I recently had a conversation with a worried parent: their kindergartener isn’t eating at school. The lunchbox, so lovingly packed, comes home without anything being eaten—-not even the snack! This parent is worried that their kiddo (who is a selective eater) is going through their day with an empty belly and that learning may be […]
Over the past few weeks I’ve answered a couple of questions that you had for me. Now I want to ask you a few questions: How can I help kids who have feeding difficulties (PFD/ARFID/picky eating) as they return to school? How can I support those families in advocating for their child at school? What […]
A: While it’s true that the USDA states that 100% fruit juice counts as a serving of fruit, whole fruit is a much more nutritious option. Fruit juice is easy to overconsume, can cause diarrhea and may fill your toddler’s tummy up and leave no room for other foods. Whole fruit contains fiber which helps […]
Are there teens at your house who need a little caffeine jump start in the morning? I get it—I LOVE my morning cup of coffee and am pretty sluggish without it. Teens who may (or may not) have been keeping what I call “Vampire Hours” all summer need to shift gears and rise long before […]
As back-to-school ramps up, I thought I’d share my shifting thoughts about school wellness teams. When my kids were at our local elementary school, I joined the Wellness Committee. Made sense right? As a mom studying to become a dietitian shouldn’t I share my experience and help the school create a “healthier” lunch program? What […]
Q: “I know I shouldn’t do this, but it’s working! My kid will eat their dinner to get dessert. What do you think?” A: I grew up at a time when the “Clean Plate Club” was real. We had to eat what had been served to us in order to get mom’s homemade cookies. My […]
A reminder about dairy-alternatives: I’ve seen a few toddlers recently who have been put on almond milk because they’re dairy intolerant/allergic and their parents have been told that the almond milk is “healthier” than cow’s milk in the long run. Respectfully, I must disagree. Almond milk is usually calcium fortified (yay!), but is extremely low […]
What’s growing in your garden?? I have limited gardening space at my house, but this year I promised myself that I’d grow something to eat! I have a tomato plant and have added basil to my herb garden—that’s what those tiny green sprouts you can see in the planter box. I didn’t try to grow […]
I encourage kids to cook all the time! I’m a HUGE fan of Chop Chop Magazine (not sponsored, just a fan) because it gives kids ages 2-12 hands-on, easy recipes to try out. AND—mail!! Getting mail all by itself is super exciting! Here are some ways that kids can help in the kitchen: Toddlers (18 […]
Q: Why doesn’t the Division of Responsibility (DoR) in feeding “work” with my kids? I thought it would get my kids to eat what I serve? A: A common misconception about the DoR is that it will make children eat “healthier”; they’ll serve themselves veggies and eat just the right amount of food. The reality […]