Are your post-holiday struggles with food and body image leaving you feeling lost and guilty? I’m Crystal, your host and intuitive eating dietitian, and today I'll be sharing my personal journey, along with practical tips to help you lift the shame. I'll be your guide as we navigate these struggles, highlight the power of self-compassion, and understand the importance of prioritizing self-care. We'll also chat about the benefits of seeking support and connection to effectively manage food guilt and body shame. 

Ready to break free from the cycle of binging and restricting, especially during the holiday season? We'll unveil strategies and benefits of adopting a more automatic approach to feeding ourselves to ensure you're getting enough to eat. We're also going to address the overlooked issue of under eating and its relation to feeling out of control around food. Together, we'll reflect on our eating experiences, pinpointing physical or emotional triggers that might lead to overeating. By the end of our time together, you'll be equipped with invaluable insights to ditch diet culture, heal your relationship with food and body, and raise intuitive eaters confidently. So, let's embark on this healing journey together!

Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

As the holiday season rolls around, we're embraced by the warmth of family gatherings, yet often find ourselves confronting the frosty undercurrent of diet culture. In today's heartfelt episode of Lift the Shame, I, Crystal your intuitive eating dietitian, share my personal experiences and insights into arming our precious children against the ingrained food traditions and body image remarks that can sour our festive spirit. With a focus on creating a secure relationship built on trust and open communication, I offer a nurturing guide for parents to help their little ones affirm their food choices and body autonomy—because when we empower our kids to stand tall against generational pressures, we're also mending our own childhood stories and breaking free from the cycle of shame.

In our gathering today, we not only discuss strategies for fostering resilience in our children but also how we can prepare them to be their own champions in the face of societal norms. I delve into the nuances of family dynamics and how we can proactively support our kids to voice their insecurities and maintain a steadfast belief in themselves, even in our absence. The journey through proactive parenting is filled with practical tips and heartfelt scripts that you as a parent can adapt, all while ensuring our actions resonate with sincerity and genuine engagement. So come join me as we build a resilient foundation for our children, helping them to navigate not just this holiday season, but their entire futures, with a healthy, autonomous relationship with food and their bodies.

Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Ever wondered how to navigate the difficult terrain of parenting during the festive season while breaking free from the chains of family trauma and shame? This heartening episode of Lift the Shame is your guiding compass. Equipped with insights from a recent parenting conference and personal experiences, we tackle the high-pressure responsibilities that come with holidays and the compulsion to overcompensate. We stress on the necessity of self-care and the courage to keep your mental health at the forefront. Remember, the ultimate goal is to create a secure bonding with your children and build a nurturing environment. 

The second part of our discussion meanders towards the seldom-addressed issue of grieving and its link to parenting. We unfold the significance of the grieving process, its individuality, and the indispensable need for supportive companions. We illuminate different facets of grieving and introduce the concept of re-parenting oneself. It’s a journey of self-discovery and growth, not a destination. Be kind, forgive, and allow yourself to grieve for what you didn't have. This empowers you to move forward and provide your children with a healing touch. This episode is a gentle nudge towards self-acceptance and creating a safe space for your emotional health.

Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Navigating the murky waters of food dyes and their potential impact on children's behavior can be overwhelming. It's a topic that has puzzled scientists and parents alike, stirring up a sea of mixed research and inconclusive results. As a mother of neurodivergent children, I've walked this path, wrestling with research studies, and trying to make sense of it all. I've been sharing my personal journey and learnings about food dyes, guiding you on how to critically analyze these studies, and helping you draw your own conclusions.

In the midst of these perplexing questions, I emphasize the importance of safeguarding our children's relationship with food and maintaining a holistic perspective on their health. Join me in this conversation, where we lift the veil of shame associated with food, and aim to foster a healthy, responsible approach to eating.

Show Links: 

• [Blog Post]: Does Sugar Make Kids Hyper? 5 Reasons Why Your Child Has a Sugar High

Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

As mothers, we're not just feeding our children; we're helping them build a lifelong relationship with food, their bodies, and their self-image. This journey becomes particularly challenging during candy-centered holidays like Halloween. In this episode, we delve into the tools, strategies, and proactive understanding needed to navigate these sugar-coated occasions. We'll start by focusing on understanding our children's individual needs, temperaments, and personalities to foster a positive rapport with food and their bodies.

As a parent, do you find certain situations triggering? We've been there too, and we believe that the key to mindful parenting lies in recognizing our triggers. As we discuss our children's strong emotions and our own body size and appetite, we challenge the belief that restricting our children's food access or body size will keep them safe. Discover how such triggers can surface during candy-centered holidays and how we can use them to show up as better parents.

Lastly, we'll share our experiences and tips for handling triggers and parenting challenges during these holidays. Embracing the need to be gentle with ourselves, recognizing our triggers, and addressing them proactively is crucial. Learn how to ask for support when needed and communicate your love and acceptance for your children. Join us as we emphasize the importance of repairing situations with our children, apologize when we mess up, and show them that it's okay to be human. Embark on this journey with us to raising courageous, confident, and resilient children.

Show Links:

• [Podcast Episode]: "Your Step-by-Step Halloween Candy Game Plan to Rewrite the Script on Sweets"

Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Are you ready to revolutionize the way your household perceives and interacts with candy? If so, our comprehensive discussion on understanding and navigating the world of sweets with your children is a must-listen. By breaking away from the societal stigmas surrounding sweets, we elucidate the significance of nurturing a healthy relationship with food, particularly candy. Rather than demonizing these treats, we highlight the importance of teaching our children to self-regulate their intake.

As we venture through our own experiences with food, we shed light on how these can shape our approach to introducing sweets to our children. We delve into the concept of creating a safe space for our children to explore various foods, especially sweets. This inclusion of sweets on special occasions like Halloween or birthdays is instrumental in aiding our children's understanding of self-regulation and trust in their bodies. As we transition into the holiday season, we share key insights on how to navigate these candy-centric occasions. We encourage trust and learning through experience, fostering positive relationships with food. Join us as we debunk societal food myths and foster a new generation of intuitive eaters.

Show Links: 

• [FREE Halloween Workshop]: "Rewrite the Script on Halloween Sweets to Help Your Kids Self-Regulate Sugar!"

Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Ever wonder why we're so quick to snatch that Halloween candy from our kids? What if, instead of demonizing sweets, we use them as a tool for teaching self-regulation and a healthy relationship with food? This is the intriguing conversation we unpack in today's episode, challenging the tradition of the SwitchWitch and the potential negative implications it may pose.

We expose the potential pitfalls of the Switch Witch tradition, such as fostering distrust and negative associations with food in our children. The language and strategies we use around candy consumption can significantly affect our children's perception of food. We're not just talking candy here; we're examining the broader issue of how our actions and words can influence our children's relationship with all kinds of food.

Wrapping up, we pivot towards a more positive approach to managing the Halloween candy mania. We ditch the Switch Witch in favor of legalizing candy, allowing our children to keep their treats as an expression of trust. We walk you through a free workshop on rewriting the script on Halloween sweets and even suggest how to handle the candy surplus that your kids aren't interested in eating, such as donating to our troops overseas. So join us to discover a fresh perspective on navigating the sweet-filled world of Halloween traditions.

Show Links: 

• [FREE Halloween Workshop]: "Rewrite the Script on Halloween Sweets to Help Your Kids Self-Regulate Sugar!"

Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Are you feeling spooked by the avalanche of Halloween treats your child is about to encounter? As a dietitian and a mom, I understand your apprehensions. However, it's time to unmask the myths and fears around sweets. This week, we're starting a mini-series that's going to help parents like you build a healthy, guilt-free relationship between your child and sweets. We'll start by examining the fears around sugar and why it's crucial not to create a hierarchy of food. We'll also delve into the science behind sugar metabolism and the harmful pressures you may be under about your kids' consumption of sweets.

What if you - and your children - could enjoy Halloween without the guilt or worry about sugar? It's possible, and I'm going to show you how. We'll be pulling apart the simplistic and false messaging around sugar that only serves to fuel fear. We'll question why we often allow our children to have multiple serves of vegetables, but not sweets, and why such invisible hierarchies can disrupt your child's intuitive eating abilities. We'll also discuss the biochemistry of sugar and how our bodies metabolize it from various sources, including fruits, grains, dairy, and sweets.

Lastly, we're going to confront the larger health picture and the fear-mongering tactics often used to sell products. We'll debunk the myth that eating sweets directly causes diseases like diabetes and look at the real dangers of restricting sugar for our children. I want you to feel empowered to guide your children in cultivating a healthy, positive, and guilt-free relationship with sweets. Let's embark on this journey together and create a Halloween season that's both fun and free from food stress. Don't miss out on this enlightening exploration.

Show Links: 

• [FREE WORKSHOP]: "Rewrite the Script on Halloween Sweets to Help Your Kids Self-Regulate Sugar!"
• [FREE GUIDE]: "5 Reasons Your Child's Obsessed With Sugar and How to Resolve It"
• [Blog Post]: "5 Myths About Sugar and Kids: Sugar and Diabetes Myth Vs Fact"
• [Blog Post]: "Sugar Addiction Myth: Is My Child Addicted to Sugar?"

Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

What if diet culture in schools is more impactful than we think? That's what we'll be exploring today, holding up a magnifying glass to the subtle influences our children encounter and discussing how we, as parents, can support them in navigating these murky waters. We'll be examining the systemic issue of curriculum standards at a state and nationwide level, and asking the tough questions about the necessity of health or nutrition lessons.

We're not just challenging the status quo but also talking solutions. We'll be weighing in on the power of food education, a subject distinct from health or nutrition curriculum and an essential tool to discuss food in a neutral, non-judgemental way. Plus, we're going to be diving into the importance of making our children media literate and empowering them to critically evaluate the information they are exposed to. The goal? To equip you, dear listener, with the tools you need to foster positive relationships with food and body image for your children. Let's get into it!

Show Links: 

• Podcast Episode: "So You Want Your Kids to Be Healthy?"
• Lift the Shame Virtual Support Group

Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] or connect with Crystal on Instagram.

Are your children being influenced by diet culture without you even knowing? We're peeling back the layers on how diet culture sneaks into classrooms, curriculum, standardized tests, and sports teams. As parents, it's impossible to shield our children entirely from these harmful messages. Instead, we need to arm them with the ability to challenge these narratives with sound critical thinking. We'll talk about the importance of maintaining a calm presence and best practices to handle unsettling situations related to diet culture at school.

Understand that your child's behaviors often communicate their emotional state. We'll explore how to tune into these signals and comprehend how their environment may be impacting them. The creation of a hierarchy around food can have unintended consequences, leading to confusion, shame, and anxiety in children. We delve into the necessity of advocating for our children in such scenarios. Learn how to effectively approach conversations with teachers and send clear messages to your child's school. Together, we can lift the shame around food and body image, creating a healthier relationship with food for our children. Let's start this important conversation.

Show Links: 

• Lunch Box Card
• Letter Regarding Harmful School Assignment With Diet Culture
• Letter Regarding Food Policing at School
• Lift the Shame - Free Virtual Support Group for Parents

Questions about today's episode or do you have topic requests for future episodes? Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] or connect with Crystal on Instagram.