Are you breastfeeding and wondering if your shakes are still safe? Our dietitian shares options for the best protein powder while breastfeeding. This post contains Amazon affiliate links to some of my favourite products. I remember that constant knawing hunger of being a breastfeeding mom. As a dietitian, I know that postpartum is a necessary time to refuel your nutrient stores and support your baby’s growth with your milk. But as a mom of three, I also remember the new-mom fog and fatigue. It’s not always easy to fuel yourself with enough nutritious food during this challenging time. It can b ..read more

This is a guest post from Betrina, who is a RDN, CHWC, CPT, & PCES and owner of Bea Well Nutrition where she specializes in Women’s Health, Mindful Eating and Eating Disorders. She is a mom of 4 who loves to run and be active with her kids. I recently watched an Instagram reel where a mom was trying to pour water into “her” cup (an analogy for filling her needs). But she was utterly failing because her cup had holes in it! So her water leaked into everyone else’s cup, and her cup was always empty. The caption read: “We are trying, but like, it’s hard!” Sound familiar?! It’s true – it’s not ..read more

Being a parent is the HARDEST job in the world! And for most of us, feeding them is no walk in the park either. Especially if you have a picky eater who has just not outgrown this stage! Can you relate to any of this? You’ve tried asking them to take a bite—a million times. You’ve backed off on the pressure. You’ve been patient. And your child still refuses to eat what’s served.  You’re still making multiple meals or the same three bland dishes over and over – the ones your picky eater likes. He controls the whole family. You’ve disproven the “children will not starve themselves” adv ..read more

This is a guest post from Meredith Kleinhenz, RDN, CSG, LD. She helps busy people find smarter, not harder, ways to nourish the ones they love at savvydietitian.com Feeding your family well can feel insurmountable when you are juggling work and the evening is filled with kid shuffling, homework, and community meetings. And — if you are lucky — an episode of your favorite show. The best defence against the dreaded “What are we going to eat tonight?” is a good offence. In this case, a good offence involves developing a proactive and realistic plan that accounts for everything you have going on i ..read more

A dietitian shares tips for how to handle candy for kids on Halloween and creating a healthy relationship with sweets for your kids. As a child, I remember the excitement of squishing my oversized Halloween costumes underneath a winter coat and the energy buzz of hearing the “ding dong” of doorbell after doorbell. But now, as parents, many of us dread Halloween if it means letting our kids eat a pillowcase full of sugar. What can we do to prevent a child from candy overload or becoming ‘addicted’ to sugar? It might not be what you’re thinking!  In this post, I’ll share some tips in this ..read more

Are you raising plant-based kids? That’s great! Plant foods are rich in vitamins and minerals and high in fibre. There are lots of health benefits to this eating style. But it is important that you focus on certain nutrients for plant-based (especially vegan) kiddos, including Vitamin B12, iron, calcium and omega-3. Fellow dietitian Sarah shares how to ensure your kids get enough essential nutrients here. Read on if you’re looking to add more plant-based meals to your diet or are fully plant-based. This blog is a recipe roundup of 24 breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack recipes from dietitians ..read more

This is a guest post from Sarah Whipkey, RD at The Plant Potential. She is raising her two and four-year-old children on a plant-based diet! It seems that plant-based everything is gaining popularity today. And largely for good reason. Following a plant-based lifestyle can have numerous benefits for human, animal, and environmental health. While your particular reasons for being interested in following a plant-based diet may vary, my practice focuses on the health effects. Parents often ask me if it’s safe and healthy to raise fully plant-based kids – and how. The short answer: yes, they can ..read more

This is a guest post from Terri Finblow, RD. Terri focuses on nutrition for mental health at www.dailygrindnutrition.com Childhood and adolescence are critical periods of development that help build the foundation for good physical and mental health throughout the lifespan. Yet, according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 70 percent of those with a mental illness see the onset of their symptoms before age 18. Mental illness affects approximately 1.2 million Canadian children and youth and by the age of 25. Promotion, prevention, and early intervention initiatives show positive outcome ..read more

This is a guest blog from fellow Registered Dietitian Leslie Schmille over at www.raisingdaringeaters.com Are mealtimes a constant battle in your household? It might look like a fight to get your child to sit at the table or a power struggle to get your child to eat the food you provide, bribing them with a cookie to take one more bite of broccoli. Does any of these fights over food sound familiar?! We all have the best intentions when feeding our children, but some feeding practices might backfire and make mealtimes more challenging. Keep reading to find out 5 common mealtime mistakes parents ..read more

This is a guest post in collaboration with Alyssa Broadwater, fertility and prenatal dietitian www.alyssabroadwaterrd.com Why is a future mother or father’s health and nutrition so important when preparing to get pregnant? Because it can affect reproductive health and the future health of our babies through epigenetic changes (aka ‘fetal programming’)! Basically, our parent’s behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect how our genes work. This includes having an impact both on the viability of pregnancy as well as the long-term health of a child. A father or mother’s nutrition prec ..read more