Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

Katie Kimball
  • 5.0 (36)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED 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. 10H AGO

    108: Why You're Stuck in a Clutter Loop (and a System Won't Save You) with Katy Wells

    Have you ever looked at a box in your house and felt like it was… talking to you? Not literally. But emotionally. Because in this second half of my conversation with decluttering expert Katy Wells, we go deeper than surface clutter. We talk about the hidden reasons we hold onto things. And friends, it is not about storage bins or label makers. It’s about stories. Stories about who we used to be. Who we hoped we would become. Stories about guilt, failure, scarcity, and expectations we didn’t even realize we were carrying. And once you see that, you cannot unsee it. In this episode, Katy unpacks the three hidden forces that keep people stuck in clutter cycles. These are not the things most organizing shows talk about. But they are the exact things that determine whether decluttering actually works long term. Here’s what we cover: Why decluttering is emotional work disguised as a logistics problemThe hidden stories your belongings might be telling youHow guilt and fear silently control what you keepThe three pillars that shape your personal “stuff story”How childhood beliefs influence adult clutter habitsThe connection between procrastination and clutterWhy some habits are not problems but personality cluesThe simple 5-second trick that can break overwhelm instantlyYou’ll also hear one client story that might stop you in your tracks. Because once you recognize your own version of that box in the garage, you may never look at clutter the same way again. And the best part? You do not have to fix everything today. You just have to start. Resources We Mention for Decluttering and Emotions Order Katy’s new book, Making Home Your Happy Place, on Amazon or Bookshop.orgCheck out her courses if you need help at home: Toy Clutter Cure System, Home Management Mastery, Clutter ChallengeGet the one-page handbook episode guides at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/handbookHere is Katy’s earlier episode of the podcast: Expected Mess Vs. True ClutterMore on decluttering and working together as a family in my interview with Tidy DadThank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today.  Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

    19 min

  2. 2D AGO

    107: Helping Kids Take Ownership of Their Space and How Decluttering Can Solve Your Anxiety with Katy Wells

    What if the stress you feel at home is not just about your schedule… but about your stuff? I know. That sounds almost too simple. But when Katy Wells came back on the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast, we did not just talk about decluttering. We talked about cortisol. About magnets for your attention. About why walking into your own kitchen can change your mood in seconds. And friends, this one hit close to home. Because if you are trying to raise independent kids, teach life skills, keep up with meals, laundry, school, sports, and somehow protect your own nervous system… your environment matters more than you think. Here is what we dig into in this episode: The surprising research linking clutter and elevated cortisol levelsWhy the average American home may be holding over 300,000 “magnets for your attention”How clutter quietly fuels anxiety (even if you think it does not bother you)What a “nightly reset” looks like in real life with kidsHow to pass ownership of the home to your children without naggingThe difference between modeling and inviting kids into responsibilityWhy action creates motivation (and not the other way around)The simple starting point that breaks the clutter and anxiety cycleWe also talk about something that might sting a little: why systems alone will not save you. If you have ever walked into a messy kitchen and felt your shoulders tense… or walked into a clear counter and felt yourself exhale… this episode is for you. Let’s talk about how simplifying your home can actually strengthen your parenting. Resources We Mention for Making Home Your Happy Place Order Katy's new book, Making Home Your Happy Place, on Amazon or Bookshop.orgCheck out her courses if you need help at home: Toy Clutter Cure System, Home Management Mastery, Clutter ChallengeGet the one-page handbook episode guides at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/handbookHere is Katy's earlier episode of the podcast: Expected Mess Vs. True Clutter – What’s the Difference and How to Solve ThemVisit Katy at her website Katy Joy Wells or on InstagramThank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today.  Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

    26 min

  3. FEB 10

    106: No Such Thing as Bad Weather: Practical Ways to Get Kids Outside with Pooja Tandon and Danette Glassy

    Our hearts tell us we want to be outside, that we were created for nature…when it’s warm and beautiful and sunny! I don’t know about you, but I do find that when it’s cold, rainy, snowing, or blowing, I tend to be grateful for my 4 walls, central heat, and mug of tea indoors. How can we change this paradigm in ourselves and in our culture where the outdoors is becoming less and less popular all the time? It doesn’t happen by accident. To be intentional about outdoor and nature time, we have to be inspired. My guests today are the co-authors of a wonderful book about getting outdoors, Digging Into Nature: Outdoor Adventures for Happier and Healthier Kids, and they share research and physiology to remind us: Our kids need time outside. Much, much more time than they’re getting! You’ll be inspired by: how parenting has changed in the last 30 years & Dr. Glassy’s wake-up calloutdoor benefits to physical and mental healthwhy parenting actually becomes easier when your kids are outside!what “counts” as a dose of naturesimple ways you can incorporate nature into your day – without even going out!how children’s development is actually supercharged with outdoor experiencesthe ways in which time outside builds resilience and prepares kids and teens for real lifeI figure I need to listen to an interview like this about every 2 months to re-inspire me to make outside time a priority! Maybe every 2 weeks in the winter… What do you think? Resources We Mention for Nature Time for Kids Drs. Glassy and Tandon’s book: Digging Into Nature: Outdoor Adventures for Happier and Healthier Kids (Amazon/Bookshop.org)Simple Strategies to Relieve Anxiety as a FamilyWhy Everything You Know About Vision is WrongLiving Dangerously with Caution: We Bike Our Child to School without ApologyBuilding Resilience and Reducing Stress in Kids with Jess Sherman20 Ways to Preserve Apples (without Sugar)Check out Project Nature Washington for more from these doctorsThank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today.  Don't miss out on the #LifeSkillsNow workshops! Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

    43 min

  4. FEB 5

    105: How Danish Families Build Connection, Responsibility, and Contentment with Jessica Joelle Alexander

    I couldn’t stop thinking about this interview with Jessica Joelle Alexander – and honestly, I haven’t stopped since! As a mom and as someone who teaches kids to cook and helps families connect around the table, I was deeply struck by how peacefully and intentionally Danish families seem to live: more play, less pressure; more “we,” less “me.” In this episode of the podcast, I’m talking with Jessica Joelle Alexander, author of The Danish Way of Parenting and The Danish Way Every Day. This is part two of our conversation, and we’re digging into: what hygge really is beyond candles and cozy blanketshow Danish families use mealtimes and simple food to build connection instead of conflictwhy involving kids in cooking and chores from toddlerhood can actually feel like playthe powerful idea of equal dignity and seeing our kids as true members of the family teamhow all of this helps children “rest well within themselves” and grow a deep, quiet sense of contentmentIf you’ve ever felt torn between giving your kids a “real childhood” and preparing them for success, or if you’re tired of power struggles around food, chores, and screens, this conversation will feel like a big exhale. Jessica offers such a hopeful, practical picture of family life that isn’t about striving and measuring, but about raising kids who genuinely feel at home in themselves. Let’s dive into part two! Resources We Mention for Danish Parenting Jessica’s books: The Danish Way of Parenting (Amazon/Bookshop.org) and The Danish Way Every Day (Amazon/Bookshop.org)Building Strong Families, Connected Kids with Father Leo of Plating Gracemy No More Picky Eating Challenge3 Reasons Giving Your Kids Responsibilities Is a GiftHow to Raise Siblings Who Love Each OtherFind Jessica at her website Jessica Joelle Alexander or follow her on social: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTubeThank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today.  Don't miss out on the #LifeSkillsNow workshops! Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

    29 min

  5. FEB 3

    104: The Danish Way of Parenting with Jessica Joelle Alexander

    In America, we tend to raise kids with a constant sense of striving. We measure success early, track milestones closely, and quietly worry about whether our children are doing enough, fast enough, and well enough. The Danish approach offers a striking contrast. Instead of pushing children to prove themselves, Danish parenting emphasizes something far more grounded: helping kids rest well within themselves. In this episode of the Healthy Parenting Handbook, I talk with Jessica Joelle Alexander about what that actually looks like in real life. We explore: why Danish children are often described as calm and serenehow play is treated as essential rather than optionaland why connection and trust matter more than control, especially in the digital age.This conversation is settling, perspective-shifting, and deeply reassuring for parents who feel the pressure to constantly measure and manage their kids’ development! I couldn’t stop talking with Jessica, so stay tuned for Part 2 of this interview.  Resources We Mention for Danish Parenting Jessica’s books: The Danish Way of Parenting (Amazon/Bookshop.org) and The Danish Way Every Day (Amazon/Bookshop.org)3 Ways Parents Can Help Prevent Depression in Their KidsNurturing Young Skeptics: Essential Guide to Teaching Critical Thinking to Kids and Teens with Kathy GibbensMy TEDx talk on building critical thinking skills in kidsCheck out the Raising Digital Citizens conversation cards hereFind Jessica at her website Jessica Joelle Alexander or follow her on social: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTubeThank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today.  Don't miss out on the #LifeSkillsNow workshops! Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

    32 min

  6. JAN 30 · BONUS

    Teen Tidbits, Day 5: The Teenager’s World Is No Longer Black & White: How to Use That to Your Advantage as a Parent

    Today’s teen tidbit is number five, and it gets right to the heart of what’s actually happening in your teen’s brain right now! Somewhere around ages 11 or 12, kids move from a black and white way of thinking into a world full of gray, nuance, and questions, which is why “because I said so” suddenly stops working. (And honestly, that’s a good thing.)  In this quick episode, we’ll talk about why teens are wired to push boundaries again, how that’s developmentally healthy, and how we as parents can level up by keeping strong boundaries while inviting conversation, choice, and understanding. I’ll also share why cooking has become one of my favorite safe places to practice all of this, from knowing when it’s okay to bend the rules to understanding when rules exist for a really good reason.  Let’s dive in.  Get the parenting video series now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/teenvids or check out Teens Cook Real Food at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/teenscook Resources We Mention for Boundaries for Teens Teens Cook Real Food courseFree 3-part video series on parenting teens intentionallyTeen Tidbit 1 on ownershipTeen Tidbit 2 on agencyTeen Tidbit 3 on overcoming perfectionismTeen Tidbit 4 on passing on family values Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

    7 min

  7. JAN 29 · BONUS

    Teen Tidbits, Day 4: Passing on Family Values Through Teen Involvement in the Kitchen

    In this Teen Tidbit, I share how the kitchen is one of the most powerful places to pass on family values through working side by side toward a common goal. Cooking together naturally opens up conversation and creates opportunities to model what matters most, whether that is serving others, being good stewards of our resources, or choosing real food as part of daily life.  I talk about how asking teens to cook foods they may not personally enjoy teaches empathy and service, how flexible cooking skills help reduce food waste and stretch a grocery budget, and how making simple meals from whole ingredients builds healthier habits without being overwhelming.  When teens learn to cook, adapt recipes, and use what they already have, they gain far more than a meal, they absorb the values that shape your family culture and carry them into adulthood. Get the parenting video series now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/teenvids or check out Teens Cook Real Food at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/teenscook Resources We Mention for Passing on Family Values in the Kitchen Teens Cook Real Food courseFree 3-part video series on parenting teens intentionallyTeen Tidbit 1 on ownershipTeen Tidbit 2 on agencyTeen Tidbit 3 on overcoming perfectionismWays to avoid food wasteCream of vegetable soup frameworkChicken stockHere are some of my favorite baby steps for eating more real food.Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes this week! Apple, Spotify, other options Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

    7 min

  8. JAN 28 · BONUS

    Teen Tidbits, Day 3: Why Cooking Helps Teens Let Go of Perfectionism

    As a continually recovering perfectionist myself, I share why that drive to do everything just right can actually hold kids back from starting, trying, and growing. We’ve all heard “progress over perfection,” but I wanted to explore what that really looks like in everyday life, especially for teenagers who can freeze up when things don’t feel exact or guaranteed. The kitchen, in my opinion, is one of the best places to practice letting go of perfection. When I filmed Teens Cook Real Food with eight real teens who were mostly beginners, we captured the messy, real-life moments: broken eggs, small cuts, burned food, and lots of learning along the way. I intentionally pushed them to measure like TV chefs, eyeball seasonings, and move faster than felt comfortable, all to help loosen that grip of perfectionism.  Cooking shows us that food doesn’t need to be flawless to be delicious, and that it’s actually pretty hard to completely mess things up. When kids can aim for “yummy” instead of “five-star restaurant quality,” they gain confidence, experience, and momentum. If you have a teen whose perfectionist tendencies keep them from trying new things or putting themselves out there, cooking can be a powerful and practical way to help them grow. Get the parenting video series now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/teenvids or check out Teens Cook Real Food at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/teenscook Resources We Mention for Overcoming Perfectionism in the Kitchen Teens Cook Real Food courseFree 3-part video series on parenting teens intentionallyTeen Tidbit 1 on ownershipTeen Tidbit 2 on agencySubscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes this week! Apple, Spotify, other options Kitchen Stewardship Raising Healthy Families follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates YouTube shorts channel for HPH Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

    6 min
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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!

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