Nutrition for Littles

What if the reason your child is still picky has almost nothing to do with the food? You’ve tried the “just one bite.” You’ve made the backup meal. You’ve kept offering the broccoli. You may have even told yourself, Maybe they’ll just grow out of it. But there may be something happening underneath the picky eating that you haven’t been taught to look for. In this episode, I’m breaking down why some of the most common picky eating advice doesn’t work—and the surprising reasons two kids who look equally “picky” may need completely different approaches. You’ll hear the shift that changed everything for my own picky eater, a few of the hidden root causes I see again and again, and how figuring out why your child is struggling can completely change what you do next. Because when you stop guessing and start addressing the right problem, mealtimes can begin to look very different. And if you’re ready to take the next step, Table Talk is currently on sale for a limited time. This is one of the deepest discounts I offer, along with special bonuses that are only available during the sale. Sign up here > https://nutritionforlittles.com/back-to-school/ The post Before You Try Another Picky Eating Trick, Listen to This [this episode will DELETE soon] appeared first on Nutrition for Littles.

Summer is here, and that means more sunshine, more chaos… and yes, more mealtime curveballs. In this episode, we’re diving into a few key things that tend to trip parents up when the weather warms up. Think of this one as your unofficial guide to navigating summer with your picky eater—without losing your mind. In this episode I discuss the top mistakes I see parents make in the summer when it comes to picky eating reversal!  Want to take the next step toward peaceful, stress-free mealtimes? Watch my free training on reversing picky eating: Click here to watch it now The post Summer Feeding Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making appeared first on Nutrition for Littles.

My best summertime picky eating tips shared! Outdoor high chair linked here Popsicle molds linked here and here Loving the podcast but looking for more? Head over to my Instagram account @nutrition.for.littles where I drop almost daily content helping you change the mealtime environment in your home (make sure to watch my stories where I teach and explain in more detail!) Hope this episode was helpful for you! If it was it would mean so much to me if you left a written review it only takes you a second but helps other mamas just like you! Also if you liked this episode share it with your friends and family because it really does take a village to raise kids and it helps when your village is all on the same page! Ready to take it a step further? Join my upcoming FREE live training where I lay out my full framework for reversing picky eating! Register here: https://nutritionforlittles.com/freetraining-og/ Thanks for tuning in, until next week mamas! The post Picky Eating in the Summer [Must Try Tips and Tricks] appeared first on Nutrition for Littles.

Your kid won’t wear jeans. They melt down over brushing teeth. They refuse to try soccer even though they’re fine at practice. And oh yeah—they’re also a picky eater What if I told you these aren’t separate problems? What if they’re all connected? In this episode, I’m breaking down the pattern I’ve been seeing with SO many students—picky eating isn’t just about food. It’s a symptom of something deeper that’s showing up in other areas of your kid’s life. In this episode: Why picky eating behavior is connected to confidence, control, and nervous system regulation The three main areas where these patterns show up (and you might not have noticed) How fixing one thing in the “wrong way” can make picky eating worse Why your kid who won’t eat new foods also won’t go on the soccer field during games The sensory issue that shows up as food pickiness AND clothing battles Here’s what I see: Kids who lack confidence around food also lack confidence trying new activities. Kids who fight you over dinner also fight you over getting dressed. Kids who melt down at the table also shut down during transitions It’s not a coincidence. It’s the same root cause showing up in different ways. I look back now and realize—my firstborn’s confidence issue wasn’t just about food. He wouldn’t try the musical instrument. He’d retreat from soccer games when parents were watching. He’d shut down if there was any chance of failing. I thought these were separate problems. They weren’t. When you reverse picky eating by addressing the ROOT CAUSE (not just the surface behavior), you don’t just get a kid who eats vegetables. You get a more confident, resilient, flexible kid. Less tension in the home. Fewer power struggles across the board Three key areas to watch: Confidence – Refusing to try new things (food, sports, activities, social situations) Control & power struggles – Battles over getting dressed, brushing teeth, bedtime, transitions Nervous system regulation – Meltdowns, shutdowns, overwhelm, sensory sensitivities The pattern is this: If they fight hard enough and say no long enough, you give in and make their favorite meal. So why wouldn’t they apply that same pattern to clothes? To teeth brushing? To bedtime? They’re not being manipulative—they’re being smart. They’re learning cause and effect. Ready to tackle the root cause? Grab the free training here! I’ll show you my proven approach to reversing picky eating by addressing what’s REALLY going on underneath the behavior. If this episode was helpful, please leave a rating and review! Thousands of you listen every week—help us reach more parents like you by taking 2 seconds to rate the show. It makes a huge difference The post Why Picky Eating Isn’t Just About Food (And What It’s Really Telling You) appeared first on Nutrition for Littles.

“It brings the fun back to the table.” One of my students said this after reversing picky eating, and honestly? It’s one of my favorite wins ever. Because here’s the thing—when you’re in the thick of picky eating, you’re thinking about the immediate stuff. Getting them to eat vegetables. Stop making two separate meals. End the power struggles. Make your life easier. But what I didn’t expect after reversing picky eating? The ripple effects that changed EVERYTHING In this episode: The confidence shift I saw in my son (and how it showed up outside of food) Why picky eating behavior was just the tip of the iceberg How reversing picky eating improved sleep, sickness, meltdowns, and learning The freedom I didn’t know I was missing—traveling, playdates, cooking what I want Why my world felt so SMALL during picky eating (and how it expanded after) Here’s what I realized: When I focused on picky eating being the problem, everything got harder. My world got smaller. Their nutrition got narrower. Our relationship felt strained. But when I partnered with my kids and identified the ROOT CAUSE beneath the behavior? We got on the same team. Confidence bloomed. Independence grew. Mealtimes became fun again The mental load of constantly thinking “what will they eat, how much did they eat, should I call the doctor, should I just make mac and cheese”—that doesn’t have to be your life forever. It’s not just about eating the broccoli tonight. It’s about eating broccoli for LIFE. It’s about building childhood memories around the table, not walking into power struggles every single meal. Years later, I can see how much this affected areas I never expected—risk-taking, perfectionism, frustration tolerance, learning. It all connected back to what was happening at the table Ready to stop living in survival mode? Grab the free training here! I’ll walk you through my 4-step framework to reverse picky eating, release the guilt and worry, and empower your kid to eat WITHOUT the bribing, begging, or power struggles. Average time to see results? Two weeks. But the ripple effects? They last a lifetime. The post The Ripple Effects of Reversing Picky Eating™ (That No One Talks About) appeared first on Nutrition for Littles.

“They’re just being stubborn.” “They’re so defiant.” “They dig in their heels and won’t budge.” If you have a strong-willed picky eater, this episode is for you. Here’s what I wish I could scream from the rooftops: Picky eating isn’t the problem. There’s something underneath causing the behavior. And sometimes? That something is temperament—your strong-willed, determined, obstinate child who feels like they’re constantly butting heads with you (and it’s usually the kid most like YOU ). In this episode: Why “they’re not picky, they’re just stubborn” misses the point entirely The truth about strong-willed kids: not every child is like this (I promise!) Why pressure = resistance for these kids (the more you push, the more they pull away) How to get on the same team as your stubborn kid instead of fighting them The “autonomy bank” concept—filling their need for control OUTSIDE of food Here’s the reality: Strong-willed kids are more sensitive to pressure. They feel their environment more than other kids do. When you say “take three more bites,” they know you’re emotionally invested in something you can’t control. And that’s the PERFECT time for them to dig in their heels But here’s the good news—they’re not too far gone. They’re not too stubborn, too difficult, or too determined to be helped. You just need to work WITH their brain, not against it. Think about it like leadership: Good leaders don’t micromanage (“press this button, now click here”). They empower people to make good decisions within the right boundaries. Same with your strong-willed kid—they need autonomy within a supportive structure you create Tactical tips for strong-willed picky eaters: Give them choices you’re okay with (where to sit, strawberry or blueberry yogurt) Increase autonomy throughout the day so eating isn’t where it all gets channeled Use narration and curiosity questions instead of demands (“Wow, these carrots are so crunchy!” vs. “Eat your carrots”) Get them in the kitchen—let them learn risky, intensive skills and contribute to the meal Remember: Your job is to decide what, when, and where. Their job is if and how much. Release the rest. Detach from the outcome that bruises your ego Want to understand what’s REALLY causing the picky eating behavior? Grab the free training here! I’ll walk you through my 4-step process to reverse picky eating, go deep on root causes, and show you how to work with your kid’s brain—no more pressure needed. The post The Strong-Willed Kid Who Won’t Eat: How to Get On Their Team (Not Fight Them) appeared first on Nutrition for Littles.

Just keep serving it and they’ll eventually eat it.” “Wait until they’re hungry enough.” “It’s just a phase.” If you’ve been following these well-meaning tips and your kid is STILL picky, this episode is going to hit different. I’m breaking down the lesser-known misconceptions about picky eating that are keeping parents stuck—the ones we don’t talk about enough but that secretly sabotage your progress. In this episode: Why “no pressure” doesn’t mean permissive parenting (and what to do instead) The parenting style that actually works: authoritative vs. authoritarian vs. permissive Why “my kid is just too stubborn” is a cop-out (and what’s really going on) The exposure myth: why just serving it over and over ISN’T enough for picky kids How to set boundaries that support your kid WITHOUT using pressure tactics Here’s the truth: Pressure tactics (bribing, begging, praising, guilting) are all the same thing wrapped in different paper. You haven’t tried everything—you’ve tried ONE thing disguised as ten different strategies And no, working WITH your strong-willed kid doesn’t mean you’ve lost control. It means you’re setting them up to hit the ball out of the park (but YOU set up the tee) The misconception that kills me? “My kid is just too stubborn to change.” That’s not a personality flaw—it’s often a root cause like sensory issues, ARFID, or needing support in a different way. When you treat stubbornness as the problem, you miss what’s actually going on. Bottom line: Exposures are great. They’re necessary. But if your kid is picky enough that you’re here listening to this podcast? You need more than just “keep serving it.” You need the whole pie, not just the filling Ready for the complete approach? Sign up for my FREE class here! I’ll walk you through my proven method to reverse picky eating, the mistakes parents don’t realize they’re making, and tangible strategies you can use TODAY. The post “Just Keep Serving It” Is Bad Advice—Here’s Why Your Kid Still Won’t Eat appeared first on Nutrition for Littles.

Ever tried a new dinner recipe only to feel that familiar knot in your stomach, wondering if your kids will actually eat it, or if you’re headed for another mealtime standoff? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on a recent dinner that could’ve gone sideways… but didn’t. I’ll share the exact steps I took that turned skepticism into excitement and left my kids asking for more. These are practical, zero-extra-effort strategies you can start using tonight—no gimmicks, no battles, just small shifts that make a big difference. If you’ve ever dreamed of your family actually enjoying the same meal together (without the stress), you’ll want to hear this one. Click here to join Picky Plates for just $1 – hurry this offer expires at midnight! The post How I got my kids to eat seconds of a brand new recipe appeared first on Nutrition for Littles.

“You’re creating a picky eater.” “It’s the parents’ fault.” If you’ve ever heard this (or thought it about yourself), this episode is for you. I’m tackling the most guilt-inducing belief in the picky eating world: that parents CAUSE picky eating. And I’m here to tell you—it’s mostly BS. Here’s what’s actually true: You didn’t wake up one day and decide to be a short-order cook for fun. You started making rescue meals because your kid was ALREADY picky. The chicken came from the egg, not the other way around In this episode: Why picky eating is biologically normal (autonomy is actually a GOOD thing!) The truth about how your response matters—but doesn’t cause pickiness Why two kids in the same house can be completely different eaters The one twin picky, one twin not scenario that proves it’s not your fault What parents DO have influence over (hint: how long it lasts + how bad it gets) Here’s the thing: You can say “just try it” to your kid and they might spiral into shame. Meanwhile, Julia across town says the exact same thing and her kid tries it. Same words. Different kids. Not. Your. Fault. BUT—while it’s not your fault they’re picky, it IS your responsibility to help them (just like reading, sleep, or potty training). The good news? There ARE tools that work. You don’t have to wait it out hoping they’ll “grow out of it” (spoiler: check my DMs from adults who never did ). Ready to stop beating yourself up and start helping your kid? Grab my FREE training in the show notes! You’ll learn: My 4-step method to reverse picky eating Mistakes parents don’t realize they’re making Tangible strategies you can use TODAY You can help your kid eat new foods AND feel good about how you do it. That’s the whole point Click here to sign up! The post The Picky Eating Blame Game: What’s Actually True (And What’s Not) appeared first on Nutrition for Littles.

Do you know what to do when your littles all of the sudden do not want to eat a food they have loved in the past? I give tips and ideas of why this might be happening and how to handle it. Ready to learn how to help your littles eat new and more foods? You can enroll in my Table Talk picky eating program RIGHT NOW. Click here to learn more and enroll! Loving the podcast but looking for more? Head over to my Instagram account @nutrition.for.littles where I drop almost daily content helping you change the mealtime environment in your home (make sure to watch my stories where I teach and explain in more detail!) Hope this episode was helpful for you! If it was it would mean so much to me if you left a written review it only takes you a second but helps other mamas just like you! Also if you liked this episode share it with your friends and family because it really does take a village to raise kids and it helps when your village is all on the same page! Thanks for tuning in, until next week mamas! The post Why they stop eating foods they used to eat appeared first on Nutrition for Littles.