The Intentional Table

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...

Do you ever wonder whether your child really needs a bedtime snack? Is it ruining dinner? Could skipping it mean they won’t sleep because they’re hungry? And honestly… who wants to be back in the kitchen again at 7:30 pm? In today’s episode of The Intentional Table , we’re breaking down: The real pros and cons of offering a bedtime snack When it’s helpful—and when it might not be How to use an eve...

First... If you want to raise your child to eat a variety , listen to their body and eat the amount they need , not obsess about or sneak sugar and sweets ... and you want to get a step-by-step plan for exactly how to apply these feeding strategies for your family... Our next cohort for Nourish Together is starting in January, and when you join right now, you'll also get holiday support all t...

First... If you want to raise your child to eat a variety , listen to their body and eat the amount they need , not obsess about or sneak sugar and sweets ... and you want to get a step-by-step plan for exactly how to apply these feeding strategies for your family... Our next cohort for Nourish Together is starting in January, and when you join right now, you'll also get holiday support all t...

Before you dive in! If you're looking for more... The next round of NOURISH TOGETHER is opening soon >>> Join the WAITLIST to learn more 🩵 Do you find yourself reacting... sometimes even before you realize it... when your child takes another bite of pizza, skips their vegetables, or reaches for a sweet? You’re not alone. Most parents struggle with what or how their child is eating,...

Have you ever said something like, “Good job eating your broccoli!” or “Just two more bites and then you can have dessert”? It probably felt supportive, encouraging, or like you were helping your child eat well. But what if those well-meaning bribes, praise, and rewards are actually making mealtimes harder and disconnecting your child from their own body cues? In this episode of The Intentional Ta...

We’ve all heard it: “Sugar is toxic.” “It’s addictive.” “It makes kids hyper.” It’s no wonder parents feel confused and worried when it comes to sweets. But what if the problem isn’t sugar itself… it’s the fear surrounding it? In this episode of The Intentional Table, I’m busting five of the most common myths about sugar… and showing you how that fear and restriction can actually fuel the very imb...

When it feels like candy is everywhere this time of year—trunk-or-treats, class parties, after-practice bags—it can start to feel overwhelming. You might be okay with your child having some candy, but when it’s constant, it’s hard to know how to handle it without going overboard or setting up food battles. In this episode of The Intentional Table , I’m sharing exactly how to navigate Halloween can...

If it feels like all your child wants to eat are snacks, sweets, or packaged foods - and no matter what you do, they refuse vegetables or other foods you think they need… You’re not alone, and there's nothing wrong with your child. In fact, this is completely normal. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up... or resort to forcing them to eat veggies (or cut out “junk” altogether).  Often, w...

If you’ve tried all the things... read the books, followed the advice on social media, tried recommendations from your pediatrician or best friend - yet mealtimes still feel tense or unpredictable, or you're concerned about what or how your child's eating... You’re not necessarily doing it wrong - you’re likely just missing a few key pieces. In this episode, we're bringing everythin...

Does your child eat in a way that feels out of balance? Maybe they don't want to try anything new and stick to the same few safe foods. Or they would eat and eat and eat if you let them.  Or maybe they seem obsessed with sweets - like that's all they want. Chances are - they're eating reactively. It's not on purpose. They're not trying to be difficult. Reactive eating is o...

When you’re raising kids, it feels natural to want to teach them about “healthy" or "better" choices or to guide them with categories like sometimes foods, growing foods, or good vs. bad foods. While those labels are well-intentioned, they can create worry, guilt, or even rebellion around food... and that disrupts our kids’ ability to trust themselves and eat in balance. In this epi...

What does it really mean to give kids structure with food… without controlling them? In this episode of The Intentional Table Podcast , we’re unpacking one of the biggest misconceptions parents have about feeding kids: if you remove pressure and 'getting' them to eat a certain way, it’s a free-for-all. But the truth is, kids thrive when they feel both supported and like they have autonom...

What does it really mean to have a healthy relationship with food? In this second episode of The Intentional Table Podcast , we’re digging deeper into what’s truly at the root of how kids (and adults) eat. While it’s easy to focus on what’s on the plate or how our kids behave at mealtimes, what really drives those choices is their relationship with food... the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs they’...