Raising Healthy Mothers

How do you feel about leftovers? Sad, reheated versions of last night's dinner? Or maybe you want to use leftovers but somehow never have quite enough to make them work?   In this episode, I'm showing you how to plan leftovers on purpose, so they actually make your life easier and save you time, energy and money – instead of just sitting in the fridge until they get thrown away.   We're covering: ...

Do you ever feel like no matter how much sleep you get, you're still exhausted? Do you wake up tired, crash mid-afternoon, and find yourself snapping at your kids over little things?  So many mums feel like they're running on empty, relying on caffeine just to get through the day... but it's not actually fixing the problem. In this episode, we're getting to the root of why you feel permanently sha...

Do you ever walk into a room and completely forget why you're there? Or find yourself in front of the fridge wondering what you went to get? If you're blaming 'mum brain' or perimenopause, this is the episode for you, because I am sharing why there could be more going on.   Brain fog, forgetfulness, and feeling overwhelmed aren't just about being a busy mum, they could be your body's way of tellin...

Do you ever feel disengaged from your children? Find yourself hiding in the kitchen scrolling on your phone rather than spending quality time with your children? Feel like there's always things to do stopping you from being in the moment?   This is what motherhood burnout looks like.   Motherhood burnout is real, and no-one talks about it. It's not just about being tired. It's about feeling discon...

This week on Raising Healthy Mothers, I'm bringing you something a little different – a short, guided self-massage for your head and face. With half-term in full swing, I know things might feel extra chaotic, so this is your reminder to pause, take a breath, and carve out just five minutes for yourself.   You don't need any special products or equipment – just your hands and a quiet(ish) spot to f...

Do you ever feel like breakfast is an afterthought – something you grab on the go or skip in favour of coffee to see you through to lunchtime?  It's so easy to let breakfast be th eone meal we forget about or put the least thought in.  But this week on Raising Healthy Mothers, I'm digging into how capitalism and the patriarchy have reshaped the way we think about breakfast, pushing convenience ove...

In this episode, we're diving into the art of making packed lunches that your child will eat, enjoy, and benefit from nutritionally. Whether you're packing lunches to avoid school dinner anxiety, due to allergies or religious reasons, or simply because you believe you can do better than what's on offer in the school hall, this episode is packed (pun intended!) with tips to make the process easier...

This week, I'm answering your burning questions in an AMA-style episode! Here's what I cover: Should I be eating more red meat for breastfeeding or energy? What are the best alternatives for vegetarians or those who only eat fish? How to eat enough calories while breastfeeding without relying on sugar and empty carbs. What to do if your child seems to hate the texture of meat (and how to slowly in...

If you've got a fussy eater in your family, you know the struggle: endless refusals, creative sneaking tactics and a constant feeling of guilt that it's somehow your fault. In this episode, I share how my son went from a firm "no" to broccoli for four years to finally enjoying it again –without a battle. The story isn't just about broccoli, though. It's about the ripple effect that happens when we...

It's the start of a new year, and you might have started it thinking that THIS will finally be the year you 'get healthy' or get more energy.   But how realistic really are your resolutions? And how easy has it been to stick to them in the past? And how harsh are you on yourself when that happens?   In this episode of Raising Healthy Mothers I dive into why New Year's resolutions often fail to sti...

In today's episode, I finally lift the lid on a topic I've been a little bit scared to talk about – decluttering. Over the years since becoming a mother my house has become very full of.... stuff, and I know it's contributing to a very messy state of mind!   So I invited Elisabeth Beam of Balancing Beams to talk about decluttering because her gentle, supportive approach helped to make me feel safe...

Dinnertime – full of overwhelm and decision making.   The problem is, it's never going to go away. So you might as well find a system that will make it as efficient and tasty as possible within a short period.   In this episode, I'm sharing the secret to stress-free dinners when life feels chaotic – that doesn't involve spending hours cooking elaborate meals with the clearup that entails.   I'm sh...

Have you ever felt like "family-friendly" meals are anything but friendly for your family? In this episode, I dig into the pressure mums face around feeding kids, especially when typical family foods don't fit with our reality. I'm sharing my journey of navigating picky eaters and the myth of "ideal" meals.   We'll cover: What "family-friendly" means and why I struggle with it Why it's easy to fee...

This week on Raising Healthy Mothers, I talk to Kimberly Espinel, an award-winning food photographer, best selling author, Instagram influencer and podcaster.   It's no exaggeration to say Kimberly is one of the most influential food content creators on Instagram in the UK. But when she started out over 10 years ago, she was a mum of a young boy, completely unenthusiastic about returning to her pr...

This week I welcome Keris Marsden onto the show. Keris is a nutritional therapist, personal trainer and yoga teacher and she is probably the person that completely inspired my journey to becoming a nutritional therapist.   I invited Keris on to talk about perimenopause after she experienced early menopause in her late 30s and went on a journey of discovery around her health and wellbeing to uncove...

Today I answer a question from a mum who feels guilty that her younger baby is not getting a good exposure and variety to food at mealtimes because of her toddler's fussy eating. I totally sympathise, because this is exactly the experience I'm having with my younger child. I offer some tips to help expand her toddler's exposure to food in a safe and fun way, as well as suggesting ways to maintain...

TRIGGER WARNING: In this episode of Raising Healthy Mothers we discuss eating disorders and disordered eating patterns. This may be upsetting or triggering for you if this is in your or your family's recent history. If you are not ready to listen to a discussion on eating disorders then please do not listen to this episode.   What do you do as a parent when your child stops eating in the way you h...

In today's episode, I bare my soul on my experience on gentle parenting after nearly six years of being a mum. I explore the wonderful aspects of this approach but also the immense pressure it can place on mums.   I discuss... The core principles of gentle parenting that drew me in the first place The one mind-blowing fact about brain development that changed my whole perspective on behaviour The...

When I was pregnant with my first baby I was determined to do business 'right'. I wanted to set things up so that I could take a year's maternity and have something to come back to. I had no idea what I was doing, and in the end didn't set things up the way I thought.   So when Amy Crumpton of Social Cactus Coaching started posting about her later-in-life decision to start a family and pivoted to...

Gut health is at the heart of overall well-being, playing a crucial role in supporting our immune system, mental health, and resilience to stress. The gut is often called the "second brain" because of its powerful impact on mental health as well as immunity.   But there's so much more to the gut than taking a probiotic supplement! In this episode I walk you through the key elements of the digestiv...

A couple of years ago I found myself sobbing into my husband's shoulder saying 'I'm so SICK of cooking dinner every day!' It was SUCH a wake up call. Because that wasn't me. Cooking is my language of love. Cooking is how I relax. Cooking is my creative outlet. And cooking good food for my family was always my greatest mission in life. But given a fussy eater, and a few years later I was exhausted....

Is it ever possible to stick to a resolution and actually change for the better? If you're anythign like me, you're seeing the start of the new school year as a way to finally knuckle down and change some habits that aren't serving you. But we've been here before haven't we? Broken New Year resolutions and promises of change are no match for our lack of willpower! What if there was another way? Ov...

It's the final episode in this season of Raising Healthy Mothers. I am looking forward to a much-needed break over summer ANDDDD I'm excited to meet a new baby nephew! My sister is having her third child, and for the first time I am able to support her as a mother myself! Although I did my best when her first two were born, I truly had NO IDEA exactly how much support she needed. But now, as a qua...

Does the idea of having therapy scare you?   I've always struggled with the concept. As a very private person with people pleasing tendencies, admitting I need help feels like failure.   And then the worry of finding the right therapy with the right person and knowing whether I'm going to get what I need out of it. Feels. So. Exhausting.   But I've always known that most of that is a personal prej...