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Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball (Katie Kimball)

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22 Dec 2023TRAILER: Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball00:02:31

It's finally here! 

Our audience has been asking for a podcast version of our video show, The Healthy Parenting Connector, for YEARS. We're finally launching on January 9, so hit that subscribe button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

I am Katie Kimball, a mom of 4 kids ages 18-9, a trained educator, who has been blogging about my natural living journey since 2008. 

We're SO excited to have you join us as we learn what is in that parenting handbook.

For lifelong learners only, the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast will improve your connection with your kids, boost your confidence as a parent, and bring clarity about what you can DO to keep your kids physically and mentally healthy while you grow together as a family.

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

09 Jan 2024001: Welcome to the Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball00:34:05

We're so glad you've joined us, mindful parents, for this podcast on raising healthy, independent kids.

In each episode of the Healthy Parenting Handbook Podcast, Katie Kimball, the national voice of healthy kids cooking, interviews experts in fields like nutrition, medicine, psychology, parenting, technology, entrepreneurship and more to help parents get tools to raise healthy, independent kids.

For lifelong learners only, the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast will improve your connection with your kids, boost your confidence as a parent, and bring clarity about what you can DO to keep your kids physically and mentally healthy while you grow together as a family.

Show Notes

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

09 Jan 2024002: A Pediatrician Speaks on What Kids Should Eat with Dr. Elisa Song00:32:56

We all know that most pediatricians get about 2 hours of nutrition training, which means some of them give food advice and probably shouldn’t and most don’t bother with food at all.

But FOOD is the ROOT CAUSE of so much of what ails our kids!

Dr. Song goes above and beyond normal MD training with all her holistic background and she’s 150% qualified to tell us a little about our kids’ diets.

Today we’ll talk about:

  • What has changed in the “kid food” scene in the last 50 years
  • What is the worst “food” kids are eating these days
  • How food additives can affect behavior
  • What kids should be eating to fuel their bodies
  • Practical tips for how we as parents can feed our kids well (and teach them to make healthy choices for themselves!)

Don’t you just love Dr. Song? She’s about the only reason I’d ever consider moving to California, just so that she could be our kids’ doctor. I’m so honored to share her wisdom with you today!!!

Get the free knife skills class here!

See all the show notes as well as time-stamped skim notes at kidscookrealfood.com/002.

Find Dr. Elisa Song on her site Healthy Kids, Happy Kids or on Facebook or Instagram.  You can also sign up for her video course here. (Affiliate link)

Resources We Mention About Feeding Kids

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

09 Jan 2024003: Why We Must Change (or Eradicate) the Idea of “Kid Food” with Bettina Elias Siegel00:33:40

Chicken nuggets.

Pizza.

Burgers and fries.

Mac and cheese.

What do all those foods have in common?

They're identified as "kid food" by children and adults alike.

What else? They're often served in a highly processed, low-nutrient fashion, and I don't see many veggies on the list.

My guest today, Bettina Elias Siegel, has been an advocate for school food reform for over 10 years, and her first book Kid Food broadens that mission by pushing for societal change in all the places people feed our kids, market "food" to them, and set our standards of what kids will eat.

If you believe the bar should be raised for kids wayyyyyy beyond and beige and bland, you're in the right place today.

We dig into some of the more surprising facts Bettina uncovered while researching for Kid Food, such as:

  • The history of kids' menus and why they were created in the first place
  • The role of obesity in kids' health (spoiler: NOT as influential as you might think!)
  • Recent research about ultra-processed food and how it affects children in particular
  • How young kids start shifting their diets away from veggies and nourishment  (and the disastrous role of one particular "food" we eat way too much of)
  • A few unique "wins" that the pandemic has offered us in our schools and in our homes
  • How marketing food to kids shapes their thoughts (and why we need to reclaim their palates!)
  • The importance of kids being involved in the process, both talking about food and creating it

...And so much more! You'll be inspired by this conversation and ready to change the world, starting in your own home.

Get the free knife skills class here!

See all the show notes as well as time-stamped skim notes at kidscookrealfood.com/003.

Resources We Mention About Kid Food

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

16 Jan 2024004: Why Consequences (or Rewards) Aren’t the Goal of Discipline with Positive Parenting Solutions' Amy McCready00:42:40

I am a better person, a better parent, every single time I listen to Amy McCready's coaching.

There's a good reason she is a TODAY Show parenting expert, my goodness - the way she explains why consequences aren't the answer, how rewards set our kids up for massive problems (blew my mind!!) and gives us practical toolbox phrases we can just start using today, it's truly enriching.

Even if you've heard Amy speak before, I worked hard to ask new questions that definitely made me think!

  • WHY looking for consequences is a losing proposition and what we can do instead
  • What the research says about the negative consequences for child and family with reward systems
  • How to create more opportunities for power struggles (guessing you're wanting to antidote that that one! She shares that too) ;)
  • Praise labeling, and why it's all too easy to fall into the trap
  • One phrase that gives kids ownership of their behavior
  • The benefits of teaching kids to cook, from a positive parenting perspective
  • What "pendulum parenting" is (and my confession)
  • The 3 words you need to start using today...mostly in your own head

Get the free knife skills class here!

See all the show notes as well as time-stamped skim notes at kidscookrealfood.com/004.

 Resources We Mention for Positive Parenting

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

23 Jan 2024005: The "Worst Mom in America" on Raising Confident, Free-Range Kids with Lenore Skenazy of Let Grow00:39:04

Our interview guest today has been a journalist and writer for many years and earned herself the title of “Worst Mom in America.” I’m so proud to interview her because she earned that title when she let her 9-year-old ride the subway alone and wasn’t afraid to write about it in a major publication. 🙂

Growing wings from the firestorm that ensued, she published a book called Free-Range Kids and has been an advocate for letting kids grow ever since. She encourages legislation to protect parents when they are making wise choices for their children’s independence and even has a nonprofit offering curriculum to schools and families with the sole purpose of encouraging adults to step back so that children can step up.

If you want to raise healthy, independent adults, this half-hour will enlighten and inspire you, edifying you to push back in the face of a culture that seems to be flying away with helicopter parenting.

Let’s ground that movement!

Resources We Mention to Raise a Confident Child

Find today's show notes, video, and time-stamped "skim notes" at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/005. 

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

30 Jan 2024006: An ADHD Diagnosis Doesn't Have to Mean Medication with Dana Kay00:31:45

Six million kids in America are diagnosed with ADHD.

ADHD expert and health practitioner Dana Kay asks a very important question about that number: How many of those diagnoses are real ADHD?

Her story will bring tears to your eyes but also hope to your heart, and after helping her own son find healing, this fierce mama bear is now on a mission so that other families with this diagnosis don’t have to struggle as hers did.

The 2 BEST truth bombs of the interview?

  1. I learned what it looks like when a child whose gut is inflamed stops eating gluten. This may change your life!
  2. We established that chores build executive function, and since kids with ADHD struggle with executive function — what better muscle to build than their pre-frontal lobe?!

Whether you have a child with ADHD in your life, struggle with any other neuro-diversity including anxiety, or just want to learn more about the gut-brain connection and how you can bring hope to other parents, this interview is a fast-paced winner.

We discuss:

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

06 Feb 2024007: Do Tics Start in the Gut? Answers for Families of Kids with Autism with Dr. Piper Gibson00:31:42

I realized during this interview (and never before) that my own husband had a tic off and on for years in our early marriage and before.

Seriously!

He was always told it was either neurological/anxiety or that he should see an eye doctor (who didn’t know what to do). For years we tried to figure out environmental patterns like what season or climate/city/state it might happen in or stop happening after being present for a few weeks.


But what if…it was all in his GUT???


We’ve done a lot of gut healing for him over the years, including reversing a chronic autoimmune disease, and he hasn’t experienced the blinking for a really long time.


If you’re interested at all in the gut-brain connection and how to help kids on the spectrum and/or with tics resolve them, OR how to help your own kids understand how to talk about and interact lovingly and respectfully with kids struggling with something like a tic, this is a must-listen.


Dr. Piper Gibson needed answers so badly for her own son that she left the SAHM mom life and went back to school to find a solution that no one else could give her. (Spoiler: There’s a reason she’s known as a tic expert, and wait until you hear how it all went with her son!)


Resources We Mention for Gut Health

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

13 Feb 2024008: Frequently Asked Questions about Picky Eating with an Expert (...Me!)00:29:47

Picky eating has always been a tricky challenge for parents, but did you know it’s been getting worse in the last few decades and particularly since the stress of the pandemic?

Parents are frustrated and not sure what to do, partly because the root cause of picky eating is often not even in the food itself.

I’ve been teaching kids to cook for eight years and realized that what parents need most isn’t the cooking (at least they don’t think they do), but the eating part. I started using my background as an elementary educator and mom of 4 to tackle the picky eating problem, and people had a lot of success with my suggestions.

Then I was trained a few years ago by an incredible picky eating expert, Dr. Kay Toomey, and I learned even more, especially about root causes. It’s my honor to work with parents on a regular basis to reduce the stress at their kitchen tables and help their kids build a great relationship with food.

My P.E.P. Club (Picky Eating Playbook) membership includes plenty of opportunities for Q&A, and I thought it might be interesting to give you a peek into some popular Qs about picky eating today.

Katie will be interviewing…Katie. Ha!

Hope you enjoy learning about:

  • strategies for getting a child to drink more
  • promoting family unity at mealtime
  • dealing with kids who change their minds about food
  • handling junk food at other people's houses
  • motivating kids to come to the table
  • and helping kids get more comfortable with foods

Picky Eating Resources We Mentioned Today

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

20 Feb 2024009:The Real Cause of Picky Eating (It’s Likely NOT Parenting) with Dr. Kay Toomey01:18:31

See full show notes at kidscookrealfood.com/009.

Plenty of parents complain about their kids being "so darn picky!" (including me, even though I know I shouldn't use that word!).

But what IS a picky eater, really?

Did you know:

  • Only about 1/3 of kids are actually picky, although 50% struggle age 2-3.
  • Only about 25% of kids outgrow it.
  • 5-10% are problem feeders and need professional help.

Dr. Kay Toomey explains how parents can determine if their "severity" meter is accurate when it comes to their kids eating. Do you have a problem feeder who is truly extreme? Or just a picky eater? These questions will help you determine!

And the craziest part -- it might not all be in your child's head, even if they are having trouble accepting a wide variety of foods.

It turns out that what matters is how much it takes to chew, physically, and what food feels/looks/tastes/sounds like etc. to the child. Some picky eaters just never learned to chew properly! :o #mindblown

Here you'll get help understanding WHY your kids are so wiggly at dinner, the special chair that could make all the difference, and more practical tips and picky eater solutions.

According to Dr. Toomey, it takes real intentionality to help your kids expand their palates — most kids won’t just “grow out of it” like we secretly hope!

From the extra little plate you’ll now set on the table to the way in which food is served, to your rules about who moves (the food or the kid), your routines are about to be turned upside down! But if your kids eat better with fewer power struggles…isn’t it worth it?

Resources We Mention to Help Picky Eaters

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

27 Feb 2024010: Sensory Processing Disorder & How to Get Kids to Eat Healthy Anyway00:40:26

Sensory Processing Disorder refers to difficulties that happen in some children where their brain struggles to make sense of input coming from the sensory environment. Information comes to our brain through our five senses. The brain has to make sense of it so that we can react appropriately. The brains of kids with SPD struggle to make sense of this information quickly and effectively.

This usually impacts eating in some way. There is a difference between picky eaters and kids with true feeding disorders. Kids that are picky won’t eat some foods, but at least they have a range of foods they eat. Kids with feeding disorders usually have less than 20 foods in their diet, and they may even be brand or presentation specific.

Usually, the first step for BOTH of these types is exposure to new foods without expecting them to eat them. Listen to the interview to find out how to get kids to eat a wider variety of foods by asking them not to eat!

Resources We Mention for Sensory Processing Disorder and Picky Eaters

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

05 Mar 2024011: Balancing Motherhood and Self-Care by Simplifying with Chanelle Neilson00:35:30

How does a mom get time for herself to dream?

She uses a system!

My guest today founded Mom University to give moms the training, tools, and support for the most important job they will ever do.

In this episode, she’ll teach us about a proven method for figuring out what that “thing” is outside of motherhood that you really want, and then making it happen - without sacrificing your family in the process.

In fact, everyone will be happier when Mom is doing better.

We talk about making dreams into actionable goals, then making tiny habits that actually STICK to make those goals into a reality. Chanelle applies her system for all of you who are thinking, “I wish I could teach my kids to cook!” but it feels too big, too hard.

You’ll love this inspirational episode!


Resources for Moms We Mentioned Today:

‌

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

12 Mar 2024012: Hope for Healing: Childhood Trauma and Resilience with Ryan Pink00:40:56

Ryan Pink is a survivor. Like many of us, he’s faced some hard things, and has come out the other side swinging.

In this episode, we dive pretty deeply into trauma - what it is and isn’t, and how we can protect our kids from trauma digging too deeply into them.

Ryan walks through his own healing journey, including how expensive it was (I hope you’re sitting down!).

That experience led him to ask a lot of questions and talk to over 500 adults trying to heal from their own trauma, and he came up with some answers…and more questions.

“What did we do to heal from trauma before therapy existed? Can we still tap into those strategies?”

What if people don’t have a lot of money or bandwidth to figure out how to heal from their own demons?

Ryan founded HopeGuide, an online service designed to reduce the barriers to healing for those with trauma. You’ll love hearing about how HopeGuide works, and even more, how Ryan instructs us to build resilience in our families for our children.

Shall I spoil the ending? I think so:

”Relationship is THE most important thing we can have.”

If you’re on board with that, this interview is for you!

Resourced We Mentioned Today:



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

19 Mar 2024013: Stress Busting for Moms: One Simple Habit to Use Every Day!00:19:39

Raise your thumb if you feel STRESS on a normal day!

We busy moms (and dads) tend to experience stress and feel it right down to our breathing and heart rate, and it affects the way we parent, our productivity, and our own mental AND physical health.

Today I’m so excited to use my stress mastery training to teach you about how our brains respond to stress, how it affects our bodies, and best of all, how WE CAN be in control of it!

Check out this one simple technique that you can teach your kids for stress relief!

Notes for Today


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

26 Mar 2024014: The BFF Strategy to Reduce Stress and Increase Your Mental Capacity!00:31:08

We talked last week about STRESS and its impact on our health and our relationship with our families. I challenged you to be more aware of your breath and take the “Moment to Breathe” challenge, and a few of you chimed in after trying it that it’s really working!!

Personally I found being aware of my breath and its ability to control my bodily reaction to stress to be life changing and revolutionary! Why? Because I can control my breath, and in this world where too often things feel out of control, that’s a game-changer.

In part 2 today, we’ll discuss how to close the gap between demand and capacity…it turns out that stress ISN’T what happens to you that’s stressful, it’s a combination of what happens and how capable you are in reacting to it. (Hint: Responding is better than reacting anyway. More in the video!)

I’ll teach my Stress Mastery instructor’s BFF method – you’ve learned the “B” and now for the rest! Dr. Heidi Hanna is the director of the American Institute of Stress and absolutely brilliant at making stress positive fuel for change, plus keeping everything easy to understand. I hope I share her information well as I’m certified as a “Stress Mastery Educator"!

Show Notes

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

02 Apr 2024015: Can We Help Our Highly Sensitive Kids Manage Their Stress Sensitivity? with Dr. Heidi Hanna00:35:39

I'm so happy to have my stress mastery mentor here today!

Heidi Hanna, PhD, is one of the most intellectual, intuitive and compassionate people I know, and I'm honored to host her wisdom today. We recorded this interview in March 2020, when we were all in a tailspin and figuring out managing our stress was more important than ever!

Fill your brain with Dr. Hanna's research and her personal experience today:

  • At age 10, Heidi was fainting from stress - literally. Find out how to help if this happens to your child, or if they seem to get stomachaches and headaches in uncomfortable situations.
  • Highly sensitive kids actually fare better than other kids if raised in the right environment...but we don't always get that right as you'll hear.
  • What research is showing about how stress-sensitive people's brains work and why Dr. Hanna doesn't love the term "negativity bias," even though it's technically accurate to describe stress-sensitive people.
  • Why HSCs sometimes spiral into thinking like, "It's all my fault, I messed that up, I'm so dumb, and this is why NO ONE LIKES ME!" (I feel like that's my whole high school life!)
  • And more importantly, what parents can do to help kids stop that spiral, appreciate what their reactions are trying to tell them, and reverse the reaction.
  • How we can look at the ways in which our kids (or ourselves) are reacting to stress and understand what recharge techniques they need to get more capacity.
  • Dr. Hanna's encouragement for parents of HSCs and how we can see the positive about our children's personality.

Resources We Mention for Managing Stress

Check out today's sponsor, JustThrive, at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/justhrive, and use Katie15 for 15% off!

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

09 Apr 2024016: How We’re Failing Our Kids by Not Letting THEM Fail with Bestselling Author Jessica Lahey00:59:41

I’ve been telling everyone about this book!

Ever since I read  The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey, it has truly changed my parenting. My mindset about the mistakes my kids make and little accidents they have is totally more peaceful, and the whole time I was absorbing the information, I was thinking, “How can I interview this author so I can share her amazing wisdom with my audience???”

Turns out all I had to do was post something I had done using the Failure Philosophy with one of my kids here on Facebook, and someone tagged her and now — here we are! 😀

Here are a few things we talked about:

  • How teachers are finding that kids these days are literally “less teachable,” and how fear of making mistakes and inability to deal with frustration turned out to be at the root
  • Jessica’s surprising story of how old her child was when he learned to tie his shoes, and how that wake-up call brought her middle school teaching strategies into her parenting
  • What simple three-letter word we need to use so much more with our kids to help them focus on process and progress
  • Why it’s so hard for us as parents to let our kids fail!
  • The reason college kids are taking longer to finish college even though they are really smart and have high test scores… 
  • One simple step to help our kids break free from their helplessness
  • Why “self-directed executive function” should be part of your interaction with your kids, and some questions to ask them regularly 
  • An easy equation for figuring out how much responsibility we can give each of our children at various ages
  • Why the kitchen is an excellent place to promote failure and the motivation for us to do it!

If you have kids in sports, want more homework help, and wish you knew what to do with report cards or chores and more, The Gift of Failure is a must-read (or listen to)!

Resources We Mention for Letting Kids Fail

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

16 Apr 2024017: Discipline With No Punishment at All! (Especially for Parents of Aggressive Boys!) with Tosha Schore00:40:16

I used Tosha's tips the very DAY we recorded this interview, and I have to tell you -- they work. So well.

Once you hear about her strategy for reducing frustration and nipping "negative spirals" in the bud, you'll know why when my husband spent a ton of time hanging with our then-5-year-old, Gabe, over Christmas break, he said:

"You know, Gabe has had a really good break. He hasn't been having any tantrums or behavior issues at ALL. And I'm really treasuring my time with him...he won't be little for very much longer!!"

Tosha Schore is a parent coach who specializes in the biggest surprise of her own life -- parenting boys!

In this interview that I did NOT want to end, you'll learn:

  • Why empowered women can still raise strong, balanced boys
  • The very first step to disciplining without punishment (I kind of had to ask this twice because I wasn't understanding; I was a little slow to catch on because the answer has nothing to do with children!!)
  • Why words are not powerful enough to stop aggressive behavior
  • How the isolation of modern parenting is hurting our efforts
  • The mindset shift that rocked my thinking when Tosha explained how to respond to and appreciate a boy getting upset when fun time ends (I will have to work HARD to implement this one, folks, I need all the encouragement I can get!)
  • The most powerful antidote to aggression (and it's free to use!)

I do think a lot of Tosha's tips apply to girls too, but I really appreciate her focus on boys and the disconnect a lot of mommas in particular feel with their opposite-gender child. (Yes, boys and girls are different! Amazing fact!!)

Resources We Mention for Parenting Boys

Visit today's sponsor, Happsy, at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/happsy and see full show notes and video at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/017.

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

23 Apr 2024018: The Secret to Raising Strong-Willed "Cactus" Kids with Wendy Snyder00:50:52

Power. Control. Parenting.

Which of these three doesn’t belong?

My guest today is Wendy Snyder, a positive parenting educator who reminds us, “Control is not the goal of parenting.”

Obviously, there is a balance of power in a parent-child relationship, but taking the power or fighting over who has power isn’t the right game to play.

Wendy will teach you:

  • Why yelling is sometimes what parents do when they feel powerLESS
  • Why it’s so difficult to parent “cactus kids” - aka those who want to be in power
  • Steps to reduce your reliance on fear, force, bribery, rewards & nagging to influence your kids
  • Powerful positive strategies that not only help you self-calm, but also work to decrease pushback from your kiddos
  • How to get to the root of your child’s power-seeking misbehavior so you can effectively redirect them toward better behavior

If you’re struggling with a powerful child or wishing you had a roadmap to calmer parenting, this one is for you!

Wendy is a camp leader for #LifeSkillsNow Summer Camp this June! Sign up for free here!

Resources We Mention for Raising Strong-Willed Kids

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

30 Apr 2024019: How to Help Kids Thrive with (and in spite of) Tech and Screens with Andrea Davis of Better Screen Time00:45:19

Oh, parents. Parents in the tech age...there REALLY is no handbook for this! We've never seen our parents struggle through having the Internet in our kids' pockets, and honestly? I don't like the feeling of making it up as I go along.

That's why I've been following Andrea and Tyler at Better Screen Time for a few years in my personal email, and I don't know why I didn't ask her to do an interview sooner!

We dug deep in this interview,  including:

  • Risks of screen use and technology, including some I NEVER even considered
  • Why we can't parent from a place of fear (even though that bit above is scary!!!)
  • How parents can consciously choose when a child gets a personal device
  • The risk of allowing our kids to self-soothe with screens
  • The importance of kids under 6 doing the hard work of playing
  • The difference between watching a show and playing on an interactive touch screen (mind-blowing!)
  • What questions you should ask your kids to help build a family tech plan (and why "together" works better than "rules from the top")

This interview is required listening for all parents, and we really dig into healthy screen boundaries for kids younger than 10. Lay the foundations for family tech use with this interview, and watch in a few months when I have Andrea back to tackle the tough topic of tweens, teens, and smartphones.

Andrea offered a free gift for our listeners 100 screen-free activities.

Andrea is a camp leader for #LifeSkillsNow Summer Camp this June! Sign up for free here!

Check out 3rd Rock Essentials and use code KITCHENSTEW for 20% off!

Resources We Mention for Better Screen Time

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

07 May 2024020: Why Teaching Your Kids Chores and Life Skills Is NOT Taking Advantage of Them00:31:10

In today's Healthy Parenting Handbook, 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

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

10 May 2024021: What Is Your Kid's Poo Telling You? with Dr. Elisa Song (BONUS episode!)00:34:32

For real, let's talk about Kid POOP. Because it doesn't get enough press! Dr. Song talks about kids' poop with every patient at every visit. You're going to love this interview!

Dr. Elisa Song, MD, holistic pediatrician, is back today with some very important instruction for parents and kids about WHY we need to be aware of our kid's poop each day, what to look for in a healthy poop, and what "text messages" our poop is sending us.


Once we learn to interpret the language of poop, we might need her tips on:

  • How gut health impacts our brains and immune system and alllll the many ailments that likely begins in the gut
  • Kicking constipation naturally (she explains why Miralax is NOT a good solution)
  • How to find a good probiotic
  • Best exercise for good digestion
  • What happens to our digestion when we literally "eat on the run"

Dr. Song's new book Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience releases on Tuesday, May 14! You can purchase it on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or ask your local bookstore or library if they'll get it.

Kids' Poop Resources We Mention

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

14 May 2024022: Nurturing Young Skeptics: Essential Guide to Teaching Critical Thinking to Kids and Teens with Kathy Gibbens00:45:28

When is the last time your kids were learning something in school and you got totally pulled in?

That happened to today’s podcast guest, Kathy Gibbens, when her daughter was learning logic and critical thinking in middle school, and Kathy became a mom on a mission.

She realized critical thinking is, well, critical to our society thriving and started teaching others things like logical fallacies and how to spot propaganda and emotion-driven marketing.

I adored our conversation in this podcast! Look forward to some learning and some great challenges to become a better parent and a better person. Listen for:

  • the deets on WHY critical thinking isn’t taught in schools (it was intentional!! What???)
  • tons of easy-to-learn terms that open up the world of logic
  • why life is better for those who can think well
  • simple steps to take to foster critical thinking in your home
  • some really HARD steps to take to foster critical thinking in your home! ;)
  • how helping little kids build their critical thinking muscles is different than tweens and teens
  • why it’s a gargantuan problem if your teens aren’t disagreeing with you…yes, I said are NOT disagreeing with you
  • some super tips to help our kids take ownership of their health and nutrition

Seriously, this is a fantastic interview - I told Kathy when we started that I typically shoot for half an hour podcasts, but the more fascinating the interview, the longer I generally let it slide. By the timestamp you can see that I couldn’t stop asking questions and eating up everything Kathy was dishing out!

Resources We Mention for Critical Thinking

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

21 May 2024023: Expected Mess Vs. True Clutter - What's the Difference and How to Solve Them with Katy Wells00:55:05

Confession: My house is VERY cluttered.

I have never been good at letting go of things. “I might need that someday!” “What about the grandkids? They’ll want to read that book!”

I’m always a little anxious and yet inspired when I talk to organizers and decluttering experts, and this conversation with Katy Wells will not disappoint!!

Her story was a huge surprise to me and made her all the more believable. Katy is super passionate about keeping a home that allows you to focus on what truly matters, and I love her sense of balance and reality as well.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

  • What clutter really is (and why we might not have heard about decluttering 30+ years ago)
  • Women’s biggest clutter pain points (see if these rooms in your house have issues!)
  • Why fixing the clutter problem is never as easy as “following a checklist”
  • The 3 layers of clutter and challenges that come with the deeper layers (and no, that’s not physical layers as in the piles on your desk LOL!)
  • How to teach kids to clean up, declutter, and start life with the right mindset about STUFF!
  • A sneak preview of Katy’s brand new workshop in the #LifeSkillsNow summer camp, season 3!
  • Why we can find beauty in our messes (a tear jerker!)

Resources We Mention for Clutter Management

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

28 May 2024024: Why Kids Need to Understand Their Bodies (And a Few Practical Ways to Teach Them) with Dr. Robin Dickinson00:47:08

What happens when you’re already living your dream…but it’s a dream interrupted?

Dr. Robin Dickinson was a family practitioner who loved her job and her patients, and she was GOOD at what she did. But when the pandemic sent her kids home from school, they needed her more.

What happened next is nothing short of extraordinary.

In today’s interview, you’ll learn:

  • Why teaching kids in-depth medical science helps them understand and care for their bodies.
  • Why education should focus on a balanced approach that includes hands-on skills and trades.
  • How to tell kids that certain foods are “good” or “bad” the RIGHT way - in spite of the social media voices saying we mustn’t ever never ever…
  • One doctor’s advice on managing candy consumption!!!
  • That imperfect parents can still parent GREAT kids (good news for me, you too?)
  • How to encourage scientific thinking
  • Plus a little bit about Doc Robin’s TWO awesome #LifeSkillsNow summer camp workshops!

I love Doc Robin’s philosophy on helping kids OWN their health not through cajoling, not even by example, but by education. Can’t wait to hear what you think of this one!

Resources We Mention for Learning About Your Body

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

04 Jun 2024025: Tapping into Creativity and Why Woodworking Helps Kids Learn Real Life Skills with Anika Gandhi00:32:48

I interview a LOT of different people in a myriad of professions, but I’ve never come close to having a woodworker on the show before!

“What would we talk about - how to build things? That won’t go well on a podcast in someone’s ear…” I thought.

Do not worry my friends, because Anika and I are both moms, so we dig into woodworking as an analogy for parenting and life skills, and I know you’ll be inspired to make time for a creative pursuit after this!

We talk about:

  • How Anika went from being an engineer and scientist to breaking boundaries as a female woodworker on YouTube
  • Why the best way to get started with woodworking is…just to get started :)
  • How her engineering background helped Anika be a better woodworker and the MYTH of right-brained/left-brained work
  • The incredibly valuable life skills kids (and adults) learn while building projects - problem-solving and patience are biggies but wait until you hear the most important skill!
  • The two tools you’ll need to buy to get started - a very low barrier to entry!!
  • All about confidence, failure, and great parenting
  • Why Anika sees failure as an opportunity
  • The importance of carving out time for creative hobbies as parents (and modeling all sorts of skills for our kids)

Let’s grab a power drill and get building!

Resources We Mention for Exploring Creativity

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

11 Jun 2024026: Villain to Mentor - Becoming the Person Your Teen Turns to Instead of Fights Against with Joey Mascio00:41:52

You’ve heard people say it …You may have said something similar yourself …

It’s a negative judgment on teens, especially parenting teens.

“Oh, just look out for when they’re teenagers!”

“Teens are just moody…just confrontational…just tough to parent.”

Etc. Etc. Etc.

I’ve said it too, and I feel regret!

Turns out, most of the time, I puffy-heart-love parenting teens. They’re spectacular! They’re inquisitive! They’re deep thinkers!

And they’re a joy to be around.

Parenting teens is not without its challenges, but what in life is?

Joey Mascio has been an actor and a middle school teacher, not much difference there. :)

Today he joins us to inspire us to be our teens' mentors, not a villain, and I know your mind will be challenged (in a good way). We discuss:

  • Why parents and teens have such trouble understanding each other (spoiler: it’s not the teen’s fault)
  • Whether parenting was more difficult for our parents or now, and one (reversible) reason WHY that’s so
  • The way you’ll talk to your teen once you start thinking about your teen the right way
  • Why teens have trouble starting conversations
  • The 3 things teens NEED to be successful (and how parents can use those elements to do better at our job and build our teens' confidence)
  • How teens can go from a sidekick mentality to a hero mentality
  • The importance of failure and telling our own imperfect stories

I feel like that only scratches the surface - if you’re a parent of a teen or will be someday, get the foundations right with the strategies in this interview!

Resources We Mention for Mentoring Teens

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

18 Jun 2024027: Feeding Your Growing Family Well Without Going Broke with Erin Chase of $5 Dinners00:47:16

Grocery budget hurting?

Erin Chase of $5 Dinners has been making inexpensive meals to save her family’s grocery budget since the real estate crisis of 2008. She says the current inflation problem is similar in how it’s making people feel about money and savings, and it’s TIME to pay attention to your food budget, no matter who you are.

In this episode, prepare to learn:

  • How to stay ahead of the curve and adapt to the ever-changing world
  • Why thinking about your dinner cost is even more important than finding a sale or thinking about what’s in your cart at the moment
  • The most important part of the meal to focus on to cut costs
  • How one appliance can make a huge difference in your planning
  • Erin’s awesome four-step process to gradually let go and teach kids to cook
  • How parents need to be intentional about teaching budgeting to kids (and it’s a lot more like raising toddlers than you think!)

We guarantee you’ll learn at least one (hopefully many!) hack to save time, money, or stress while you nourish your family!

Erin is a camp leader at #LifeSkillsNow summer camp, season 3, teaching kids how to make double the food in half the time – yum!

Register for free!

Resources We Mention for Cutting Your Grocery Budget

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

21 Jun 2024028: Your Task List Is No Good! Says Megan Sumrell + Why Harmony Is Better Than Balance00:54:32

I actually HUGGED my to-do lists, all of them, during this interview!

My guest Megan Sumrell warned me that she was going to tell me task lists are no good. I added that to my list. ;)

If you’ve ever felt like you have too much to do, too many demands on your time, or like you’re bound to that to-do list, this episode is for you!

We discuss:

  • Why traditional time management systems often fail to address the emotional and mental load
  • The difference between task lists and plans
  • The challenge of estimating how long something will take (spoiler: I’m terrible at this!)
  • Why that time right after school deserves to be called “running the gauntlet” and how to reduce anxiety about that time of day
  • Whether tech is a help or a hindrance to productivity
  • Some incredible tips for building routines with your little ones and teaching tweens and teens how to begin to manage their own time effectively
  • The connection between time management and a financial budget
  • Why you shouldn’t feel guilty for “not being on top of everything”

I learned a lot about myself and why I sabotage my own to-do lists even as I cling to them, and I hope you get to introspect as well!!

Resources We Mention for Time Management

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

24 Jun 2024029: The Importance of Life Skills in a Digital Age00:26:48

What life skills are kids and teens going to need in this fast-paced digital world???

We can’t really predict what specific skills our kids will need in 20 years, BUT we know they’ll need to know how to learn and other “soft skills.”

Enjoy meeting a handful of our #LifeSkillsNow summer camp leaders as we explore what our youth need most and how parents can serve. Whether it’s about owning ones health, planning ahead, or responding well to others, you’ll love this info as well as a 3-step process to make it happen. Mental first, then verbal, then intentional. You got this, parents!

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

09 Jul 2024030: Solving the Summer Snacks Dilemma00:19:00

Grabbing a piece of whole fruit or a popsicle are both fast, easy, and refreshing in the summer.

But will they give your kids fuel for summer play?

We know we’ll be asked about snacks approximately 5,287 times … in June. 😉 Nobody wants that!

Here are some ideas to keep snacking running smoothly and prevent hungry tummy issues:

  1. Make a System
  2. Watch for Sugar
  3. Teach your kids “Satisfying”
  4. Protein and Fat Make it Stick
  5. Try New Recipes

Resources We Mention For Healthy Snacks

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

16 Jul 2024031: Seek Shade or Embrace the Sun? What to Look for in a Safe Sunscreen with Tatyana Cerullo00:29:07

Did you start to question the products you put on your kids’ skin once you were a mom? Meet Tatyana Cerullo, attorney, and formulator of Kōkua Suncare, who came to that realization as she saw the legal system behind the marketing.

We get so much conflicting information these days about whether the sun is something to hide from or embrace, what’s safe to apply on our skin, and how to manage it all. Now as a mom of 2, Tatyana brings a nice balance to the conversation.

Sunscreen is easy to buy, excruciatingly simple to spray on, but deadly hard to understand. Our family has personally tested over 120 kinds of mineral sunscreen, and Kōkua is far and away one of the best! We’ll share our quick 2-minute “what to remember” for parents who want the best, healthy experience of life for their kids AND be able to run to the beach!

Resources We Mention About Natural Sunscreen

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

23 Jul 2024032: Olympic Gold Medalist Shannon Miller on “The Gold Medal Mindset”00:34:02

Shannon Miller is a 7-time Olympic medalist and has over 100 national competition medals in gymnastics as well, more than half the gold kind. People in our generation certainly remember her name from the “Magnificent Seven” team gold winners in the 1996 Olympic games, where she captured the first balance beam gold an American had ever achieved.

She’s no stranger to hard work and success, obviously, and she went on after gymnastics to study marketing and entrepreneurship and even earned her law degree from Boston College.

Then life got a little crazier – she had her first baby in 2009, launched her company “The Shannon Miller Lifestyle: Health and Fitness for Women” in 2010, and in 2011 was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Now that’s a full plate and plenty of challenges, but Shannon used her Olympic grit to triumph in all areas, had another child in 2013, and wrote a book to inspire others to overcome their own personal challenges.

Today we get to talk about healthy mindset and goal setting and how parents can encourage a gold medal mindset in their children, even if they’re not into athletics.

Healthy Mindset Resources We Mentioned

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

30 Jul 2024033: How to Raise THRIVERS – Mentally Strong Kids with a “WE GOT THIS!” Attitude with Michele Borba00:36:50

Not kidding, I referenced this interview FOUR times the same week we recorded — it’s THAT pertinent to our jobs as parents!

Today we’re focusing on the MOST important quality our kids need today – resilience. Michele Borba's book THRIVERS is about 7 teachable skills that set happy, healthy, and high-performing kids apart — and I believe those are listed in an intentional order.

If you find yourself wondering why some kids struggle and others shine, spoiler alert: It’s not about GPA.

This is a must-listen! Find out:

  • Why Michele has never been more worried about this current generation – even before the pandemic (and it’s worse now)
  • A toxic recipe for resilience that too many of us are using to raise kids
  • What makes a child a “THRIVER” – having the skills and abilities to do well in the real world
  • The power of observing your kids to focus on their current strengths
  • How the 7 traits show up in kids (and how many your kids need to thrive)
  • The 2 things all kids need to thrive and whether all kids are capable of becoming a thriver
  • One question to ask yourself that will ensure you raise confident kids (this is powerful!!)

We both talk fast, folks, so buckle up for a WEALTH of valuable information that will change the way you think about your kids and the choices you make as a parent!!! The world needs this!

Resources We Mention for Raising Resilient Kids

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

13 Aug 2024034: What Middle Schoolers Need to Thrive with Counselor Phyllis Fagell00:45:04

I learned today that I still have a lot of internal tendencies from middle school. 😮

Middle school can be a foreign land and a tumultuous time, and figuring out how to parent middle schoolers is hard on parents. We want our kids to be happy, resilient, and thriving, not wilting, crying, and worrying.

As we head back to school, stresses are always high, and our kids need us to help them stay balanced and continue growing and developing. Middle school is particularly tough, but it turns out it’s very navigable with the right perspective.

Whether you have a tween in middle school now or a child who will someday be there, these parenting tools are incredible, insightful, and some will take some time to practice. Start early by parenting your tween when they’re about 5!

You’ll learn:

  • Why middle schoolers are SO different from other age groups
  • The many crises of pre-adolescence and WHY they all pile up at once
  • The shocking difference between girls’ and boys’ confidence and interaction with the world in middle school
  • Simple stories parents can tell to improve mental well-being for their kids
  • The bane of the “imaginary audience,” particularly for girls 
  • A game you can play to help reframe tween drama (and tone down its deleterious effects)
  • How to gradually release responsibility to your pre-teen (and the disastrous impact if you ever take it back!)
  • The 2 best ways to start every conversation with a tween (or teen)
  • Why learning to cook can help kids try new things at school too
  • Why it’s nearly impossible to teach a middle schooler to “be yourself” (this one kind of breaks my heart)
  • One practical way to help your kids choose the right friends (this is seriously gold because we all know how powerful friends are in how our kids turn out!!)
  • A resilience coping tool that I used the very day I recorded this interview so I wouldn’t forget how to do it…

Resources We Mention for Parenting Middle Schoolers

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

20 Aug 2024035: How Anxiety in Kids Is Causing Attention Problems at School with Dr. Wiggy Saunders00:31:38

We know that anxiety is affecting both kids and adults at alarming rates.

We’ve discussed anxiety busters before on The Healthy Parenting Handbook, and today we’re completing the trifecta of experts with an MD who practices integrative medicine.

Dr. Wiggy Saunders joins me to dive into anxiety once again because we can’t give parents enough strategies to help their kids (and themselves) dig out of their anxious lives. We’re focusing specifically on how anxiety is affecting kids’ school performance.

Your mind will be blown with how closely anxiety and focus/attention are connected, and how certain strategies may help reduce your kids’ struggles in both areas!

We’ll talk about:

  • Dr. Wiggy’s favorite Bible verse
  • How different types of anxiety can escalate one to the other
  • The impact of parental anxiety on our kids
  • The role of adrenals in stress and how to support them with the nutrients they’re consuming like a ravenous teenager
  • What magnesium in particular “says” to the adrenals to calm them down, and how that may impact kids’ school performance
  • The 4 vitamins and minerals most important to boost your immune system

Resources We Mentioned for Anxiety in Kids

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

27 Aug 2024036: Unlocking Your Health Potential: The Role of Epigenetics in Personalized Wellness with Brenda Wollenberg00:56:42

Bet you a million bucks you’ve heard people say (or said yourself):

  • It’s too complicated to get healthy - everyone says something different!
  • Such and such diet/strategy/exercise worked for so-and-so, why isn’t it working for me?
  • I feel like I’ve tried everything and it’s so hard to figure out what works!

Maybe, just maybe… everyone is different?

Years ago the term “bio-individuality” began to be a buzzword, and I thought it would be the “next big thing.” It is, sort of.

It might not be big enough.

But it still should be!

What if your genes could give you a pathway to your OWN optimal health? Not your friend’s success, not the next influencer’s advice, and not even current research?

Using genetics to make a personalized health plan sounds cutting edge, and it is - but it’s also reality.

My guest Brenda Wollenberg and I talk about gene-based holistic wellness programs today, and even more exciting, the promise and hope of epigenetics.

Epigenetics is the theory that through what we do and what happens to us - our environment - we can change our genes, basically toggle certain ones on or off. Your genes are not your destiny!

Listen in to find out how this works and even how you can apply epigenetics and gene personalization to your parenting and keeping kids healthy, even if you never get your kids' genes tested.

Resources We Mention

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

03 Sep 2024037: The Secret to Standing All Day (& Why Kids Should Do It at School!) with Juliet Starrett00:38:49

What are your feet doing RIGHT NOW? Are you standing on them?

If not...stand up and listen to this!

I learned so much from Juliet Starrett, founder of one of first 50 CrossFit gyms in America who got passionate about kids' mobility when she saw a HUGE problem at her daughter's field day. She launched StandUpKids.org, a nonprofit dedicated to funding standing desks for schoolchildren, and she's nearing 100,000 kids standing up all day!

Think that sounds crazy? Some parents in those schools do too, but you gotta hear why teachers <3 <3 <3 it and parents all come around eventually.

Juliet taught me how to use my standing desk much better than I was already, and we even talked about food and kids and picky eaters (and our general intolerance for short-order cooking).

Whether your kids are in school or at home all day, we challenge you to get them MOVING for their health!

Note: This podcast was recorded a few years ago. In 2024, Juliet has moved on from StandUp Kids, but you can find her on The Ready State and her podcast!

Resources We Mention About the Benefits of Standing

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

17 Sep 2024039: How School Lunch May Contribute to Picky Eating00:31:58

Note: I mention in this interview to go to episode 38, but things got switched around and it's actually 39. Sorry!

No one has to say school lunches are good or bad, healthy or unhealthy.

That’s not my point today - although I think school lunches could use some improvement. :)

Today let’s talk about picky eating specifically - could school lunches potentially contribute to or exacerbate picky tendencies for certain kids?

I think so.

Today I’ll explore 10 reasons why school lunch might not be friendly to your picky eater. Some might apply to your family, others might not. Let me know what you think!

If you’re struggling with a child who isn’t a very adventurous eater, I’ve got just the invitation for you - please join me in the No More Picky Eating Challenge kicking off October 1st and 2nd, 2024! It’s a totally free, 5-day challenge with quick video lessons and action steps each day.

Over half of the kids in the challenge try new foods in just 5 days, but that’s not even the point. The point is to create a less stressful environment at the dinner table, and that happens for 85+% of participants!!

Join here!

Resources We Mention for Picky Eating

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

10 Sep 2024038: The Health of the Future & Preventing Nervous System Wounds for Your Children with Ann Odom00:58:13

If your child has ever thrown a tantrum…

If you’ve ever reacted, let’s say, “imperfectly” to that tantrum…

If you’ve ever wondered why your toddler or teen is having a meltdown over something seemingly inconsequential…

My friends, then this interview is a MUST LISTEN.

Ann is an incredible teacher - let’s learn about:

  • The impact of childhood experiences on adult relationships and parenting
  • How to protect our kids from being “wounded” in childhood and acting that out as adults!
  • Why empathizing with a child’s big emotions is NOT the same thing as letting them get their way (with some super fun examples)
  • How to play detective when your child has a meltdown (and how to soothe them faster than usual!)
  • Why “mental health” probably isn’t even an accurate term to use
  • How going outside to throw a ball against the wall might make you a better parent
  • What to say to boys who still cry about frustrating events when you feel like they’re “too old” for that
  • How eating plays into nervous system regulation - and believe me, this one is NOT what I expected but rather almost the opposite!

I couldn’t stop asking Ann questions, so this episode is a little longer than usual but SO worth it.

Resources We Mention for Nervous System Regulation

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

24 Sep 2024040: Speech & Picky Eating: Expert Tips to Help Parents Intro New Foods to Kids with Melanie Potock, SLP00:34:38

Did you know that the way your child eats can affect their speech and vice versa?

Melanie Potock is a Speech-Language Pathologist who became a pediatric feeding expert through her experience as a mom of a former picky eater. She uses her SLP expertise to help parents introduce new foods to kids, form healthy eating habits, and really lay the foundation for a lifetime of good nutrition.

I’m honored to host her here today on the Healthy Parenting Handbook! 

I know you’ll love Melanie and these tips will really make a difference in your household immediately!

Resources We Mention to Raise Adventurous Eaters

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

01 Oct 2024041: Organizing Styles for Families and How Kids Organize Differently with Cas Aarssen of Clutterbug00:35:40

Cas of Clutterbug describes her “young mom” self as a hot mess – house a disaster and feeling horrible that she couldn’t get organized.

She finally realized a few important pieces of her own personality and is now a Recovering Super Slob turned Organizing Expert who teaches others how to tap into their own unique organizing styles, which she says are part of a person from birth.

Cas is a wizard at explaining how people work and how we can both get our homes in order AND pass on effective decluttering and organizing skills to our kids!

Check out today's sponsor, Perfect Supplements!

Resources We Mention for Organization Styles

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

08 Oct 2024042: 3 Ways Parents Can Help Prevent Depression in Their Kids00:22:27

Warning - sad statistic. :( The 2nd leading cause of death for kids ages 10-24 in America is...suicide.

I'm not okay with this!

Let's talk this Depression Awareness Month about prevention - there are research-based strategies that parents can use to reduce their kids' chances of being depressed. While depression isn't the only risk factor for suicide, it is certainly correlated.

If we can make these practices a part of American culture, we can save American kids!!

Today I'm expanding on these 3 things parents can do to raise depression-proof kids:

  1. Control stress - in yourself and then model and teach your kids to do it for themselves
  2. Boost self-esteem - through genuine purpose-driven work, not empty compliments
  3. Increase resilience - by letting kids learn to cope with failure and difficulties

This episode is sponsored by Just Thrive Probiotics! Check them out at kidscookrealfood.com/JustThrive. Use code Katie15 for 15% off!

Resources We Mention About Depression Prevention

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

15 Oct 2024043: Your Sleep Makes You a Better (or Worse) Parent -- Sleep Like the Boss You Are with Christine Hansen00:40:14

Will sleep become the new kale? Or the new cancer?

Adults are shorting themselves on sleep in droves in our "always-on" culture, and I'm unfortunately leading the pack. That's why I begged sleep science coach Christine Hansen to join me for a half hour to get some important tips!!

I started implementing a new way to wake up my kids immediately, and I know being a better parent means being well-rested (i.e. not angry mommy).

If you feel like you're not getting a tight 8 in bed OR your sleep quality doesn't feel optimal, this is a must listen. We talk about:

  • How adult sleep is so much more complicated than infant sleep.
  • Our brain's many jobs during sleep - and why we can't catch up! :(
  • Why caffeine and morning sleepiness are signs of sleep deprivation (ahem, anyone out there feel this??)
  • The anatomy of sleep and how to wake up at the perfect time
  • Problems for "night owls"
  • The BEST way to wake up your child (hint: it's not an alarm clock)
  • As a nutritional therapist, Christine has unique and powerful insights into how our food affects our sleep!
  • We dig into kids: bedtimes, sleepy at school, and even how dessert affects their sleep!
  • How many hours DO you need? How about teenagers?

This episode is sponsored by Just Thrive Probiotics. Check out their great, shelf-stable probiotics at kidscookrealfood.com/JustThive, and use coupon code Katie15 for 15% off! 

Resources We Mentioned on Sleep Quality

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

22 Oct 2024044: Breaking the Cycle of Busy, Broke, and Exhausted with Brie Sodano00:42:19

Let’s talk money!

If you’re feeling stuck living paycheck to paycheck, you’re in the majority here in America - but it doesn’t have to be that way!

Brie Sodano is a nationally recognized Personal Finance Expert, and she does things differently – today we flip some paradigms on their heads and get a peek into Brie’s wisdom and systems for money, including:

  • The ineffectiveness of budgets and the importance of mindset in managing money
  • The worst financial advice Brie has ever heard (I bet you’ve heard it too!!)
  • The interconnectedness of time, money, and energy in financial management
  • The impact of college education and student loan debt on financial well-being – and how to evaluate college as an investment
  • The best way for parents to build a healthy money mindset for their young children
  • Why systems work better than plans (and a few system recommendations that will make a massive difference)
  • How to look at grocery spending, and why you might not need to cut back there!
  • One step to take to spend less (and it’s not giving up yoga class or even that Starbucks latte!)
  • A simple habit to add to your family’s life that will help you feel better about money - and it’s not a financial habit!

Brie is a mom just like us, with all the surprises that come with parenting - like apparently having kids makes all your forks disappear. :) She’s funny and wise and a perfect person to have in your ear when it comes to thinking about money.

Be sure to check out her Find Your Bleed course for more!

Thank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Check out their organic cotton mattresses at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy.

Resources We Mention for Money Mindset

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

29 Oct 2024045: Why Are You So Tired? (Chronic Fatigue and Long Haulers with Dr. Evan Hirsch)00:52:07

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!

05 Nov 2024046: Sharing the Mental Load of Cooking Responsibility00:26:25

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

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

12 Nov 2024047: Teens and Fertility | Hormone Health Is NOT Just About Having Babies with Dr. Mandy Patterson00:44:48

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!

19 Nov 2024048: Is it Possible to Create a Peaceful Home in the Midst of a Chaotic World? with Jennifer Pepito00:38:25

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, a safe place from which our kids can explore?

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
  • Why rules don’t work when done incorrectly
  • The first step to creating a sacred home is so simple, it takes only about 10 seconds per day, per child

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

Resources We Mention for Creating a Peaceful Home

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

03 Dec 2024049: My Top Tips for Raising Nice Boys (From a Mom of Three Boys!)00:34:26

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!

10 Dec 2024050: What If You Could Actually Tidy Up Your Life? with Tyler Moore00:50:06

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!

17 Dec 2024051: Finding Nutrient Balance for Kids and Busy Families with Jess Donovan, Naturopath00:35:13

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!

07 Jan 2025052: The Risks of Consuming Synthetic Food Dyes with Whitney & Brandon Cawood | Are Food Dyes Bad for You?00:51:05

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!

Resources We Mention for Avoiding Food Dyes

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

14 Jan 2025053: Building Resilience & Reducing Stress in Kids: Interview with Jess Sherman00:38:18

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!

21 Jan 2025054: Redefining Parenting: Look for the Good with Ralphie Jacobs00:48:09

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!

28 Jan 2025055: Are You Breathing? You're Probably Doing It Wrong | Proper Breathing Technique with Shirley Gutkowski00:48:41

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!

04 Feb 2025056: Do You Think Parenting Ends at 18? Think Again with Kim Muench00:40:10

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!

11 Feb 2025057: Higher Level Thinking for Kids and How That Improves Independence and Life Skills with Author Noel Foy00:39:29

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. 

Want to join the podcast birthday party? Find out more HERE!

Resources We Mention for Executive Function


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

18 Feb 2025058: Kids Cooking Dinner? Teach Your Kids To Cook an Entire Meal...By Themselves!00:22:13

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

Thank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today. 

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

25 Feb 2025059: The Real Truth About Sugar AND Fake Sugar with Dr. Michael Goran of Sugarproof00:37:45

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

Thank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today. 

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

04 Mar 2025060: Women Metabolize and Build Strength Differently Than Men (Especially Over 30) with Pearl & Serene, authors of Trim Healthy Wisdom00:47:46

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

Thank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today. 

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

11 Mar 2025061: How Kids Can Learn to Deal with Big Challenges and Big Emotions with Counselor and Coping Skills Expert Janine Halloran00:37:49

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

Thank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today. 

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

18 Mar 2025062: What Is Mental Load? | How Moms Can Find Balance with Dr. Morgan Cutlip00:51:18

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

Thank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today. 

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

25 Mar 2025063: Is Homeschooling Right for You? Tips, Myths, and Encouragement for Moms with Monica Swanson00:36:42

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

Thank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today. 

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

01 Apr 2025064: How Connecting with Our Kids & Brain Science Makes Us Better Parents with Jennifer Kolari00:57:17

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

Thank you to today's sponsor, Happsy! Shop at kidscookrealfood.com/Happsy for an earth-friendly, affordable mattress today. 

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

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