Feeding kids is no easy feat for parents today, but with snacks, candy, and treats available virtually everywhere we go, it’s no wonder raising healthy, adventurous eaters can seem impossible.
Whether our kids are at school, sports, or running errands with us, they’re tempted with junk food at every turn. Plus, as a generation, we’ve also developed a mentality that kids need snacks in their strollers, on car rides, at playdates, and even at the doctor’s office. Sometimes, we even find ourselves doling out snacks when our kids get antsy or act up, to keep them occupied, or as a reward for a job well done.
In this episode, I’m talking with Dr. Nimali Fernando, a board-certified pediatrician, founder of the Dr. Yum Project, a non-profit that helps families and communities overcome the barriers to eating well, and co-author of, “Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater.”
Dr. Fernando talks about how our food culture has contributed to childhood obesity and chronic disease in the U.S., why kids are snacking all the time, and how it can lead to picky eating. We also talk about easy, practical ways parents can raise healthy eating kids despite our food culture and the other challenges we face.
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:19 — 22.9MB)
Welcome
2:30 What does research tell us about our food environment and chronic diseases like childhood obesity, type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)?
6:34 Is the 24/7 food environment one of the main causes of chronic disease among the pediatric population?
9:31 Why are food rewards a bad habit?
13:40 Why do parents think kids need snacks everywhere they go?
19:01 Why is it important to teach kids to recognize their hunger and satiety cues and how do we do that?
22:15 Can parents’ obsession with food and nutrition lead to kids feeling deprived and having an increased risk for disordered eating?
26:44 What are the reasons kids can become obsessed with food?
27:30 How can parents recognize the signs that their kids may be food-obsessed and what should they do about it?
28:08 What are a few practical tips for parents to raise healthy eaters when food is at every turn?
31:00 Where can listeners go to learn more about these food issues and you?
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Dr. Fernando’s non-profit organization, The Dr. Yum Project
Dr. Fernando is the co-author of “Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater.”
Dr. Yum Project’s meal•o•matic tool to make personalized meals.
Dr. Yum’s Food Adventure: Home Edition
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With hundreds of thousands of Americans dying each year from obesity, type-2 diabetes, and a slew of chronic health conditions—all a direct result of food inequities, a broken food culture, and food marketing, and worsened by COVID-19, a significant shift in how we think about food and how we feed our kids must happen now if we want to change the trajectory of health for our kids. Food Issues hosted by health journalist and blogger Julie Revelant features interviews with authors, researchers, healthy food advocates, and thought leaders who want to educate, inspire, and empower organizations, parents, and local communities to create real, lasting change and ensure a healthier future for our kids. Through profound conversations that uncover the real issues affecting families coupled with easy, practical tips for parents, this podcast is the place to change our kids’ futures.
