Let me know if this sounds familiar, you had a baby who ate pretty much everything but now your toddler is refusing foods or meals even. Then a fear creeps over you that they aren’t eating enough or now they wont eat certain foods so why serve them? Does that sound about right? Tune in to find out how to end the fear picky eating cycle!
Want my FREE picky eating guide? Click here to get instant access!
Have you tried Daily Harvest? I am loving their smoothies! Click here and use my code NUTRITIONFORLITTLES for 40% off!
If you haven’t yet make sure to subscribe to my other podcast The Mama Well yes I have two!
Loving the podcast but looking for more?
Head over to my Instagram account @nutrition.for.littles where I drop almost daily content helping you change the mealtime environment in your home (make sure to watch my stories where I teach and explain in more detail!)
Hope this episode was helpful for you! If it was it would mean so much to me if you left a written review it only takes you a second but helps other mamas just like you!
Also if you liked this episode share it with your friends and family because it really does take a village to raise kids and it helps when your village is all on the same page!
Should you give your kids vitamins? I cover best practices when using vitamins and how to best incorporate them if your little one needs them.
Ready to learn about my Table Talk program? Click here to learn more and enroll!
Want to try Dino Bars for yourself? Grab a pack by clicking here and use code Alyssa10 for 10% off.
If you haven’t yet make sure to subscribe to my other podcast The Mama Well yes I have two!
Loving the podcast but looking for more?
Head over to my Instagram account @nutrition.for.littles where I drop almost daily content helping you change the mealtime environment in your home (make sure to watch my stories where I teach and explain in more detail!)
Hope this episode was helpful for you! If it was it would mean so much to me if you left a written review it only takes you a second but helps other mamas just like you!
Also if you liked this episode share it with your friends and family because it really does take a village to raise kids and it helps when your village is all on the same page!
We learn from mistakes, right? I am about to share 3 things I wish I did differently with my kiddos and hope you can learn from them too. 👀
Firs thing is first – IF YOU ARE FEEDING your kids, you are doing it RIGHT. However, there is always room for growth, right?
Here is my list –
Be intentional about introducing allergens!
…And not just the big ones. We often introduce things like dairy & wheat and not as much intentionally with things such as selfish & soy.
It is worth it to be methodical & strategic in introducing the top 8 allergens. See the graphic below to refresh the top allergens:
Be intentional about a meal & snack schedule!
It is easy to feed on a demand – giving a snack whenever they cry, are fussy, etc. – but this doesn’t set them up for long term success.
Start a schedule as early as 6 months & firm it up over time up until 18 months of age.
Personally I wish with my littles that I firmed it up around 12 months of age!
Worry less!
If your child is in the “thick of it” with picky eating, don’t worry. They do come out the other side. Consistency matters and is hard, but it is worth it.
You can let it go and take a deep breathe. We have time and can work on this together!
…And a personal specific that I wish I didn’t worry so much about – don’t worry or force them to use utensils. They will! It is a learned skill over time.
That is it! Those are my top 3.
If you are interested in REALLY digging deep with me Table Talk is the place to do it. Feeding kids shouldn’t be this hard. Picky eating can take over your life, feeling like every meal is worse than the last. It’s time to reclaim your kitchen tables and actually start enjoying meals together.
Alright mama! Thanks for reading. If this was helpful be sure to share with your friends and family. If you’d like to dig deeper visit the link below to listen to the podcast episode where I share deeper on this topic –
A lot of you voice to me that you struggle implementing some of the things I recommend because your partner or spouse can come in at the last minute – and it seems like – undo everything you just set up. 🤯
The reason I can paint this picture so well is because it’s happened in our home!
Picture this: 📸
You are using a low pressure technique, it’s working and they are about to eat a piece of brocolli. THIS IS IT! FINALLY. Your spouse walks in and cheerfully and abruptly blurts out, “Hey kiddo! Eat your broccoli! It will make you strong!” – annnnnd, just like that your child is no longer are interested in eating it.
I have been there!
Sometimes it’s hard for me to get my point across fully. A part of the reason I started a podcast and blog was to help my husband grow and learn alongside of me – and part of it was for you to be able to use it and share it as a resource.
I have some tips for getting your partner on board:
Have this conversation separate from your kids and away from the table.
3. Role play! Practice how to respond in those moments at the table together.
We all were raised a little bit differently around the table and often that directly impacts how we will parent around the table. Being open minded and asking what your partners priorities, intentions, and expectations are.
Get on the same page about:
The Division of Responsibility.
The idea that your child can be an independent eater and learn to listen to their own body.
A meal and snack schedule and what practically that looks like for your family.
If this was helpful for you or you want to dive in a bit deeper – head over and listen to my podcast episode on this very topic –
This week I go in-depth on what makes foods organic and foods that I will typically buy that are organic. If I have not answered your question please DM me on Instagram @nutrition.for.littles so I can better answer your questions.
Ready to learn about my Table Talk program? Click here to learn more and enroll!
If you haven’t yet make sure to subscribe to my other podcast The Mama Well yes I have two!
Loving the podcast but looking for more?
Head over to my Instagram account @nutrition.for.littles where I drop almost daily content helping you change the mealtime environment in your home (make sure to watch my stories where I teach and explain in more detail!)
Hope this episode was helpful for you! If it was it would mean so much to me if you left a written review it only takes you a second but helps other mamas just like you!
Also if you liked this episode share it with your friends and family because it really does take a village to raise kids and it helps when your village is all on the same page!
Kids are curious by nature, it’s how they learn about this world around them… it’s also what leads to the dreaded “why” question over and over and over again 🙃
So let’s use that to our advantage.
Find ways to get their curiosity rolling. Help get into the role of being an explorer, investigator, or detective…
Let’s start with oranges!
Supplies:
1 orange (or a variety of oranges)
Magnifying glass (or use a toilet paper roll as binoculars, whatever works right?! 😜)
Flashlight
Activity: Start by helping your little one use a magnifying glass to look at the outside peel of the orange.
Start by asking what do you see or notice? If they need a little help you can prompt them…”Is the peel smooth or rough? Can they see the “dimples”? Does the orange have a navel or part of the stem still attached?”
Now, peel the orange.
Let your child use the magnifying glass to look at the inside of the peel (pith) and sections of the orange.
Hold up the peel and shine a flashlight on the inside of the peel. Depending on the thickness of your particular peel, your child should see the pith that looks like veins running through the peel. If the peel is thin enough, you may see the orange color come through.
Let your child press their finger into an orange section and feel the juice burst. Use the magnifying glass to look at the inside of the orange section. Enjoy discovering all the parts of the orange together!
Want to discover more ways to introduce new foods to your little one? Join my new food email challenge!
Every day for a week you’ll get a new email with a unique way to introduce and discover new foods 🤩 This challenge will help you get your child to eat and like broccoli! And it is totally free!
Do you struggle with what eating at a restaurant should look like with your little one? I give you lots of tips and tricks to try! You don’t want to miss this podcast!
Click here to enroll in Safe Beginning’s online CPR course. Use code Alyssa20 for 20% off.
If you haven’t yet make sure to subscribe to my other podcast The Mama Well yes I have two!
Loving the podcast but looking for more?
Head over to my Instagram account @nutrition.for.littles where I drop almost daily content helping you change the mealtime environment in your home (make sure to watch my stories where I teach and explain in more detail!)
Hope this episode was helpful for you! If it was it would mean so much to me if you left a written review it only takes you a second but helps other mamas just like you!
Also if you liked this episode share it with your friends and family because it really does take a village to raise kids and it helps when your village is all on the same page!
Do you have your kids cook in the kitchen with you? I talk to Sarah from @snackswithjax and she talks about why it is important to have your kids help you in the kitchen.
Want Sarah’s Make Meals Fun Kit? Click here to check it out!
Looking to change up your menu? Look no further click here to learn more about the REVAMP system and how you can make small changes to your menu!
If you haven’t yet make sure to subscribe to my other podcast The Mama Well yes I have two!
Loving the podcast but looking for more?
Head over to my Instagram account @nutrition.for.littles where I drop almost daily content helping you change the mealtime environment in your home (make sure to watch my stories where I teach and explain in more detail!)
Hope this episode was helpful for you! If it was it would mean so much to me if you left a written review it only takes you a second but helps other mamas just like you!
Also if you liked this episode share it with your friends and family because it really does take a village to raise kids and it helps when your village is all on the same page!
Often I hear mom’s say, “My child won’t eat ANYTHING.”
As a practitioner when I hear this I have to assume that if they are eating absolutely nothing – no food is passing through their body – there is room to be concerned. Call your child’s pediatrician immediately!
Now that that is out of the way, today I am talking to the majority of you. When mom’s say this I find that they often mean, “My child is eating very little, skips meals occasionally, and is very selective.”
Let me put you at ease and share that 9 times out of 10
– your kiddo is totally fine!
But today we are going to talk about when there would be room to be concerned and contact a pediatrician.
First of all we want to look at the BIG picture here: It is not just their lunch or just their breakfast, it is the whole of their food intake. We never want to compare today’s lunch to tomorrow’s lunch or so on. Just the same as we as adults differ in our appetite; some days we can’t eat enough food and some days our stomach feels a bit off and we don’t eat much.
THIS IS NORMAL.
Kid’s do not grow at a steady curve and the fluctuation in their growth greatly affects their appetite and eating habits.
Alright now lets jump into when there is room to seek extra help. A reminder that this information is overarching, general education. This may not apply to your child specifically. So you always want to talk to your child’s pediatrician or an in person dietician if there is something concerning you:
Some reasons why you may seek out extra help:
If your child (genuinely) only accepts 15-20 foods after going through a program like Table Talk where you are offering a variety of foods, and learning how to expand the foods they eat.
Any weight loss. This is usually a sign something else is going on – it could be stress, them having a bug, an allergy, ect. There is no need to over worry about this, but it is a indicator that you should schedule a check up!
Long term stagnant weight or if their growth curve continues to stay the same. Similar to above, it is not something to over worry about, but it is a good idea to talk to your pediatrician and in-person dietician to assess what is going on.
Eating only very specific textures. A great place to start with this is taking Table Talk. It is linked at the bottom of this blog post. If after taking a program like Table Talk with no improvement, some extra help from an in-person dietician may be needed.
Gagging excessively or vomiting. Gagging is normal while a child is learning to eat and is no need to worry unless it is constant and present anytime they eat. Check out this episode from my podcast if you need more guidance specifically around gagging.
Having an incredible emotional response to food every time. This could indicate pain that is associated with an allergy or something deeper going on. Best to schedule a check up with your child’s pediatrician!
Any medical issues that may interfere with their nutrition. Examples are a G.I. issue, neurodiversity, or an allergy. When your child is walking through a health issue or anything that could impact what they can and can’t eat it is a good idea to process with a pediatrician a plan of action!
Ok, mama! TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
We as mama’s can worry unnecessarily. Even if one or more of these points is happening with your child, there is no need to get ahead of yourself or spiral in to worry. You can take a deep breath and trust that a check up is an easy plan of action!
Another great place to start would be Table Talk:
The picky eating program that works. It’s the program thatteaches you to be your own feeding expert, because you know your child best.
There can be a multitude of reasons why your little one eats differently at daycare or school. I breakdown a few of them and give you some ideas as to why this could be happening.
Want to try Dino Bars for yourself? Grab a pack by clicking here and use code Alyssa10 for 10% off.
Loving the podcast but looking for more?
Head over to my Instagram account @nutrition.for.littles where I drop almost daily content helping you change the mealtime environment in your home (make sure to watch my stories where I teach and explain in more detail!)
Hope this episode was helpful for you! If it was it would mean so much to me if you left a written review it only takes you a second but helps other mamas just like you!
Also if you liked this episode share it with your friends and family because it really does take a village to raise kids and it helps when your village is all on the same page!
If you haven’t yet make sure to subscribe to my other podcast The Mama Well
