Food Issues

Picky eating is something we as parents often accept as a normal childhood behavior, but for some kids, picky eating could be a sign that something else is going on. In this episode, I’m talking with Kelly Dorfman, M.S., L.D.N., a licensed clinical nutritionist and author of “Cure Your Child With Food.” Dorfman and I talk about whether picky eating can be a sign of underlying health conditions and how nutritional deficiencies, food intolerances, and anxiety can contribute to picky eating. We also talk about the symptoms parents should look for, where to turn for help, and how to encourage healthy eating habits at home, plus, simple, delicious food ideas.  

Be sure to sign up for the free video course, Turn Your Picky Eaters Into Little Foodies: https://www.julierevelant.com/free-video-email-course/.

Welcome 3:53 What are the most common challenges parents face when it comes to picky eating? 5:23 What role does anxiety play in picky eating? 6:30 What are common challenges parents have when feeding their kids?8:28 Is picky eating developmentally appropriate and at what age should parents expect it to develop?12:22 Is picky eating something we as parents should be concerned about?13:26 What are signs that your kid is a picky eater?16:19 Can picky eating be a sign of underlying health conditions?19:40 What ways can picky eating affect mealtimes and family life?22:39 When parents are trying to figure out picky eating and their feeding problems, what are the questions they should be asking?25:27 What are nutritional deficiencies that could contribute to picky eating?29:52 What are food intolerances and how can they contribute to picky eating?32:13 How do parents go about investigating if their child has a food intolerance? 41:53 What are symptoms parents should look for that could interfere with a child’s ability to eat?

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

Kelly Dorfman’s book, "Cure Your Child With Food"Learn more about Kelly at KellyDorfman.comJulie mentions the book, "If I Have to Tell You One More Time…,” by Amy McCreadyKelly mentions Green Chef and Sunbasket 

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

Kids Cook Real Food ecourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. 

Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. 

Unlike other blenders, the Vitamix blends everything up into a super-smooth consistency, much like a juicer would, except you get all the nutritious fiber that regular juicers leave behind. Yet Vitamix is for so much more than smoothies.  Every Vitamix has an entire range of textures to choose from so you can use it to...

Picky eating is a common challenge for parents in the U.S. In fact, according to a recent survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC), 39% of parents say picky eating is an obstacle to get their kids to try new foods and increase the variety of foods and the amount of vegetables their kids consume. Although pediatricians and experts often tell parents picky eating is normal, there’s less attention paid to why kids are picky eaters in the first place. As a result, many parents come to accept picky eating or worse, blame themselves. 

In this episode, I’m talking with Marina Chaparro, a nationally recognized registered dietitian, kids nutritionist, and certified diabetes educator. Chaparro is the founder of Nutrichicos, a bilingual nutrition practice specializing in children and family nutrition based in Miami, FL. Chaparro is also the author of, Diabetes & Pregnancy: A Real Guide For Women with Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. Chaparro and I talk about what “food neophobia” is and the science behind picky eating, how food preferences are formed, and if kids can grow out of picky eating. We also talk about how to know if your kid is a picky eater, the many ways picky eating can show up, and easy ways to get your kids to be healthy, adventurous little foodies. 

Be sure to sign up for the free video course, Turn Your Picky Eaters Into Little Foodies: https://www.julierevelant.com/free-video-email-course/.

Welcome 5:48 When you see families in your practice, what are the most common challenges you see when it comes to feeding kids?6:57 We hear a lot about “picky eating,” but what is it exactly?8:33 You’ve said that picky eating is normal developmental behavior so should we expect it? 12:57 What is “food neophobia” and what makes it different than picky eating? 15:00 There’s research that shows picky eating can be evolutionary—is that true?16:38 You’re a mom too, but are your kids picky eaters?! 24:50 How are our food preferences formed? 31:53 Are babies born to accept all foods? 29:04 How do you know you have a picky eating kid?38:00 What are the different ways picky eating can manifest itself?40:27 Will kids eventually grow out of picky eating?42:00 What are your best tips for coping with picky eating and get kids to be healthy, adventurous eaters? 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

Marina talks about the best-selling book, “French Kids Eat Everything” Marina is the founder of NutrichicosMarina is the author of Pregnancy & Diabetes: A Real-Life Guide for Women with Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes Follow Marina on Instagram

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

Kids Cook Real Food ecourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. 

Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order!

COVID-19 has had a profound effect on how we work, parent, and live our daily lives and of course, our kids’ health. Between food insecurity, increased snacking, reliance on processed foods, distance learning, disrupted schedules and sedentary behaviors, for months pediatricians have voiced their concerns about pandemic weight gain, rising rates of childhood obesity, and other chronic conditions. In this episode, I’m talking with Karla Lester, M.D., a pediatrician, a certified life and weight coach, Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, and founder of IME Community, the first web-based life and weight coachingplatform for teens. We talk about pandemic weight gain, the increasing rates of childhood obesity and other chronic conditions, weight stigma and kids’ mental health, summer weight gain and parent shaming. We also offer easy, actionable tips for parents who are concerned about their kids’ weight to get them on a healthier path. Be sure to sign up for the free video course, Turn Your Picky Eaters Into Little Foodies: https://www.julierevelant.com/free-video-email-course/.

Welcome 4:07 What’s your background and how did you become involved in addressing childhood obesity?20:50 What are your concerns about childhood obesity rates and  “the other COVID-19?”25:00 Are pediatricians seeing kids who were previously healthy but now overweight?28:35 The Hispanic/Latino, Black populations, and underserved communities have been affected even more. Why and what needs to happen to help these populations? 32:07 What are the most significant drivers of increased childhood obesity during the pandemic?34:13 What does being in school have to do with childhood obesity?36:42 As we head into summer, do you think childhood obesity rates will increase?37:51 What about more insidious reasons like dads cooking more, grandma giving kids treats, and kids making their own meals when parents are working?44:52 Are diet, not sedentary behaviors, the cause of childhood obesity?49:16 What are the short-term effects and long-term effects of weight gain? 55:40 Should parents be concerned if their kids gained weight during the pandemic?57:36 In what ways can parents make it worse for their kids by inadvertently shaming them? 1:01:48 In December, the AAP released two clinical guidance documents. What should parents know?  1:07:22 Can you talk about survey data that found the number one barrier that physicians face when it comes to combatting childhood obesity is parent apathy. 1:11:20 What is the government doing to combat childhood obesity and food insecurity? 1:15:20 What are ways we can help the most vulnerable and those dealing with food insecurity?1:17:23 Would you say that parents know what they need to do, but there’s a disconnect or challenges that make it tough to follow through with new habits?1:21:54 What changes should parents start to make to get their kids on a healthier track?

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

Dr. Lester is the founder of IME Community IME Community podcastIME Community’s YouTube channelDr. Lester’s podcast interview with The Podcast by KevinMD, “ Weight Stigma in Children and Teens.”

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

Kids Cook Real Food ecourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “...

When the pandemic first hit the U.S. last March, and we found ourselves working and learning from home and had a lot more time on our hands, many of us made our way to the kitchen to bake sourdough bread and sweet treats and make homemade meals from scratch. Many of us also brought our kids into the kitchen to teach them how to cook, to spend quality time together, and to bond. In fact, according to Guelph Family Health Study, 50% of parents involved their kids in cooking more often during the pandemic. 

While cooking can often feel like a chore, or something you don’t have time for, cooking with your kids is one of the best ways to get them out of their picky eating habits, encourage them to eat their vegetables, and become healthy, adventurous eaters. Although it may be messy, it doesn’t have to be time-consuming or stressful and you can use it as an opportunity to teach a life skill, spark creativity and build a stronger relationship with your kids. 

In this episode, I’m talking with Katie Kimball, founder of KitchenStewarship.com and the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse about where the idea of “kid-friendly food” and kids menus came from, the many benefits of cooking with kids, and why it’s more important than ever that we do. Plus, Katie serves up easy, practical tips to teach your kids how to cook—and even make dinner on their own.

Season #2 starts in June and new episodes post on Tuesday. Subscribe today so you never miss the latest news and practical insight for raising healthy families and creating change in the U.S. 

Be sure to sign up for the free video course, Turn Your Picky Eaters Into Little Foodies: https://www.julierevelant.com/free-video-email-course/.

Welcome 

2:30 Why is there this misplaced belief that kids will only eat “kid-friendly foods?”

6:37 Where did the idea for kid’s menus come from?

11:20 Why, now more than ever, is it vital that we re-think how we feed our kids?

19:30 What does research tell us about when we can have the greatest impact on kids’ eating habits? 

21:35 What are all of the benefits of teaching kids how to cook?  

26:33 For parents who don’t know how to cook or don’t like to cook, what are some easy steps they can take? 

39:35 How do we redefine play, how we spend our time, and dinner?

33:07 What are some simple, practical tips for parents to teach kids to cook for the family? 

39:30 What is the #KidsMealRevolution and how can parents get involved? 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

Katie talked about a 2019 study in the journal Pediatrics which showed influencers marketing unhealthy foods to kids are effective but marketing healthy foods had no effect. Katie is the founder of KitchenStewardship.com.Katie is the creator of the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse.Watch a video with Katie talking about the #KidsMealRevolution.Watch the Knife Skills for Kids video for Food Issues listeners.

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

The Dinner Daily is a one-of-a-kind, weekly, personalized dinner planning service that makes getting dinner on the table every night easy and affordable for busy families. 

Founded by a working mom of 3, The Dinner Daily answers the “what’s for dinner” question, helps families eat healthy, and save money and time. 

Members receive complete meal plans and an organized grocery shopping list customized according to their food pr...

Feeding kids is no easy feat for parents today, but with snacks, candy, and treats available virtually everywhere we go, it’s no wonder raising healthy, adventurous eaters can seem impossible. 

Whether our kids are at school, sports, or running errands with us, they're tempted with junk food at every turn. Plus, as a generation, we’ve also developed a mentality that kids need snacks in their strollers, on car rides, at playdates, and even at the doctor’s office. Sometimes, we even find ourselves doling out snacks when our kids get antsy or act up, to keep them occupied, or as a reward for a job well done. 

In this episode, I’m talking with Dr. Nimali Fernando, a board-certified pediatrician, founder of the Dr. Yum Project, a non-profit that helps families and communities overcome the barriers to eating well, and co-author of, “Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater.” 

Dr. Fernando talks about how our food culture has contributed to childhood obesity and chronic disease in the U.S., why kids are snacking all the time, and how it can lead to picky eating. We also talk about easy, practical ways parents can raise healthy eating kids despite our food culture and the other challenges we face. 

New episodes post on Tuesday. Subscribe today so you never miss the latest news and practical insight for raising healthy families and creating change in the U.S. 

Be sure to sign up for the free video course, Turn Your Picky Eaters Into Little Foodies: https://www.julierevelant.com/free-video-email-course/.

Welcome 

2:30 What does research tell us about our food environment and chronic diseases like childhood obesity, type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)?

6:34 Is the 24/7 food environment one of the main causes of chronic disease among the pediatric population? 

9:31 Why are food rewards a bad habit?

13:40 Why do parents think kids need snacks everywhere they go?

19:01 Why is it important to teach kids to recognize their hunger and satiety cues and how do we do that?

22:15 Can parents’ obsession with food and nutrition lead to kids feeling deprived and having an increased risk for disordered eating?

26:44 What are the reasons kids can become obsessed with food?

27:30 How can parents recognize the signs that their kids may be food-obsessed and what should they do about it?

28:08 What are a few practical tips for parents to raise healthy eaters when food is at every turn?

31:00 Where can listeners go to learn more about these food issues and you?

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

Dr. Fernando’s non-profit organization, The Dr. Yum Project 

Dr. Fernando is the co-author of “Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater.”

Dr. Yum Project’s meal•o•matic tool to make personalized meals. 

Dr. Yum’s Food Adventure: Home Edition

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

The Dinner Daily is a one-of-a-kind, weekly, personalized dinner planning service that makes getting dinner on the table every night easy and affordable for busy families. 

Founded by a working mom of 3, The Dinner Daily answers the “what’s for dinner” question, helps families eat healthy, and save money and time. 

Members receive complete meal plans and an organized grocery shopping list customized according to their food preferences, dietary needs, family size, and weekly specials at more than 16,000 grocery stores across the U.S. to help them save money. 

Meal plans can be customized for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, heart-healthy, and more. The service also provides one-click ordering at Kroger stores nationwide and select Stop & Shop stores in the Northeast.

The Dinner Daily has been featured in Rachael Ray Every Day and Working Mother magazines. 

Memberships are as low as $4/a month and new members get a free, 2-week trial. Go to TheDinnerDaily.com and use code “HEALTH15” to receive 15% off.

In the U.S., we waste 40% of our food, costing $218 billion dollars a year. At the same time, food insecurity rates are at an all-time high, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the USDA, 30 million adults and 12 million children may not always have access to the food they need.

In this episode, I’m talking with Urvashi Rangan, PhD, an environmental health scientist, toxicologist, and investigator, and Chief Science Advisor to the Grace Communications Foundation about the drivers of food waste in the U.S., COVID-19’s impact and lessons learned, and how solving for food waste can improve food insecurity rates. We also talk about how to reduce food waste at home, how to cook sustainably,  as well as composting, upcycled foods, and more. 

New episodes post on Tuesday. Subscribe today so you never miss the latest news and practical insight for raising healthy families and creating change in the U.S. 

Be sure to sign up for the free video course, Turn Your Picky Eaters Into Little Foodies: https://www.julierevelant.com/free-video-email-course/.

Welcome 

2:34 What’s the difference between food waste and food loss?

4:20 What are the reasons for food waste and food loss? 

10:44 Twenty-nine million adults are struggling with food insecurity. In what ways can reducing food waste decrease food insecurity?

13:04 At the beginning of the pandemic, what were the issues the U.S. faced at every level when it came to the supply chain? 

21:29 Did the supply chain issues contribute to food waste?

25:37 In the beginning, high rates of meat plant workers were getting COVID-19—has this been solved? 

29:08 Have our shopping habits during COVID-19 affected rates of food waste? How can we reduce food waste at home?

33:16 What does cooking sustainability mean and what are tips for families?

37:34 How can composting be really easy for people?

43:16 How can you reduce food waste with herbs and zesting?

45:53 For parents feeding babies and young children, what are some ways for them to reduce food waste?

49:45 What are upcycled foods? 

51:46 Where can listeners go to get more information about these food issues?

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

FoodPrint.org 

FoodPrint’s Seasonal Food Guide

ReFED.com

Walden Local 

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

The Dinner Daily is a one-of-a-kind, weekly, personalized dinner planning service that makes getting dinner on the table every night easy and affordable for busy families. 

Founded by a working mom of 3, The Dinner Daily answers the “what’s for dinner” question, helps families eat healthy, and save money and time. 

Members receive complete meal plans and an organized grocery shopping list customized according to their food preferences, dietary needs, family size, and weekly specials at more than 16,000 grocery stores across the U.S. to help them save money. 

Meal plans can be customized for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, heart-healthy, and more. The service also provides one-click ordering at Kroger stores nationwide and select Stop & Shop stores in the Northeast. 

The Dinner Daily has been featured in Rachael Ray Every Day and Working Mother magazines. 

Memberships are as low as $4/a month and new members get a free, 2-week trial. Go to TheDinnerDaily.com and use code “HEALTH15” to receive 15% off.

When it comes to our health, we hear a lot about inflammation and anti-inflammatory diets and foods. With rates of childhood obesity, type-2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and depression and anxiety in kids on the rise, and the impact that COVID-19 has had on chronic diseases, it’s important to look at inflammation and its role in our kids’ health. 

In this episode, I’m talking with Dr. Maria Mascarenhas, a Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), 

and co-author of “The Anti-Inflammatory Family Cookbook,” about the differences between acute and chronic inflammation, the basics of the anti-inflammatory approach, and the benefits of anti-inflammatory diets. We also talk about the best anti-inflammatory foods, how to encourage your kids to eat them, and easy, delicious recipes they’ll love. 

New episodes post on Tuesday. Subscribe today so you never miss the latest news and practical insight for raising healthy families and creating change in the U.S. 

Be sure to sign up for the free video course, Turn Your Picky Eaters Into Little Foodies: https://www.julierevelant.com/free-video-email-course/.

Welcome 

1:15 What is inflammation? 

2:44  Would you say most people have chronic inflammation?

3:25 What are chronic diseases and conditions are linked to inflammation?

4:09 What is leaky gut syndrome? 

4:59 Should we be thinking about inflammation when it comes to our kids?

7:38 What do we know about inflammation’s link to the microbiome and mental health?

9:58 Is diet a cure-all for preventing chronic diseases?

11:53 What is the anti-inflammatory approach and how did it come to be? 

14:32 What are the core tenants of anti-inflammatory eating?

18:30 What does research show about the benefits of anti-inflammatory diets?

22:31 What are the best anti-inflammatory foods?

23:58 Is eating a rainbow of colorful foods a way to encourage kids to eat a wider variety of foods?

25:05 Are there foods that are off-limits or those parents should avoid feeding their kids? 

28:10 Are dairy and gluten inflammatory foods and should we limit or avoid them?

31.15 Is yogurt a good source of probiotics for kids?

32:51 What type of yogurt should we be eating?

34:22 What are tasty ways to introduce fermented foods to kids?

37:14 Should parents introduce herbs and spices to their kids when they’re babies?  

39:42 What are practical tips for getting kids to be more adventurous eaters and kids who grow to accept and love these foods?

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

About Maria R. Mascarenhas, MBBS, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 

CHOP Integrative Health Anti-Inflammatory Recipes & Videos

"The Anti-Inflammatory Family Cookbook: The Kid-Friendly, Pediatrician-Approved Way to Transform Your Family's Health"  

EWG Dirty 12 and Clean 15 

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

The Dinner Daily is a one-of-a-kind, weekly, personalized dinner planning service that makes getting dinner on the table every night easy and affordable for busy families. 

Founded by a working mom of 3, The Dinner Daily answers the “what’s for dinner” question, helps families eat healthy, and save money and time. 

Members receive complete meal plans and an organized grocery shopping list customized according to their food preferences, dietary needs, family size, and weekly specials at more than 16,000 grocery stores across the U.S. to help them save money. 

Meal plans can be customized for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, heart-healthy, and more.

In recent years, there’s been a ton of so-called ‘healthy snacks’ filling up store shelves that often sound like good choices for our families, but because of the ingredients, lack of nutrition, and processing, they may actually be more like junk food. 

Americans are obsessed with snacking but now that we’re working and learning from home, have less structure to our days, and have more stress, we’re snacking more than ever. In fact, a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of CVS Pharmacy found that 66% of U.S. adults are snacking at home more, and 59% are choosing healthier snacks more than they would have before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As a result, the growth of the healthy snacks sector shows no signs of slowing day. According to a 2019 report by Grand View Research, the healthy snacks category is expected to reach $32.88 billion by 2025. 

So-called ‘healthy snacks’ include those that are plant-based, vegan, low-sugar, sugar-free, Paleo, gluten-free, organic, made with veggies like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cassava root, avocado and dried fruit, ancient grains, nuts and seeds, spices like cinnamon and turmeric, as well as those snacks that have upgraded sweeteners like dates and coconut sugar. 

In this episode, I’m talking with Frances Largeman-Roth, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, a New York Times best-selling author, and a nationally recognized nutrition and wellness expert about what’s driving the healthy snacks trend, whether these new snacks are healthy or simply healthwashing, and how to read labels and serve them to your kids. We’ll also be talking about easy ways to get real, whole foods in at snack time with smoothies and juices.  

Welcome 

1:14 What’s driving the “healthy snacks” trend?

4:44 For those snacks made with fruits and vegetables, parents want to know: do they count as a fruit and vegetable serving for their kids? 

8:31 Are “healthy” junk foods healthy or more marketing and healthwashing than anything? 

9:54 What should people look for when they’re reading labels? 

14:10 Can these new healthy snacks be good options for parents trying to reduce added sugars in their kids’ diets?

17:12 Are these healthy snacks or junk food at the end of the day and can 

parents feel good about serving them to their kids?

17:57 They’re still processed foods—does serving these snacks to kids model unhealthy eating habits?

19:52 Are these healthy snacks easy to overeat? 

22:46 What are some healthy food pairings for healthy snacks? 

25:35 How should parents think about these healthy snacks and approach serving them to their kids?

30:11 What are the benefits of serving smoothies? 

34:40 Are smoothies a meal or a snack?

33:28 What are tips for making smoothies easy and fun with kids?

36:31 Where listeners go to get more information about these food issues?

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

This Easy Trick Can Get Your Kids To Eat Healthy: Study

Frances Largeman-Roth's book: Smoothies & Juices: Prevention Healing Kitchen: 100+ Delicious Recipes for Optimal Wellness

FrancesLargemanRoth.com

Emerald Muffins recipe 

Follow Frances on Instagram 

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

The Dinner Daily is a one-of-a-kind, weekly, personalized dinner planning service that makes getting dinner on the table every night easy and affordable for busy families. 

Founded by a working mom of 3, The Dinner Daily answers the “what’s for dinner” question, helps families eat healthy, and save money and time. 

Members receive complete meal plans and an organized grocery shopping list customized according to their food preferences,