Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

Katie Kimball
  • 5.0 (38)
  • Parenting
  • Weekly

Truth: 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!

  1. 3d ago

    152: Attachment as the Solution for Picky Eating with Dr. Deborah MacNamara

    Your child eats lentils at daycare but won’t touch them at home. Or a favorite dinner suddenly gets an emphatic “NO!” Does this sound familiar? In part two of my conversation with Dr. Deborah MacNamara, author of Nourished, we explore picky eating through the lens of child development, attachment, and emotional safety. We talk about why toddlers become cautious about new foods, how sensory sensitivities can affect eating, and why getting a bite into your child’s mouth doesn’t have to be the measure of a successful family meal. I especially loved our conversation about serving one family meal while making room for different preferences and needs. Deborah shares how she adapted meals for her sensitive eater without pressure, and we discuss how shared food can help kids feel included. And if you worry that your own complicated relationship with food will rub off on your children, please listen. Deborah offers such an encouraging perspective on that internal struggle and how recognizing the patterns you want to change can help you move forward. This episode is full of hope for parents who want less mealtime stress, stronger parent-child connection, and a healthier relationship with food for the whole family. Resources We Mention for Picky Eaters My TEDx talk on picky eatingGet more picky eating strategies hereJump right in to the free No More Picky Eating ChallengeInfographics on picky eating and gathering to eatHere are Deborah’s booksNourished: Food, Connection, and Caring for our Kids (And Everyone Else We Love)The Sorry PlaneRest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One)Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook! Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

  2. 5d ago

    151: Gather First, Then Eat: Building Connection Through Food with Dr. Deborah MacNamara

    What if helping your picky eater started with how you connect, alongside what you serve? When family meals become a battle, it’s easy to focus on finding another recipe or getting your child to take a bite. But food also carries a powerful message: “You can count on me to take care of you.” In this episode of the Healthy Parenting Handbook, I’m talking with Dr. Deborah MacNamara, author of Nourished, about the connection between food, attachment, and child development. We explore why being at the dinner table doesn’t always mean feeling connected, how everyday food routines can strengthen parent-child relationships, and why teaching kids to cook can be an act of care for the whole family. If you’re raising a picky eater, juggling busy schedules, or wondering how to balance kids’ independence with their need for support, this conversation offers an encouraging perspective on feeding kids and building a healthy relationship with food. You don’t need a picture-perfect family dinner to help your children feel nourished. Resources We Mention for Picky Eaters Here’s the study Deborah mentions about family dinnersMy TEDx talk on picky eatingGet more picky eating strategies hereJump right in to the free No More Picky Eating ChallengeInfographics on picky eating and gathering to eatHere are Deborah’s booksNourished: Food, Connection, and Caring for our Kids (And Everyone Else We Love)The Sorry PlaneRest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One)Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook! Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

  3. Oct 22

    150: A Look Into Feeding Challenge Therapy and Why It Works with Dr. Jessica Bodie

    “Never require a bite.” That’s advice I give parents of picky eaters. So what happens when I interview a psychologist whose treatment includes required bites AND rewards? Well, I ask a lot of questions! In part two of my conversation with Dr. Jessica Bodie, we dig into some approaches that made me pause, push back, and think more deeply. I had just finished writing The Picky Eater Playbook, so you can imagine what was going through my head: “Wait. Do I need to rethink what I just wrote?” One distinction keeps coming up: who we’re trying to help. My work focuses on everyday picky eaters and building a healthy relationship with food. Dr. Bodie works with extreme picky eaters, including children with ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), for whom eating unfamiliar foods can feel incredibly difficult. We don’t agree on everything, and I’m glad we had room to explore that. We also find plenty of common ground, especially around helping kids feel capable, encouraging bravery, and making food less of a battle. In this episode, we talk about: Why Dr. Bodie uses several practice bites instead of a one-bite rule.How structured food challenges differ from “You can’t leave the table until you eat.”Where rewards fit into her treatment approach, and why I question using dessert as a reward.Why a child might happily eat chicken nuggets but struggle with other meat.How grazing, snack portions, and drinks can affect appetite at meals.Why “Do you like it?” might be a harder question than we realize.How cooking and grocery shopping can help kids become more curious about food.When screens enter the treatment picture, and when families need professional support.If you’re worried about your child’s eating, I hope this conversation helps you understand the options and ask better questions. And if you’ve ever wondered why picky eating experts sometimes give different advice, come listen as we work through those differences together! Resources We Mention for Treatment for ARFID in Kids If you register for the No More Picky Eating Challenge, there is a questionnaire to help you figure out if you have an extreme picky eater! Why feeding therapy can backfire with extreme picky eaters Simplify your schedule by scheduling your foodTeaching kids to grocery budget, shop, and cook for themselvesI always suggest finding a therapist versed in the SOS Approach to Feeding if you have an extreme picky eaterCheck out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook! Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

  4. Oct 20

    149: Is It Picky Eating or ARFID? Signs Your Child Needs More Help with Dr. Jessica Bodie

    There is average picky eating … and then there are the more extreme cases. Our guest today, Jessica Bodie, PhD, is a psychologist who works with these kids – including her own. ARFID is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, and its treatment goes way beyond what I discuss in The Picky Eater Playbook and the No More Picky Eating Challenge. I’m so glad Jessica was able to come and share more about treatment for ARFID with us. We chatted about: the reason doctors might look at a growth chart and ignore a parent’s concerns about eatingwhat Jessica has done with her own son when it comes to his restrictive eatinghow ARFID is different than normal picky eatingthe strategies I would suggest AGAINST for average picky eaters that Jessica useshow being uncomfortable might have to be part of becoming more comfortable with foodListen in now, and check out part 2 when it releases on Thursday! Resources We Mention for ARFID in Children If you register for the No More Picky Eating Challenge, there is a questionnaire to help you figure out if you have an extreme picky eater!Why feeding therapy can backfire with extreme picky eatersI always suggest finding a therapist versed in the SOS Approach to Feeding if you have an extreme picky eaterCheck out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook! Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

  5. Oct 15

    148: 3 Habits Shifts to Help Your Picky Eater

    Sometimes we just need a little mental shift, a small piece of knowledge, an encouragement to break a habit, or a new perspective. That’s my goal today! I want to break into the day-to-day habits that might not be serving your kids and help you make a SHIFT – either in your thinking, your dinner routine, or your language. I challenge you to set one tiny goal for your dinner table after listening, in one of these 3 areas: ScreensEmpathy/UnderstandingStarting the MealHere’s to small changes making a big impact—just like we do in the No More Picky Eating Challenge! You’ll learn new routines, pattern interruptions, and way more. And if you’re a reader or like to refer back to information time and again, grab a copy of The Picky Eater Playbook, my new book! Resources I Mentioned for Picky Eating Habits My free No More Picky Eating ChallengeBenefits of Family DinnersMy picky eating TEDx talkWhole chicken in the Instant PotBBQ chicken recipe for the slow cooker or Instant PotHomemade air-fryer chicken nuggetsOther good habits for the tableVibrant Blue Oils Parasympathetic blendCheck out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook! Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

  6. Oct 13

    147: Picky Eating: 4 Possible Cultural Root Causes (& Prevention Strategies)

    I was asked a question on a podcast interview the other day that I’ve never been asked before – “WHY are there so many picky eaters these days?” It really does feel like it’s an epidemic, far different than our childhood. What gives? I have 4 theories as to the underpinnings, and those lend a hand to create a playbook to avoid picky eating in your own kids if they’re young enough to circumvent bad habits. That’s GREAT news with MUCH hope! I’m going to be unpacking a lot of habits, expectations, and attitudes that can banish picky eating power struggles from your mealtimes during the FREE 5-day No More Picky Eating Challenge. We’ve had thousands of families go through the challenge, committing to making one small change each day so that they never again have to say, “I just want my kids to eat what I make!” Save your Seat! It has to be said of course that there are many biological root causes to picky eating too, and we’ll dip our toe into that during the challenge as well. Or if you’re more of a reader—or have done the challenge before and want the information at your fingertips!—you can pre-order my book The Picky Eater Playbook. Along with all the strategies from the challenge, you also get all kinds of stories and examples from my family and other families I’ve worked with. More Resources to Tackle the Root Causes Behind Picky Eating My FREE picky eating challengeMy new book, The Picky Eater PlaybookRedefining a “kid’s meal”Raising successful adults with Julie Lythcott-HaimesUnderstanding your highly sensitive childReduce stress by raising resilient kidsSolve picky eating with the tiny salad trickThe importance of letting kids play with foodStrategies for kids with sensory processing disorderIs it picky eating or something deeper?Picky eating solutions using all 8 senses10 ways to get kids to eat more veggies with no tricks!Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook! Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

  7. Oct 8

    146: Beyond “Healthy” Foods: Raising Confident, Adventurous Eaters with Dr. Dina Rose

    What’s healthier for your child: a donut or a muffin? I know. That sounds like a trick question. And after decades of talking about real food at Kitchen Stewardship and Kids Cook Real Food, I certainly have some thoughts about the ingredients in both! But Dr. Dina Rose made an argument in this interview that stopped me in my tracks: From a habits perspective, sometimes the donut might actually have an advantage. Why? Nobody is pretending the donut is health food. A muffin, on the other hand, can easily become a cupcake without frosting that we’ve mentally filed under “healthy breakfast.” Even if we healthify it with whole grains, flaxseed, applesauce, or whatever else we can sneak in there, our kids are still learning something about what breakfast tastes like and what they expect to eat. That distinction gets right to the heart of my conversation with Dina. In part one, we talked about her three habits of healthy eating: proportion, variety, and moderation. Now we’re getting even more practical. How do we talk about candy without making it forbidden fruit? Should kids have to eat dinner before they get dessert? What do we do when a child announces, “I’m full!” at dinner and miraculously discovers a second stomach when dessert appears? And what about the picky eater who refuses even one tiny taste of a new food? Dina challenges us to stop making every bite of food carry so much emotional baggage. Instead, she gives parents structures that help kids understand what to expect, experience hunger and fullness, and explore unfamiliar foods without Mom or Dad hovering nearby thinking, “Please eat it. Please eat it. PLEASE EAT IT.” (Our faces never give us away, right?) This conversation challenged some of the language and rules we were using in my own home at the time. And once again, I walked away realizing that raising healthy eaters isn’t simply about getting the “right” foods into our kids today. We’re teaching them how to eat for the rest of their lives. Let’s dig into part two. Resources We Mention for Changing Eating Habits Dr. Dina’s book: It’s Not About the BroccoliMy video on “Growing Foods vs. Fun Foods”Don’t underestimate kids’ taste buds!Jump into the No More Picky Eating ChallengeCheck out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook! Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

  8. Oct 6

    145: A Habits-Based Approach to Helping Kids Eat Healthier Foods with Dr. Dina Rose

    If you’ve ever bribed a child with dessert to get three more bites of broccoli into their mouth, this interview may mess with your head a little. In a good way. Because what if our intense focus on getting healthy food INTO our kids is accidentally teaching them some not-so-healthy habits about eating? When I first interviewed sociologist, parent educator, and feeding expert Dr. Dina Rose, her ideas challenged the way I thought about feeding my own kids. In fact, this conversation continues to influence how our family handles desserts and sweet treats today. Dina’s big idea sounds almost too simple: Healthy eating isn’t only about what kids eat. It’s about the habits they’re learning around food. That means we have to think beyond fruits, vegetables, protein, and all the other nutritional boxes we’re trying desperately to check before bedtime. Are our kids learning to recognize when they’re hungry and full? Are they learning to eat a variety of foods? Are sweets becoming rewards, comfort, or forbidden treasures? And are we accidentally creating power struggles because we’re so worried about getting those vegetables into them? Dina boils healthy eating down to three habits: proportion, variety, and moderation. And I have to tell you, thinking in terms of three habits instead of servings, nutrients, and “Did anyone eat something green today?” feels like a breath of fresh air. In this interview, we’ll dig into why focusing too heavily on nutrition can backfire, how kids’ taste preferences are shaped, why variety does NOT have to mean constantly serving new foods, and how sweets and treats can have a reasonable place in a healthy relationship with food. Some of Dina’s ideas challenged me when I first heard them. They still make me think. And I have a feeling you’ll have a few “Wait...what?” moments too. Let’s dig in. Resources We Mention for Changing Eating Habits Dr. Dina’s book: It’s Not About the BroccoliMy video on “Growing Foods vs. Fun Foods”Don’t underestimate kids’ taste buds!Get on the list for the next No More Picky Eating ChallengeCheck out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook! Kitchen StewardshipRaising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or FacebookSubscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updatesYouTube shorts channel for HPHFind the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastAffiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

See All (159)

Trailer

5
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

Truth: 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!

Information

You Might Also Like