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
Way back when my husband and I were new-ish parents, he read a headline that talked about parents being “bone tired” at the end of the day.
For years, we referred to that phrase: “We’re BONE TIRED. Parents are all BONE TIRED.” (Put a little lilt and emphasis on “bone” and you can hear us in your head now.)
As it turns out, Dr. Evan Hirsch would recommend that we stop with those negative thoughts, because they’re not going to take us anywhere good. He’s an international expert on chronic fatigue (and now long haulers), and this was an interview I was HIGHLY looking forward to. I was right!
Prepare to be fascinated by Dr. Hirsch’s wisdom on:
I’m going to be thinking about this interview for a long time … can’t wait to hear what you think about it.
This episode is sponsored by Chef Junior, the cookbook BY kids FOR kids! Check it out here: kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr
Resources We Mention for Chronic Fatigue
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Let’s talk money!
If you’re feeling stuck living paycheck to paycheck, you’re in the majority here in America - but it doesn’t have to be that way!
Brie Sodano is a nationally recognized Personal Finance Expert, and she does things differently – today we flip some paradigms on their heads and get a peek into Brie’s wisdom and systems for money, including:
Brie is a mom just like us, with all the surprises that come with parenting - like apparently having kids makes all your forks disappear. :) She’s funny and wise and a perfect person to have in your ear when it comes to thinking about money.
Be sure to check out her Find Your Bleed course for more!
Thank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Check out their organic cotton mattresses at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy.
Resources We Mention for Money Mindset
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Will sleep become the new kale? Or the new cancer?
Adults are shorting themselves on sleep in droves in our "always-on" culture, and I'm unfortunately leading the pack. That's why I begged sleep science coach Christine Hansen to join me for a half hour to get some important tips!!
I started implementing a new way to wake up my kids immediately, and I know being a better parent means being well-rested (i.e. not angry mommy).
If you feel like you're not getting a tight 8 in bed OR your sleep quality doesn't feel optimal, this is a must listen. We talk about:
This episode is sponsored by Just Thrive Probiotics. Check out their great, shelf-stable probiotics at kidscookrealfood.com/JustThive, and use coupon code Katie15 for 15% off!
Resources We Mentioned on Sleep Quality
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Warning - sad statistic. :( The 2nd leading cause of death for kids ages 10-24 in America is...suicide.
I'm not okay with this!
Let's talk this Depression Awareness Month about prevention - there are research-based strategies that parents can use to reduce their kids' chances of being depressed. While depression isn't the only risk factor for suicide, it is certainly correlated.
If we can make these practices a part of American culture, we can save American kids!!
Today I'm expanding on these 3 things parents can do to raise depression-proof kids:
This episode is sponsored by Just Thrive Probiotics! Check them out at kidscookrealfood.com/JustThrive. Use code Katie15 for 15% off!
Resources We Mention About Depression Prevention
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Cas of Clutterbug describes her “young mom” self as a hot mess – house a disaster and feeling horrible that she couldn’t get organized.
She finally realized a few important pieces of her own personality and is now a Recovering Super Slob turned Organizing Expert who teaches others how to tap into their own unique organizing styles, which she says are part of a person from birth.
Cas is a wizard at explaining how people work and how we can both get our homes in order AND pass on effective decluttering and organizing skills to our kids!
Check out today's sponsor, Perfect Supplements!
Resources We Mention for Organization Styles
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Did you know that the way your child eats can affect their speech and vice versa?
Melanie Potock is a Speech-Language Pathologist who became a pediatric feeding expert through her experience as a mom of a former picky eater. She uses her SLP expertise to help parents introduce new foods to kids, form healthy eating habits, and really lay the foundation for a lifetime of good nutrition.
I’m honored to host her here today on the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
I know you’ll love Melanie and these tips will really make a difference in your household immediately!
Resources We Mention to Raise Adventurous Eaters
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Note: I mention in this interview to go to episode 38, but things got switched around and it's actually 39. Sorry!
No one has to say school lunches are good or bad, healthy or unhealthy.
That’s not my point today - although I think school lunches could use some improvement. :)
Today let’s talk about picky eating specifically - could school lunches potentially contribute to or exacerbate picky tendencies for certain kids?
I think so.
Today I’ll explore 10 reasons why school lunch might not be friendly to your picky eater. Some might apply to your family, others might not. Let me know what you think!
If you’re struggling with a child who isn’t a very adventurous eater, I’ve got just the invitation for you - please join me in the No More Picky Eating Challenge kicking off October 1st and 2nd, 2024! It’s a totally free, 5-day challenge with quick video lessons and action steps each day.
Over half of the kids in the challenge try new foods in just 5 days, but that’s not even the point. The point is to create a less stressful environment at the dinner table, and that happens for 85+% of participants!!
Join here!
Resources We Mention for Picky Eating
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If your child has ever thrown a tantrum…
If you’ve ever reacted, let’s say, “imperfectly” to that tantrum…
If you’ve ever wondered why your toddler or teen is having a meltdown over something seemingly inconsequential…
My friends, then this interview is a MUST LISTEN.
Ann is an incredible teacher - let’s learn about:
I couldn’t stop asking Ann questions, so this episode is a little longer than usual but SO worth it.
Resources We Mention for Nervous System Regulation
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What are your feet doing RIGHT NOW? Are you standing on them?
If not...stand up and listen to this!
I learned so much from Juliet Starrett, founder of one of first 50 CrossFit gyms in America who got passionate about kids' mobility when she saw a HUGE problem at her daughter's field day. She launched StandUpKids.org, a nonprofit dedicated to funding standing desks for schoolchildren, and she's nearing 100,000 kids standing up all day!
Think that sounds crazy? Some parents in those schools do too, but you gotta hear why teachers <3 <3 <3 it and parents all come around eventually.
Juliet taught me how to use my standing desk much better than I was already, and we even talked about food and kids and picky eaters (and our general intolerance for short-order cooking).
Whether your kids are in school or at home all day, we challenge you to get them MOVING for their health!
Note: This podcast was recorded a few years ago. In 2024, Juliet has moved on from StandUp Kids, but you can find her on The Ready State and her podcast!
Resources We Mention About the Benefits of Standing
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Bet you a million bucks you’ve heard people say (or said yourself):
Maybe, just maybe… everyone is different?
Years ago the term “bio-individuality” began to be a buzzword, and I thought it would be the “next big thing.” It is, sort of.
It might not be big enough.
But it still should be!
What if your genes could give you a pathway to your OWN optimal health? Not your friend’s success, not the next influencer’s advice, and not even current research?
Using genetics to make a personalized health plan sounds cutting edge, and it is - but it’s also reality.
My guest Brenda Wollenberg and I talk about gene-based holistic wellness programs today, and even more exciting, the promise and hope of epigenetics.
Epigenetics is the theory that through what we do and what happens to us - our environment - we can change our genes, basically toggle certain ones on or off. Your genes are not your destiny!
Listen in to find out how this works and even how you can apply epigenetics and gene personalization to your parenting and keeping kids healthy, even if you never get your kids' genes tested.
Resources We Mention
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We know that anxiety is affecting both kids and adults at alarming rates.
We’ve discussed anxiety busters before on The Healthy Parenting Handbook, and today we’re completing the trifecta of experts with an MD who practices integrative medicine.
Dr. Wiggy Saunders joins me to dive into anxiety once again because we can’t give parents enough strategies to help their kids (and themselves) dig out of their anxious lives. We’re focusing specifically on how anxiety is affecting kids’ school performance.
Your mind will be blown with how closely anxiety and focus/attention are connected, and how certain strategies may help reduce your kids’ struggles in both areas!
We’ll talk about:
Resources We Mentioned for Anxiety in Kids
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I learned today that I still have a lot of internal tendencies from middle school. 😮
Middle school can be a foreign land and a tumultuous time, and figuring out how to parent middle schoolers is hard on parents. We want our kids to be happy, resilient, and thriving, not wilting, crying, and worrying.
As we head back to school, stresses are always high, and our kids need us to help them stay balanced and continue growing and developing. Middle school is particularly tough, but it turns out it’s very navigable with the right perspective.
Whether you have a tween in middle school now or a child who will someday be there, these parenting tools are incredible, insightful, and some will take some time to practice. Start early by parenting your tween when they’re about 5!
You’ll learn:
Resources We Mention for Parenting Middle Schoolers
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Not kidding, I referenced this interview FOUR times the same week we recorded — it’s THAT pertinent to our jobs as parents!
Today we’re focusing on the MOST important quality our kids need today – resilience. Michele Borba's book THRIVERS is about 7 teachable skills that set happy, healthy, and high-performing kids apart — and I believe those are listed in an intentional order.
If you find yourself wondering why some kids struggle and others shine, spoiler alert: It’s not about GPA.
This is a must-listen! Find out:
We both talk fast, folks, so buckle up for a WEALTH of valuable information that will change the way you think about your kids and the choices you make as a parent!!! The world needs this!
Resources We Mention for Raising Resilient Kids
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Shannon Miller is a 7-time Olympic medalist and has over 100 national competition medals in gymnastics as well, more than half the gold kind. People in our generation certainly remember her name from the “Magnificent Seven” team gold winners in the 1996 Olympic games, where she captured the first balance beam gold an American had ever achieved.
She’s no stranger to hard work and success, obviously, and she went on after gymnastics to study marketing and entrepreneurship and even earned her law degree from Boston College.
Then life got a little crazier – she had her first baby in 2009, launched her company “The Shannon Miller Lifestyle: Health and Fitness for Women” in 2010, and in 2011 was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Now that’s a full plate and plenty of challenges, but Shannon used her Olympic grit to triumph in all areas, had another child in 2013, and wrote a book to inspire others to overcome their own personal challenges.
Today we get to talk about healthy mindset and goal setting and how parents can encourage a gold medal mindset in their children, even if they’re not into athletics.
Healthy Mindset Resources We Mentioned
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Did you start to question the products you put on your kids’ skin once you were a mom? Meet Tatyana Cerullo, attorney, and formulator of Kōkua Suncare, who came to that realization as she saw the legal system behind the marketing.
We get so much conflicting information these days about whether the sun is something to hide from or embrace, what’s safe to apply on our skin, and how to manage it all. Now as a mom of 2, Tatyana brings a nice balance to the conversation.
Sunscreen is easy to buy, excruciatingly simple to spray on, but deadly hard to understand. Our family has personally tested over 120 kinds of mineral sunscreen, and Kōkua is far and away one of the best! We’ll share our quick 2-minute “what to remember” for parents who want the best, healthy experience of life for their kids AND be able to run to the beach!
Resources We Mention About Natural Sunscreen
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Grabbing a piece of whole fruit or a popsicle are both fast, easy, and refreshing in the summer.
But will they give your kids fuel for summer play?
We know we’ll be asked about snacks approximately 5,287 times … in June. 😉 Nobody wants that!
Here are some ideas to keep snacking running smoothly and prevent hungry tummy issues:
Resources We Mention For Healthy Snacks
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What life skills are kids and teens going to need in this fast-paced digital world???
We can’t really predict what specific skills our kids will need in 20 years, BUT we know they’ll need to know how to learn and other “soft skills.”
Enjoy meeting a handful of our #LifeSkillsNow summer camp leaders as we explore what our youth need most and how parents can serve. Whether it’s about owning ones health, planning ahead, or responding well to others, you’ll love this info as well as a 3-step process to make it happen. Mental first, then verbal, then intentional. You got this, parents!
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I actually HUGGED my to-do lists, all of them, during this interview!
My guest Megan Sumrell warned me that she was going to tell me task lists are no good. I added that to my list. ;)
If you’ve ever felt like you have too much to do, too many demands on your time, or like you’re bound to that to-do list, this episode is for you!
We discuss:
I learned a lot about myself and why I sabotage my own to-do lists even as I cling to them, and I hope you get to introspect as well!!
Resources We Mention for Time Management
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Grocery budget hurting?
Erin Chase of $5 Dinners has been making inexpensive meals to save her family’s grocery budget since the real estate crisis of 2008. She says the current inflation problem is similar in how it’s making people feel about money and savings, and it’s TIME to pay attention to your food budget, no matter who you are.
In this episode, prepare to learn:
We guarantee you’ll learn at least one (hopefully many!) hack to save time, money, or stress while you nourish your family!
Erin is a camp leader at #LifeSkillsNow summer camp, season 3, teaching kids how to make double the food in half the time – yum!
Register for free!
Resources We Mention for Cutting Your Grocery Budget
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You’ve heard people say it …You may have said something similar yourself …
It’s a negative judgment on teens, especially parenting teens.
“Oh, just look out for when they’re teenagers!”
“Teens are just moody…just confrontational…just tough to parent.”
Etc. Etc. Etc.
I’ve said it too, and I feel regret!
Turns out, most of the time, I puffy-heart-love parenting teens. They’re spectacular! They’re inquisitive! They’re deep thinkers!
And they’re a joy to be around.
Parenting teens is not without its challenges, but what in life is?
Joey Mascio has been an actor and a middle school teacher, not much difference there. :)
Today he joins us to inspire us to be our teens' mentors, not a villain, and I know your mind will be challenged (in a good way). We discuss:
I feel like that only scratches the surface - if you’re a parent of a teen or will be someday, get the foundations right with the strategies in this interview!
Resources We Mention for Mentoring Teens
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I interview a LOT of different people in a myriad of professions, but I’ve never come close to having a woodworker on the show before!
“What would we talk about - how to build things? That won’t go well on a podcast in someone’s ear…” I thought.
Do not worry my friends, because Anika and I are both moms, so we dig into woodworking as an analogy for parenting and life skills, and I know you’ll be inspired to make time for a creative pursuit after this!
We talk about:
Let’s grab a power drill and get building!
Resources We Mention for Exploring Creativity
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What happens when you’re already living your dream…but it’s a dream interrupted?
Dr. Robin Dickinson was a family practitioner who loved her job and her patients, and she was GOOD at what she did. But when the pandemic sent her kids home from school, they needed her more.
What happened next is nothing short of extraordinary.
In today’s interview, you’ll learn:
I love Doc Robin’s philosophy on helping kids OWN their health not through cajoling, not even by example, but by education. Can’t wait to hear what you think of this one!
Resources We Mention for Learning About Your Body
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Confession: My house is VERY cluttered.
I have never been good at letting go of things. “I might need that someday!” “What about the grandkids? They’ll want to read that book!”
I’m always a little anxious and yet inspired when I talk to organizers and decluttering experts, and this conversation with Katy Wells will not disappoint!!
Her story was a huge surprise to me and made her all the more believable. Katy is super passionate about keeping a home that allows you to focus on what truly matters, and I love her sense of balance and reality as well.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
Resources We Mention for Clutter Management
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When is the last time your kids were learning something in school and you got totally pulled in?
That happened to today’s podcast guest, Kathy Gibbens, when her daughter was learning logic and critical thinking in middle school, and Kathy became a mom on a mission.
She realized critical thinking is, well, critical to our society thriving and started teaching others things like logical fallacies and how to spot propaganda and emotion-driven marketing.
I adored our conversation in this podcast! Look forward to some learning and some great challenges to become a better parent and a better person. Listen for:
Seriously, this is a fantastic interview - I told Kathy when we started that I typically shoot for half an hour podcasts, but the more fascinating the interview, the longer I generally let it slide. By the timestamp you can see that I couldn’t stop asking questions and eating up everything Kathy was dishing out!
Resources We Mention for Critical Thinking
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For real, let's talk about Kid POOP. Because it doesn't get enough press! Dr. Song talks about kids' poop with every patient at every visit. You're going to love this interview!
Dr. Elisa Song, MD, holistic pediatrician, is back today with some very important instruction for parents and kids about WHY we need to be aware of our kid's poop each day, what to look for in a healthy poop, and what "text messages" our poop is sending us.
Once we learn to interpret the language of poop, we might need her tips on:
Dr. Song's new book Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience releases on Tuesday, May 14! You can purchase it on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or ask your local bookstore or library if they'll get it.
Kids' Poop Resources We Mention
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In today's Healthy Parenting Handbook, I'm going to take 5 different arguments against kids doing chores and learning life skills and counter them with facts, stories, research, and a big ol' dose of common sense.
These are real arguments I hear from both well-meaning parents AND keyboard warriors on social media, plus one from a well-established expert I heard on a podcast that I simply do not agree with!
If you've ever had to listen to someone say it's cruelty to make your kids clean a bathroom or have felt yourself that maybe kids are busy enough - maybe life skills aren't important to learn now - this one's for you.
Resources I Mention for Chores and Life Skills
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Oh, parents. Parents in the tech age...there REALLY is no handbook for this! We've never seen our parents struggle through having the Internet in our kids' pockets, and honestly? I don't like the feeling of making it up as I go along.
That's why I've been following Andrea and Tyler at Better Screen Time for a few years in my personal email, and I don't know why I didn't ask her to do an interview sooner!
We dug deep in this interview, including:
This interview is required listening for all parents, and we really dig into healthy screen boundaries for kids younger than 10. Lay the foundations for family tech use with this interview, and watch in a few months when I have Andrea back to tackle the tough topic of tweens, teens, and smartphones.
Andrea offered a free gift for our listeners 100 screen-free activities.
Andrea is a camp leader for #LifeSkillsNow Summer Camp this June! Sign up for free here!
Check out 3rd Rock Essentials and use code KITCHENSTEW for 20% off!
Resources We Mention for Better Screen Time
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Power. Control. Parenting.
Which of these three doesn’t belong?
My guest today is Wendy Snyder, a positive parenting educator who reminds us, “Control is not the goal of parenting.”
Obviously, there is a balance of power in a parent-child relationship, but taking the power or fighting over who has power isn’t the right game to play.
Wendy will teach you:
If you’re struggling with a powerful child or wishing you had a roadmap to calmer parenting, this one is for you!
Wendy is a camp leader for #LifeSkillsNow Summer Camp this June! Sign up for free here!
Resources We Mention for Raising Strong-Willed Kids
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I used Tosha's tips the very DAY we recorded this interview, and I have to tell you -- they work. So well.
Once you hear about her strategy for reducing frustration and nipping "negative spirals" in the bud, you'll know why when my husband spent a ton of time hanging with our then-5-year-old, Gabe, over Christmas break, he said:
"You know, Gabe has had a really good break. He hasn't been having any tantrums or behavior issues at ALL. And I'm really treasuring my time with him...he won't be little for very much longer!!"
Tosha Schore is a parent coach who specializes in the biggest surprise of her own life -- parenting boys!
In this interview that I did NOT want to end, you'll learn:
I do think a lot of Tosha's tips apply to girls too, but I really appreciate her focus on boys and the disconnect a lot of mommas in particular feel with their opposite-gender child. (Yes, boys and girls are different! Amazing fact!!)
Resources We Mention for Parenting Boys
Visit today's sponsor, Happsy, at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/happsy and see full show notes and video at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/017.
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I’ve been telling everyone about this book!
Ever since I read The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey, it has truly changed my parenting. My mindset about the mistakes my kids make and little accidents they have is totally more peaceful, and the whole time I was absorbing the information, I was thinking, “How can I interview this author so I can share her amazing wisdom with my audience???”
Turns out all I had to do was post something I had done using the Failure Philosophy with one of my kids here on Facebook, and someone tagged her and now — here we are! 😀
Here are a few things we talked about:
If you have kids in sports, want more homework help, and wish you knew what to do with report cards or chores and more, The Gift of Failure is a must-read (or listen to)!
Resources We Mention for Letting Kids Fail
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I'm so happy to have my stress mastery mentor here today!
Heidi Hanna, PhD, is one of the most intellectual, intuitive and compassionate people I know, and I'm honored to host her wisdom today. We recorded this interview in March 2020, when we were all in a tailspin and figuring out managing our stress was more important than ever!
Fill your brain with Dr. Hanna's research and her personal experience today:
Resources We Mention for Managing Stress
Check out today's sponsor, JustThrive, at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/justhrive, and use Katie15 for 15% off!
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We talked last week about STRESS and its impact on our health and our relationship with our families. I challenged you to be more aware of your breath and take the “Moment to Breathe” challenge, and a few of you chimed in after trying it that it’s really working!!
Personally I found being aware of my breath and its ability to control my bodily reaction to stress to be life changing and revolutionary! Why? Because I can control my breath, and in this world where too often things feel out of control, that’s a game-changer.
In part 2 today, we’ll discuss how to close the gap between demand and capacity…it turns out that stress ISN’T what happens to you that’s stressful, it’s a combination of what happens and how capable you are in reacting to it. (Hint: Responding is better than reacting anyway. More in the video!)
I’ll teach my Stress Mastery instructor’s BFF method – you’ve learned the “B” and now for the rest! Dr. Heidi Hanna is the director of the American Institute of Stress and absolutely brilliant at making stress positive fuel for change, plus keeping everything easy to understand. I hope I share her information well as I’m certified as a “Stress Mastery Educator"!
Show Notes
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Raise your thumb if you feel STRESS on a normal day!
We busy moms (and dads) tend to experience stress and feel it right down to our breathing and heart rate, and it affects the way we parent, our productivity, and our own mental AND physical health.
Today I’m so excited to use my stress mastery training to teach you about how our brains respond to stress, how it affects our bodies, and best of all, how WE CAN be in control of it!
Check out this one simple technique that you can teach your kids for stress relief!
Notes for Today
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Ryan Pink is a survivor. Like many of us, he’s faced some hard things, and has come out the other side swinging.
In this episode, we dive pretty deeply into trauma - what it is and isn’t, and how we can protect our kids from trauma digging too deeply into them.
Ryan walks through his own healing journey, including how expensive it was (I hope you’re sitting down!).
That experience led him to ask a lot of questions and talk to over 500 adults trying to heal from their own trauma, and he came up with some answers…and more questions.
“What did we do to heal from trauma before therapy existed? Can we still tap into those strategies?”
What if people don’t have a lot of money or bandwidth to figure out how to heal from their own demons?
Ryan founded HopeGuide, an online service designed to reduce the barriers to healing for those with trauma. You’ll love hearing about how HopeGuide works, and even more, how Ryan instructs us to build resilience in our families for our children.
Shall I spoil the ending? I think so:
”Relationship is THE most important thing we can have.”
If you’re on board with that, this interview is for you!
Resourced We Mentioned Today:
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How does a mom get time for herself to dream?
She uses a system!
My guest today founded Mom University to give moms the training, tools, and support for the most important job they will ever do.
In this episode, she’ll teach us about a proven method for figuring out what that “thing” is outside of motherhood that you really want, and then making it happen - without sacrificing your family in the process.
In fact, everyone will be happier when Mom is doing better.
We talk about making dreams into actionable goals, then making tiny habits that actually STICK to make those goals into a reality. Chanelle applies her system for all of you who are thinking, “I wish I could teach my kids to cook!” but it feels too big, too hard.
You’ll love this inspirational episode!
Resources for Moms We Mentioned Today:
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Sensory Processing Disorder refers to difficulties that happen in some children where their brain struggles to make sense of input coming from the sensory environment. Information comes to our brain through our five senses. The brain has to make sense of it so that we can react appropriately. The brains of kids with SPD struggle to make sense of this information quickly and effectively.
This usually impacts eating in some way. There is a difference between picky eaters and kids with true feeding disorders. Kids that are picky won’t eat some foods, but at least they have a range of foods they eat. Kids with feeding disorders usually have less than 20 foods in their diet, and they may even be brand or presentation specific.
Usually, the first step for BOTH of these types is exposure to new foods without expecting them to eat them. Listen to the interview to find out how to get kids to eat a wider variety of foods by asking them not to eat!
Resources We Mention for Sensory Processing Disorder and Picky Eaters
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See full show notes at kidscookrealfood.com/009.
Plenty of parents complain about their kids being "so darn picky!" (including me, even though I know I shouldn't use that word!).
But what IS a picky eater, really?
Did you know:
Dr. Kay Toomey explains how parents can determine if their "severity" meter is accurate when it comes to their kids eating. Do you have a problem feeder who is truly extreme? Or just a picky eater? These questions will help you determine!
And the craziest part -- it might not all be in your child's head, even if they are having trouble accepting a wide variety of foods.
It turns out that what matters is how much it takes to chew, physically, and what food feels/looks/tastes/sounds like etc. to the child. Some picky eaters just never learned to chew properly! :o #mindblown
Here you'll get help understanding WHY your kids are so wiggly at dinner, the special chair that could make all the difference, and more practical tips and picky eater solutions.
According to Dr. Toomey, it takes real intentionality to help your kids expand their palates — most kids won’t just “grow out of it” like we secretly hope!
From the extra little plate you’ll now set on the table to the way in which food is served, to your rules about who moves (the food or the kid), your routines are about to be turned upside down! But if your kids eat better with fewer power struggles…isn’t it worth it?
Resources We Mention to Help Picky Eaters
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Picky eating has always been a tricky challenge for parents, but did you know it’s been getting worse in the last few decades and particularly since the stress of the pandemic?
Parents are frustrated and not sure what to do, partly because the root cause of picky eating is often not even in the food itself.
I’ve been teaching kids to cook for eight years and realized that what parents need most isn’t the cooking (at least they don’t think they do), but the eating part. I started using my background as an elementary educator and mom of 4 to tackle the picky eating problem, and people had a lot of success with my suggestions.
Then I was trained a few years ago by an incredible picky eating expert, Dr. Kay Toomey, and I learned even more, especially about root causes. It’s my honor to work with parents on a regular basis to reduce the stress at their kitchen tables and help their kids build a great relationship with food.
My P.E.P. Club (Picky Eating Playbook) membership includes plenty of opportunities for Q&A, and I thought it might be interesting to give you a peek into some popular Qs about picky eating today.
Katie will be interviewing…Katie. Ha!
Hope you enjoy learning about:
Picky Eating Resources We Mentioned Today
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I realized during this interview (and never before) that my own husband had a tic off and on for years in our early marriage and before.
Seriously!
He was always told it was either neurological/anxiety or that he should see an eye doctor (who didn’t know what to do). For years we tried to figure out environmental patterns like what season or climate/city/state it might happen in or stop happening after being present for a few weeks.
But what if…it was all in his GUT???
We’ve done a lot of gut healing for him over the years, including reversing a chronic autoimmune disease, and he hasn’t experienced the blinking for a really long time.
If you’re interested at all in the gut-brain connection and how to help kids on the spectrum and/or with tics resolve them, OR how to help your own kids understand how to talk about and interact lovingly and respectfully with kids struggling with something like a tic, this is a must-listen.
Dr. Piper Gibson needed answers so badly for her own son that she left the SAHM mom life and went back to school to find a solution that no one else could give her. (Spoiler: There’s a reason she’s known as a tic expert, and wait until you hear how it all went with her son!)
Resources We Mention for Gut Health
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Six million kids in America are diagnosed with ADHD.
ADHD expert and health practitioner Dana Kay asks a very important question about that number: How many of those diagnoses are real ADHD?
Her story will bring tears to your eyes but also hope to your heart, and after helping her own son find healing, this fierce mama bear is now on a mission so that other families with this diagnosis don’t have to struggle as hers did.
The 2 BEST truth bombs of the interview?
Whether you have a child with ADHD in your life, struggle with any other neuro-diversity including anxiety, or just want to learn more about the gut-brain connection and how you can bring hope to other parents, this interview is a fast-paced winner.
We discuss:
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Our interview guest today has been a journalist and writer for many years and earned herself the title of “Worst Mom in America.” I’m so proud to interview her because she earned that title when she let her 9-year-old ride the subway alone and wasn’t afraid to write about it in a major publication. 🙂
Growing wings from the firestorm that ensued, she published a book called Free-Range Kids and has been an advocate for letting kids grow ever since. She encourages legislation to protect parents when they are making wise choices for their children’s independence and even has a nonprofit offering curriculum to schools and families with the sole purpose of encouraging adults to step back so that children can step up.
If you want to raise healthy, independent adults, this half-hour will enlighten and inspire you, edifying you to push back in the face of a culture that seems to be flying away with helicopter parenting.
Let’s ground that movement!
Resources We Mention to Raise a Confident Child
Find today's show notes, video, and time-stamped "skim notes" at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/005.
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I am a better person, a better parent, every single time I listen to Amy McCready's coaching.
There's a good reason she is a TODAY Show parenting expert, my goodness - the way she explains why consequences aren't the answer, how rewards set our kids up for massive problems (blew my mind!!) and gives us practical toolbox phrases we can just start using today, it's truly enriching.
Even if you've heard Amy speak before, I worked hard to ask new questions that definitely made me think!
Get the free knife skills class here!
See all the show notes as well as time-stamped skim notes at kidscookrealfood.com/004.
Resources We Mention for Positive Parenting
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Chicken nuggets.
Pizza.
Burgers and fries.
Mac and cheese.
What do all those foods have in common?
They're identified as "kid food" by children and adults alike.
What else? They're often served in a highly processed, low-nutrient fashion, and I don't see many veggies on the list.
My guest today, Bettina Elias Siegel, has been an advocate for school food reform for over 10 years, and her first book Kid Food broadens that mission by pushing for societal change in all the places people feed our kids, market "food" to them, and set our standards of what kids will eat.
If you believe the bar should be raised for kids wayyyyyy beyond and beige and bland, you're in the right place today.
We dig into some of the more surprising facts Bettina uncovered while researching for Kid Food, such as:
...And so much more! You'll be inspired by this conversation and ready to change the world, starting in your own home.
Get the free knife skills class here!
See all the show notes as well as time-stamped skim notes at kidscookrealfood.com/003.
Resources We Mention About Kid Food
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We all know that most pediatricians get about 2 hours of nutrition training, which means some of them give food advice and probably shouldn’t and most don’t bother with food at all.
But FOOD is the ROOT CAUSE of so much of what ails our kids!
Dr. Song goes above and beyond normal MD training with all her holistic background and she’s 150% qualified to tell us a little about our kids’ diets.
Today we’ll talk about:
Don’t you just love Dr. Song? She’s about the only reason I’d ever consider moving to California, just so that she could be our kids’ doctor. I’m so honored to share her wisdom with you today!!!
Get the free knife skills class here!
See all the show notes as well as time-stamped skim notes at kidscookrealfood.com/002.
Find Dr. Elisa Song on her site Healthy Kids, Happy Kids or on Facebook or Instagram. You can also sign up for her video course here. (Affiliate link)
Resources We Mention About Feeding Kids
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We're so glad you've joined us, mindful parents, for this podcast on raising healthy, independent kids.
In each episode of the Healthy Parenting Handbook Podcast, Katie Kimball, the national voice of healthy kids cooking, interviews experts in fields like nutrition, medicine, psychology, parenting, technology, entrepreneurship and more to help parents get tools to raise healthy, independent kids.
For lifelong learners only, the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast will improve your connection with your kids, boost your confidence as a parent, and bring clarity about what you can DO to keep your kids physically and mentally healthy while you grow together as a family.
Show Notes
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It's finally here!
Our audience has been asking for a podcast version of our video show, The Healthy Parenting Connector, for YEARS. We're finally launching on January 9, so hit that subscribe button wherever you listen to podcasts.
I am Katie Kimball, a mom of 4 kids ages 18-9, a trained educator, who has been blogging about my natural living journey since 2008.
We're SO excited to have you join us as we learn what is in that parenting handbook.
For lifelong learners only, the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast will improve your connection with your kids, boost your confidence as a parent, and bring clarity about what you can DO to keep your kids physically and mentally healthy while you grow together as a family.
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
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