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As parents, we hear so much about what to feed our kids, how to get our kids to eat their vegetables, and how to cope with picky eating, but there’s less attention paid to how to raise kids who have a healthy relationship with food. In this episode, I sat down with LeeAnn Weintraub, a registered dietitian nutritionist, founder of FamilyMealsInHeels.com, author of The Everything Glycemic Index Cookbook

LeeAnn and I talk about how emotional eating and our own issues with food can affect how we feed our kids, how to talk to kids about food, and how to model healthy habits. This episode has a ton of information and easy strategies you can start whether your kids are toddlers or teens.

Welcome

4:10 LeeAnn Weintraub shares her story. 

5:53 The most common issues that adults have around food and how that can affect the way we parent our kids.

8:57 What the “clean plate club” mentality teaches kids.

13:16 What kids hear from the world about food and their bodies.

18:03 The difference between raising healthy eaters and raising kids to have a healthy relationship with food.

23:30 Ways to raise kids to have a healthy relationship with food.

25:33 If we should talk about food as nourishment. 

27:42 If parents should follow a mindfulness and intuitive eating approach.

30:53 If it’s OK to tell a kid every food is OK in moderation.

33:50 How to move away from food rewards.

38:08 Why parents shouldn’t compliment kids on eating all their veggies, or eating more than they normally do.

39:05 What the research shows about the benefits of sharing family meals and how it can foster a healthy relationship with food.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

LeeAnn mentions this study which found 1 in 3 kids eats dinner in front of the TV.

Julie mentions her “Food Issues” interview with Dr. Yami, “Intuitive Eating Tips for the Whole Family.”

Follow LeeAnn Weintraub on FamilyMealsinHeels.com and on Instagram.

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Author Details
Julie Revelant teaches parents how to raise children who are healthy, adventurous eaters. Through blog posts and videos, her goal is to shift the conversation from short-term, problem picky eating to lifelong, healthy eating and healthy futures. Julie has written for FoxNews.com, FIRST for Women magazine, WhatToExpect.com, EverydayHealth.com, RD.com, TheBump.com, Care.com, and Babble.com.