Love Eat Thrive

Spectrum Pediatrics
  • 5.0 (5)
  • KIDS & FAMILY

Love Eat Thrive is a podcast for parents about how to feed kids, not just what to feed them. While parents are flooded with nutrition advice, they’re given far less guidance on the feeding dynamics that shape how kids eat now and feel about food long term. Love Eat Thrive focuses on the everyday choices that help set kids up for a healthy, trusting relationship with food for life. The podcast is hosted by Heidi and Jeni, child development experts and pediatric feeding specialists, who translate child development and feeding science into realistic, everyday support for parents.

  1. APR 17

    Kids and New Foods: From Exposure to Opportunity

    You keep offering new foods… and your child keeps refusing them. So is it just about more exposure? Is there a better way?   We know there’s a lot around us about exposing kids to new foods and what that means. While that’s important, “exposure” can sometimes feel like something happening to your child instead of with them.   Feeding is a relationship. It’s back-and-forth, not one-sided. When the goal becomes “just take a bite,” kids often feel pressure, even if we don’t mean it that way. That pressure can lead to more refusal, or kids eating just to please you… not because they’re actually interested. Instead of trying to get your child to eat something, focus on creating opportunities to engage.   That might look like: Seeing a food on the plate  Touching or playing with it  Smelling it… or eventually tasting it  An opportunity isn’t about eating necessarily. It’s about experiencing.   When kids feel involved instead of pressured: They build autonomy (“I get to decide”)  They stay curious about food  Mealtimes feel more connected and relaxed    And over time, this supports something big: their ability to self-regulate, to listen to their own body and develop a healthy relationship with food.   You don’t have to offer new foods constantly. Small, consistent opportunities at home, at the store, on weekends are enough. Pair new foods with familiar ones, and let learning happen over time. When you shift from exposure to opportunity, you’re not forcing the outcome. Think about it instead as you’re creating the space for it. That’s where kids start to explore, learn, and eventually try new foods… on their own terms.   ** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.**    Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com

    16 min

  2. APR 10

    Feeding Your Kids with the Future in Mind

    Most parents share the same goal: raising a child who’s healthy and has a positive relationship with food. But in the day-to-day of meals, it can start to feel like it’s all about bites, battles, and what’s on the plate.   It’s easy to focus on the food itself. Things like what they’re eating and how much. What truly shapes your child’s relationship with food long-term is often how feeding feels, not just what’s served. Your child is always watching, even when you’re not talking directly to them. The way you speak about food, your body, and eating in general matters more than we often realize. Keeping things neutral and avoiding diet talk or negative body comments helps create a safe, positive environment. And if that feels hard, getting support for yourself is part of supporting your child too.   At the same time, kids are naturally good at listening to their hunger and fullness if we give them the chance. When we reduce pressure and step back a bit, we allow them to build that internal awareness. A few ways to support that: Avoid pressure like “just one more bite”  Skip rewards or punishments tied to eating  Trust that intake balances out over time, not just in one meal  Keep a predictable structure with meals and snacks  Rather than controlling what or how much your child eats, think about creating space. You provide the food and the opportunity, and your child decides what and how much to eat. That sense of autonomy helps them stay open and flexible with food over time.   This also goes beyond the plate. The messages your child hears about bodies and identity matter. Focus on what their body can do  Celebrate who they are, not how they look  Build trust in their body, not control over it  And through all of this, enjoyment matters more than we think. Mealtimes don’t have to be perfect. Connection, comfort, and ease go a long way  It’s okay if meals look different! Enjoy eating at the table, at the park, or on the couch  Positive experiences now help build variety and confidence later  Feeding your child isn’t just about today’s meal. It’s about building trust, confidence, and a relationship with food that lasts. When you focus on connection, autonomy, and enjoyment, the rest can follow.   ** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.**    Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com

    25 min

  3. MAR 27

    Why is My Toddler Suddenly A Picky Eater?

    One day your child eats everything… and the next, they’re refusing foods they used to love. It can feel sudden, confusing, and honestly a little alarming. So what’s actually going on? Jeni and Heidi are here this week to explain and provide some tips and tricks!     Picky eating in toddlers is incredibly common, and for most kids, it’s a normal part of development. What can feel like a personality shift (“my child is a picky eater”) is often more about where they are than who they are.  Between about 18–30 months, many children:  Start rejecting familiar foods  Show strong preferences  Seem less adventurous than they were as babies  And while that can feel frustrating, there are some very real reasons behind it.    This is happening because toddlers are in a phase of rapid change physically, emotionally, and developmentally.  Autonomy: They’re learning they have opinions and control (“I can say no!”)  Neophobia: A natural caution around new or unfamiliar foods  Slower growth: Appetite decreases compared to infancy  Busy brains: They’re focused on exploring the world, not sitting still to eat  Put it all together, and it’s the perfect setup for selective eating.    When kids start refusing foods, it’s natural to want to fix it. But some strategies can actually make picky eating stick around longer:  Pressure: Even gentle “just try it” can backfire over time  Rewards: Can shift eating to external motivation instead of internal cues  Over-relying on favorite foods: Can lead to burnout and less variety overall  A helpful gut check: Is my goal just to get the food into their mouth right now? If yes, it might be worth rethinking the approach.    Instead of focusing on how much your child eats, shift toward the experience:  Keep offering a variety of foods without forcing  Change things up (different shapes, plates, or settings)  Eat together when you can! Kids learn by watching you  Balance structure and autonomy:  You decide what and when  They decide if and how much  And remember: many toddlers lean into carbs like pasta, crackers, and rice for a reason. Their bodies and brains need that energy.    For many kids, variety slowly increases again around school age as:  Social influences grow  Exposure increases  Pressure decreases  Trying to rush this process can backfire. It’s important to remember that progress tends to come more naturally over time. Sometimes that doesn’t happen as quickly or naturally as you’d hope and that’s okay too. Consider reaching out if:  Growth or nutrition is a concern  Mealtimes feel consistently stressful or combative  Your gut is telling you something isn’t right  The right support should help you focus on the big picture, not just what your child eats today, but how they relate to food long-term.    If your toddler is suddenly picky, you’re not alone and it doesn’t mean something is wrong. This phase is messy, normal, and full of learning. Stay steady, stay flexible, and know that with time and the right approach, things can shift again.    ** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.**    Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com

    22 min

  4. MAR 20

    Starting Solids

    Starting solids is an exciting milestone, but with so much advice online and from others, it can quickly feel overwhelming. In this episode, Jeni and Heidi simplify the process so you can feel confident following your baby’s cues and finding an approach that works for your family.    Before focusing on what foods to offer, it’s important to feel prepared for safe feeding. Many parents find it helpful to take an infant CPR or first aid course so they feel confident at mealtimes. It’s also a good idea to talk with your pediatrician about when your baby may be ready to start solids and to discuss introducing common allergens. Early and consistent exposure to allergens can help reduce allergy risk for many children.    Most babies begin solids around 6 months, but readiness is about development, not just age. Look for signs like:  Sitting upright with good head and trunk control  Reaching for food or showing interest in what others are eating  Ability to stay seated without tipping over  Teeth are not required for starting solids. Early feeding is largely about exploration and learning.    Before the first bite of food, babies can benefit from simply being part of family meals. Sitting in a high chair at the table allows them to watch, explore, and become familiar with mealtime routines. This makes the transition to solids feel more natural.    Purees, Baby-Led Weaning, or Both  Families often hear about two main approaches to starting solids:    Purees  Smooth texture that can be easy for babies to manage  Efficient way to introduce flavors and allergens  Opportunity to explore spoons and messy textures  Baby-Led Weaning  Babies feed themselves soft, safe solid foods  Encourages independence and sensory exploration  Helps develop chewing and oral-motor skills    Many families find a combination of both approaches works best. No matter the method, try to slow down, watch your baby’s cues, and allow them to participate rather than simply feeding “to” them.    Gagging vs. Choking  It’s common for babies to gag as they learn to eat. Gagging is usually noisy and protective, helping keep the airway safe. Choking, however, is an emergency and is often silent with difficulty breathing or color changes. Understanding the difference can help parents feel more confident during meals.    Focus on Exploration, Not Perfection  Early feeding isn’t about following a perfect plan. What matters most is:  Safety and comfort  Following your baby’s cues  Offering flavor and texture variety  Keeping mealtimes positive    Starting solids isn’t a strict curriculum! it’s a learning process for both you and your baby. Stay responsive, keep safety in mind, and enjoy watching your child explore food for the first time. If it feels like it's not going well, reach out! Get some help from a responsive feeding therapist. You've got this.     ** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.**    Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com

    32 min

  5. FEB 27

    Hunger, Appetite, and Feeding Kids

    Ever catch yourself thinking, “My kid is never hungry!” or “My kid is always asking for food!”? You’re not alone. This week, Heidi and Jeni are talking about the relationship between hunger, appetite, and feeding our kids in a way that keeps both things in mind.    When we talk about eating, it helps to understand the difference between hunger and appetite. Hunger is the body’s biological signal: “I need nutrition.” It’s physical. It’s the green light. Appetite is more complex. It includes desire, preferences, past experiences, mood, and what sounds good in the moment. If hunger is the green light, appetite is the gas pedal. Both drive eating and both vary widely from child to child.    Hunger is actually an important teacher. Kids need some space between meals and snacks to feel it. Grazing all day or constantly trying to prevent hunger can make it harder for them to recognize and respond to their body’s signals.    It's important to remember roles at the mealtimes:  Parents decide what, when, and where food is offered.  Children decide whether to eat and how much.    Young children regulate their intake over time, not necessarily at every meal. Portion sizes are often much smaller than adults expect, and energy needs vary greatly by child. We hear quite a bit too that dinner is often the hardest meal and that makes sense! Kids are tired, overstimulated, and coming off a long day. Stress (es, even excitement or positive stress!) can dampen hunger cues. That’s why minimizing pressure and creating a consistent, low-stress eating environment matters. Hunger isn’t an on/off switch. It fluctuates. Life is loud. Kids are learning constantly. Appetite changes are normal. Our job isn’t to control how much they eat, it’s to provide structure, reduce stress, and trust their bodies over time.    When we give kids space to feel hunger, structure to respond to it, and trust in their ability to regulate, we’re doing more than feeding them; we’re helping them build a lifelong relationship with food.    ** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.**    Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com

    19 min

  6. FEB 13

    Your Child's Growth

    Ever leave a pediatrician visit staring at a growth chart wondering, “Is my kid actually growing okay?” You're certainly not alone. Jeni and Heidi are here this week with some tidbits regarding what those charts really mean and what they don’t. Many parents worry about their child’s size or eating. Between doctor visits, comments like “tiny peanut” or “big healthy baby,” and advice from everywhere, it’s easy for growth to become stressful. That stress often shows up at mealtimes and pressure around food usually makes feeding harder, not easier.    Here’s the key thing to know: Growth charts were never meant to be the sole measure of your child’s health. They’re tools designed to look at trends over time, not to diagnose health in individual kids. They’re just one piece of a much bigger picture.    A few helpful facts:  Growth charts are based on population snapshots, not children followed long-term.  They don’t account well for neurodivergence, medical history, ethnicity, or family growth patterns.  Real growth is rarely a smooth line, rather, it happens in spurts and pauses.  Where your child lands on the chart does not automatically mean something is wrong.    Doctors often lean on growth charts because they’re quick and measurable  (especially with limited visit time!) but they don’t tell the whole story. Labeling a “problem” too quickly can lead to pressure or restriction around food and both tend to backfire. Kids who are pressured usually eat less, and kids who are restricted tend to eat more.     If concerns come up, ask whether recommendations are based only on the chart or also on other markers like:  Energy and activity  Development and learning  Overall health  Feeding patterns over time    If you see changes in your child's growth, some things to remember:  Percentile changes can be normal.  Weight loss (outside illness or travel) is worth discussing with your provider.  Growth should always be viewed in context.    Growth charts offer information, but they don’t define your child. When we zoom out and look at the whole picture, we support not just growth, but lifelong health and a positive relationship with food    ** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.**    Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com

    21 min

  7. FEB 6

    Sweets, Treats, and Feeding Kids

    If offering your child sweets, processed foods, and “junk food” makes you feel unsure or guilty as a parent, you’re not alone. This week, Jeni and Heidi talk about how to provide the foods that often get a bad rap while still feeding kids in a way that supports health and a good relationship with food.    A big part of this conversation starts with how we talk about food. When foods are labeled as “good,” “bad,” or “junk,” kids can pick up on shame and fear, sometimes without us realizing it. Childhood is when kids are learning to listen to their bodies, and overly strict or moral language can make that harder.    Sugar gets a lot of negative press, but here’s some helpful context: kids’ brains run on carbohydrates, which break down into glucose (a form of sugar). Kids naturally need more carbs than adults, and they’re biologically wired to enjoy sweet foods (hint: breastmilk is sweet for a reason!). Sugar isn’t a poison, and research doesn’t show a direct link between sugar and hyperactivity. Often, it’s the environment (things like less routine, more excitement) that drives those big reactions. Processed foods get a bad rap too, but they can offer consistency and comfort in a world where kids’ lives change constantly. Plus, they’re not “nothing”! In fact, those processed foods provide energy and nutrients that help fuel growing bodies.    Jeni and Heidi are breaking it down:   How we talk about food matters just as much as what we offer  Avoid labeling foods as “good” or “bad”  Sugar provides quick energy and supports brain development  Research doesn’t support sugar causing hyperactivity  Processed foods can still serve a purpose  Your family’s access, time, and capacity matter  Offer foods your child feels safe eating at every meal  At the end of the day, you get to decide what works for your family. When kids trust that food is available and allowed, they’re less likely to obsess and more likely to build a healthy relationship with food over time. Less fear, more trust, and a whole lot more peace at the table. 🍪    ** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team. **    Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com.

    29 min

  8. JAN 23

    Worry About Feeding Kids?

    Feeding kids can be one of the most emotionally loaded parts of parenting, and before we even realize it, worry about nutrition, growth, or volume can start running the show. Worry around kids’ nutrition and food choices is almost universal for parents. We know that parents care deeply because food matters, your children rely on you, and the pressure to “get it right” can feel constant, especially in a world full of fear-based nutrition messages and picture-perfect plates online.    As parents, our ability to feed our kids often feels tied to our identity. Add in social media, family comments, and endless advice about what kids should be eating, and it’s easy to slip into comparison mode. That worry cycle can quietly take over mealtimes, shifting our focus from connection to counting bites and from enjoying our child to managing numbers and nutrients.    This week, Jeni and Heidi are sharing some helpful reminders:  Food is often framed in extremes (good vs. bad), which fuels fear and pressure. Kids don’t learn to eat well through fear. Worry can cloud the ability to see who your child actually is and what they truly need. Pressure to eat doesn’t lead to long-term healthy eating. In fact, research shows it often does the opposite. There is huge variation in how healthy children eat. Their preferences, portion sizes, and pace all differ.    What helps counterbalance feeding worry:  Put your oxygen mask on first. Caring for yourself (eating, nourishing, managing stress) matters more than perfection. Model, don’t manage. Kids learn by watching how you eat and how you relate to food and stress. Curate your information. Follow voices that support responsive feeding, body respect, and flexibility rather than pushing fear or “perfect” plates. Zoom out. Look at your child as a whole person, not just a single meal or day. Prioritize the relationship. Trust, comfort, enjoyment, and exposure matter more than hitting nutrition trends.    Remember that how we feed kids matters more than what we feed them. When focusing on quality interactions and connection, we're create the foundation for lifelong healthy eating.    ** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.**      Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com

    22 min
See All (15)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Love Eat Thrive is a podcast for parents about how to feed kids, not just what to feed them. While parents are flooded with nutrition advice, they’re given far less guidance on the feeding dynamics that shape how kids eat now and feel about food long term. Love Eat Thrive focuses on the everyday choices that help set kids up for a healthy, trusting relationship with food for life. The podcast is hosted by Heidi and Jeni, child development experts and pediatric feeding specialists, who translate child development and feeding science into realistic, everyday support for parents.

Information

  • Creator
    Spectrum Pediatrics
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Love Eat Thrive