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TitreDateDurée
098: Having Clear Intentions About Things, Memories, Relationships with Diane Boden09 Dec 202500:35:44

When your podcast guest says, “Our goal as parents is to raise up these self-sufficient, independent people someday,” you know she’s in the right place!

Diane Boden and I talk all about her journey to minimalism and the intentional mindset she’s fostered over the last 14 years.

It’s not just about the “stuff” but about experiences, relationships, schedules, and even goals.

We dig into all that and more in this encouraging interview!

Resources We Mention for Living with Intention

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

097: Teens Want to Be in Control. Here's Why They're NOT (& What They Can Do About it) Direct from a Teen Author of The Teen Health Revolution02 Dec 202500:43:28

My guest today is 17-year-old Abdullah Ansari, and listening to him talk about teen health, food, stress, tech, and purpose made my jaw drop more than once. Not because he sounded rehearsed or polished. But because he sounded awake in a way most adults are still struggling to be.

He talks about teen health like it is urgent. Because it is. He talks about food like it is power. Because it is. And he talks about freedom in a way that completely reframes how most teens think about independence.

If you are raising a teen right now, or if you will be in the next few years, I truly believe this episode is one you will want to listen to together.

Here is just a small taste of what we unpack in this conversation:

  • Why ultra-processed food is designed to override a teen’s self-control
  • How the gut microbiome directly affects mood, anxiety, focus, and skin
  • Why scrolling is not actually a “break” for a stressed-out brain
  • Two free, simple stress reset tools every teen can use today
  • How Abdullah handles peer pressure when everyone else is eating junk
  • Why gratitude is not just emotional but biological
  • How purpose changes the way teens use their bodies and their time

Resources We Mention for the Teen Health Revolution


Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

088: Informed Consent Isn’t Optional: Reclaiming Your Role as a Healthcare Consumer with Alexandra of Just the Inserts30 Sep 202500:52:05

It shouldn’t be controversial to make your own healthcare decisions!!

Informed consent has become a buzz word for no good reason.

When it comes to informed consent, I personally follow 2 rules:

  1. Ask all the questions.
  2. Don’t make quick decisions.

I hesitate.

About everything.

If I don’t feel 100% peaceful about something, I don’t do it. You’ll hear my shocking realization about where that response may have been birthed in this interview as I figure it out myself while talking with Alexandra.

Hesitancy.

There’s another word that should be positive or neutral unless you’re a military 

Alexandra is the real deal, so knowledgeable and so generous with her knowledge. You’ll hear her talk about a course she has on her website to help you develop the skill of researching product inserts, and not only is it free, but you DON’T even have to put in your email address!

Huge thanks to Alexandra for all her research and for sharing it with us. Visit her at justtheinserts.com.

Resources We Mention about Informed Consent for Parents

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

087: Mess Is a Sign of Life: Overcoming Perfectionism and Overwhelm About Homemaking with Mystie Winckler23 Sep 202500:35:26

Do you know any mom who ISN’T feeling a little overwhelmed by all the tasks she’s juggling, who’s NEVER thought, “My house isn’t clean/organized/gorgeous enough,” or who doesn’t think she has a lot of improvement to make on homemaking?

I thought so.

My guest today, Mystie Winckler, speaks to moms who are overwhelmed or paralyzed by perfectionism, who know their lives will never look like their favorite Instagram influencers, and who are tempted to just give up at home.

(Me! Raises hand…)

In case you’re looking for just the perfect system that will help you out of that, or if you’re hoping Mystie has a cleaning checklist you can try – because surely the next one you try will work even though others haven’t – you’ll be sorely disappointed.

Mystie starts somewhere else, and I believe her method is easier and more difficult at the same time.

For a positive conversation and a lot of encouragement for your home, tune in to this week’s episode!!

Resources We Mention for Beating Perfectionism in Homemaking

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

086: The Evolution of Modern Food & Label Reading 401 with Becky Wells of Hippie Moms16 Sep 202500:38:19

You get to sit in on what turned into a college class in food history and nutrition label reading!

This interview is high-energy, high impact, and will fill both your academic brain and your mama heart.

Becky Wells of Hippie Moms is passionate about helping other mamas understand their food and build a healthy foundation for their families, and she cuts through all the marketing confusion and teaches us how to Just. Eat. Food.

I thought this interview might be more for the rookies to healthy living among us, but let's just say that I learned multiple new facts that I'm implementing immediately, so this is 100% for everyone, wherever you are on your journey!

You can look forward to:

  • Understanding the 6 major milestones in the evolution of food and how we got to this complicated modern food landscape
  • What first baby steps should be to reverse the problems we see in our health
  • Label reading 101: What’s important in the ingredients
  • Label reading 201: What words mean absolutely nothing and why to skip the numeric data on the Nutrition Facts
  • Label reading 301: Organic and non-GMO certification
  • Label reading 401: Hot tip on an “ingredient” to avoid and how to make the nuanced decisions about how important various commitments are in the grocery store
  • How to explain to our kids the importance of listening to our bodies, understanding the connection between food and how we feel, and how to assess food marketing

I love Becky’s approach and her dedication to making this easier for moms, and I’m so honored by her time today. I know you’ll learn a lot and can’t wait to hear more about you and your kids making food with “just ingredients” and what baby steps you choose to take!!

Resources We Mention on the Evolution of Food

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

085: Kids Are Showing Signs of Alzheimer's, and No One Is Worrying with Dr. Kristina Bosnar09 Sep 202500:43:12

Alzheimer’s and dementia are some of the scariest realities for adults to consider. No one wants to feel like they’re going to lose their mind!

But in this day and age, it feels like cognitive decline is inevitable for many of us, “just a normal part of aging.”

Similarly, our culture has come to accept that many kids are neurodivergent, that their brains are wired differently. We diagnose it as ADHD or ASD, or we see that 1/3 of our teens have clinical anxiety and we think, “It’s just the way the world is. We’ll help them navigate.”

My guest today, Dr. Kristine Bosnar, wants us all to push back against acceptance. In fact, she says that the neuro-inflammation at the root of Alzheimer’s and dementia is the SAME as what we see in kids with ADHD and other mental health struggles! Their brains are on fire.

Buckle up and get ready to learn:

  • why brain health is in a steep decline the last 20-30 years
  • how it’s affecting kids and the projected statistics
  • alarming correlations between the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and ADHD, autism, anxiety
  • clear red flags of brain inflammation that we mustn’t ignore in our kids
  • what to DO to help kids thrive and reduce neuro-inflammation
  • how the 3 S’s - sugar, sedentary lifestyle, and sleep - are pivotal players in the inflammation game
  • simple tips for how to start the day right for brain health
  • the epidemic of loneliness that we must stop NOW for our kids' generation
  • why cooking together with your kids is a powerful (and efficient) step toward brain health for the whole family

Resources We Mention for Brain Inflammation in Kids

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

084: What’s Really in Organic Food? Shocking Toxins, Label Loopholes, and Smarter Choices with Max Goldberg02 Sep 202500:44:25

Do you eat organic food?

If you do - even a handful of fruits and vegetables - you might be in for a rude surprise when you listen to this interview.

Max Goldberg is the founder of Organic Insider and one of the nation’s leading organic food experts. He sees significant room for improvement, really a NEED for improvement, when it comes to the USDA Certified Organic label.

Max and I dove into policy, reality, and labeling in the organic industry, and I for one learned a LOT.

You can learn too:

  • the biggest misconception about organic foods
  • a major issue in organics that has the potential to limit our choices at the grocery store and even disintegrate the entire industry
  • how we as consumers can avoid this issue at the grocery store
  • the best way to find “real” organic food, and why it’s actually better for your family
  • what shocking toxin is getting into organic foods (and how to avoid it)
  • the first step families can take if you’re not eating organic food already (and a really budget-friendly tip)
  • the next step families should take if you’re already making some organic food choices

Resources Mentioned for Problems with Organics

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

083: Why Feeding Therapy Can Backfire—Insights from Picky-Eating MD Dr. Katja Rowell26 Aug 202500:52:43

You've heard the figure that most MDs get less than 10-20 hours of nutrition and food training in medical school, and Dr. Katja Rowell (MD!) thinks this is a tragedy.

There are some tough moments to hear in this interview, but important ones as we work to raise healthy, independent kids into adulthood.

We talked about:

  • What "extreme" picky eating is 
  • How bad therapy can hurt a child's relationship with food and family to his/her great detriment, and how you can identify it.
  • Why responsive feeding is different, respectful to the child, and ultimately worlds more effective.
  • Some of the good doctor's regrets about her early years in practice 
  • The perils of diet culture for all ages and how we can begin to protect our youth through using the right language and expectations
  • How we need to work with extreme and mild picky eaters differently (Spoiler: we don't!)
  • The 5 foundations a good responsive feeding approach boils down to, and how so many families see success 

Dr. Rowell also said that sugar isn't addictive and doesn't need to be villainized as unhealthy...and with the knowledge and experience I have at this very moment in time, I disagree.

But I think it's wonderful that we can learn so much from experts yet also learn to filter everything through our own intellect. I'm totally open to change on this issue, but I also believe it's ok to disagree.

Resources We Mention for Extreme Picky Eating

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

082: Building Strong Families, Connected Kids with Father Leo of Plating Grace19 Aug 202500:41:21

If having a strong family and raising kids who know how to serve others is important - or necessary - to you, my guest today will inspire, encourage, and challenge you to reach those goals!

He prefers the word "invite" over "challenge," so I'm curious to hear what you think! :)

I was beyond honored to sit down with Fr. Leo Patalinghug, "the cooking priest," to talk about family dinners, sharing responsibilities in the home, building memories around food, and how he's serving many communities at once with his new food truck project.

You'll hear:

  • Why being a priest and a chef are basically the same calling
  • Fr. Leo's strong thoughts about family dinners and a strict boundary he encourages parents to set about dinner conversation
  • The science behind the necessity of gathering together around food
  • What Fr. Leo says to adults who don't know how to cook and the impersonal tragedy of processed/delivered food
  • A priest's prescription for date nights to keep the marriage strong (and be a good example for the children)
  • The Plating Grace and Grub food truck and how many communities and needs it serves (plus, YUM, I'm drooling over the menu!)
  • Some pointed words about media consumption, how we digest the words we're told, and what we really need a revival of in America
  • Fr. Leo's family experience with food saving relationships

There's a reason Fr. Leo is an internationally renowned speaker and a TV host—he's so great to listen to and has a LOT to say. Take notes!

I'm also so jazzed that he is quoted in my upcoming book on picky eating, coming in fall 2026!

Resources We Mention for Building Strong Families

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

081: Diagnosing the Root Cause of Meltdowns & How to Calm Tantrums with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson12 Aug 202500:55:24

We need to connect with our family members to help them learn and grow beyond meltdowns, and Dr. Bryson will help us do that in the most effective, brain-based way.

There is a reason for the meltdowns, and she’ll help us find the root cause today!

Strap on your science geek hat and get ready for a class in neuroscience for parents 101. 

I could listen to Tina teach all day, and I hope you can grab a piece of paper and take notes to help your own brain retain all this info. But even if you can’t, listen and try out some strategies with your own family – practice makes progress!!

Tina’s books are amazing, and after you listen I know you’ll want to get some from your local library or bookstore. If you prefer Amazon, here are some links to The Whole-Brain Child, No-Drama Discipline, Bottom Line for Baby, The Power of Showing Up, and her newest book, The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids.

They include “refrigerator sheets” with a quick summary of key points for the whole book for folks like me who love to have something visible in my way as a reminder. We’re working on having those for the Healthy Parenting Handbook! Make sure you’re on our email list so you can get them for all the episodes soon. 

More Resources for Calming Tantrums in Your Family

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

080: Concussion-Proof Your Kids: Building Strong, Healthy Brains & Helping Kids Recover and Thrive After a Knock on the Head with Dr. Spencer Zimmerman05 Aug 202500:45:36

My youngest got his first concussion at age 3.

After this interview, I’m wondering if another child of mine has some post-concussion symptoms that we never realized had to do with a knock on the head!

This interview is for parents of contact sport athletes FOR SURE but also anyone who wants to strengthen their family’s brain health.

What’s brain health? It’s the development of your kids’ brains, the avoidance of cognitive decline as we age (yes please!), and everyone’s mental health.

Here’s a little peek at what you’ll learn:

  • Why a brain after a concussion is a bit like a sprained ankle
  • How many patients are surprised that their daily symptoms end up being connected to an unresolved concussion in their past!
  • What modern conventional medicine gets wrong about concussions (spoiler: not much right at all!)
  • The worst possible thing to do (and the second worst) for concussion recovery
  • A shocking fact about the CT scan you’ll get in the ER after a concussion
  • Connections from brain health to mental health
  • A GOLDEN 30-second process you need to put your kids through at the beginning of every contact sport season (I’m going to start telling everyone this!)
  • How to make any exercise (and even cooking with kids!) into a brain exercise

Your science geek brain and your practical brain will be so happy to learn all this information! With kids, it feels like it’s not a matter of IF your family will experience a concussion, but WHEN. Be ready with knowledge, and start to build your family’s brain health NOW, because like Dr. Zimmerman says: “The stronger you go into something, the better you’ll be coming out of it.”

Resources We Mention for Building Strong, Healthy Brains

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

079: Perimenopause May Be the Wisest and Best Years of Your Life - How to Make That Reality with Jenn Pike29 Jul 202500:46:09

I always thought menopause was something “older” women dealt with. You know, once the kids are gone and you’ve got gray hair and bifocals.

But then... I hit 40.

And weird stuff started happening.

Was it perimenopause? Hormones? Stress? Just a fluke? Honestly, I didn’t know. I wasn’t even sure how to know—because no one really talks about this stuff in detail. 

This week on the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast, I got to sit down with Jenn Pike, a brilliant practitioner with a background in exercise science and a passion for helping women understand their bodies, hormones, and how to feel strong again—especially in our 40s and 50s. 

Here’s a sneak peek at what we covered:

  • The real definition of perimenopause
  • Why your workouts might stop “working” and how to adapt after 40
  • Unexpected early signs of hormone shifts 
  • What kind of exercise actually helps your hormones... and what might be hurting them
  • How to start small and build sustainable health habits during this transition
  • Why skipping breakfast is the worst idea for women
  • What to eat, when to eat, and how often to fuel your body the right way

If you’re in your late 30s or 40s and you’ve been wondering, “What is happening to me?”... this is the conversation you didn’t know you needed.

Resources We Mention for Perimenopause Symptoms

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

096: Coughs, Colds and Bees: How Honey and Other BEE Products Can Keep our Kids Healthy! with Carly of Beekeeper’s Naturals25 Nov 202500:32:57

Coughs, Flu and School Germs, oh my!

If cold-and-flu season causes tremors in your heart but you hate the idea of using over-the-counter drugs on your kids just to get through the night, I have great news: The bees got your back.

Carly from Beekeeper’s Naturals joins us today to share about the power of nature – she will feed your science geek brain and share SO many practical ideas and uses for bee products (bet you’ve never even heard of some of them!):

  • What beats coughs as effectively as OTC cough meds but with no side effects?
  • Find out about a natural anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal product that you can ingest or use on the skin for coughs, rashes, scrapes, immunity boosting, allergies, and “that ominous tickle.” Amazing stuff!
  • What gives queen bees the vitality to have 1500 babies a day and live 20x longer than other bees? Want some? Humans have been using it for centuries!
  • Two different ways to calm anxiety and get better sleep, something we know everyone needs!
  • Find incredible focus with an age-old nootropic that may help heal concussions, build new brain cells, prevent signs of aging brains and more…this stuff is so cool!!

Resources We Mention About Health Benefits of Honey


Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

078: How to Sleep Better: Practical Advice for Families from Sleep Specialist Dr. Whitney Roban22 Jul 202500:23:14

I’ll be honest: I’ve never had a consistent bedtime routine.

I teach kids to cook real food, I help families get healthier... and yet when it comes to sleep? Total kryptonite. That’s why I knew I needed to bring in a real expert—someone who doesn’t just say, “You should get more sleep,” but actually shows us how.

Dr. Whitney Roban is a clinical psychologist turned sleep consultant who works with families, schools, and even corporations to teach the why and the how of better sleep. And friends, her tips are not only practical but wildly doable, even if your current sleep situation feels like a disaster.

She breaks down:

  • how to figure out your (and your child’s) ideal amount of sleep
  • the real reason your teen can’t fall asleep before 11 p.m.
  • what you should (and shouldn’t) do right before bed
  • the surprisingly simple “test” to know how sleep deprived you are
  • how to rewire your habits without overhauling your entire life
  • what’s sabotaging your melatonin (hint: it’s probably in your hand right now)
  • how sleep deprivation hurts more than just your mood
  • and why it’s never too late to start respecting sleep in your household

This conversation was such a conviction for me and maybe it will be for you, too.

You’ll hear me admit my own struggles with sleep, the late-night screen time I know I shouldn’t do, and the tiny changes I’m working on. (I even share a little “mom guilt” about bedtime routines and my husband... can you relate?)

So if you’ve been meaning to “get better sleep” but have no idea where to start - or you’re just tired of being tired - this episode is your permission slip to pause and reset.

Let’s solve our sleep one baby step at a time!

Resources We Mentioned for Healthy Sleep

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

077: Teaching Teens About Money: Budgeting, Stress, and Starting Smart Conversations with Crystal Paine of MoneySavingMom15 Jul 202500:43:29

Let’s be honest, teaching kids about money can feel intimidating.

This episode is packed with practical strategies and empowering encouragement.

Here’s what you’ll take away from our conversation:

  • Why budgeting is essential for teens
  • How emotional language can help kids process money stress
  • One simple phrase that opens the door to healthier financial habits
  • How to model smart financial decisions—even when you make mistakes
  • A free tool that empowers teens to track their money in just one hour

You don’t have to be a financial whiz, you just need to be willing to have the conversation.

Resources We Mentioned for Money Management for Teens

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

076: “I Don’t Like Fish”: Why You Might Be Wrong (and How to Start Loving It)17 Jun 202500:36:18

"I don't like fish."

How many of us have a child, spouse, or self who says that?

My guest today says that's off course - no one can accurately say they "don't like" "fish" - and I love her reasons!

Whether you love fish or haven't learned to love it yet, this non-fishy interview all about the fish of the sea is a winner:

  • Have you ever gotten to know your fisherman? Watch my surprise as I do for the first time...
  • How to find the best fish for the biggest health benefits
  • Why some fish are harder to cook well (and deliciously) than others
  • What to look for in a store or restaurant to make sure you're getting sustainable, healthy fish
  • Why ocean stewardship is of primary importance for fishermen and their families

Find well-fished seafood with all the omega-3s at Sena Sea Seafood!

Resources We Mention for Sourcing Sustainable Fish

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

075: The Real Root Cause of Eczema in Children: A Deep Dive with Deidre Bloomquist10 Jun 202500:39:47

My oldest struggled with eczema from time to time, but when our house presented us with a toxic mold issue, he really flared up.

It was the worst we’d ever seen, and after 3 weeks of completely ditching gluten, dairy, and sugar (by his own choice and motivation), nothing had changed. It was heartbreaking!

I can only imagine how tough it is for parents of toddlers with eczema who can’t even communicate their pain.

My guest today digs DEEP into eczema and all the potential root causes, the importance of testing, and the wide variety of pathways to healing individual children might need.

She says a lot of parents do research and get really really close to the answer their kids needs…and then get stuck. That’s where she comes in.

Here is just a tiny preview of what we’ll touch on:

  • “Parasites overgrow in the body when there is a toxic burden!”
  • “Bowel movements are the primary elimination pathway in the body.”
  • “If kids are not having a bowel movement daily, figure out WHY that’s happening!”
  • “Mold impacts the way the brain functions and communicates with the GI tract.”
  • “Elimination depends on pooping, liver function, kidney function.”
  • “If kids have skin issues, it’s typically a sign that there’s a liver stagnation issue - like the body is pulling the emergency brake.”

If your little darlings are struggling with eczema or other skin issues, or you know someone who needs this podcast, don’t hesitate to hit play or pass it on!

Resources We Mentioned for Eczema in Kids

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

074: The ADHD Brain is an Addicted Brain - Shattering Myths About ADHD and Executive Function and Pouring out Hope for Families with Michael McLeod03 Jun 202500:51:45

ADHD is not just an attention disorder; it's an executive functioning disorder.

The myths abound!

If you’ve always thought of kids with ADHD as those who struggle in school, think again.

If you expect ADHD kids to have trouble focusing, wrong again.

If you think kids with ADHD are destined to struggle more throughout life, Mike McLeod is here to tell you that ADHD is not a limitation, just a different path.

The ADHD brain is truly different from neurotypical brains, although some truths apply to both groups, like:

  • Children learn best through play and unstructured time.
  • Outdoor play is vital for developing real-world skills.
  • Boredom is essential for self-regulation and creativity.
  • Cooking teaches kids self-sufficiency and life skills.
  • Unstructured time is crucial for children's development.
  • Parents should set high expectations for their children.
  • Removing screens can reveal hidden talents in kids.
  • Parents need to place more importance on chores & balancing structure and freedom.

Parents of kids with or without ADHD need the information in this episode, but especially stuff like this:

  • Screen time can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, but it does not cause ADHD.
  • The ADHD brain struggles with self-regulation and motivation for NON-preferred tasks.
  • Varied experiences are vital for skill development.
  • Executive functions are crucial for success in life.

I love Mike’s energy and expertise, like sitting at the feet of a master. What an honor to work with him both for this podcast and as a #LifeSkillsNow Season 4 camp leader! 

Resources We Mentioned for ADHD Myths

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

073: From Mom Guilt to Growth: Emotional Regulation for Moms Who Want to Raise Problem Solvers with Emily Hamblin27 May 202500:42:48

Emily’s stories are going to get your head nodding in empathy and connection - we’ve all been there with the kid who just will NOT put their shoes on, brush their teeth, or do as we ask!

If you’ve ever felt the guilt after exploding all over your kids, those little beings you LOVE so much, you need this interview.

We talk all about emotional regulation, how moms need to work on their own big emotions so that they can better help their kids, and how to raise emotionally healthy families. Today, we touch on:

  • Motherhood is no joke! It’s way harder than it looks from the outside, especially when your own emotions get involved.
  • In the heat of a meltdown, kids aren’t being “bad,” they’re stuck in their emotional brain, not their thinking brain.
  • There’s no perfect time to work on emotional growth. Start where you are.
  • Getting support isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom.
  • Kids learn emotional regulation by watching us. Imperfect parenting still teaches powerful lessons when we’re honest and intentional.
  • Raising critical thinkers and independent problem-solvers starts with slowing down, naming emotions, and solving problems with our kids.

Resources We Mention for Emotional Regulation

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

072: Is Kefir Healthy? How Fermented Foods Boost Gut Health and Immunity with Julie Smolyansky of Lifeway Kefir20 May 202500:39:15

If you’ve ever passed kefir in the grocery store and wondered, “Is that stuff actually good for you?”—you’re not alone. In this episode, I talk with Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Kefir, who shares how this tangy, probiotic-rich drink became a lifeline for her immigrant family—and a powerful tool for mental and physical wellness.

Julie dives into the science behind fermented foods, the gut-brain connection, and why kefir might be one of the most underrated health foods on your shelf. We also talk mom-to-mom about raising adventurous eaters, the role of dairy in women’s health, and the importance of modeling self-care for our kids.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why kefir supports gut health, immunity, and even mental health
  • How fermented dairy reduces inflammation, and why that matters
  • What women should know before cutting dairy from their diet
  • How to introduce kids to kefir and other healthy foods
  • Why kefir is 99% lactose-free (yes, even for sensitive stomachs)
  • How food, family, and culture shape our health journeys
  • Practical self-care tips for busy parents

Whether you're curious about the benefits of kefir or looking for real-life tips on raising healthy kids, this conversation will leave you inspired.

Resources We Mention for a Healthy Lifestyle

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

071: Embracing Neurodivergent Parenting: Wisdom for Mothers and Their Unique Children with Ginny Kochis13 May 202500:43:00

We may all think and process information differently, but it’s true that some diagnoses make parenting feel a lot more difficult on a day-to-day basis.

You’ll receive a heavy dose of empathy and understanding from this interview, along with some very practical strategies to create an environment in which your children can thrive.

Ginny and I talked about:

  • How ND kids struggle with executive function, big emotions, and emotional regulation, but can often be gifted with exceptional creativity, intellect, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Why “routines” include both structure and flexibility
  • Why a growth mindset must be in your toolbox
  • The beauty of suffering, how to infuse challenges with meaning
  • Where to find role models with differently wired brains for your kids!

Resources We Mention for Neurodivergent Parenting

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

070: Why Everything You Know About Vision Is Wrong | Healthy Vision for Kids with Dr. Bryce Appelbaum06 May 202500:48:28

We tend to think of "eyesight" as just needing glasses or not. But what if I told you that vision is actually a brain function, and if our kids are struggling visually, it could be impacting their learning, attention, and even behavior?

In our chat, Dr. B doesn’t just talk science — he gives us practical tips that any parent can use to support healthy vision for kids, especially in our screen-soaked world. He unpacks the sneaky signs of vision issues, why screen time isn’t just an eye problem, and what we can actually do about it.

But here’s what might surprise you…

  • Many children are misdiagnosed with attention issues when the root problem is vision-related.
  • Eyesight and vision aren’t the same thing (and that distinction is life-changing).
  • The rise in screen time is truly affecting how our kids’ eyes — and brains — develop.
  • There’s a simple at-home test you can do to check for red flags in your child’s vision.
  • Vision therapy is not just for kids with glasses — it’s for brains that need support.
  • Outdoor time isn’t just "nice" — it’s necessary for strong visual development.
  • Functional eye doctors approach vision differently, and it’s exactly what so many kids need.
  • And yes, the 20-20-20 rule? It’s real, simple, and super helpful!

We also talk blue light, digital performance glasses, and how to balance a tech-filled life without turning into a screen-time tyrant. 😉

So if you’re ready to understand what’s really going on behind your child’s eyes — and empower yourself with tools to help them thrive — don’t miss this one.

Resources We Mentioned for Healthy Vision

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

069: Starting Your Kids Off on the Right Financial Foot | Teaching Kids About the Dangers of Debt with DebtFree Dad Brad Nelson29 Apr 202500:47:31

Raise your hand if you love money!

But…raise your hand if you DON’T love figuring out what to DO with your money, spending too much money, or not having enough money?

That’s Brad Nelson’s mission as Debt Free Dad - to help normal everyday people take control of their finances so they can live a happier less stressful life.

We dig into a lot of practical and philosophical tips, including:

  • First steps to get out of debt
  • How to STAY out of debt in the first place
  • Letting go of limiting beliefs
  • Creating a “debt is bad” mindset - for the wrong kind of debt
  • Getting more time freedom in your life – because time is the one thing we never get back!
  • We dig into how to teach kids and teens about finances too: “We have to teach our kids what debt is and the risk it can have on your life and the choices you make…”
  • Why financial health is a daily commitment

Brad is one of our valued #LifeSkillsNow Season 4 camp leaders, teaching teens and tweens about the real cost of “convenience” and what compound interest can do for our high school kids. It’s phenomenal! My own kids and other teen testers were blown away.

Resources We Mention for Teaching Kids About Debt

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

095: How Can We Allow Other People to Partner with Us in Parenting? with Author of Don't Mom Alone Heather MacFadyen18 Nov 202500:42:49

We’re lonely!

It’s hurting us!

And we’re not very good at connecting with other humans.

Heather MacFadyen is here to help. Author and podcaster of Don’t Mom Alone, she’s all about building connection to help moms do their jobs better.

“Loneliness can be when you’re with others but not feeling truly known,” she said in this encouraging interview. We talk about the 3 kinds of relationships moms need to nurture, how to shed the unattainable standards society is trying to place on us, and how to antidote loneliness in the most practical of ways.

We hit on anger, lies and truths, podcast clubs and more.

If you’ve ever felt the vulnerability of making a new friend or wish you were brave enough to take the risk and make a coffee date or go for a walk with a new friend…you need this interview.

Grab Heather’s book at your local library or bookshop and be sure to subscribe to the Don’t Mom Alone podcast (along with of course The Healthy Parenting Handbook)!

Resources We Mention for Building Mom Friendships

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

068: Exclamation Point Kids with Hunter Clarke-Fields and Jess Trayser [Different Brains, Amazing Kids Series 3]24 Apr 202500:49:11

Today I'm doing something completely new! It's a podcast swap! Here is an episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast with Hunter Clarke-Fields.

It's the third of a three-part series so definitely go check that out when you're done with this one!

Find Hunter Online

Follow her on social media: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube  


Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

067: Parenting Without Yelling, Demands, or Getting Triggered with Hunter Clarke-Fields22 Apr 202500:50:46

Raise your hand if you’ve ever yelled or lost your cool as a parent.

Keep that hand up if you thought you would never yell as a parent.

I know, right?

It’s the story of many who go on to be mindful or positive or grounded parenting experts. “I never thought I would…”

Me neither!

That means we need tools, and today’s guest will give you some powerful ones in the form of mindfulness for parents.

Resources We Mention for Parenting Without Yelling

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

066: Why Teaching Your Kids Chores and Life Skills Is NOT Taking Advantage of Them15 Apr 202500:30:57

In today's Healthy Parenting Handbook episode, 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

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

065: Eating Close to Nature and Balancing Blood Sugar on a Budget with Chandis RDN08 Apr 202500:48:55

Moms take care of everyone…but sometimes we forget ourselves.

If you’ve had those moments when you blow up at a kid or spouse and then realize, “Oh, I haven’t eaten in 4 hours,” you know what it’s like to feel ‘hangry.’

My guest today draws upon personal and professional experience with nutrition and blood sugar to give us a masterclass on how to think about the contents of our food and fueling ourselves (and our families) for the day.

You’ll learn:

  • 2 goals for daily eating
  • how to anchor your food to feel better all-day
  • the real cause of mood swings, anxiety, and tiredness
  • why grocery shopping and trying new recipes may sometimes seem like a fun challenge and other times be a drag
  • how to teach our kids about healthy fuel and choosing balanced meals
  • whether calorie counting makes sense for moms in the thick of it
  • how to stay motivated to feed our families when it starts to get us down
  • some excellent grocery shopping tips to keep you on a budget

Chandis created a Christian-based series of nutrition and food classes for the whole family to watch, and you’ll get a taste of how important they are in this interview.

Resources We Mention for Balancing Blood Sugar

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

064: How Connecting with Our Kids & Brain Science Makes Us Better Parents with Jennifer Kolari01 Apr 202500:57:59

When you yell at your kids, it always works to improve their behavior and your relationship, right?

Ha.

But what’s a parent at the end of their rope to do?

My guest today, Jennifer Kolari, has worked with some of the toughest, most challenging kids out there, and she has the answer: love them. Connect with them. Use the CALM technique so that your kids can truly learn better behavior in a safe environment.

Resources We Mention for CALM Parenting

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

063: Is Homeschooling Right for You? Tips, Myths, and Encouragement for Moms with Monica Swanson25 Mar 202500:36:33

I love hearing about homeschoolers who have the space, time, and freedom to really find their passions, and that’s far from the only benefit of homeschooling. My guest today would have told you homeschooling was a crazy option when she first got married, and now she’s a passionate proponent.

What changed?

You’ll find out in the interview, and I have to say that the Swanson family genesis of homeschooling was a big surprise for me!

Resources We Mention

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

062: What Is Mental Load? | How Moms Can Find Balance with Dr. Morgan Cutlip18 Mar 202500:51:08

My guest today, Dr Morgan Cutlip, is a sought-after relationship expert, but she doesn’t talk down to moms - she’s right in it with us.

If you’ve ever had a disagreement with your spouse about who’s doing more than the other in the home, how full your brain is, or whether one of you is angry or just using your “go time” or “business” voice – you need this info.

We’ll dig deep into mental load with topics such as:

  • what the mental load IS and why it really really impacts our relationships…
  • possible gender roles when it comes to mental load and how that impacts our marriages
  • the conversations we need to have with spouses 
  • how to model good relationship building as a life skill for our kids
  • the difference between discernment and judgement and how to teach that to our kids
  • one super practical tip to raise kids who take initiative as adults

Resources We Mention for Balancing the Mental Load

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

061: How Kids Can Learn to Deal with Big Challenges and Big Emotions with Counselor and Coping Skills Expert Janine Halloran11 Mar 202500:37:39

We will ALL encounter tough situations and hard times in our lives. We will ALL cope with them in some way. But sometimes coping looks like throwing a chair or eat a whole box of cookies.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Janine Halloran joins us today to talk about the kind of coping that is safe and healthy and HOW we can teach those skills to our kids (while also modeling them ourselves).

In this super practical conversation, you’ll learn:

  • What kinds of coping skills most kids prefer
  • How and when to intentionally introduce coping skills to kids (and why our gut reaction is usually wrong)
  • Kid-friendly deep breathing techniques that don’t come off as corny
  • How we can help our kids (and, ahem, ourselves) USE the safe and healthy coping skills in the heated moments instead of the tantrums
  • What it means to be the thermostat, not the thermometer…
  • How food can help kids build mindfulness, yay!
  • The FIRST, easiest, most practical step you can take TODAY to build these skills in your family

Truly, parents, this interview is full of golden moments. Take time to listen to it all, and some parts twice!!!

Resources We Mention for Big Emotions

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

060: Women Metabolize and Build Strength Differently Than Men (Especially Over 30) with Pearl & Serene, authors of Trim Healthy Wisdom04 Mar 202500:48:27

I call myself a science geek, but my reading and research don’t hold a candle to Pearl and Serene of Trim Healthy Mama, authors of the new book Trim Healthy Wisdom.

What I love most about them is that they KEEP learning and aren’t afraid to add to and update their life’s work. When peri-menopause hit and their bodies asked for something different, they did in-depth research and figured it out - for themselves and everyone else!

You will learn SO much!

Y’all. These women are BRILLIANT and also tender, encouraging, and funny. I could hang out with them forever and soak up their wisdom. Get the book Trim Healthy Wisdom, start by reading the bullet summaries, and then dig into the parts you need the most.

Resources We Mention for Women's Metabolism

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

059: The Real Truth About Sugar AND Fake Sugar with Dr. Michael Goran of Sugarproof25 Feb 202500:37:36

When Dr. Michael Goran started researching children’s nutrition almost 40 years ago, he wasn’t looking at obesity, type 2 diabetes, or fatty liver disease. That wasn’t because his head was in the sand - those things didn’t exist in kids but now all 3 are becoming prevalent.

What is going on???

Time and time again, the research pointed to a surprising cause - excess sugar.

In this professorial interview, you’ll learn:

  • what excess sugar does in the body, including before someone is even born
  • why “excess sugar” is a tricky term to use
  • the changes in how we consume sugar since the 80s (it might not be what you think)
  • the dangers of liquid sugar and the massive red flags with the current alternative option!
  • very practical ideas to take control of the situation in the only place you can
  • encouragement that you can take small steps to make a big difference!
  • how to empower kids to make their own good choices

Does Sugarproofing your kids mean withholding all sugar? Find out in this interview!

Resources We Mention About Sugar and Kids

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

094: Homeschool Routines That Build Connection with Pam Barnhill11 Nov 202500:30:12

If you’ve ever felt that homeschooling can slip into a checklist of math pages and grammar drills, you’ll love this conversation. Pam Barnhill, a veteran homeschooling mom of over 15 years, reminds us what education can truly be: a chance to connect deeply with our kids and nurture a lifelong love of learning.

Resources We Mention for Homeschool Routines 

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

058: Kids Cooking Dinner? Teach Your Kids To Cook an Entire Meal...By Themselves!18 Feb 202500:22:03

Imagine with me…your kids can take over a whole dinner meal and cook it themselves while you get something else done!

It’s a dream that has become reality times three for me here at the Kids Cook Real Food™ household.

I realized I’ve shared the process we used to gradually release cooking responsibility and teach our kids to cook a whole dinner by themselves many times on other podcasts when I’m the guest. It’s about time I share it with you as well!

It’s a multi-step process:

  • Let the kids watch you make a recipe.
  • Watch them make the recipe while you’re there with reminders.
  • Let them make the same recipe while you’re available in the house for questions.
  • Then they can make that recipe with zero help from you.
  • For 3-9 months, the kids should make the same recipe weekly to learn it to a mastery level.
  • Then in the second year of kid's cooking night (or second phase), you can let them make their old favorite every other week. In the interim weeks, they need to try other recipes.

This allows them to take on the physical labor of cooking first, then gradually ease into the mental load portion as you help them meal plan side-by-side.

We’ve used this process with three kids so far, and the fourth won’t be far behind!

You can watch Paul and Leah’s “old favorite recipe” for pizza right here. This is a great one to watch with your kids as it has Paul’s early teenage creativity stamped all over it.

Resources We Mention for Kids Cooking Dinner

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

057: Higher Level Thinking for Kids and How That Improves Independence and Life Skills with Author Noel Foy11 Feb 202500:40:34

Did you know the pre-frontal cortex where executive functioning lives doesn’t fully develop until our early 30s???

I still struggle with some executive functioning skills like time management and following a plan, but if I learned anything from this interview, it’s that we ALL can continue to grow, change, and improve. You are not married to your weaknesses!

If we can help our kids BEST develop their executive function, they will be more independent, better at their jobs, find deeper relationships, and be better parents themselves. It’s THAT important!

My guest today, Noel Foy, helps us understand what executive functioning is, how it develops over time, and some really practical ways to build it best in our kids.

Her question, “What is your plan for that?” is pure gold, and I know you’ll love all the little strategies she shares to reduce anxiety in our kids while improving their executive function. As we teach life skills and independence, we are also teaching executive functioning skills! Score! 🙂

Noel just released a new book 1/30/25--15-Minute Focus: Executive Function: Strategies to Build Underdeveloped Skills, Maximize Learning, and Unlock Potential. You can grab it here on Amazon or at Bookshop.org

Resources We Mention for Executive Function


Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

056: Do You Think Parenting Ends at 18? Think Again with Kim Muench04 Feb 202500:40:10

I’ve always said that parenting is “an 18-year-long game,” fully expecting that parenting would markedly diminish after my kids turned 18. Now that I’m parenting a 19-year-old…it turns out parenting DOES change and it ought to diminish, but it’s still a thing!

Kim Muench coaches parents of “emerging adults,” a new term needed to describe 18-30-year-olds who aren’t quite ready to be real adults, apparently.

In this interview, we talk about WHY we need both this term and parenting strategies to continue our conscious, intentional parenting beyond age 18.

But this podcast isn’t just for parents of emerging adults!

If you want to set your teens up for adulthood – and since you’re here, I’m assuming you do – it starts at least in high school and most likely long before that.

Kim and I dig into the pitfalls of becoming your child or teen’s friend, screen use at various ages, life skills, problem-solving, and soooo much more. Believe me, you’ll need all of it well before your kiddo hits 18.

If you want to prepare yourself for the next phase of parenting, and more importantly, prepare your kids to enter adulthood more smoothly, this interview is for you!

Thank you to our sponsor Paleovalley! Check them out at kidscookrealfood.com/meatsticks

Resources We Mention for Parenting Adult Children

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

055: Are You Breathing? You're Probably Doing It Wrong | Proper Breathing Technique with Shirley Gutkowski28 Jan 202500:48:41

I’ve known about proper breathing technique and oral posture for over five years now and I’m STILL doing it wrong if I don’t focus on it!

Seriously. Breathing.

If you’ve ever thought about your breathing - and most of us don’t because it’s so automatic - you might notice that you feel differently when you breathe differently. Breath drives a LOT of functions, from our mental health (think fast breathing when you’re anxious) to our behavior, sleep, cardiovascular and digestive health, and more.

Shirley Gutkowski thought she wanted to be an orthodontist, but a few careers in oral health later, she’s found something she’s really passionate about.

She says people simply don’t talk about breathing enough, and she’s on a mission to change that through education.

I’m so grateful for the time she spent with me on this interview, and my brain is bursting with ramifications in my own family after what I learned!

If you’re breathing…and you have children who breathe…this podcast is for you.

Get the free knife skills class at kidscookrealfood.com/HPHknife!

Resources We Mention for Proper Breathing Technique

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

054: Redefining Parenting: Look for the Good with Ralphie Jacobs21 Jan 202500:48:09

How about some stats to make you sad? Kids are on screens an average of 7 hours a day…and we spend 85% of our parenting energy on what our kids are doing wrong.

Aw, man!

It stinks to start with the negative.

In fact, that will train our brains to see more negative things, which is why I did it.

Do you feel more down after reading that? More worried? More hopeless about our kids' generation?

The GOOD news is that there’s another way.

I’m beyond honored to host Ralphie Jacobs of Simply on Purpose today to remind us that not only CAN we look for the positive, but we must - because it works, and it’s actually easier than yelling angrily at our kids!

You’ll come away from this interview feeling so encouraged and ready to parent differently, with 85% of your energy (or more!) focused on the positive!

Get ready to learn:

  • how to create positive momentum in your child’s day
  • why asking a kid or teen, “Why did you do that?” becomes a parenting trap (that you DON’T want to fall into!)
  • what comes first in parenting - the words or the feelings
  • a much better way to say, “If you don’t clean your room, you don’t get to come to the movie,” that’s actually EASIER to enforce!
  • why fear-based behavior is bad for everyone in the long run
  • an incredibly powerful way to guard your connection with your child - and raise kids who, like Ralphie’s, want to call home and come home to be with parents <3
  • what is MORE important than your child’s good behavior
  • why holding to your boundaries IS showing love, and how to do that without yelling or threatening
  • the only way to help kids make better choices is to…
  • fascinating (and simple) ideas to get kids on board with chores (yes, chores!!!)
  • allllll about “looking for the good” – the why and how and benefits

This is as uplifting as it is practical, mamas and papas out there!

Be sure to grab Ralphie’s free email course here!

Thanks to today's sponsor, Paleovalley. Go to kidscookrealfood.com/meatsticks to check out their delicious protein snacks!

Resources We Mention for Looking for Good

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

053: Building Resilience & Reducing Stress in Kids: Interview with Jess Sherman14 Jan 202500:38:18

Depression and anxiety are plaguing our children, and stress is often a root cause...what can we do about it?

Whether we actually live stressful lives or simply stress ourselves out (or social media plays a role in over-stimulating our amygdala and fight or flight response), there's no doubt in my mind that Americans are experiencing stress, and are not all that great at dealing with it.

And it's showing in our children!

Past guest, Dr. Kelly Brogan, said, "Children are our sentinels," when something is wrong. With 1/3 of teens reporting anxiety and 9-13% clinically depressed, it's time to listen up. But what can we do to help our kids be more resistant to depression and anxiety?

This week's guest, nutritionist Jess Sherman, has a great answer, and it's all about increasing their RESILIENCY.

In this interview, we'll talk about:

  • Why even great schools aren't able to fully tap into kids' brilliance and potential
  • Removing roadblocks to resilience (including food!)
  • Why self-regulation is critical to resilience, and some factors that interfere with kids being able to self-regulate
  • Foods that parents need to be aware of for best school performance
  • How to get kids on board with healthy food

If you love what Jess has to say join the workshop we're doing together about picky eating and stress!

Thanks to today's sponsor, Chef Junior, the only real food cookbook written by kids, for kids! Find it at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr.

Resources for Reducing Stress in Kids

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

052: The Risks of Consuming Synthetic Food Dyes with Whitney & Brandon Cawood | Are Food Dyes Bad for You?07 Jan 202500:51:05

Imagine if your child was kicked out of daycare for behavior issues, in spite of the fact that you’re making intentional choices as parents.

Devastating!

But what if the problem wasn’t caused by your child OR your parenting choices?

Brandon and Whitney Cawood’s story will break your heart and then give you hope because they found what was hurting their son and were able to remove it from his life - and he’s a different kid now.

They wanted to share what they learned with the world and poured their talents into a 2.5-year project going live on January 14, 2025.

Look up their film To Dye For: The Documentary immediately on Amazon or Apple TV (and other streaming service, we hope)!

You’ll love this interview with such humble, curious parents, and I can’t wait to watch the documentary. They share some juicy behind-the-scenes stories and a lot of information about synthetic food dyes, the central focus of their family’s story and their film.

What started as a tiny ray of hope in the Cawood’s lives has become a beacon for hundreds of thousands of families, and their impact is soon to get even bigger!

If you’ve ever wondered if you should pay attention to ingredients like Red 40 and Blue 1, this is the interview for you!

Thanks to today's sponsor, Perfect Supplements! Shop at https://kidscookrealfood.com/perfect.

Resources We Mention for Avoiding Food Dyes

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

051: Finding Nutrient Balance for Kids and Busy Families with Jess Donovan, Naturopath17 Dec 202400:35:13

Want to hear from a naturopath from down under?

Jess Donovan, with her lovely Aussie accent, shares all sorts of goodness with us today on the Healthy Parenting Handbook, like:

  • favorite immunity-boosting foods to recommend to busy families
  • the best way to get probiotics integrated into your family
  • common nutrient deficiencies in kids (and what you can do to seek the best balance)
  • food allergy management, whether the allergy is IN your family or just around you
  • how mom’s health may be related to her kids’

And so much more!

Jess hosts an online masterclass where you’ll discover 3 PROVEN ways to TRANSFORM your Kids GUT HEALTH to improve their behavior, fussy eating, immunity, and allergies. Grab your FREE spot here!

Thanks to today's sponsor, Chef Junior, the only real food cookbook written by kids, for kids! Find it at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr.

Resources We Mention for Balancing Nutrition

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

050: What If You Could Actually Tidy Up Your Life? with Tyler Moore10 Dec 202400:50:06

Have you seen the dad who cleans on Instagram?

I don’t know if Tyler Moore, aka Tidy Dad, enjoys that people probably know him that way, but I think it’s accurate!

I’ve followed Tyler since the summer of 2022 - but who in the world remembers WHEN they started following someone on Instagram? You’ll hear why that summer was important in Tyler’s career during the interview, and also some little-known tales of how and why he got started online. (I was surprised!)

In this joyful and open conversation, you’ll hear:

  • why Tyler “declutters” differently than the guru books
  • how the Moore family pushes against “the norm” with how and where they choose to live
  • how Tyler’s own parents helped lay some foundations for tidy-ness (but also ultimately caused his life to feel very UN-tidy)
  • some of the practical cleaning advice that Insta-followers go gaga for
  • what the philosophy of “just enough” really means and how it looks in real life
  • peeks and glimpses into Tidy Dad’s new book, Tidy Up Your Life - super fun!
  • what Tyler says to his girls when they don’t really feel like helping with chores

I really do love watching Tidy Dad clean; it’s kind of ridiculous. You’ll love listening to him and feeling his optimism even more!

Be sure to pre-order the book ASAP to help him hit the bestseller lists in January!!

Don't forget to sign up for the free knife skills class at kidscookrealfood.com/HPHknife!

Resources We Mention for Organizing Your Life

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

049: My Top Tips for Raising Nice Boys (From a Mom of Three Boys!)03 Dec 202400:34:26

Ever been asked a question in person, and you replay the conversation over and over, a dozen times, rephrasing your answer?

I did that recently, not just rephrasing but adding and rethinking and adding some more.

The question was, “How do you raise such nice boys??”

I decided it would make a pretty decent podcast episode, exploring my meanderings through intentional parenting and how we’ve built a family culture.

Does this advice (If you can call it that) apply to girls too? You betcha. In fact, it’s pretty universal.

I look forward to hearing what you think about:

  • the way we chose to parent our newborns and toddlers
  • what I think about my husband
  • whether boys can be gentle
  • the impact of mirror neurons on our kids' brains
  • the effect healthy food may or may not have on “nice boys”
  • our “people over screens” rules and how we’ve pulled back and released technology over the years
  • choice within boundaries, and agency while working as a team on high expectations
  • and maybe most importantly - is it ever too late?

This episode is sponsored by Chef Junior, the cookbook for kids by kids - including my oldest son! Find out more at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr.

Resources We Mention for Raising Nice Boys

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

093: Eating Disorders Expert & Dietitian on How to Foster a Healthy Relationship with Food for Your Kids04 Nov 202500:52:24

The very morning I did this interview, my husband was complaining about how badly he felt because of a certain number...and when I heard Heidi's final "practical" challenge to parents, I knew we had to do it. This interview was a HUGE paradigm shift for me, and you will alternately want to turn it off as it gets challenging and find yourself cheering out loud!

Heidi Schauster, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S is an expert on eating disorders and talks with me today about how we as parents can foster a healthy relationship with food for our kids. We cover risk factors for eating disorders, mindful eating, how to handle treats at school and elsewhere, what "rules" parents should (and should not!) have for food in the home, the quickest way to make your child into a binge eater, how we should talk about weight and body image with our kids, and so much more.

This is a MUST WATCH interview because our entire culture is disordered in how to think and talk about body image, so we have a LOT of work to do to make positive change! 

Heidi and I continued to talk after I ended the recording and I kept catching myself using the wrong language about food. She said, "This is great - you're creating new neural pathways right in front of my eyes!" 

Resources We Mentioned for Healthy Relationships with Food:

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Take control of your stress with the Stress Mastery Challenge today!

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

048: Is it Possible to Create a Peaceful Home in the Midst of a Chaotic World? with Jennifer Pepito19 Nov 202400:38:07

The world keeps getting more and more fast-paced, and our brains and bodies aren’t really keeping up.

As moms, can we possibly create a home that is a peaceful space?

My guest today is Jennifer Pepito, author of Habits for a Sacred Home, and we talk about just that, including:

  • Why moms are naturally fearful (and what we can do about it)
  • What exactly IS a “sacred home” and how do we begin creating one
  • Creating order in chaotic times through basic rules of life
  • The joy and benefit of passing on life skills to our kids (and some practical tips to make it happen)
  • The role of cooking in developing a community of shared values within (and without) the home
  • The key to better outcomes and more responsible children
  • The first step to creating a sacred home is so simple

Jennifer is so grounded and yet practical, balanced in her approach and yet challenging.

Resources We Mention for Creating a Peaceful Home

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

047: Teens and Fertility | Hormone Health Is NOT Just About Having Babies with Dr. Mandy Patterson12 Nov 202400:44:48

Ever felt like your kids or teens want to do the opposite of what you recommend?

Dr. Mandy Patterson and I are both moms of teens, and we talk today about the perils of parenting and how we work around the resistance. She has some great tips for finding a way “in” to what your kids care about when it comes to health and behavior.

Since this is a parenting podcast, I’m guessing most of you have at least somewhat figured out “fertility” as it pertains to having babies - but that’s not all it’s about! Your fertility health really is a marker of your overall health and wellness, and if you can keep your hormones balanced, you’ll feel much better overall.

We get dirty on my late-night eating habit (sigh) and some best practices for women, especially in the morning.

Then we dive into how and WHY to help our tween and teen girls care for their own fertility right from the start, and the epidemic of PCOS.


Resources We Mention for Hormone Health for Teens

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

046: Sharing the Mental Load of Cooking Responsibility05 Nov 202400:26:18

I see a lot on social media about the “mental load” that women especially carry.

Meal planning, grocery shopping, cleaning the house, getting kids where they belong on time, making sure they have proper snacks and meals if they won’t be home for dinner, homework, emails from everywhere…

It’s a LOT.

And a lot of the mental load we home managers carry has to do with FOOD.

We gotta keep that family nourished!

I’m pleased to share a bit of advice on one time-tested way to reduce your own mental load – by sharing it.

In my own home, I admit that the mental load still falls mainly on me, but since I’m doing less of the physical work, it all feels lighter. Eventually, I think others in the family will think, “What IS for dinner tomorrow? Did someone plan dinner?” but I’m still working on that part.

The secret to sharing it is good training, and in this episode, I’ll teach you how to pass on some cooking skills to the young people in your household so that your load is lighter – and honestly, their load over the long run of life is lighter too, because they won’t have to “figure it out” through trial and error once they’re mired in adulthood.

Prepping for the holidays? Get our special BOGO deal on the Holiday Baking Challenge here!

Resources We Mention for Mental Load

Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

045: Why Are You So Tired? (Chronic Fatigue and Long Haulers with Dr. Evan Hirsch)29 Oct 202400:52:07

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:

  • The 33 causes of fatigue
  • How you KNOW you have chronic fatigue (and aren’t just bone tired like every other parent out there – and it’s way easier than I expected to figure it out!)
  • Why solving your chronic fatigue may also make you live longer
  • Why some people become long haulers and others don’t (this has fascinated me for a while and I couldn’t wait to discuss it!)
  • Dr. Hirsch’s process for helping people reverse chronic fatigue (that more or less translates to long haul)
  • How you know if 5 jumping jacks is pushing your body too much
  • A simple “recipe” to raise healthy kids (i.e. what an integrative MD would tell you to do to prevent your kids from getting chronic illnesses and BOOST their real energy — not the sugar-laden kind — to help them live happier lives now)
  • THE most important technique he recommends to everyone, preventative and restorative (and there are only 4 steps to it and zero cost!!!)

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

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

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