If you’ve ever sat at the dinner table thinking, “Why won’t they just take one bite?”—you’re not alone. Feeding kids can feel like a daily test of patience, but one small mindset shift can make a huge difference: supporting vs. controlling. When we support our kids’ eating, we’re setting them up for success without turning […]
A Brief History of Nutrition Education The way we teach kids about nutrition has changed so much over the past few decades. When I was in fifth grade our teacher played a video from “Mulligan Stew” where the kids in the show sang “four, four, three, two, that’s the way for me and you“. My […]
Time to learn a few cooking skills A couple of my teenage clients are heading off to college. Either for the first time or they’re moving into their first off-campus apartment—exciting times either way! Even if your kiddo has a meal plan, it’s time to learn a few basic cooking skills. Knowing how to boil […]
Picky Eating doesn’t have to be forever If you’re in the thick of picky eating battles, it can feel like you’ll be stuck forever making three different meals or begging your kiddo to take “just one bite.” But here’s the good news: picky eating doesn’t last forever, and there are things you can do that […]
Let’s manifest something better It’s tempting when your kiddo is rejecting the dinner that you just made to blurt out in frustration, “Auggg, you’re so picky!” I’ve been asking parents to switch up the language and stop calling their kids picky. Here are a few reasons that we should stop: Here’s what we can do […]
Meatloaf, Cream of Wheat, Oatmeal, Casseroles, Fudge…. Old-fashioned foods have a way of pulling at our hearts—and our memories—and it’s not just about taste. Here’s why they feel so nostalgic: 1. They’re tied to people we love. My Grandma’s homemade rolls, my dad’s New England baked beans, and the cookies my mom made every week. […]
Not exactly…. Great question — and no, fruits and vegetables are not the same thing, although they’re often grouped together when we talk about “healthy eating”. I’ve learned that “vegetable” is not a botanical term. It’s a culinary term, meaning that we differentiate between the two when we’re cooking. Here’s a quick breakdown: Fruits Vegetables […]
Why I Love My Air Fryer (And You Might Too!) Let’s just get right to it: kids love crispy, dry foods–french fries, chicken nuggets, potato chips, to name a few. If you’ve ever wanted to replicate that crispiness at home with minimal fuss, an air fryer is for you. I finally bought a dorm-sized (aka: […]
It’s not the percentile that I’m most concerned with Just about every time you take your kiddo to their PCP (or other specialist) they’ll be asked to hop on the scale. Usually the nurse or medical assistant will report the number (such as 22 lbs. 4 oz.) and the percentile (like 42nd%). As a dietitian […]
Geeeshh—why do you need to know all this stuff about my kid? I just want them to eat! This question came from a harried parent who was at the end of her tether. I get it—she was stressed and simply wanted relief. Here’s the problem though: I had no idea how to guide her without […]