The Intentional Table

Navigating food during the summer can feel like a whole lot of stress. Vacations, eating out, swim parties, sweets galore, lack of structure... I get it! I just got back from a two-week baseball trip with my family - managing tons of restaurants, games ending at odd times, italian ice at by the pool. It's a lot! We had an eight hour drive to kick off the trip followed by four flights and two...

If you know, you know... The more we remind, encourage, and gently push our kids to do something, the less they want to do it. Even when they already know. Even when we're right. My daughter said it to me out loud last week. My husband asked her to clean her room before family came over, and she looked at him and said, "Ugh! know. And when you say that, it just makes me not want to do it...

When your child's weight goes up at their yearly physical, your pediatrician might comment that you should make some changes.  Or maybe you see a post on social media telling you what changes to make if your child has gained weight.  It can be really confusing. And it might leave you questioning what changes to make, or feeling like you should be cutting back on portions, or getting rid of &q...

If you have a "picky" eater, you've probably already tried to encourage them to take a bite, bribed with dessert, or even had a standoff at the table over food. Or maybe you've just given up and you make them something separate because, let's be real, they need to eat. And regardless of where you're at, chances are it doesn't feel great. Most of us want our kids...

You've probably already heard that pressuring kids to eat backfires. It will likely make them more resistant to eat the things you want them to eat. But even when we know it - sometimes it's hard to not do it... even when it's not really effective. But the thing is, it's not only that it's ineffective or that it will likely backfire. It's likely interfering with your...

You put broccoli on their plate and they won't touch it. You try again. And again. And still nothing. But what if you just don't have the right strategy yet? In this episode, we talk about: Why more exposure alone isn't always the answer - and what else you need Tons of ideas for preparing, serving, and encouraging your child to try veggies without pressure Taste tests as a low-pres...

You've read books. You've listened to podcasts. You follow experts on social media. And you understand, logically, why you shouldn't comment on what your kid puts on their plate or how much they eat. And then dinner happens, and something comes out of your mouth anyway. Or you know how bad you feel when you eat too much, but you find yourself in the kitchen at 10pm doing the exact t...

You're being intentional. You're thinking about the language you use, how you talk about food at the table, what you allow and don't allow. And then your kid comes home and tells you that Joey said french fries are bad for you. Or you're standing right there when another little kid announces that pepperoni is bad. And you probably want to jump in and "fix" it. You&apo...

Have you heard that you should have your kid help in the kitchen? Probably that it will help expose them to new foods, feel more comfortable with different foods, create independence.  But maybe it also feels like a big chore. And when it comes to actually getting them there, it feels like a lot. The mess, the patience it takes, the kid who stirs once and disappears. I get it!  But what if it&apos...

Here's what I want you to consider: How does food actually feel in your home right now? Does it feel joyful, playful, connected? Or does it feel pressured, stressful, controlled? Because here's the truth that Ellyn Satter taught us: When the joy goes out of eating, nutrition suffers. When eating feels stressful or controlled, kids eat less variety. They're less curious about food. T...

We all want our kids to eat well, make "good" choices with food, and care about their health. So when they start choosing salads over pizza, or asking about ingredients, or saying they want to eat healthier - it can feel like a win. But what if those "healthy choices" aren't actually about health at all? What if they're early warning signs of something more concerning...

"Is it okay to let my kid watch a show while they eat?" "Should we be stricter about no screens at meals?" "Am I creating bad habits if they eat in front of an iPad?" I get this question all the time... And the answer isn't a simple yes or no. The real question isn't whether screens are good or bad. It's: How is this impacting my child's connection...

Are you familiar with Intuitive Eating? Maybe you take that approach with food yourself... or maybe you've heard of it. But when you think about actually doing it, you think: If I let myself eat whatever I want, I'd never stop. I'd only eat junk. I'd never touch a vegetable. Totally get it! When we think about intuitive eating, we often think - just eat whatever you want. But t...

You're in the kitchen getting snacks. Again. For the third time in an hour. Or you're staring at the dinner table watching your kid ask for seconds after already eating more than you did. Or maybe you're wondering if your child will ever eat a vegetable that isn't a carrot. If any of this sounds familiar, you're not alone. These are three of the most common questions I get...

As parents, we're constantly bombarded with conflicting messages about food: avoid ultra-processed foods, watch out for seed oils, limit sugar, push the vegetables. And underneath all of it is this fear - that if we don't control what our kids eat, something bad will happen. In this episode, I'm talking with parent coach and educator Oona Hanson about what it really means to parent...

You know when you're at the soccer game, the birthday party, or picking up from school, and you see your kid walking toward you with a bag full of candy, chips, a sugary drink... And you think to yourself: Really? Again? Another treat? The amount of food handouts from friends, family, teachers, teammates... can feel endless. And when it's not what you had planned, or what you would neces...

Your child is capable of listening to their body, eating a variety of foods, and not being obsessed with sweets. Yes, even if they seem to have "no off switch" around food. Even if they're extremely "picky". Even if it feels like they've always been this way. The truth is: kids are born intuitive eaters. They instinctively know how to listen to their hunger and fullne...

We all want the same things for our kids: to eat well, get the nutrition they need, and have a healthy relationship with food. But how do we actually make that happen? Most parents find themselves on one of two paths, or often bouncing back and forth because neither one feels quite right. You might be trying to help your child eat well by encouraging bites, limiting sweets, or teaching them about...

We're going to cut through all the conflicting advice and show you how you can help your child eat well without using pressure or bribes... or getting into power struggles or creating bigger food issues. You've heard the advice:  "My kids have to at least try it." "Don't keep it in the house if you don't want them to eat it." "If they don't eat the...

If you're listening to this podcast, you're investing time and energy into changing how you feed your kids. And of course... you want to see it work. That's exactly what we need to talk about today, because this approach will change how your child eats, and you have to stop caring whether it does. In this episode, we're diving into one of the hardest parts of this work: detachm...

Are you familiar with the Division of Responsibility (DOR)? Maybe you've read ALL the Ellyn Satter books. You're trying follow DOR to a tee - you're doing your job and letting your child do their job with food... and it feels like something's still missing. Or maybe DOR is brand new to you or you've heard it mentioned somewhere in your parenting journey. Either way, you&ap...

Diet culture is loudest in January. And it's so easy to feel like we should be doing more, or trying to eat 'better', or do something to change the way we look... when we're inundated with this message EVERYWHERE! In this episode, I'm breaking down three foundational beliefs that will transform how you approach food in your family, and help you hold onto what's import...

As the year comes to a close, many parents naturally start reflecting... what felt good, what felt heavy, and what do they want to change moving into the new year - new systems and routines, projects to work on, changes with the kids... In this episode, I'm breaking down seven lessons or themes that stood out most from recent conversations with parents. We're talking about what actually...

The holidays often bring more than just parties and sweets... they bring more people, more opinions , and a lot more eyes on how we’re parenting - especially around food. For many parents, this time of year amplifies feelings of judgment around food: comments from grandparents, side-eyes from relatives, comparisons to cousins, or even the internal pressure we place on ourselves when our child eats...

The holidays are full of sweets, parties, and what some might describe as chaos. It can be an overwhelming time of year, especially for parents, as we try to buy and wrap gifts, attend all the festivities, travel, have family visits... and still maintain our normal parental responsibilities. And while navigating it all, the diet culture messaging is arguably at a high this time of year.  From the...