn't your lack of discipline… it's your approach?In this conversation, I sat down with Ingrid Jansen from The Declutter Hub, and she completely reframed how I think about clutter. We didn't just talk about getting rid of stuff. We talked about why it feels so hard in the first place—and how to make it feel doable (even in the middle of real life).Because here's the truth: clutter isn't just about things. It's about emotions, habits, identity, and sometimes even guilt. And once you understand that piece, everything starts to shift.In this episode, you'll hear:Why “decluttering your whole house” is actually the fastest way to get stuckThe simple mindset shift that makes decluttering feel lighter and more positiveWhy starting with what you want to keep (not what to throw away) changes everythingHow to break any space into small, manageable chunks you can tackle in minutesThe surprising advice Ingrid gives about what to do when you feel unsure about an itemWhat the “messy middle” is and why so many people quit right thereHow clutter and emotions like guilt, stress, and overwhelm are deeply connectedThe hidden ways new clutter keeps sneaking into your home (and how to stop it)Resources We Mention for Easy DeclutteringIngrid and Lesley's book: Reset Your Home: Unpack your emotions and your clutter, step by step (Amazon/Bookshop.org)Get started in the Declutter Hub!Take the clutter quizDig more into the mental load of clutter with Katy WellsOrganizing styles for families with Cas from ClutterbugGet a peek at Teens Cook Real Food right here! Get four free life skills workshops now! Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Episode Sponsors: CTC Math

What if I told you you might have to throw away half of the healthy food you worked so hard to put on the dinner table?What if I told you that can basically happen AFTER your kids eat everything on their plate?!?!Healthy food is only the first part of being nourished—we need to make sure the entire system of digestion is working correctly for all the hard work to count! mind blownToday I get to talk to Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Tara Hunkin about getting your child's digestion on “tract” (pun! ha!) for optimal health. Whether your child feels anxious or exhibits signs of ADHD, whether you know they're constipated, they have some diarrhea or even are very regular, it's so important to be educated as parents so we know what to look for…in our child's poop!Resources We Mention for Healthy DigestionTara's website My Child Will ThriveFood journal printableBristol stool chartMy interview with Dr. Elisa Song on poopWhy Miralax isn't the answer for chronic constipationHCL tablets I useUrban Moonshine bittersThese Earthley bitters are more economical when you buy the large bottleHow to make sauerkrautOne of the digestive enzymes my kids useMy kids prefer the taste of this enzymeVibrant Blue Oils parasympathetic blendMegan Stevens' soups book for special dietsGet a peek at Teens Cook Real Food right here! Get four free workshops at kidscookrealfood.com/skills today. Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Ever wonder how to handle picky eating at parties without creating food battles? Or how to set healthy screen time boundaries when screens feel like the only babysitter?In this Ask Me Anything episode of the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast, I'm answering your real-life parenting questions about dessert rules for kids, the Division of Responsibility in feeding, raising independent children, and building healthy family habits that actually stick.We're talking about practical strategies for limiting screen time for toddlers and young kids, alternatives to screen time that encourage creativity, and how involving kids in chores builds responsibility and executive functioning. I'm also sharing how to create a real food family culture without labeling foods as “bad,” how to monitor sugar and food dyes without being extreme, and how to gradually pass ownership of health to your kids so they can make wise choices when no one is watching.If you want less pressure around food, more confidence in your parenting decisions, and a clear path toward raising healthy, independent future adults, this episode is for you!Resources We Mention in This Parenting Q&AGet the one-page “cheat sheets” at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/handbook.Register for the No More Picky Eating ChallengeCheck out my chores system hereFor my lemon water: collagen and vitamin C powderThe blue light glasses I haveStarting to eat real food is easier with the Monday Missions!The risks of synthetic food dyesSome ways we deal with sugar and desserts at the Kimball houseTap over and see the YouTube shorts channelTake control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today! Get four free workshops now at https://raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Did you know that picky eating can sometimes be caused by the messages the bacteria in your gut are sending to your brain?So the CHILD isn't being a sugar monster…or making stubborn choices just to drive you crazy…their gut bugs are the sugar monsters and their brain has pruned too much!I learned so much from Elissa Arnheim in this interview, both the philosophical to feed MY brain and the practical—some of which I implemented that very day!Here are my favorite quotes:“Let's start with this: Our bodies are designed perfectly.”“If a child cuts out an entire category of healthy foods, it's a sign that something is wrong – and it's all figure-out-able and fixable.”“Step 1 for sugar monster kids: serve sauerkraut!”

On this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino sits down with picky eating expert, educator, and founder of Raising Healthy Families, Katie Kimball.Kimball explains why teaching teens to cook is about far more than food. It's about:Reducing teen anxiety through competence and ownershipBuilding executive functioning and life skillsStrengthening family connectionPreparing kids for independent adulthoodAvoiding the “avalanche effect” at age 18Creating a healthy family culture around foodWith teen anxiety and depression rates rising, parents are searching for practical ways to empower their children. Kimball shares research-backed insights on how cooking builds confidence that spills into academics, social life, and emotional well-being.The conversation shares approaches on how to raise a confident, capable adult who can budget, meal plan, feed themselves, and build meaningful community.This podcast is for parents, guardians, teachers and caregivers to learn proven strategies and trusted tips on raising kids, teens and young adults based on science, evidenced and lived experience.You'll learn the latest on topics like managing bullying, consent, fostering healthy relationships, and the interconnectedness of mental, emotional and physical health.Links referenced in this episode: whereparentstalk.comraisinghealthyfamilies.comCompanies mentioned in this episode:Raising Healthy FamiliesKids Cook Real Food

In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, I talk with Katie Kimball about how chores can quietly build children's competence, confidence, and independence. Katie shares practical strategies for engaging kids of all ages, creating chore systems that actually work, and introducing responsibility in ways that feel collaborative rather than controlling. Whether you're parenting elementary-aged kids or teens, this conversation is full of actionable tips for helping kids take ownership, develop life skills, and thrive. In this episode, you'll learn: Why chores matter more than convenience and can foster mindfulness How to make chores collaborative, not a power struggle Age-appropriate strategies for kids and teens Ways to shift from nagging to systems that support independence One small, compassionate step parents can take this week ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training. Find more podcasts, Hunter's books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Timestamps: 00:10 - Introduction 01:11 - Meet Katie Kimball 01:24 - Gradual Release of Responsibility 03:18 - Essential Skills Before Launch 06:46 - Letting Teens Fail Safely 09:58 - Kitchen Failures & Learning 11:53 - Mental Health Benefits 14:32 - Teens Cook Real Food Course 16:13 - Building Community 18:02 - Course Deep Dive 22:42 - Key Takeaways   Join teen hosts Dane, Ziad, and Abdullah from The Holistic Kids Show as they welcome back their favorite repeat guest, Katie Kimball, for an empowering conversation about why teens need to take charge in the kitchen. With recent CDC data showing that teenagers get nearly 62% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods, the need for teens to learn real cooking skills has never been more urgent. But where do you start? In this episode, you'll discover: ✨ The Gradual Release of Responsibility – How parents can progressively build teen independence from childhood through launch, and why letting kids fail safely is one of the hardest but most important parts of parenting

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts or check out the fully edited transcript of our interview at the bottom of this post.In this episode of The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, I speak with Katie Kimball of Raising Healthy Families. We discussed getting kids in the kitchen and getting them to love cooking, raising teenagers and why they are wonderful, managing screens at different ages, and what kind of skills kids need to become independent, well-rounded and self-sufficient once they leave our homes.Make sure to check out Katie's course Teens Cook Real Food! **If you'd like an ad-free version of the podcast, consider becoming a supporter on Substack! > > If you already ARE a supporter, the ad-free version is waiting for you in the Substack app or you can enter the private feed URL in the podcast player of your choice.Know someone who might appreciate this episode? Share it with them!We talk about:* [00:00] Introduction to the episode and guest Katie Kimball; overview of topics (cooking, teens, life skills, screens)* [00:01] Katie's background: former teacher, mom of four, and how her work evolved into teaching kids and teens to cook* [00:04] Why the teen years are actually great; what teens need developmentally (agency and autonomy)* [00:08] Beneficial risk and safe failure; how building competence early reduces anxiety later* [00:10] Getting kids into cooking: start small, build confidence, and let them cook food they enjoy* [00:16] Cooking as a life skill: budgeting, independence, and preparing for adulthood* [00:21] Screen time: focusing on quality (consumptive vs. creative vs. social) instead of just limits* [00:25] Practical screen strategies used in Katie's family* [00:28] Motivating teens to cook: future-casting and real-life relevance (first apartment, food costs)* [00:33] Teens Cook Real Food course: what it teaches and why Katie created it* [00:37] Fun foods teens love making (pizza, tacos)* [00:39] Where to find Katie and closing reflectionsResources mentioned in this episode:* Teens Cook Real Food Course https://raisinghealthyfamilies.com/PeacefulParenting* Evelyn & Bobbie bras: https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/bra* Yoto Screen Free Audio Book Player https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/yoto* The Peaceful Parenting Membership https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/membership* How to Stop Fighting About Video Games with Scott Novis: Episode 201 https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/how-to-stop-fighting-about-video-games-with-scott-novis-episode-201/Connect with Sarah Rosensweet:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/* Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup* YouTube: Peaceful Parenting with Sarah Rosensweet @peacefulparentingwithsarah4194* Website: https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com* Join us on Substack: https://substack.com/@sarahrosensweet* Newsletter: https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/newsletter* Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.phpxx Sarah and CoreyYour peaceful parenting team-click here for a free short consult or a coaching sessionVisit our website for free resources, podcast, coaching, membership and more!>> Please support us!!! Please consider becoming a supporter to help support our free content, including The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, our free parenting support Facebook group, and our weekly parenting emails, “Weekend Reflections” and “Weekend Support” - plus our Flourish With Your Complex Child Summit (coming back in the summer for the 3rd year!) All of this free support for you takes a lot of time and energy from me and my team. If it has been helpful or meaningful for you, your support would help us to continue to provide support for free, for you and for others.In addition to knowing you are supporting our mission to support parents and children, you get the podcast ad free and access to a monthly ‘ask me anything' session.Our sponsors:YOTO: YOTO is a screen free audio book player that lets your kids listen to audiobooks, music, podcasts and more without screens, and without being connected to the internet. No one listening or watching and they can't go where you don't want them to go and they aren't watching screens. BUT they are being entertained or kept company with audio that you can buy from YOTO or create yourself on one of their blank cards. Check them out HEREEvelyn & Bobbie bras: If underwires make you want to rip your bra off by noon, Evelyn & Bobbie is for you. These bras are wire-free, ultra-soft, and seriously supportive—designed to hold you comfortably all day without pinching, poking, or constant adjusting. Check them out HEREPodcast Transcript:Sarah: Hi everyone. Welcome back to another episode of the Peaceful Parenting Podcast. Today's guest is Katie Kimball of Raising Healthy Families. She has been helping parents feed their kids and, more recently—in the past few years—teach their kids to cook. We had a great conversation about getting kids in the kitchen and getting them to love cooking, and also about raising teenagers and what kind of skills kids need to become independent. We also talked about screens, because any parent of a teenager who also supports other parents—I want to hear about what they do with getting kids to be less screen-focused and screen-dependent.Katie had some great tips in all of these areas, including cooking, feeding our families, and screens. In some ways, we're just talking about how do we raise kids who are independent, well-rounded, and have the skills they need to live independently—and those things all come into play.I hope that you really enjoy this conversation with Katie as much as I did. Let's meet Katie.Hi, Katie. Welcome to the podcast.Katie: Thank you so much, Sarah. I'm honored to talk to your audience.Sarah: I'm so excited to talk to you about teenagers, raising teenagers, life skills, screens—there are so many things to dive into. You seem like a very multifaceted person with all these different interests. Tell us about who you are and what you do.Katie: I do have a little bit of a squirrel brain, so I'm constantly doing something new in business. That means I can talk about a lot of things. I've been at the parenting game for 20 years and in the online business world for 17. I'm a teacher by trade and a teacher by heart, but I only taught in the classroom for about two years before I had my kids. I thought, “I can't do both really, really well,” so I chose the family, left the classroom, and came home.But my brain was always in teacher mode. As I was navigating the path and the journey of, “How do I feed these tiny humans?”—where every bite counts so much—I was really walking that real-food journey and spending a lot of time at the cutting board. My brain was always going, “How can I help other moms make this path easier?” I made so many mistakes. I burned so much food. There's so much tension around how you balance your budget with your time, with the nutrition, and with all the conflicting information that's flying at us.So I felt like I wanted to stand in the middle of that chaos and tell moms, “Listen, there's some stuff you can do that does it all—things that are healthy, save time, and save money.” That's kind of where I started teaching online.Then I shifted to kids' cooking. For the last 10 years, I've been sort of the kids' cooking cheerleader of the world, trying to get all kids in the kitchen and building confidence. It's really been a journey since then. My kids currently are 20, 17, 14, and 11, so I'm in the thick of it.Sarah: We have a very similar origin story: former teacher, then mom, and a brain that doesn't want to stop working. I went with parent coaching, and you went with helping parents with food and cooking, so that's exciting.I can tell from what I've learned about you offline that you love teenagers—and I love teenagers too. We have people in the audience who have teenagers and also people who have littler kids. I think the people with littler kids are like, “I don't want my kids to grow up. I've heard such bad things about teenagers.” What do you want people to know about teenagers? What are some things that you've learned as the mom of younger kids and then teens?Katie: It's such a devastating myth, Sarah, that teens are going to be the awful part of your parenting career—the time you're not supposed to look forward to, the time you have to slog through, and it's going to be so difficult.It's all difficult, right? Don't let anyone tell you parenting's easy—they're lying. But it's so worth it, and it's so great. I love parenting teens. I love conversing with them at such a much higher level than talking to my 11-year-old, and I love watching what they can do. You see those glimpses of what they'll be like when they're a dad, or when they're running around an office, or managing people. It's incredible to be so close. It's like the graduation of parenting. It's exciting.That's what I would want to tell parents of kids younger than teens: look forward to it.I do think there are some things you can do to prepare for adolescence and to make it smoother for everyone. I like to talk about what teens need. We want to parent from a place of what teens developmentally need, and they really need agency and autonomy at that stage. They're developmentally wired to be pushing away—to be starting to make the break with their adults, with that generation that we are in. Sometimes that's really painful as the grown-up. It almost feels like they're trying to hurt us, but what they're really doing is trying to push us away so it doesn't hurt them so badly when they know they need to leave.As parents, it helps to sit with the knowledge that this is not personal. They do not hate me. They're attempting to figure out how to sever this relationship. So what can we do to allow them to do that so they don't have to use a knife? If we can allow them to walk far enough away from us and still be a safe haven they can come home to, the relationship doesn't have to be severed. It just gets more distant and longer apart.When they want independence and autonomy, we need to make sure we give it to them. My tip for parents of younger kids is that, especially around ages 8, 10, 11—depending on maturity level—where can we start providing some agency? My team will say, “Katie, don't say agency. It sounds like you're talking about the FBI or some government letters.” But it's the best word, because agency isn't just choices—it's choices plus control, plus competence to be able to make change in your own life, in your own environment.We can't have agency unless we give our kids skills to actually be able to do something. The choice between “Do you want the red cup or the blue cup?” is for toddlers. That's not going to be enough once they're in the stage where their mind is growing and they can critically think. We want to give our kids skills, responsibilities, choices, and some ownership over their lives. That starts in upper elementary school, and it gets bigger and bigger.Sarah: I would argue it starts even earlier. Toddlers can make the red cup or blue cup choice, and as they keep going, you can give them more and more agency.One of my favorite parenting people, Alfie Kohn, says that kids should have the power to make decisions that make us gulp a little bit.Katie: Oh, I love that.Sarah: I think that's true. We come up against our own anxiety too: What if they make the wrong decision? But it's incremental, so the decisions become bigger and bigger as they get older. That's how they practice being able to make good decisions—through experience.Katie: We know statistically that anxiety right now is spiking massively that first year out of high school—where young adults are heading into the world, either to university or for a first job. One theory—one I would get behind—is that everything of adulthood, all the responsibilities, are crashing on their shoulders at once, and they haven't experienced that level of responsibility. Sometimes they haven't had opportunities to fail safely, and they don't know what to do.Sometimes we think we're pushing problems out of their way and that it's helpful, but we're really creating bigger problems down the road. So with that long-term perspective, I love that “gulp.” We've got to let them try and fail and hold back.Sarah: Do you know Lenore Skenazy, who started the Free Range Kids movement? She has a TED Talk that came out recently where she talks about how she attributes the rise in anxiety to the fact that kids never have any unwatched time by adults. They never have room and space to figure out their own way to make things work. Of course, I don't think anyone's saying we should inappropriately not supervise our kids, but they need more freedom. If they don't have freedom to figure things out on their own, that's where the anxiety comes in.Katie: For sure. When Lenore and I have interacted, she likes to call it “beneficial risk.” Climbing the tree is the classic example, but because I love to get kids and teens in the kitchen, we got to talk about the beneficial risk of using sharp knives and playing with fire—literally returning to our ancestral roots.The way I see it, and the way I've seen it played out in my own home: I taught my now 20-year-old to use a chef's knife at age 10. He built competency. He took risks. He discovered how he wanted to navigate in the kitchen. So when he was 15 and getting his driver's permit, I felt pretty peaceful. I thought, “He's so mature. I've seen him make good decisions. He's practiced taking beneficial risks.”I felt confident handing him the driver's license. When it came time for him to get a cell phone—first a kid-safe phone and then a fully unlocked smartphone—I felt like we had been building up to it because of our work in the kitchen. I think he did better than his peers with taking appropriate risks driving a car and having a smartphone in his pocket, because he'd had practice.Sarah: And that was in the kitchen for your family.Katie: Yes.Sarah: Cooking is one of my special interests. I love to cook. My kids love baking. They were never that interested in cooking, although they all can cook and they do cook for themselves. My 21-year-old who has his own apartment has started sending me pictures of the food that he makes. He made some baked chicken thighs with mushrooms the other day, and a green salad. He sent me a picture and I said to my daughter, “Do you want to see a picture of Asa's chicken?” And she said, “Asa got a chicken?” She was picturing it running around. We all laughed so hard because I wouldn't put it past him, honestly.When my kids were younger, they weren't that interested. Maybe I could have gotten them more interested in the cooking part, but I always felt like that was my thing. What tips do you have—for any ages—about how to get kids interested and involved? You said your son was using a chef's knife at age 10. What are some ways to involve kids and get them interested in that skill?Katie: Knives are a great start because they're scary and they're fun—especially for guys. You get to use something dangerous. My second son, John, asked to learn to use a chef's knife, so he learned to use a sharp paring knife at age four and asked to level up to a chef's knife at age seven.For parents of kids who are still in that intrinsic motivation phase—“I want to help”—the good news is you don't have to try. You just have to say yes. You just have to figure out what can my brain handle letting this little person do in the kitchen. If it's “I'm going to teach them to measure a teaspoon of salt,” then do it. Don't let cooking feel like this big to-do list item. It's just one teaspoon of salt.Can I teach them to crack an egg? Can I teach them to flip a pancake? Think of it as one little skill at a time. That's what cooking is: building blocks. If it's something like measuring, you don't have to have them in your elbow room. You can send them to the table; they can have a little spill bowl. Then you can build their motivation by complimenting the meal: “This meal tastes perfect. I think it's the oregano—who measured the oregano?” That's how we treat little ones.The medium-sized ones are a little tougher, and teens are tougher yet. For the medium-sized ones, the best way to get them involved is to create a chance for authentic praise that comes from outside the family—meaning it's not you or your co-parent; it's some other adult. If you're going to a party or a potluck, or you're having people over, figure out how to get that kid involved in one recipe. Then you say to the other adults, “Guess who made the guacamole?” That was our thing—our kids always made the guac when they were little. And other adults say, “What? Paul made the guacamole? That's amazing. This is awesome.” The 10-year-old sees that and blooms with pride. It makes them more excited to come back in the kitchen, feel more of that, and build more competency.Sarah: I love that. That's an invitation, and then it makes them want to do more because it feels good. We talk about that in peaceful parenting too: a nice invitation and then it becomes a prosocial behavior you want to do more of.I started cooking because I wanted to make food that I liked. I'm old enough that I took Home Ec in middle school, and it was my favorite class. I think about my Home Ec teacher, Mrs. Flanagan, my whole adult life because I learned more from her that I still use than from any other teacher. I remember figuring out how to make deep-fried egg rolls in grade seven because I loved egg rolls. You couldn't just buy frozen egg rolls then. So I think food that kids like can be a good way in. Is that something you find too?Katie: One hundred percent. If you're cooking things they don't like, you get the pushback: “Mom, I don't like…” So it's like, “Okay, I would love to eat your meal. What do you want to eat?” And it's not, “Tell me what you want and I'll cook it.” If you meal plan, you get to make all the choices.My kids have been interviewed, and people often ask, “What's your favorite thing about knowing how to cook?” My kids have gotten pretty good at saying, “We get to cook what we like.” It's super motivating.Sarah: When I was growing up, my sister and I each had to make dinner one night a week starting when I was in grade five and she was in grade three. We could make anything we wanted, including boxed Kraft Dinner. I can't remember what else we made at that young age, but it was definitely, “You are cooking dinner, and you get to make whatever you want.”Katie: Why didn't you do that with your own kids, out of curiosity?Sarah: It just seemed like it would take too much organization. I think we tried it a couple times. Organization is not my strong suit. Often dinner at our house—there were lots of nights where people had cereal or eggs or different things for dinner. I love to cook, but I like to cook when the urge hits me and I have a recipe I want to try. I'm not seven nights a week making a lovely dinner.Also, dinner was often quite late at my house because things always take longer than I think. I'd start at six, thinking it would take an hour, and it would be 8:30 by the time dinner was ready. I remember one night my middle son was pouring himself cereal at 6:30. I said, “Why are you having cereal? Dinner's almost ready.” He said, “Mom, it's only 6:30.” He expected it later—that's the time normal people eat dinner.My kids have a lot of freedom, but nobody was particularly interested in cooking. And, to be honest, it felt a bit too early as a responsibility when my sister and I had to do it. Even though I'm glad now that I had those early experiences, it was wanting to make egg rolls that made me into a cook more than being assigned dinner in grade five.Katie: That push and pull of how we were parented and how we apply it now is so hard.Sarah: Yes.Katie: I'm thinking of an encouraging story from one of the families who's done our brand-new Teens Cook Real Food. The mom said it was kind of wild: here they were cooking all this real food and it felt intensive. Over the years she'd slid more into buying processed foods, and through the class, watching her teens go through it, she realized, “Oh my gosh, it's actually not as hard as I remember. I have to coach myself.” They shifted into cooking with more real ingredients, and it wasn't that hard—especially doing it together.Sarah: It's not that hard. And you hear in the news that people are eating a lot of fast food and processed food. I'm not anti-fast food or processed food, but you don't want that to be the only thing you're eating. It's actually really easy to cook some chicken and rice and broccoli, but you have to know how. That's why it's so sad Home Ec has gone by the wayside. And honestly, a whole chicken, some rice, and broccoli is going to be way cheaper than McDonald's for a family of four. Cooking like that is cheaper, not very hard, and healthier than eating a lot of fast food or processed food.Katie: Conversations in the kitchen and learning to cook—it's kind of the gateway life skill, because you end up with conversations about finances and budgeting and communication and thinking of others. So many life skills open up because you're cooking.You just brought up food budget—that could be a great half-hour conversation with a 16- or 17-year-old: “You won't have infinite money in a couple years when you move out. You'll have to think about where you spend that money.” It's powerful for kids to start thinking about what it will be like in their first apartment and how they'll spend their time and money.Sarah: My oldest son is a musician, and he's really rubbing his pennies together. He told me he makes a lot of soups and stews. He'll make one and live off it for a couple days. He doesn't follow a recipe—he makes it up. That's great, because you can have a pretty budget-friendly grocery shop.I also don't want to diss anyone who's trying to keep it all together and, for them, stopping by McDonald's is the only viable option at this moment. No judgment if you're listening and can't imagine having the capacity to cook chicken and rice and broccoli. Maybe someday, or maybe one day a week on the weekend, if you have more time and energy.Katie: The way I explain it to teens is that learning to cook and having the skills gives you freedom and choices. If you don't have the skills at all, you're shackled by convenience foods or fast food or DoorDash. But if you at least have the skills, you have many more choices. Teens want agency, autonomy, and freedom, so I speak that into their lives. Ideally, the younger you build the skills, the more time you have to practice, gain experience, and get better.There's no way your older son could have been making up soups out of his head the first month he ever touched chicken—maybe he's a musician, so maybe he could apply the blues scale to cooking quickly—but most people can't.Sarah: As we're speaking, I'm reflecting that my kids probably did get a lot of cooking instruction because we were together all the time. They would watch me and they'd do the standing on a chair and cutting things and stirring things. It just wasn't super organized.That's why I'm so glad you have courses that can help people learn how to teach their children or have their kids learn on their own.I promised we would talk about screens. I'm really curious. It sounds like your kids have a lot of life skills and pretty full lives. Something I get asked all the time is: with teens and screens, how do you avoid “my kid is on their phone or video games for six or seven hours a day”? What did you do in your family, and what thoughts might help other people?Katie: Absolutely. Parenting is always hard. It's an ongoing battle. I think I'm staying on the right side of the numbers, if there are numbers. I feel like I'm launching kids into the world who aren't addicted to their phones. That's a score, and it's tough because I work on screens. I'm telling parents, “Buy products to put your kids on screen,” so it's like, “Wait.”I don't look at screens as a dichotomy of good or bad, but as: how do we talk to our kids about the quality of their time on screens?Back in 2020, when the world shut down, my oldest, Paul, was a freshman. His freshman year got cut short. He went weeks with zero contact with friends, and he fell into a ton of YouTube time and some video games. We thought, “This is an unprecedented time, but we can't let bad habits completely take over.”We sat down with him and said, “Listen, there are different kinds of screen time.” We qualified them as consumptive—everything is coming out of the screen at you—creative—you're making something—and communicative—you're socializing with other people.We asked him what ways he uses screens. We made a chart on a piece of paper and had him categorize his screen time. Then we asked what he thought he wanted his percentage of screen time to be in those areas—without evaluating his actual time yet. He assigned those times, and then we had him pay attention to what reality was. Reality was 90 to 95% consumptive. It was an amazing lightbulb moment. He realized that to be an agent of his own screen time, he had to make intentional choices.He started playing video games with a buddy through the headphones. That change completely changed his demeanor. That was a tough time.So that's the basis of our conversation: what kind of screen time are you having?For my 11-year-old, he still has minute limits: he sets a timer and stops himself. But if he's playing a game with someone, he gets double the time. That's a quantitative way to show him it's more valuable to be with someone than by yourself on a screen. A pretty simple rule.We'll also say things like, “People over screens.” If a buddy comes over and you're playing a video game, your friend is at the door.That's also what I talk to parents about with our classes: this isn't fully consumptive screen time. We highly edit things. We try to keep it engaging and fun so they're on for a set number of minutes and then off, getting their fingers dirty and getting into the real world. We keep their brains and hands engaged beyond the screen. The only way I can get a chef into your home is through the screen—or you pay a thousand dollars.We can see our screen time as really high quality if we make the right choices. It's got to be roundabout 10, 11, 12: pulling kids into the conversation about how we think about this time.Sarah: I love that. It sounds like you were giving your kids tools to look at their own screen time and how they felt about it, rather than you coming from on high and saying, “That's enough. Get off.”Katie: Trying.Sarah: I approach it similarly, though not as organized. I did have limits for my daughter. My sons were older when screens became ubiquitous. For my daughter, we had a two-hour limit on her phone that didn't include texting or anything social—just Instagram, YouTube, that kind of stuff. I think she appreciated it because she recognized it's hard to turn it off.We would also talk about, “What else are you doing today?” Have you gone outside? Have you moved your body? Have you done any reading? All the other things. And how much screen time do you think is reasonable? Variety is a favorite word around here.Katie: Yes. So much so my 11-year-old will come to me and say, “I've played outside, I've read a book, my homework is done. Can I have some screen time?” He already knows what I'm going to ask. “Yes, Mom, I've had variety.” Then: “Okay, set a timer for 30 minutes.”I have a 14-year-old freshman right now. He does not own a phone.Sarah: Oh, wow. I love that.Katie: In modern America, he knows the pathway to get a phone—and he doesn't want one.Sarah: That's great. I hope we see that more and more. I worry about how much kids are on screens and how much less they're talking to each other and doing things.I had a guest on my podcast who's a retired video game developer. His thing is how to not fight with your kid about video games. One thing he recommends is—even more than playing online with someone else—get them in the same room together. Then they can play more. He has different time rules if you're playing in person with kids in your living room than if you're playing alone or playing online with someone else.Katie: Nice. Totally. My story was from COVID times.Sarah: Yes, that wasn't an option then. Someone I heard say the other day: “Can we just live in some unprecedented times, please?”Katie: Yes, please.Sarah: You mentioned the intrinsic motivation of somebody admiring their guacamole. What are your tips for kids—especially teens—who think they're too busy or just super uninterested in cooking?Katie: Teens are a tough species. Motivation is a dance. I really encourage parents to participate in future casting. Once they're about 15, they're old enough. Academically, they're being future-casted all the time: “What are you going to be when you grow up?” They're choosing courses based on university paths. But we need to future-cast about real life too.Ask your 15-year-old: “Have you ever thought about what it'll be like to be in your first apartment?” Maybe they haven't. That helps reduce that first-year-out-of-home anxiety—to have imagined it. Then they might realize they have gaps. “Would you be interested in making sure you can cook some basic stuff for those first years? When you're cooking at home, it's my money you waste if you screw up.” That can be motivating. “I'm here to help.”Sometimes it comes down to a dictate from above, which is not my favorite. Your sister and you were asked to cook at third and fifth grade. I agree that might be a little young for being assigned a full meal. We start around 12 in our house. But by high school, there's really no reason—other than busy schedules. If they're in a sport or extracurricular daily, that can be rough. So what could they do? Could they make a Sunday brunch? We come home from church every Sunday and my daughter—she's 17, grade 12—she's faster than I am now. She'll have the eggs and sausage pretty much done. I'm like, “I'm going to go change out of my church clothes. Thanks.”If we're creative, there's always some time and space. We have to eat three times a day. Sometimes it might be: “You're old enough. It's important as a member of this household to contribute. I'm willing to work with you on really busy weeks, but from now on, you need to cook on Saturday nights.” I don't think that has to be a massive power struggle—especially with the future casting conversation. If you can get them to have a tiny bit of motivation—tiny bit of thinking of, “Why do I need this?”—and the idea of “If I cook, I get to make what I want,” and the budget.Sarah: The budget too: if you're living in your own apartment, how much do you think rent is? How much do you think you can eat for? It's way more expensive to order out or get fast food than to cook your own food.Katie: I feel so proud as a fellow mom of your son, Asa, for making soups and stuff. In Teens Cook Real Food, we teach how to make homemade bone broth by taking the carcass of a chicken. It's a very traditional skill. On camera, I asked the girls who did it with me to help me figure out what their dollar-per-hour pay rate was for making that, compared to an equal quality you buy in the store. Bone broth at the quality we can make is very expensive—like $5 a cup.They did the math and their hourly pay was over $70 an hour to make that bone broth. Then they have gallons of bone broth, and I call it the snowball effect: you have all this broth and you're like, “I guess I'll make soup.” Soup tends to be huge batches, you can freeze it, and it snowballs into many homemade, inexpensive, nourishing meals.Sarah: I love that. You've mentioned your course a couple times—Teens Cook Real Food. I'm picturing that as your kids grew up, your teaching audience grew up too. Were there other reasons you wanted to teach teens how to cook?Katie: Yes. We've had our kids' cooking class for 10 years now. It just had its 10th birthday. The most often requested topic that's not included in the kids' class is meal planning and grocery shopping. It wasn't something I felt like an eight-year-old needed.For 10 years I had that seed of, “How can I incorporate those important skills of meal planning and grocery shopping?” Then my teens got older, and I thought, “I've told parents of teens that our kids' cooking class will work for them, but it's not enough. It wasn't sufficient.”It was so exciting to put this course together. Even just the thinking—the number of index cards I had on the floor with topics trying to figure out what a young adult needs in their first apartment, how to connect the skills, and how to make it engaging.We ended up with eight teens I hired from my local community—some with cooking experience, some with literally none. We had on-camera accidents and everything. But they learned to cook in my kitchen, and it's all recorded for your teens to learn from.Sarah: I love that. What are some of the recipes that you teach in the course?Katie: We have over 35. We spent a whole day with a chef. He started talking about flavor and how seasonings work, and he taught us the mother sauces—like a basic white sauce, both gluten-free and dairy-free, a couple ways to do that, and a basic red sauce, and a couple ways to do that.My favorite cheeky segment title is “How to Boil Water.” We have a bunch of videos on how to boil water—meaning you can make pasta, rice, oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, boiled potatoes. There's a lot of stuff that goes in water.Then we built on that with “How to Eat Your Vegetables.” We teach sautéing, steaming, and roasting. The first big recipe they learn is a basic sheet pan dinner. We use pre-cooked sausage and vegetables of your choice, seasonings of your choice. It's one of those meals where you're like, “I don't need a recipe. I can just make this up and put it in the oven.”Then, to go with pasta and red sauce, we teach homemade meatballs. We get them at the grill for steak and chicken and burgers. Of course we do French fries in a couple different ways.Choice is a huge element of this course. If we teach something, we probably teach it in two or three or four different ways, so teens can adapt to preferences, food sensitivities, and anything like that.We use the Instant Pot a lot in our “How to Eat Your Protein” segment. We do a pork roast and a beef roast and a whole chicken, and that broth I talked about, and we make a couple different soups with that.Sarah: You almost make me feel like I haven't had lunch yet.Katie: I'm starving, actually.Sarah: I'm quite an adventurous eater and cook, but I'm going to ask you about my two favorite foods—because they're like a child's favorite foods, but my favorite foods are pizza and tacos. Do you do anything with pizza and tacos in your course?Katie: We do both pizza and tacos.Sarah: Good!Katie: Our chef taught us, with that homemade red sauce, to make homemade dough. He said, “I think we should teach them how to make a homemade brick oven and throw the pizzas into the oven.” Throwing means sliding the pizza off a pizza peel onto bricks in your oven. I was like, “We're going to make such a mess,” but they did it. It's awesome.Then we tested it at home: can you just make this in a normal pizza pan? Yes, you can—don't worry. You don't have to buy bricks, but you can. Again, there are different ways.Sarah: I think teenagers would love making pizza on bricks in the oven. For us we're like, “That seems like so much work.” But teenagers are enthusiastic and creative and they have so much energy. They're wonderful human beings. I can see how the brick oven pizza would be a great challenge for them.Katie: It's so fun. My kids, Paul and John—20 and 14—they've both done it at home. As adults we're like, “It's such a mess,” but we're boring people. Teenagers are not boring. So yes—definitely pizza.Sarah: That's awesome. We'll link to your course in the show notes. Before we let you go, where's the best place for people to go and find out more about you and what you do?Katie: Definitely: raisinghealthyfamilies.com/peacefulparenting. We're going to make sure there's always something about teens at that link—whether it's a free preview of the course or a parenting workshop from me. There will always be something exciting for parents there.Sarah: Amazing. It's been such a pleasure. I thought maybe I didn't do all this stuff, but considering how both of my sons who are independent cook for themselves all the time, I think I must have done okay—even if it was just by osmosis.Katie: That's the great thing about keeping your kids near you. That was your peaceful parenting: they were in the kitchen and they were there, as opposed to you booting them out of the kitchen. There are lots of ways.Sarah: My daughter is an incredible baker. She makes the best chocolate chip cookies. I have this recipe for muffin-tin donuts that are amazing, and she's a really great baker. She can find her way around a quesadilla, eggs, and ramen for herself. I think once she moves out, if she doesn't have mom's cooking anymore, she'll probably also be able to cook.Katie: Yes. And so many parents need that bridge. They're like, “My kids love to make cookies. They bake, but they won't shift to cooking.” I would hope that future-casting conversation could be a good bridge.Sarah: Yeah. You can't live on cookies—or you might think you can for a little while, but then you'd start to feel gross.Katie: Exactly.Sarah: Thanks a lot, Katie.Katie: Thank you so much, Sarah. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sarahrosensweet.substack.com/subscribe

In the last episode, we made it through step 3 of the 5 steps to meal planning on a budget! Now let's dive into steps 4-5. I am collaborating with two of my most frugal friends who are GREAT cooks to compile 5 steps to meal planning on a budget, merging both requests of our families of teens.May I introduce you to Tiffany of Don't Waste the Crumbs and Steph of Cheapskate Cook, who never cease to amaze me with their ability to save money while also generously hosting friends and sharing their knowledge with others online?You'll get to hear from them both in this episode. Resources We Mention for Meal Planning on a BudgetSome tips to stretch your meat and save moneyMore tips for reducing food wasteMy full interview with StephMy full interview with TiffanyMeal planning is the key to healthy eatingRoutines to make healthy meal planning doable3 Habits to help your grocery budget with high inflationMore tips and recipes to save you moneyVisit raisinghealthyfamilies.com/teens to get on the waitlist for Teens Cook Real Food! Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

We just celebrated 10 years of teaching kids to cook online, which honestly feels surreal. It still feels like yesterday that we were filming the very first lessons, crossing our fingers, and wondering if anyone would even want this.Fast forward a decade and nearly 20,000 families served, and the answer is clear. This work matters. It is changing kitchens, confidence levels, and family dynamics in real ways.Over the years, parents have consistently asked me about two skills that go beyond what we teach inside Kids Cook Real Food:How to help kids meal planHow to help kids grocery shopThese are higher level executive functioning skills. They build on cooking, but they are a step further. They require decision making, budgeting, and thinking ahead. That is why they were never part of the original Kids Cook Real Food course.For a long time, I knew these skills belonged in a future, more advanced program for teens and young adults. And now, that next step is almost here!! They are a big part of Teens Cook Real Food, which releases to the public on January 26, 2006!! (But only for a week right now, so put it on your calendar.)Today we'll hit on steps 1-3 of meal planning on a budget!Resources We Mention for Meal Planning on a BudgetSome tips to stretch your meat and save moneyMore tips for reducing food wasteMeal planning is the key to healthy eatingRoutines to make healthy meal planning doable3 Habits to help your grocery budget with high inflationMore tips and recipes to save you moneVisit raisinghealthyfamilies.com/teens to get on the waitlist for Teens Cook Real Food! Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Send us a textThis episode is part of Holiday Voices—a special Real Happy Mom podcast series filled with quick holiday tips, uplifting stories, and real-life traditions from moms who get it.Whether you're a working mom trying to simplify the season, or just looking for ways to reduce holiday stress and be more present, these short episodes are packed with encouragement and ideas you can actually use.Find all the episodes, links to guest freebies, and more at realhappymom.com/voicesSupport the show

Are you ready to transform your children from helpless dependents into confident, capable individuals? What if teaching life skills could actually reduce your daily parenting stress whilst building your child's self-esteem? How can simple household tasks become powerful tools for developing resilience and independence in your kids?

In this episode, Evan H. Hirsch, MD, speaks with Katie Kimball, CSME, to explore how exhausted parents can reclaim energy and stability at home by building a true "family team." Together, they unpack how life skills, chores, and food prep can become empowering tools, especially for families navigating chronic fatigue or long COVID. Katie Kimball helps change kids' relationship to food, both through work in the kitchen and helping parents of picky eaters. She's a former teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, writer, and mom of 4 kids. She created the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, which was recommended by The Wall Street Journal as the best online cooking class for kids. Her blog Kitchen Stewardship helps families stay healthy without going crazy, and she's on a mission to connect families around healthy food, teach every child to cook, and instill those all-important life skills with her LifeSkillsNow summer camps! Today, Katie shares simple but powerful strategies for involving kids in cooking and household responsibilities in a way that builds confidence, strengthens family bonds, and takes pressure off parents who are stretched thin. In this episode, you'll learn: What a "family support team" looks like and how to create one Why life skills build confidence, resilience, and future independence How to coach rather than criticize when teaching kids The importance of clear boundaries and gradual responsibility Why apologizing is a powerful parenting tool How to shift parenting style as your kids become teens Creative ways to teach responsibility through allowance systems Katie's Freebie: Knife Skills Video for Kids: https://kidscookrealfood.com/energymdpodcast  Holiday Skills Bundle from LifeSkillsNow: https://sl290.isrefer.com/go/holiday-skills/ehirsch/  . We help you resolve your Long Covid and Chronic Fatigue (ME/CFS) by finding and fixing the REAL root causes that 95% of providers miss. Learn about these causes and how we help people like you, Click Here. Do you have fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, muscle pain, or other strange symptoms? You might have Long Covid. Take our free quiz to find out if Long Covid is behind the mystery symptoms you're experiencing, Click Here. For more information about Evan and his program, Click Here.   Prefer to watch on Youtube? Click Here.   Please note that any information in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.  

When your podcast guest says, “Our goal as parents is to raise up these self-sufficient, independent people someday,” you know she's in the right place!Diane Boden and I talk all about her journey to minimalism and the intentional mindset she's fostered over the last 14 years.It's not just about the “stuff” but about experiences, relationships, schedules, and even goals.We dig into all that and more in this encouraging interview!Resources We Mention for Living with IntentionDiane's book, Minimalist Moms: Living and Parenting with Simplicity, is available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or wherever you find your books. The Bullet Journal SystemMy stewardship philosophy Building mom friendships and overcoming isolation with Heather MacFadyenVisit Diane at her website Minimalist Moms Podcast or on social media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, XShop Wholestix and eat your organ meats here! Get your free life skills workshops now! Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

We're lonely!It's hurting us!And we're not very good at connecting with other humans.Heather MacFadyen is here to help. Author and podcaster of Don't Mom Alone, she's all about building connection to help moms do their jobs better.“Loneliness can be when you're with others but not feeling truly known,” she said in this encouraging interview. We talk about the 3 kinds of relationships moms need to nurture, how to shed the unattainable standards society is trying to place on us, and how to antidote loneliness in the most practical of ways.We hit on anger, lies and truths, podcast clubs and more.If you've ever felt the vulnerability of making a new friend or wish you were brave enough to take the risk and make a coffee date or go for a walk with a new friend…you need this interview.Grab Heather's book at your local library or bookshop and be sure to subscribe to the Don't Mom Alone podcast (along with of course The Healthy Parenting Handbook)!Resources We Mention for Building Mom FriendshipsHeather's books: Don't Mom Alone (Amazon/Bookshop.org) and Right Where You Belong (Amazon/Bookshop.org)Subscribe to Heather's podcast, Don't Mom AloneMel Robbins podcast episode: Why Making Friends as an Adult Feels ImpossibleThe Science of Friendship with Dr. Marisa G. FrancoPeople Fuel by John TownsendGood and Angry by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller Emotional Regulation for Moms with Emily HamblinVisit Heather on her website HeatherMacFadyen.com or on social media: Instagram, FacebookShop Wholestix and eat your organ meats here! Get 4 #LifeSkillsNow videos at kidscookrealfood.com/skills Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

The very morning I did this interview, my husband was complaining about how badly he felt because of a certain number...and when I heard Heidi's final "practical" challenge to parents, I knew we had to do it. This interview was a HUGE paradigm shift for me, and you will alternately want to turn it off as it gets challenging and find yourself cheering out loud!Heidi Schauster, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S is an expert on eating disorders and talks with me today about how we as parents can foster a healthy relationship with food for our kids. We cover risk factors for eating disorders, mindful eating, how to handle treats at school and elsewhere, what "rules" parents should (and should not!) have for food in the home, the quickest way to make your child into a binge eater, how we should talk about weight and body image with our kids, and so much more.This is a MUST WATCH interview because our entire culture is disordered in how to think and talk about body image, so we have a LOT of work to do to make positive change! Heidi and I continued to talk after I ended the recording and I kept catching myself using the wrong language about food. She said, "This is great - you're creating new neural pathways right in front of my eyes!" Resources We Mentioned for Healthy Relationships with Food:Heidi's books: Nourish: How to Heal Your Relationship with Food, Body, and Self (Amazon/Bookshop.org) and Nurture: How to Raise Kids Who Love Food, Their Bodies, and Themselves (Amazon/Bookshop.org)More on Ellyn Satter's division of responsibility in feedingHealth at Every SizeThe No More Picky Eating ChallengeWhat happened when the 8-year-old sneaked Halloween candy?Visit Heidi's website here or follow her on the socials: Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, FacebookGet the one-page summaries of each podcast at www.kidscookrealfood.com/Handbook! Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today! Get four free workshops now at https://kidscookrealfood.com/skills Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

In today's episode, ScreenStrong Ambassador Liaison and host Mandee Hamann welcomes Katie Kimball, founder of Kids Cook Real Food and two-time TEDx speaker, for an inspiring conversation about helping kids build real life skills in a world obsessed with screens.As a mom of four, teacher, and creator of the #LifeSkillsNow summer camps, Katie has helped thousands of families empower their kids to cook, clean, and take responsibility for their daily lives—all while bringing families closer together around healthy food and meaningful work.Mandee and Katie dive into:Why life skills are essential for kids' confidence and independenceHow screens are replacing valuable opportunities for hands-on learningWhy risk-taking (yes, even with sharp knives and climbing trees!) is necessary for growthHow busy families can find time to teach practical skills in everyday momentsWays to foster critical thinking and problem-solving—even before the “age of logic”Whether you're navigating the ScreenStrong 30-Day Detox or simply looking for ways to replace screen time with real-life learning, this episode will encourage and equip you to raise capable, confident kids who know how to thrive—no device required.

The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year ... or the most overwhelming. Between the excitement, the sugar, the schedule changes, and the constant stimulation, even the calmest kids can start to unravel. And let's be honest, parents can too!In this episode, I sat down with JoAnn Crohn, a former school teacher who's now on a mission to help overwhelmed moms rediscover joy and raise healthier, happier families. She has a gentle, realistic way of helping moms shift from chaos to calm, especially during high-stress seasons like the holidays. You might recognize JoAnn, as she's been a camp leader in all four seasons of #LifeSkillsNow!Here's what you'll learn:How JoAnn helps overwhelmed moms find joy and balance againWhy self-care isn't selfish, it's essential to being an effective parentWhat holiday overstimulation does to kids (and how to help them recover)Simple ways to validate your child's emotions without giving in to every whimHow to prepare kids for the changes and disappointments that come with the holidaysWhy calm-down strategies work best when practiced before the meltdownsThe easiest ways to bring your kids into holiday traditions so everyone feels connectedYou'll walk away with practical tools and a fresh mindset to make this holiday season feel more joyful and a lot less stressful.Resources We Mention for Helping Kids Manage Holiday EmotionsRegister for the Happy Holidays, Happier Kids Challenge that starts November 9!My interview with Tina Payne Bryson, and her book The Whole-Brain Child (Amazon/Bookshop.org)My Reasons I Think the Grinch Was a Highly Sensitive PersonMy favorite Christmas cookie ever: KifliVisit JoAnn Crohn on her website No Guilt Mom, or follow her on social media: Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, FacebookGet the one-page summaries of each podcast at www.kidscookrealfood.com/Handbook! Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today! Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Our digestion happens every day and REALLY can impact how we feel, think, and treat others!So let's talk all about poop. :)My guest today is brimming over with practical tips about assessing your digestive output (aka poo) and solving issues in gut health based on what you see.Genevieve is a wealth of knowledge on gut health and poop and so generous with her time and practical tips. If you're a fan of healthy living without being too complicated or spending too much money, this is the interview for you!Resources We Mention for Gut Health for FamiliesPurchase The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth (Amazon/Bookshop.org)If you're expecting, check out the Mama Natural Birth CourseChickpea Pizza Crust that is a favorite in our house.Morning sunlight for busy momsQuick Change Tastebuds, Gut Health, and Picky Eating with Elissa ArnheimProducts Genevieve Recommends: Mama Natural probiotics, Northwest Wild Foods berry powders, Garden of Life Turmeric gummies, Eden foods canned beans, Psyllium husk powder, Standard Process Betafood, Betaine HCl tablets, Digestive bitters, Mother Earth Minerals magnesiumVisit Genevieve on her website MamaNatural.com, or on social media: Instagram, YouTube, FacebookGet the one-page summaries of each podcast at www.kidscookrealfood.com/Handbook! Try out the #LifeSkillsNow workshops at kidscookrealfood.com/skills! Shop Truly Free household cleaners and more at https://kidscookrealfood.com/trulyfree! Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Did you know we've lost 80% of the nutrients in vegetables in the last 100 years?As farming has become big agriculture focused on scale, transportation, and profit, human health has suffered along with soil health.Farmer Lee Jones has become one of regenerative farming's most enthusiastic promoters, and to hear him wax poetic about butternut squash and the way Brussels sprouts grow is like a sports announcer commentating on the game-winning score!In this highly entertaining episode (I can see why Rachael Ray offered him a show through her production company!), you'll get to hear about:the unique microclimate along Lake Eriethe changes in farming and grocery stores in the last 75 yearshow the Jones family has turned many failures into better health for all of us at the Chef's Gardenwhat regenerative farming is, and how even small home gardeners can tap into this traditional, lost wisdom!why so many farmers are trapped and hurting the soilhow the whole mess got started (and who's behind it)how to harness the energy from the sun to create nutrient-rich soil, and how the Chef's Garden research facility makes old-fashioned farming high tech (without losing the good parts)what's ice spinach???how the on-farm chef has figured out the art of using all the parts of the plant, the vegetable version of “nose to tail” cookingIt's rare to have so much fun on an interview AND learn so much. Farmer Lee Jones does not disappoint!Resources We Mention for Regenerative Farming MethodsPurchase The Chef's Garden: A Modern Guide to Common and Unusual Vegetables–with Recipes on Amazon or Bookshop.orgWatch The Chef's Garden on Amazon or on A&E!A Beginner's Guide to Regenerative AgricultureGrowing Food in Containers Using PermacultureVisit Farmer Lee on his website or on social media: Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTokCheck out the cookbook FOR kids, BY kids at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr. Get the one-page summaries of each podcast at www.kidscookrealfood.com/Handbook! Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Send us a textDo you ever feel like all your tween or teen eats is buttered noodles or ramen?

Do you know any mom who ISN'T feeling a little overwhelmed by all the tasks she's juggling, who's NEVER thought, “My house isn't clean/organized/gorgeous enough,” or who doesn't think she has a lot of improvement to make on homemaking?I thought so.My guest today, Mystie Winckler, speaks to moms who are overwhelmed or paralyzed by perfectionism, who know their lives will never look like their favorite Instagram influencers, and who are tempted to just give up at home.(Me! Raises hand…)In case you're looking for just the perfect system that will help you out of that, or if you're hoping Mystie has a cleaning checklist you can try – because surely the next one you try will work even though others haven't – you'll be sorely disappointed.Mystie starts somewhere else, and I believe her method is easier and more difficult at the same time.For a positive conversation and a lot of encouragement for your home, tune in to this week's episode!!Resources We Mention for Beating Perfectionism in HomemakingCheck out Mystie's books: Simplified Organization, The Convivial Homeschool, How to Use a Planner without Wasting Time, and Rejoicing in Repetition3 Reasons Giving Kids Responsibility is a GiftTeaching Your Kids Chores and Life Skills Is NOT Taking Advantage of Them5 Tips for Teaching Kids to CookMacro vs. Micro-Organizing: What's the Difference? Try the Bust Out of Burnout Bingo Challenge (with prizes!)Visit Mystie's website Simply Convivial Get my favorite organic clothes and home goods at Pact here! Get 15% off your first order with code KITCHENSTEWARDSHIP15. Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Alzheimer's and dementia are some of the scariest realities for adults to consider. No one wants to feel like they're going to lose their mind!But in this day and age, it feels like cognitive decline is inevitable for many of us, “just a normal part of aging.”Similarly, our culture has come to accept that many kids are neurodivergent, that their brains are wired differently. We diagnose it as ADHD or ASD, or we see that 1/3 of our teens have clinical anxiety and we think, “It's just the way the world is. We'll help them navigate.”My guest today, Dr. Kristine Bosnar, wants us all to push back against acceptance. In fact, she says that the neuro-inflammation at the root of Alzheimer's and dementia is the SAME as what we see in kids with ADHD and other mental health struggles! Their brains are on fire.Buckle up and get ready to learn:why brain health is in a steep decline the last 20-30 yearshow it's affecting kids and the projected statisticsalarming correlations between the symptoms of Alzheimer's and ADHD, autism, anxietyclear red flags of brain inflammation that we mustn't ignore in our kidswhat to DO to help kids thrive and reduce neuro-inflammationhow the 3 S's - sugar, sedentary lifestyle, and sleep - are pivotal players in the inflammation gamesimple tips for how to start the day right for brain healththe epidemic of loneliness that we must stop NOW for our kids' generationwhy cooking together with your kids is a powerful (and efficient) step toward brain health for the whole familyResources We Mention for Brain Inflammation in KidsGet Dr. Kristina's Brain Boosting Foods for Kids resource3 Ways Parents Can Help Prevent Depression in Their KidsHear more on ADHD from Mike McLeod and Dana KaySubscribe to the Monday Missions for quick tips to more natural living! And start with safe sunscreens and green cleaners for your home. Make-ahead egg cups have a ton of protein for breakfast!The Science of Friendship (and Why That Matters to Our Health) with Psychologist Dr. Marisa G. FrancoVisit Dr. Bosnar's website or find her on Instagram @drkristinabosnarShop Perfect Supplements at https://kidscookrealfood.com/perfect! Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Do you eat organic food?If you do - even a handful of fruits and vegetables - you might be in for a rude surprise when you listen to this interview.Max Goldberg is the founder of Organic Insider and one of the nation's leading organic food experts. He sees significant room for improvement, really a NEED for improvement, when it comes to the USDA Certified Organic label.Max and I dove into policy, reality, and labeling in the organic industry, and I for one learned a LOT.You can learn too:the biggest misconception about organic foodsa major issue in organics that has the potential to limit our choices at the grocery store and even disintegrate the entire industryhow we as consumers can avoid this issue at the grocery storethe best way to find “real” organic food, and why it's actually better for your familywhat shocking toxin is getting into organic foods (and how to avoid it)the first step families can take if you're not eating organic food already (and a really budget-friendly tip)the next step families should take if you're already making some organic food choicesResources Mentioned for Problems with OrganicsCornucopia's organic score cardsHealthy, whole grain soaked pancakes (and more breakfast ideas here)Memorize the Dirty Dozen produce list & how to clean produceIs organic food really better?Max has a free newsletter with policy-focused updates called Organic Insider, or find out more on his website Living MaxwellFind Max on Instagram @organic_insiderThanks to today's sponsor, JustThrive! Use code Katie15 for 15% off at https://kidscookrealfood.com/justthrive. Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

You've heard the figure that most MDs get less than 10-20 hours of nutrition and food training in medical school, and Dr. Katja Rowell (MD!) thinks this is a tragedy.There are some tough moments to hear in this interview, but important ones as we work to raise healthy, independent kids into adulthood.We talked about:What "extreme" picky eating is How bad therapy can hurt a child's relationship with food and family to his/her great detriment, and how you can identify it.Why responsive feeding is different, respectful to the child, and ultimately worlds more effective.Some of the good doctor's regrets about her early years in practice The perils of diet culture for all ages and how we can begin to protect our youth through using the right language and expectationsHow we need to work with extreme and mild picky eaters differently (Spoiler: we don't!)The 5 foundations a good responsive feeding approach boils down to, and how so many families see success Dr. Rowell also said that sugar isn't addictive and doesn't need to be villainized as unhealthy...and with the knowledge and experience I have at this very moment in time, I disagree.But I think it's wonderful that we can learn so much from experts yet also learn to filter everything through our own intellect. I'm totally open to change on this issue, but I also believe it's ok to disagree.Resources We Mention for Extreme Picky EatingDr. Rowell's books: Helping Your Child With Extremely Picky Eating, Conquer Picky Eating for Teens and AdultsTake the free No More Picky Eating Challenge now!Ellyn Satter's Division of ResponsibilitiesMore on feeding a child with sensory processing difficulties, highly sensitive children, and autism from a functional medicine perspectiveYou can connect with Dr. Rowell online at The Feeding Doctor or Extreme Picky EatingFollow her on YouTubeMore resources Dr. Rowell sent me after our interview:Dieticians 4 TeachersThe Feeding Humans PodcastThe Comfort Food Podcast episode on sugarThank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today. Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

If having a strong family and raising kids who know how to serve others is important - or necessary - to you, my guest today will inspire, encourage, and challenge you to reach those goals!He prefers the word "invite" over "challenge," so I'm curious to hear what you think! :)I was beyond honored to sit down with Fr. Leo Patalinghug, "the cooking priest," to talk about family dinners, sharing responsibilities in the home, building memories around food, and how he's serving many communities at once with his new food truck project.You'll hear:Why being a priest and a chef are basically the same callingFr. Leo's strong thoughts about family dinners and a strict boundary he encourages parents to set about dinner conversationThe science behind the necessity of gathering together around foodWhat Fr. Leo says to adults who don't know how to cook and the impersonal tragedy of processed/delivered foodA priest's prescription for date nights to keep the marriage strong (and be a good example for the children)The Plating Grace and Grub food truck and how many communities and needs it serves (plus, YUM, I'm drooling over the menu!)Some pointed words about media consumption, how we digest the words we're told, and what we really need a revival of in AmericaFr. Leo's family experience with food saving relationshipsThere's a reason Fr. Leo is an internationally renowned speaker and a TV host—he's so great to listen to and has a LOT to say. Take notes!I'm also so jazzed that he is quoted in my upcoming book on picky eating, coming in fall 2026!Resources We Mention for Building Strong FamiliesFather Leo's book Saving the FamilyFamily dinner rituals to promote mental and physical healthThe importance of family dinners10 ways to make veggies more appealing to kidsMore about connected parenting with Jennifer KolariTo support Father Leo's food truck ministry, head over hereCheck out his podcast and booksFollow Father Leo on Instagram and FacebookThank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today. Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

My youngest got his first concussion at age 3.After this interview, I'm wondering if another child of mine has some post-concussion symptoms that we never realized had to do with a knock on the head!This interview is for parents of contact sport athletes FOR SURE but also anyone who wants to strengthen their family's brain health.What's brain health? It's the development of your kids' brains, the avoidance of cognitive decline as we age (yes please!), and everyone's mental health.Here's a little peek at what you'll learn:Why a brain after a concussion is a bit like a sprained ankleHow many patients are surprised that their daily symptoms end up being connected to an unresolved concussion in their past!What modern conventional medicine gets wrong about concussions (spoiler: not much right at all!)The worst possible thing to do (and the second worst) for concussion recoveryA shocking fact about the CT scan you'll get in the ER after a concussionConnections from brain health to mental healthA GOLDEN 30-second process you need to put your kids through at the beginning of every contact sport season (I'm going to start telling everyone this!)How to make any exercise (and even cooking with kids!) into a brain exerciseYour science geek brain and your practical brain will be so happy to learn all this information! With kids, it feels like it's not a matter of IF your family will experience a concussion, but WHEN. Be ready with knowledge, and start to build your family's brain health NOW, because like Dr. Zimmerman says: “The stronger you go into something, the better you'll be coming out of it.”Resources We Mention for Building Strong, Healthy BrainsGet Dr. Spencer's book Brain Reset at Amazon or Bookshop.orgVisit his website hereConcussions are on the rise, but it's not why you thinkThe Best Way to Heal from a Concussion: How to Start Recovery Immediately After a Bump on the Head!One great supplement for brain health is Rosita Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil. Brain science can make you a better parent!Find Dr. Spencer online: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTubeGet my favorite organic clothes and home goods at Pact here! Get 15% off your first order with code KITCHENSTEWARDSHIP15. Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

I'll be honest: I've never had a consistent bedtime routine.I teach kids to cook real food, I help families get healthier... and yet when it comes to sleep? Total kryptonite. That's why I knew I needed to bring in a real expert—someone who doesn't just say, “You should get more sleep,” but actually shows us how.Dr. Whitney Roban is a clinical psychologist turned sleep consultant who works with families, schools, and even corporations to teach the why and the how of better sleep. And friends, her tips are not only practical but wildly doable, even if your current sleep situation feels like a disaster.She breaks down:how to figure out your (and your child's) ideal amount of sleepthe real reason your teen can't fall asleep before 11 p.m.what you should (and shouldn't) do right before bedthe surprisingly simple “test” to know how sleep deprived you arehow to rewire your habits without overhauling your entire lifewhat's sabotaging your melatonin (hint: it's probably in your hand right now)how sleep deprivation hurts more than just your moodand why it's never too late to start respecting sleep in your householdThis conversation was such a conviction for me and maybe it will be for you, too.You'll hear me admit my own struggles with sleep, the late-night screen time I know I shouldn't do, and the tiny changes I'm working on. (I even share a little “mom guilt” about bedtime routines and my husband... can you relate?)So if you've been meaning to “get better sleep” but have no idea where to start - or you're just tired of being tired - this episode is your permission slip to pause and reset.Let's solve our sleep one baby step at a time!Resources We Mentioned for Healthy SleepDr. Whitney's websiteDr. Whitey's books that teach kids the importance of sleepInterview with Christine Hansen about sleep for parentsThe secret to healing sleep5 weird tools to improve your sleep8 strategies to improve sleep qualityBlue light glasses I loveFinding a non-toxic mattressFollow Dr. Roban on X, Facebook, Instagram Kitchen Stewardship Kids Cook Real Food follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

In this episode, I talk with Katie Kimball about teaching kids kitchen skills that save both time and money. Katie shares practical advice for parents looking to build cooking independence in children while keeping grocery budgets in check.In this episode you will learn:How to teach age-appropriate kitchen skills to kids 10+ (like knife skills and stovetop cooking) that build independence while saving you timePractical strategies for managing summer snacking that won't break your budgetHow to implement a family cooking rotation where each child takes responsibility for an entire mealThis episode is for you if you're tired of doing everything in the kitchen yourself and want to teach your kids valuable skills that will save you time and money while preparing them for adulthood.Go to kidscookrealfood.com/inspiredskills to access free life skills training videos and learn about her virtual Life Skills Summer Camp featuring 100 different skills taught by experts.You Might Like: Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker! Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet. Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet. Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget Check out Inspired Budget's blog. Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!

“Why is my daughter starving an hour after practice?”“How do I teach her to cook when we're always rushing to games?”“What should she actually be eating to perform her best?”If these questions sound familiar, you're in the right place. This episode is your game plan for turning food from an afterthought into your athlete's secret weapon, while teaching her life skills that go way beyond the kitchen.What You'll Learn:

Today Katie Kimball is here to show us how to help our kids gain life skills that last and contribute to the family. Katie founded a program called Life Skills Now which covers topics from oil changes, to cooking, to entrepreneurship. She shares that competence equals confidence and with the rise of anxiety and depression, we want to give our kids all of the confidence and skills to succeed in this world. Summer is a perfect time to begin! Here are some topics we cover:  Why parenting can't be put on autopilot- we need to shift and change constantly  A list of 100 practical, emotional, and intellectual skills your kids can learn Breaking chores into doable chunks instead of “just go clean the bathroom” How to create a "Summer Skills List" with your kids that fosters ownership and choice How to teach them skills that are hands-on, minds-on, hearts-on  How critical thinking and open-ended questions shape kids' future decision-making Connect with Katie Kimball:  Website:  kidscookrealfood.com/dontmomalone  Facebook: Kids Cook Real Food Instagram:  Katie Kimball | TEDx speaker (@katiekimballkidscook) Links Mentioned:   Sign up for the #LifeSkillsNow Camp! (FREE for the week of June 9th to 13th). Online Cooking Class for Kids - Kids Cook Real Food Stress Mastery Challenge for Busy Moms Kid-Friendly Kitchen Tools and Knives - Kids Cook Real Food Related Episodes: Raising Critical Thinkers :: Julie Bogart [Ep 474] The Lazy Genius Kitchen :: Kendra Adachi [Ep 365] Raising Kids Who Can Stand Alone :: Cynthia Yanof – Summer of Mentorship – Wk 2 [Ep 415] Featured Sponsors:  HIYA health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults Thrive Causemetics: Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash extensions mascara and a mini-sized Brilliant Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA.  Outschool: Get $30 off your families first month of Outschool when you use our link: https://outschool.com/DMA and use code DMA at checkout. Find links to this week's sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Ever wonder if what your child eats could actually make emotional regulation easier — or harder?In this episode, Emily Hamblin — neurodivergent mom of four and parent coach for neurodivergent families — welcomes Katie Kimball, two-time TEDx speaker and expert in kids' life skills and real food, to talk about a piece of the emotional health puzzle that's often missed.You'll learn simple, realistic strategies to strengthen your child's emotional resilience through small shifts in food, life skills, and critical thinking — all without guilt, shame, or complicated rules.Get ready for empowering ideas you can actually use — no perfectionism required.