Stay ConnectedTruth: Kids don’t come with a handbook! But what if there was a parenting handbook that aligned with your healthy living values?
In each episode of the Healthy Parenting Handbook Podcast, mom of 4 Katie Kimball interviews experts in fields like nutrition, medicine, psychology, parenting, technology, entrepreneurship, and more to give parents tools to raise healthy, independent kids.
Intentional parents, here comes clarity about what you can DO to keep your kids physically and mentally healthy!
Copyright: © 2024 Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball
I have to tell you, this episode completely stretched my understanding of food allergies, chronic illness, and what it means to truly listen to your body.
Kathlena, also known as The Allergy Chef, has one of the most unbelievable stories I have ever heard. She personally manages more than 200 food allergies and intolerances, was once given 30 days to live, and today somehow works as a chef helping other families navigate food restrictions with creativity and hope.
But this conversation is not just about extreme allergies. It is also about paying attention to our kids, respecting what their bodies may be telling us, and understanding that no two humans respond to food the same way. Kathlena brings so much wisdom, humor, and perspective to a topic that can feel incredibly overwhelming for families.
In this episode, we cover:
You can watch Kathlena in action at this year’s #LifeSkillsNow summer camp. She teaches teens how to turn basic ground meats into an amazing variety of dinners. Her workshop is SO GOOD! Don’t miss out – register now.
Resources We Mention for Food Allergies and Healing
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
If you listened to part one of my conversation with Tania Johnson, you already know how powerful it was to understand what is happening inside the teenage brain. In this second half, we move from the “why” into the “what now?” We talk about the practical side of parenting teens in today’s world, including chores, emotional intelligence, resilience, family connection, and of course… technology.
One thing I really appreciated about this conversation is how balanced and hopeful it felt. Tania does not come from a place of fear or perfectionism. Instead, she reminds us that parenting teens is about relationship, repair, and helping our kids gradually build the skills they need to become capable adults. We also talk honestly about screens and smartphones, and I think every parent of tweens and teens will feel seen in this conversation.
In this episode, we cover:
Resources We Mention for Raising Resilient Teens
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
If you have ever looked at your teenager and thought, “Why are we suddenly having toddler-level emotional meltdowns again?” this episode is going to make so much sense. I had such a fascinating conversation with Tania Johnson from the Institute of Child Psychology about what is actually happening inside the teenage brain, and honestly, it completely reframed some things for me as a parent.
We talk about why teens and toddlers are surprisingly similar from a brain development perspective, why emotional outbursts and withdrawal are actually normal parts of development, and what parents can do to stay connected without smothering their kids. I especially loved how practical this conversation became. Tania has such a gift for taking complicated psychology concepts and making them feel doable in real life.
One of my biggest takeaways from this episode was the reminder that connection is still the foundation of parenting during the teen years. Even when they roll their eyes, shut their doors, or seem like they do not want us around, attachment and relationship still matter deeply.
In this episode, we cover:
Resources We Mention for Parenting Teens with Connection
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
Artificial intelligence is changing so quickly that honestly? I don’t think any of us can accurately predict what our kids’ jobs will look like in 10 or 20 years.
But I also don’t think parents can afford to throw up our hands and say, “Well, who knows?” and ignore the conversation.
In this second part of my AI series on the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast, I’m digging into the question I think every parent is asking right now: What skills will actually matter in the age of AI?
Not coding. Not memorizing facts. Not just following directions.
The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that our kids are going to need to become more fully human, not less.
In this solo episode, I share the seven skills I believe will help kids thrive in a rapidly changing future, whether they become entrepreneurs, tradespeople, creators, leaders, or something none of us can even imagine yet. We’re talking about the kinds of skills AI can’t practice for us: communication, resilience, critical thinking, emotional regulation, adaptability, and learning how to learn.
I also share some surprising thoughts about which college paths may already be becoming obsolete, why hands-on skills may actually become more valuable again, and what I’m seeing firsthand as AI completely transforms the way my husband works every single day.
If you’ve been wondering how to prepare your kids for a future nobody can fully predict, this episode will help you focus on the skills that actually last.
Resources We Mention for Raising Kids in an AI World
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
What happens when the future changes faster than parenting advice can keep up?
Artificial intelligence is already transforming jobs, schools, communication, creativity, and even the way businesses run day to day. And as parents, it can feel equal parts fascinating and terrifying.
Should we be worried? What skills will our kids actually need? And how in the world do we prepare children for jobs that don’t even exist yet?
In this solo episode, I dive into the rapidly changing world of AI through the lens of parenting, critical thinking, life skills, and human connection. I’m exploring why parents can’t afford to ignore this conversation… but also why panic probably isn’t the answer.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
If you’ve ever wondered whether AI is something to fear, embrace, resist, or simply learn alongside your kids, this episode is the beginning of an important conversation for every modern parent.
Resources We Mention for Parenting in the Age of AI
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
Do you ever feel that tension between wanting to help your kids… and knowing you probably shouldn’t step in so fast?
Because if we’re honest, it’s almost always easier and quicker to just do it ourselves. Open the bottle. Fill out the form. Solve the problem.
But what if that instinct is exactly what’s holding our kids back?
In this episode, I’m talking with Amy Carney about what it really takes to raise kids who are ready for the real world. Not just capable on paper, but confident, resilient, and able to handle life when things don’t go smoothly.
This is part two of our conversation, and we’re digging into the everyday moments that actually shape independent kids. (Here’s part 1 if you missed it.)
Here’s what we cover:
If you’ve ever wondered how to raise kids who can actually handle adulthood, this conversation will both challenge and encourage you in the best way.
Resources We Mention for Raising Independent Kids
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
One of the motivations for creating the Kids Cook Real Food™ eCourse was that I was just over halfway to “launch” with my oldest child.
Nine years old is half of the intensive part of parenting, and Paul had just turned 10. He demonstrated how to make homemade guacamole to his 4th-grade class, and I realized that guac was the only thing he truly knew how to make!
One cannot live on guac alone…so I knew I needed to teach him more before he left my home!
I love that parenting expert and author Amy Carney also uses the word “launch” to describe the process of sending off a child into the world, ready to serve and grow and live on purpose.
She too had a crisis of parenting when her oldest kids were about 10, and she reacted even more strongly than I did – that and more in today’s interview!
What Amy made me desire: The sort of MARGIN she found in her life when she taught her kids certain things.
How I’ll rethink something today: That being frustrated about a task is an opportunity for a teaching moment.
A goal I need to keep in mind: Play is as important as “being busy.”
In the first two days after the interview, I quoted a certain portion twice, and it’s what college professors and deans all agreed that young adults need more of.
This is a heartfelt, fun, fascinating, and inspiring interview, and I hope you enjoy Amy as much as I did!
Amy is teaching on How to Spot a Scam in #LifeSkillsNow Season 5 – register now!
Resources We Mention for Teaching Life Skills to Teens
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
What happens when you mess up as a parent?
Because let’s be honest… no matter how intentional you try to be, no matter how many goals you set, there are still going to be moments where you lose your patience, react in a way you regret, or just plain get it wrong. The real question is not if that will happen, but what you do next.
In this second half of my conversation with Jon Hord, we move from awareness into action. Jon shares what it actually looks like to repair those hard moments with your kids, how to model growth instead of perfection, and why those “mess up” moments can become some of the most powerful connection points in your family.
This episode is incredibly practical, but also deeply encouraging. You are not stuck in your patterns. You are not defined by your worst moments. And you have more influence than you think in shaping your relationship with your kids moving forward.
In this episode, we cover:
Resources We Mention for Repairing Parenting Mistakes
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
Do you think you could be vulnerable enough to ask your kids, “How could I be a better parent?” Even the thought of that makes my chest tighten a little bit, but in this episode, Jon Hord is going to encourage dads—and moms—to do just that.
This conversation is such a powerful look at what it means to parent with intention instead of just reacting to whatever the day throws at you. Jon shares his own story of going from stressed, overwhelmed, and not showing up the way he wanted… to becoming a dad who is actively creating a new version of himself.
And the best part? This is not about perfection. It is about awareness, small shifts, and having the courage to grow.
If you have ever felt like you are just trying to get through the day without losing your patience, or wondered if you are really showing up the way your kids need, this episode will hit home in the best way.
In this episode, we cover:
Resources We Mention for Intentional Fatherhood
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
I love it when a conversation feels like it’s been years in the making. This one really has!
Today’s guest is someone who has quietly, faithfully shaped the way I think about food for a long time—my friend Wardee Harmon from Traditional Cooking School.
And if you’ve ever felt like the world of “healthy eating” is a swirl of contradictions…one expert says this, another says that…you are not alone. (Honestly, it can make your head spin before you even get dinner on the table.)
Wardee has this rare gift of bringing clarity to all that noise.
Her Eat God’s Way plan isn’t just another list of rules or trendy swaps. It’s a grounded, thoughtful look at the foods humans were designed to eat, paired with traditional methods that real families have used for generations. Things like soaking, fermenting, sourdough…not because they’re fancy, but because they work.
And I’ve seen firsthand how she teaches. She doesn’t overwhelm. She connects the dots.
She makes it feel doable, even if you’re starting from “we eat cereal for dinner sometimes and I’m just trying to survive.”
I also love that her perspective is rooted in faith, but she holds it with such grace. If that resonates with you, you’re going to feel right at home. And if it’s new or not quite your thing, there’s still so much practical wisdom here to take and run with.
Wardee is also one of our incredible leaders for #LifeSkillsNow! This year she is teaching a delicious gluten-free Blueberry Oat Cake.
So whether you’re curious about traditional foods, wondering if sourdough is worth the hype, or just hoping to feel a little more grounded in what you feed your family…
You’re in the right place.
Resources We Mention for Eating God’s Way
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Shop Perfect Supplements at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/perfect
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
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