We all want our kids to grow up to eat a variety of nutritious foods. Unfortunately, motivating kids using nutritional information is likely to backfire in the long-term.

I share why nutrition should never be the primary factor kids use when making eating decisions, and how we can help protect our children’s natural eating instincts with gentle nutrition guidance over time.

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In this episode, Dayna and I discuss:
+ how to manage play foods (the foods we eat mostly for fun vs. for their nutritional value) at holiday events and other parties
+ what to do about grandparents who insist on doting on kids with sweets
+ when to introduce play foods
+ using consistency to set predictable boundaries around play foods and minimize power struggles

Dr. Dayna Parish Dennis has been a board-certified pediatrician for over 10 years. She’s also a wife and mother of two. She’s especially passionate about creating a healthy family food culture.

In this episode, Dayna and I discuss:

• taking the pressure off of dinnertime for parents based on your unique priorities and circumstances
• how we encourage kids to be more adventurous as eaters without heavy-handed pressure
• avoiding passing our own food biases or preferences on to our kids
• teaching kids to show respect for the efforts others have put into preparing food

Nikita shares how parents can coach kids through proactive emotional regulation strategies each day. She emphasizes connecting with kids through simple, open-ended questions. Listen to hear how you can use this strategy to support your kids in their social and emotional development. (3 of 3)

In this episode, Nikita gives some examples of recent weather forecasting conversations she’s had with kids of different ages. Listen in to hear what this strategy sounds like in action, including the way Nikita uses non-judgmental open-ended questions to deepen kids’ thinking and encourage them to express themselves.

Listen to hear how you can use this strategy to support your kids.

We know that recognizing emotions is a critical first step on the way toward self-regulation.

Educator, life coach, and podcaster Nikita Burks-Hale introduces a strategy that she developed to help herself and the kids in her life recognize their emotions every morning, so that everyone can get the most out of each day.

"Weather forecasting" is a metaphor that provides infinite visual possibilities to kids and adults for picturing and expressing how they are feeling. Listen in to hear how you can use this strategy to support your kids.

3 of 3. In this episode, Beth shares some of the strategies she uses to help her toddler son manage food sensitivities without creating a sense of restriction.

In this episode, Beth shares some of the strategies she uses to regularly feed her kids nutrient-dense foods and expand their palettes over time without being overwhelmed by decision fatigue.

Listen to hear Beth’s routines that save time and money, making it easier for her to follow the Division of Responsibility.

Download Beth's list of 50+ foods for quick bento box lunches and snacks by visiting the shownotes page.

In this series, guest expert Beth Martin @pineapplesandplaid shares some of the nuances in her approach to feeding her own family and tips to bring ease to your own process. 1 of 3