Baking was never my thing.  I have always loved to cook, but prior to having kids, the thought of baking gave me a mild panic attack. When my oldest started solids I knew I would be making a lot of my own foods.  I’m sure it helped that I’m a pediatric dietitian literally teaching other families how to do this. And then: viola.  I became a baker.  I discovered how easy it was to make kid-approved baked goods sweetened naturally, without refined sugar, and only with fruits and vegetables. As parents and caregivers, we all strive to provide our little ones with treats that ta ..read more

“You’re telling me I don’t need to tell my kids to eat vegetables to get them to eat them?” my client’s eyes got wide, she shook her head, and looked at me like I was from another planet. She couldn’t quite understand how she could possibly get her toddler to eat their veggies - without bribing, forcing or pressuring.  But what she was doing (yes, bribing, forcing and pressuring) wasn’t working, so she was willing to give my methods a shot.  Spoiler alert: it worked. As we get ready to dive into how to get toddlers and kids to eat their veggies when they refuse, let's talk about why ..read more

I arrived with my family to the park on a perfect sunny day to celebrate my one year old niece’s birthday.  Having so many friends and family together put a huge smile on my face. And then it happened.   My uncle gave me a strange look and said: “You’re really going to let them eat cake and nothing else??” looking at me and then my children with a look of disgust.   It felt like a gut punch - the judgment and condescending nature of his comment - my smile could not have faded more quickly. So many of us have been there, hearing comments like: Why is she so picky? You ..read more

Two weeks before Halloween, my neighbor showed up on my doorstep with tears welling up in her eyes. Her kids' favorite part of Halloween was the most stressful for her: What to do with that huge influx of candy? I’ve got a simple answer. Around this time, I get a LOT of questions about Halloween, how much candy do I let my kids eat? What do I do with the leftovers? My child will not sit still to eat dinner, how can I get them to eat something healthy before they eat candy? My tips below may surprise you, but I have compiled my 4 practical tips to handle the Halloween candy, and feel better in ..read more

Traveling with kids can be stressful.  The flights, the car rides, keeping them entertained, the change in routine, and of course: the food. If you have a picky or selective eater at home, feeding may feel stressful for you quite often - and the thought of traveling with your picky eater may feel overwhelming.  You may worry about your child getting enough food, the meltdowns, or how you will go out to new restaurants. Traveling with a picky eater does not have to be overwhelming.  In fact, it can be fun.  Whether you are taking a plane, train or automobile, here are 7 tips ..read more

I talk quite often about short and long-term goals. In the short-term we want our children to be meeting their nutrition needs right now, growing in a way that’s right for them, while long-term goals include thinking about our child adding more variety to their diet. I have a lot of posts on these long-term goals, such as how we can make small changes to increase variety and why bribing isn’t the answer at mealtimes. But what about the questions I hear about the short-term: Is my child meeting their nutrition needs? Do they need a vitamin or mineral? I get asked these question often, especiall ..read more

Dinnertime.  It’s that time at the end of the day where a family can connect.  We sit together.  Eat our food in peace, and laugh throughout the meal.  Right? Well, maybe not so much.  But that might be how we want it to go - or what we envisioned before we had kids. Many parents and caregivers put pressure on themselves when it comes to dinnertime: we feel like our child has to eat, or everyone has to stay at the table for at least 20 minutes, or everyone is very well-behaved.  I find there is a lot of pressure on us parents.  But why is there so much pressu ..read more

When it comes to parenting, it can be really hard not to feel guilt.  Some of us feel it more than others, and feeding is no different. I talk to so many parents every week about feeding, and there are often very similar themes: guilt about what their child is eating (or not eating). This guilt is not productive, but I know it can be hard to let go.  Let’s dive into how to start to let that guilt go when it comes to feeding (and why that’s important).  Here are 5 reasons to stop feeling guilty for how your kids eat. 5 reasons to stop feeling guilty for how your kids eat 1. You d ..read more

Parents or caregivers are well aware of picky eating and mealtime challenges. It’s natural to worry about their child’s intake and nutritional status.   But for many parents, the the question arises: are these challenges more than just a phase and something more problematic, such as an eating disorder?  One such eating disorder, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), results in such limited intake that a person does not meet their nutritional needs (in the past this has been referred to as a selective eating disorder). Let’s talk about 6 things to know about ARFID ..read more

Mealtime.  It can be a battlefield - am I right?  And if you have a picky or selective eater at home, the stress can feel so overwhelming.  Where do we even begin?  You may want your child to try new foods, or even just take a bite of food at the table. Let’s talk about 5 ways to help your picky eater at mealtimes - to create more peaceful meals at the table. 5 ways to help your picky eaters eat at mealtime Encourage, but don’t pressure HOW we talk about food can be just as important as WHAT food we are providing.  How many times at mealtime have you encouraged your ..read more