Managing Mealtime Madness

Childhood nutrition is a complex issue! In this episode,  Sarah and Alex Turnbull, RD discuss the challenges of child nutrition, particularly in the context of school food service. As a Registered Dietitian who used to work in school food service, Alex talks about many of the challenges that school nutrition programs face, including funding, food policies, offer vs. serve and more. 

In this episode:

• How parents can reduce pressure when serving healthy meals to kids
• How school meals are often healthier than what we perceive
• Managing expectations around what children should and will eat, and what parents can focus on when packing school lunch 
• Regulations governing school lunches and funding 
• Access to nutritious meals should be a right for all children
• How understanding food policies can help advocate for better nutrition

Learn more about Alex. Check out her website for feeding tips and her wonderful Instagram. 

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In this episode, Sarah shares practical tips for making mealtime more enjoyable for families, especially with young children. To make family meals more fun, we discuss the importance of predictability and allowing kids to serve themselves to foster autonomy. Sarah also touches on providing empathy when dealing with picky eaters, avoiding pressure, and creating rituals to enhance family bonding during meals. This is a great and quick episode to listen to for school pick up, while doing the dishes, or en route to soccer practice!

takeaways

• Mealtime can still be enjoyable even when chaotic.
• Predictable meal times help reduce meltdowns.
• Avoid screens during meals to enhance connection.
• Allow kids to serve themselves to encourage autonomy.
• Involving kids in meal prep increases their willingness to try new foods.
• Avoid pressuring kids to eat; it can backfire in the long run.
• Start with small portions to make meals less intimidating.
• Creating family rituals can strengthen bonds during meals.
• Make food fun to engage children in the dining experience.
• Model calmness and enjoyment to positively influence kids' attitudes towards food.

keywords

mealtime tips, family meals, parenting, picky eating, mealtime chaos, enjoyable dining, kids and food, family style meals, mealtime rituals, calm parenting

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Sally Kuzemchak is a registered dietitian and founder of Real Mom Nutrition, where she shares down-to-earth advice about feeding kids plus simple recipes--and since she's a former picky eater, they're all created with the finicky palate in mind. Her passion is helping moms feel more confident, and less guilt and confusion around feeding their families. She's the author of two books and has been published in numerous magazines and online outlets including Parents, Simply Recipes, and WebMD. 

In this episode, Sarah and Sally discuss: 

• Sally's personal journey with picky eating as a child and adult
• The challenges of feeding her own children and how she approaches things differently as a former picky eater
• Feeding strategies for kids and how Sally employs to create a no-pressure, positive eating environment
• How parents can show empathy towards picky eating
• How to handle meal refusals
• Her ongoing journey of reintroducing foods she has never tried due to picky eating preferences

Sally's free picky eating course

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Hilary McMahon is a Registered Dietitian specializing in baby-led weaning and toddler nutrition. When her daughter was born, she became more aware of the true challenges that parents face when it comes to starting solids, navigating mealtime daily, and providing proper nutrition for their little ones. She founded her programs First Foods Academy and Toddler Foods Academy, as a way to help families find success in this area, and to also have the proper support they need to navigate what can be such a challenging and ever-changing journey. Hilary is a mom to 2, dog mom to a sweet goldendoodle, and lives with her family in Pennsylvania. 

• The short- and long-term benefits of baby-led weaning
• How BLW supports the development of oral motor skills
• The ideal time to start BLW and signs your baby is ready
• Why BLW can actually reduce the risk of choking
• Understanding your baby’s gag reflex (and how to respond calmly!)
• The best first foods and how to get texture just right
• How and why to introduce allergens early
• The power of play at the table and how it builds positive mealtime experiences

👶 If you're feeling overwhelmed by starting solids, this episode is packed with reassurance, practical tips, and encouragement to make feeding a fun and safe journey for your little one.

Download your FREE Table talk scripts: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1do37uiY7vShzxVLbmZ7yWs-MU7Hac3HJ/view?usp=drive_link

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Kelly Jones is a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics and owner of Kelly Jones Nutrition, a performance nutrition and nutrition communications consulting company and private practice. As a nationally recognized sports nutrition expert, Kelly’s expertise is highlighted in national media outlets, broadcast television in various markets, and she has appeared on CBS mornings. 

Kelly relates to the need for practical tools that support physical performance and wellness as a former Division-I swimmer, a business owner, and busy, active mom. 
Kelly also founded Student Athlete Nutrition, which provides practical,
evidence-based nutrition programming and resources to student-athletes who lack access to in-house sports dietitians and performance nutrition programs.

In this episode we discuss:

• Kelly's journey to cutting out meat and becoming a flexible plant-based eater
• How she feeds her two boys in a flexible, "plant-based way" and how other parents can talk to kids about plant-based eating without it feeling restrictive
• Nutrients of concern and supplements needed on a plant-based diet
• Plant-based meal and snack ideas, and tips for packing school lunches
• Ways to add in nutrients and optimize absorption of key nutrients with a plant-based diet
• Key pantry staples to keep on hand
• How much protein kids really need, and how to get protein on a plant-based diet, for kids and adults
• How to start eating more plants and plant-based swaps families can make

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In this episode of Managing Mealtime Madness, we’re diving into one of the most effective frameworks for reducing stress at the table: Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility in Feeding (sDOR). This evidence-based approach ties into everything when feeding kids (babies through adolescents!) and helps parents create a positive mealtime environment while allowing children to develop healthy eating habits and a strong relationship with food.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What the Division of Responsibility is and why it’s a game-changer for family meals
• The parent’s role versus the child’s role at mealtime
• How to handle picky eating, food refusal, and higher/lower weight child eating habits
• Practical tips for making meals more enjoyable for everyone

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Ellyn Satter’s work
• Post about Intuitive Eating For Kids
• Connect with us on Instagram

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Ali Ellis is a registered dietitian and the founder of The Toddler Kitchen. She helps parents raise curious, adventurous eaters, while fostering a positive relationship with food. Ali holds a Master of Science in Health Promotion and has an extensive background in health psychology research, working with families with young children in changing their nutrition habits. She is also a passionate recipe developer, dedicated to creating easy, nourishing recipes for toddlers and young children.

If you're struggling with feeding your toddlers or kids, this episode will be your saving grace! Here we discuss:

• How to handle feeding challenges away from and at the table
• Tips to get kids to sit at the table longer
• How to transition away from meal threats to a pleasant eating experience
• What the division of responsibility framework is and how to apply it to feeding your kids
• The importance of having a safe food at every meal
• Best foods/additions for boosting nutrition for toddlers
• Things to think about BEFORE you sit down at the dinner table to help kids eat better
• Fun kitchen gadgets - Handheld spiralizer, sandwich shapes, Bentgo Box, crinkle cutters

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Join me for a quick solo episode to help spark some dinner inspiration for your house! I'm sharing 5 recipes/meal ideas that we loved and how you can make them and modify them in your household.

Need some easy weeknight meal ideas? Here are 5 recent meals that my three kids loved! Of course, feeding kids can be challenging with things always changing. Try offering up any of these options!

Want more family recipes? Make sure to grab this freebie!

Recipes mentioned:

• Tortellini sausage soup
• Air fryer pizza bites
• Deconstructed burger bowls
• Easy sweetpotato nachos
• Sous vide steak

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Join the email list to get a list of easy popular family recipes and meal prep tips!

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Heather is an internationally recognized registered dietitian-nutritionist, a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics and author with a passion for helping athletes fuel and hydrate to maximize their health, development and athletic performance. Her expertise is in fueling young athletes, disordered eating in sports and nutrition communications. In 2008, she founded Heather Mangieri Nutrition where she provides nutrition counseling, consulting and communication services for organizations and companies focused on evidence-based health and wellness.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How to manage day-to-day nutrition for athletes
• How to handle dinners with after school sports/activities 
• Should athletes take a multivitamin or protein powder?
• Finding macronutrient balance in kids
• Breakfast ideas for active kids to start the day off strong
• Meal ideas that older kids and parents can prep in advance
• Making balanced snacks + On the go snack ideas
• How to make a balanced school lunch
• Teaching active kids to acknowledge hunger
• Being creative with prioritizing family meals with youth activity schedules 

Protein ideas for kids lunches 

Fueling Young Athletes book 

Third party tested protein powders: 

• Certified for Sport 
• Informed Choice 

Heather's Website | Instagram 

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In this episode, Sarah talks with Jessica Hammond, a Registered Dietitian and mom. We’re diving into the importance of teaching kids where their food comes from at a young age, and how that can cultivate a love, curiosity and appreciation for food. Whether understanding how fruits and veggies grow, taking kids to the grocery store, or getting hands-on with gardening, these lessons can foster curiosity and encourage healthy eating habits (more than you'd think!).

Jessica is a Registered Dietitian and food blogger based in New Mexico. Coming from a long line of farmers, Jessica grew up learning where food came from. Her family raised turkeys and chickens, and she began helping her dad with their garden from a young age. Jessica’s love and appreciation for food naturally led her to pursue a career in food and nutrition. Her main focus for her blog is on sourdough bread but she hopes to expand her content to include other whole food, made from scratch meals that can be enjoyed by the whole family. 

Website | Instagram

Have a listener question or feedback? Send me a text!

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Join the email list to get a list of easy popular family recipes and meal prep tips!

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