In this episode of the Messy Bites Podcast, Marina explains why one of the biggest feeding mistakes parents make is trying to keep their babies clean during mealtime. You’ll learn the sensory science behind messy eating, how food exploration builds confidence, and why allowing your baby to touch, smear, and play with food can actually help prevent picky eating.

If mealtime mess makes you uneasy, this episode will help you shift your mindset and see those sticky hands in a whole new way. Put down the wipes, take a deep breath, and join this week’s Messy Bites Challenge. 🥑👐

Marina Chaparro is a Registered Dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition, dedicated to helping families raise confident, joyful eaters.

Follow Marina:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutrichicos
• Website: https://www.nutrichicos.com

This episode is sponsored by: National Pork Board

Should you listen to Abuela or the pediatrician? 🥑

When it comes to starting solids, many parents feel caught between traditional advice and modern medical handouts. Today, we’re rewriting the script on baby’s first bites. Registered Dietitian Marina Chaparro joins the booth to explain why beans, pork, and avocado aren’t just "safe"—they are essential powerhouses for your baby’s brain development during those critical first 1,000 days.

We’re busting the "bland baby food" myth and showing you how to reclaim your cultural flavors from day one. Learn how to bridge the gap between tradition and science to raise a confident, joyful (and well-fed!) eater.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Iron & Zinc Gap: Why these two nutrients are non-negotiable right now.

• Pork as a Superfood: How it supports brain development and how to serve it safely.

• Allergen Introduction: Why waiting might be doing more harm than good.

• Spicing It Up: Moving past bland purees to introduce the "Latin Style" flavors your family loves.

Connect with Marina:

📲 Instagram: @nutrichicos🌐 Website: www.nutrichicos.com

Love the show? Please leave us a rating and review on Spotify or Apple! It helps other parents find the evidence-based nutrition advice they need.

#BabyLedWeaning #PediatricNutrition #LatinParenting #StartingSolids #HealthyBaby #NutriChicos

Did your child’s last pediatrician visit leave you anxious about percentiles or BMI?

You’re not alone, and you’re not failing.

In this episode, I sit down with pediatric dietitian and author Jill Castle to unpack the pressure parents feel around their child’s weight. We move beyond the growth chart and focus on what truly matters: a child’s physical, physiological, and psychological health.

Jill shares her “Kids Thrive at Every Size” philosophy and practical tools to help you navigate weight stigma, respond to tough pediatrician conversations, create structure around meals, and raise kids who have a healthy relationship with food, no matter their size.

If you’ve ever questioned yourself after a growth chart appointment, this episode will leave you feeling grounded, informed, and empowered.

Learn more about Jill Castle:
https://jillcastle.com/about-jill/childhood-nutrition-writer/

I’m Marina Chaparro, Registered Dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition. Let’s raise confident, joyful eaters together.

Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nutrichicos

Visit my website:
https://www.nutrichicos.com/

#KidsNutrition #Parenting #HealthyEating

This episode is sponsored by the National Pork Board. Is your child eating enough protein? 🤔
Protein is one of the most talked-about topics in kids nutrition, and many parents worry their child isn’t eating enough. In this episode of the Messy Bites Podcast, pediatric dietitian Marina Chaparro breaks down what children actually need, clears up common protein myths, and explains why most kids in the U.S. are already meeting their protein needs through everyday foods.

We also explore why lean pork is a nutrient-dense, family-friendly protein option that supports growth, brain development, and chewing and speech development in young children.

You’ll learn:

• How much protein children need at different ages

• Why protein has become such a hot topic in the U.S.

• Why toddlers and picky eaters often refuse meat

• The role of protein in growth, brain health, and development

• Key nutrients from animal foods, including iron, zinc, and vitamin B12

• Practical tips for feeding protein to picky eaters

• Easy, kid-approved meal ideas, including Air Fryer Pork Meatballs

• A simple challenge to help parents feel confident about their child’s protein intake

Hi, I’m Marina Chaparro, Registered Dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition. My goal is to help parents raise confident, joyful eaters without stress or guilt.

For more kids nutrition tips and family-friendly recipes, follow Marina on Instagram at @nutrichicos or visit nutrichicos.com.

Join Marina Chaparro, Pediatric RD and host of Messy Bites, as she chats with experts Dr. Iliana Guerra Martinez (PhD, RDN, LD, CDCES) and Dr. Andie Lee Gonzalez (PhD, MPH, RDN, LD, FAND). Discover how cultural foods go beyond nutrition, they're about heritage, celebration, and family bonds, especially for Hispanic/Latina moms raising kids far from home. Learn to share traditions while prioritizing health, debunk myths, and embrace connection as the ultimate ingredient.

Special thanks to sponsor Dairy Max and LAHIDAN for the free multicultural cookbook "Nuestros Sabores," featuring 28 authentic recipes from 9 cultures like Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia (and more!). Download it here: https://www.dairymax.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/Nuestros_Sabores.pdf

In this episode we discuss:- Intro: Food as Culture & Love- Sponsor Shoutout & Cookbook- Guest Welcome- Connection's Power- Debunking Food Myths- Honoring Culture with Nutrition- Family Recipe Challenge

Follow Marina: IG @nutrichicos | nutrichicos.com

#KidsNutrition #FoodIsCulture #LatinaMoms #MessyBites #DairyMax #LAHIDAN

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, Pediatric Registered Dietitian and fellow Type 1 Warrior Dr. Marina Chaparro reflects on 25 years since her Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis at age 16. Marina opens up about six powerful lessons T1D has taught her about food, nutrition, and living a balanced, guilt-free life.

This episode isn’t just for T1D families—it’s for anyone ready to embrace progress over perfection, self-forgiveness, and the joy of connection and growth. Discover how to navigate life (and diabetes) with compassion, curiosity, and resilience.

✨ In this episode:

• Marina’s journey: 25 years as a T1D warrior

• Lessons learned about food, nutrition, and mindset

• Letting go of guilt and focusing on progress

• Embracing growth, empathy, and self-forgiveness

• The Messy Bites mission to raise a new generation of balanced eaters

💛 Let’s raise confident, joyful eaters together.

➡️ Follow Marina: @nutrichicos
🌐 Learn more: www.nutrichicos.com

#KidsNutrition #Parenting #HealthyEating #Type1Diabetes #MessyBitesPodcast

¿Cuánta azúcar y cuántos postres debemos tener en casa para que nuestros hijos no se obsesionen? 🍭 Si te preocupa que se devoren todos los dulces en las fiestas o no sabes si tener galletas en la alacena es buena idea, este episodio es para ti.

Hablamos sobre cómo fomentar una relación sana y positiva con la comida, basada en la ciencia y en estrategias prácticas que puedes aplicar desde hoy. Descubre:
💡 Por qué los niños naturalmente buscan lo dulce.
🧠 Qué dice la ciencia sobre el consumo de azúcar.
🍪 Cuántos postres permitir en casa sin generar culpa ni prohibiciones.
❤️ Cómo construir hábitos saludables que duren toda la vida.

Conducido por Marina Chaparro, dietista registrada especializada en nutrición pediátrica.
✨ Acompáñame para criar niños seguros, curiosos y felices con su alimentación.

🔗 Sígueme en Instagram: @nutrichicos
🌐 Más recursos en nutrichicos.com

#KidsNutrition #Parenting #HealthyEating #MessyMomHotline

Kids are worrying about their bodies younger than ever — and in a world of social media filters and Ozempic headlines, it’s no wonder. So how can parents help children grow up confident in their own skin?

In this episode, pediatrician and Modern Mommy Doc founder Dr. Whitney Caseres joins host Marina Chaparro, RD, to share a compassionate, practical roadmap for raising body-confident kids. Learn why even elementary schoolers are talking about being “thin,” the hidden ways parents can reinforce diet culture, and what to actually say when your child asks, “Am I fat?”

Hi, I’m Marina Chaparro, Registered Dietitian and pediatric nutrition expert. Let’s raise confident, joyful eaters together!

👉 Follow me on Instagram: @nutrichicos
🌐 Learn more: www.nutrichicos.com

Tags: #KidsNutrition #Parenting #HealthyEating

Disclosure: This Episode is Supported by Bio-K+

Are probiotics really necessary for kids?

Parents hear a lot about gut health, but what’s fact and what’s hype? In this episode of The Messy Bite, I’m joined by gut health expert and registered dietitian Desiree Nielsen, RD to unpack the truth about probiotics for children.

We explore what probiotics actually are, how they support immunity, and whether yogurt or kefir is enough—or if a supplement might help. You’ll learn the difference between probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics, plus fun and stress-free ways to include them in your kids’ meals.

We also dive into the latest science on breast milk–derived probiotic strains and how they can support kids’ immune and digestive health.

Don’t guess when it comes to your child’s gut health—get expert, evidence-based guidance!

Follow Marina Chaparro, RD, CDE
Instagram: @nutrichicos
Website: nutrichicos.com

Follow: Desiree Nielsen, RD

Instagram: @Desireenielsenrd

Additional Resources:

https://isappscience.org/

Tags: #KidsNutrition #Parenting #HealthyEating

When siblings have different body sizes, mealtime can get tricky.
Do you restrict food for one child and encourage more for the other? This common situation leaves many parents feeling frustrated, guilty, and unsure what’s “right.”

In this empowering episode, we move away from focusing on body size—and the shame or secrecy that can come with it—and instead center on healthy habits that nurture every child at your table.

You’ll learn how to approach these conversations with confidence and peace, using strategies that foster positive relationships with food for the whole family.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• 🧠 The real challenge: siblings with different body sizes and eating habits

• 🌱 How to shift from body talk to healthy habits for everyone

• 🍽️ How to use the Division of Responsibility as your foundation

• 🚫 Why restricting food or commenting on bodies causes harm

• 💬 Why you should never talk to your child about their weight

• 👩‍👧 How your own modeling matters more than any lecture

• 🥗 A simple challenge: model a balanced plate—without making it about the food

Hi, I’m Marina Chaparro, a Registered Dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition.
Let’s raise confident, joyful eaters together!

➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @nutrichicos
➡️ Visit my website: www.nutrichicos.com