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Anna Lutz and Elizabeth Davenport have a conversation with Erin Bowers, a Presbyterian pastor, and Leslie Schilling, a Registered Dietitian, about diet culture in churches. They explore the ties between the culture we are raised in and how that affects the way we interpret religion. They discuss: How diet culture is not congruent with Christian theology, and how privilege is often not acknowledged in the church. The difference between spiritual fasting and fasting with the intention of weight loss, and how fasting can so easily trigger disordered behaviors. How the spiritual undertone in diet culture messaging in the church is particularly harmful because it is often tied to one’s worthiness. Advice for making changes in your own church, and ways to navigate negative food or body related commentary while attending church, or at church functions that involve food. Links:  Support the Podcast -- Virtual “Tip Jar”! Leslie's website Leslie's book: Born to Eat Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition https://thirdwheeled.com/ https://m8.design/ https://www.sonics.io/ Erin Kesterson Bowers, PhD is the Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of High Point, NC, where she has served in parish ministry for the last 13 years. Prior to returning to North Carolina (her home state!) she was in New Jersey, where she earned both her MDiv and her PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary. Leslie Schilling, MA, RDN, CSCS, CEDRD-S, owns a Las Vegas-based coaching practice specializing in nutrition counseling for families, those of all ages with disordered eating concerns, professional athletes, and performers. In addition to running her practice, Leslie serves as the performance nutrition consultant for Cirque du Soleil® and as an expert contributor to U.S. News & World Report, sharing advice on parenting and health.

Anna Lutz and Elizabeth Davenport chat with McCall Dempsey, founder of Southern Smash, about parents who have their own history of an eating disorder and the ways in which that can make feeding a family challenging.  They discuss: The unique challenges faced by someone who has recovered from an eating disorder when feeding their children. How being relaxed about sugar and processed foods can make feeding kids easier, and helps raise intuitive eaters. The power of letting your kids know that it’s ok to not be ok. Advice for parents who have struggled with an eating disorder and are afraid that their child will also develop an eating disorder.  Links:  McCall Dempsey Southern Smash Program Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition https://thirdwheeled.com/ https://m8.design/ https://www.sonics.io/ McCall Dempsey is a writer, speaker and founder of Southern Smash, a program of the National Alliance for Eating Disorders. McCall is an eating disorder survivor and passionate recovery advocate. 

Anna Lutz and Elizabeth Davenport have a conversation with Mimi Cole, a mental health counselor, about her work with people who have anxiety disorders, trauma, eating disorders and OCD. They delve into topics surrounding mental health and advocacy for weight-inclusive eating disorder treatment. Mimi is also the co-author of A Body Image Workbook for Every Body: A Guide for Deconstructing Diet Culture and Learning How to Respect, Nourish, and Care for Your Whole Self. They discuss: The harm caused by making assumptions about whether someone has an eating disorder based on their body size. How malnutrition can affect bodies at any size. The myriad issues with the diagnosis “Atypical Anorexia”. The importance of seeking out health professionals who have training in the treatment of eating disorders because medical providers typically lack this type of knowledge, which can be very harmful. Building a positive relationship with food & body is a constant work-in-progress, especially when we live in a society that stigmatizes larger bodies and glorifies thinness. Links:  Mindful Counseling The Lovely Becoming, Mimi Cole on Instagram The Lovely Becoming Podcast Mimi’s Body Image Workbook Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition https://thirdwheeled.com/ https://m8.design/ https://www.sonics.io/ Mimi Cole is a training counselor, currently working to complete her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Mimi received her bachelor’s degrees in Child Development and Medicine, Health, and Society from Vanderbilt University in 2020. After graduating, Mimi worked in a residential and outpatient eating disorder treatment center providing meal support, leading groups, and working with fellow providers to provide quality, interdisciplinary care. Mimi recently completed her practicum experience at a facility based mental health program where she worked with children ranging from ages 5 to 18. There, she primarily utilized cognitive behavioral therapy and worked with children experiencing suicidal ideation. Mimi believes that our earliest relationships in childhood influence our ability to communicate and to be in relationship with others, including ourselves. She is an advocate for weight-inclusive care and destigmatizing mental illnesses.

Anna Lutz and Elizabeth Davenport chat with Julia Turshen about the process of researching and writing a cookbook, and how it felt to include an essay on breaking up with diet culture in her latest cookbook, Simply Julia. She also talks about how disconnection is inherent in diet culture; in families, or among friends, having weight loss as a common goal can feel temporarily good, but ultimately creates a deficit of joy around food. We discuss: How isolating it can be to grow up in a family that is immersed in diet culture, but also how connecting with people and having conversations about the impacts of diet culture is incredibly healing. How cookbooks are so often welcomed into peoples homes, but the contents are often not questioned. Examples of diet culture’s trickery and disconnection when it appears in cooking and cookbooks. The over abundance of images of thin, white, cis-gendered women in food-related social media posts is detrimental and is largely what has lead us to equate that type of body with “healthy”. How forms of oppression tend to be best countered as a community. Julia’s go-to meals. Links:  About Julia Turshen Simply Julia Keep Calm and Cook On Live cooking classes every Sunday afternoon Equity At The Table (EATT) God’s Love We Deliver’s Culinary Council Kitchen Cabinet Advisory Board for the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition Julia Turshen is a New York Times bestselling cookbook author. Her latest cookbook, Simply Julia, a National Bestseller, is available wherever books are sold. Julia is also the author of Now & Again (named the Best Cookbook of 2018 by Amazon and an NPR ‘Great Read’), Feed the Resistance (named the Best Cookbook of 2017 by Eater), and Small Victories (named one of the Best Cookbooks of 2016 by the New York Times and NPR). She also hosts and produces the IACP-nominated podcast called ‘Keep Calm & Cook On.’ Julia lives in the Hudson Valley with her wife and their pets. She teaches cooking classes most Sunday afternoons.

Anna Lutz and Elizabeth Davenport chat with Amee Severson, MPP-D, RDN, co-author of How to Raise an Intuitive Eater, about how a dearth of safe, inclusive resources for people raising children was one of the main inspirations for the book. Amee emphasizes how the conversations we have with kids about body image and food are less impactful than what they learn from watching the way we interact with food. We discuss: How perfection with parenting doesn’t exist. The importance of modeling positive behaviors, but also ensuring that children know it’s ok to fail. The importance of creating space for learning and growing. Advice for parents who want to give up the diet mentality but have a lot of unlearning to do. The importance of having a structured yet flexible eating schedule for kids. Things parents can start doing right away to help support their kids as intuitive eaters.   Links:  Prosper Nutrition and Wellness Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition Amee Severson is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist whose work focuses on body positivity, fat acceptance, and intuitive eating through a social justice lens. Amee focuses on providing safe and inclusive care for the LGBTQ+ community. Amee identifies as a queer and nonbinary. Amee holds a Bachelor's degree in Food and Nutrition from Montana State University, a Masters Degree in Professional Practice from Iowa State University, is a dietitian registered in the State of Washington, and is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. Amee is the co-author of How to Raise an Intuitive Eater.

Hi SSUN listeners! We decided to share this episode again because we thought it especially relevant as the prevalence of eating disorders continues to rise. Anna L. and Elizabeth chat with Kerri Heckert, a certified eating disorder registered dietitian, and Eleanor Benner, a clinical psychologist, about educating and empowering families to help their child recover from an eating disorder. They highlight the importance of modeling food neutrality, normalizing body and weight changes, and that eating disorders affect people of all shapes, sizes, races, ethnicities, genders and religions. We discuss:  The multi-faceted causes of eating disorders, which are biological brain-based illnesses Risk factors for developing eating disorders, including genetics and examples of environmental factors How COVID-19 has impacted sleep, eating, and exercise schedules for children and adolescents  The developmental period in which children are most vulnerable to the development of eating disorders and what parents/caregivers can do to mitigate that susceptibility Warning signs (behavioral, psychosocial, emotional, and physical) of eating disorders  First steps parents/caregivers can take if they begin to suspect that their child has an eating disorder  How Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is the gold standard, first line of treatment for children and adolescents with eating disorders, in addition to working with a specialized treatment team The benefits of early detection and intervention for recovery prognosis Kerri Heckert, MS, RD, LDN, CEDRD-S, ACSM-CEP is a Clinical Dietitian in the Eating Disorder Assessment and Treatment Program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian and an Approved Supervisor (CEDRD-S) through the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) Foundation, a Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP) through the American College of Sports Medicine and a certified yoga instructor. She has presented at national and international conferences, universities and to regional pediatricians and healthcare providers on the topic of pediatric eating disorders and adolescent nutrition. She specializes in pediatric and adolescent eating disorders and provides evidence-based clinical care with a focus on Health at Every Size® (HAES®), weight inclusivity and food neutrality. She got her master's degree in Nutrition from Drexel University and lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and two daughters. Eleanor (Ellie) Benner, Psy.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the Eating Disorder Assessment & Treatment Program and the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She is a certified Family-Based Treatment provider and specializes in delivering evidence-based treatment for child and adolescent eating disorders utilizing a Health at Every Size® perspective. Dr. Benner received her master's and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Health Psychology from La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Benner has presented at national and international conferences, schools, and primary care offices on assessment and evidence-based treatments for eating disorders and is inspired by teaching others to provide exceptional care for pediatric eating disorders. Links: A Letter to Your Child’s Doctor A Letter to Your Child's Teacher Regarding History of Eating Disorder F.E.A.S.T F.E.A.S.T’s Around the Dinner Table Forum Full Bloom Podcast and The ABC’s of body-positive parenting workbook Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

Anna Lutz and Elizabeth Davenport chat with Shelley Aggarwal, a board certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, about weight-inclusive care for teens and young adults. Dr. Aggarwal speaks on the importance of challenging diet culture in schools, at home, and in healthcare settings, and what parents can do to help their teen build a positive relationship with food and body.  We discuss: The cultural factors that influence food choices and can shape food exposures for teens. How well-meaning adults and medical providers can inadvertently say things that leave teens feeling bad about themselves. How common pop culture messaging around food and bodies often neglects to take into account global cultural traditions which tends to be harmful rather than helpful. The ways in which diet culture influences parents’ experiences of their children going through puberty. The importance of parents educating themselves on weight neutral care and modeling affirming behaviors in the home to help teens build resilience. Links:  Raising Body Positive Teens: A Parents Guide to Dieting-Free Living, Exercise, and Body Image No Weigh! A Teen's Guide to Positive Body Image, Food and Emotional Wisdom Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition Dr. Shelley Aggarwal is a board certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist in California. She treats medically complex teens and young adults and consults on a variety of youth specific health issues, including adolescent development. Dr. Aggarwal has worked with premier academic institutions and continues to be teaching faculty at Stanford’s Children’s Health at UCSF Fresno. Currently she is the medical director of clinics serving justice involving youth. She is a co-author of No Weigh and the upcoming book Raising Body Positive Teens: A Parents Guide. 

In celebration of reaching our 50th episode, Anna, Anna and Elizabeth have a conversation about things we really wish parents knew about food and bodies. We discuss: The dangers of “Clean Eating” and Wellness Culture. How kids and teens going vegetarian, vegan, or wanting to “eat healthier” can be a red flag. Absence of menstruation for teenage girls is not normal (Amenorrea; RED-S) Casual comments on weight loss or people’s bodies are harmful. Normalizing compensatory behaviors can lead to disordered movement and eating. Fitness trackers are generally a bad idea, especially for kids. It’s OK if your child doesn’t like to play a sport. Nutrition education is often diet and weight focused, and not developmentally appropriate. Disease & body-related jokes are harmful and should not be tolerated, or worse, encouraged. “Health” warnings from well-meaning adults (e.g., healthcare providers, gym teachers and parents) can send the wrong messages. Links: The People Who are Afraid of Food by Virginia Sole-Smith Elizabeth’s blog post about vegetarian Sports Nutrition for Kids & Teens with Leslie Schilling Nourishing a Dancer’s Mind & Body with Monika Saigal School Nutrition Curricula with Sarah Ganginis Early Childhood Health with Shawna Daniels Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

Anna Lutz and Elizabeth Davenport chat with Registered Dietitian and yoga teacher, Jessica Grosman, about the origins and many different aspects of yoga, including how to incorporate yoga into family life. Jessica also talks about how diet culture has co-opted yoga in ways that can make it feel inaccessible for many people.  We discuss: The true definition of yoga How diet culture distorts our perceptions of yoga How yoga is about so much more than stretching and moving your body Ways parents can incorporate yoga into family life How to make yoga and mindfulness relatable for younger children How diet culture has negatively impacted the yoga community and the way yoga is taught Links:  Red Lentil-Sweet Potato Soup  Winter Sweet Potato & Beet Mess  Maple Sweet Potato-Quinoa Cakes Jessica’s Yin Yoga Classes  Compassionate & Mindful Yin Yoga Series Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition Jessica Grosman is an Anti-Diet Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, weight-inclusive health practitioner and Yoga Teacher.  She believes that all people have the right to health, regardless of size or medical condition - aligning herself with Health at Every Size®, weight-inclusivity, and the anti-diet movements.  Jessica is also a recipe developer and a culinary nutrition educator.

Anna Mackay and Elizabeth Davenport have a conversation with Bilal Durrani, the head of UNICEF Timor-Leste, about what maternal and childhood malnutrition looks like in developing countries like Timor-Leste, and what UNICEF is doing to help improve the health of the population. Malnutrition affects millions globally; just under half the children in Timor-Leste suffer from some form of malnutrition, such as stunting or wasting, which has lifelong effects on physical growth, brain development, and the ability to learn and fully develop cognitive functioning (UNICEF, 2021). We discuss:  Factors affecting the current state of population health in a country like Timor-Leste. What it looks like when communities lack access to resources and support, or are impacted by natural disasters. The keys to changing behaviors at scale and how approaches to dealing with childhood malnutrition have changed in recent decades. Working toward positive outcomes in complex structural issues such as government spending and policy change Unethical corporate behavior that affects the health of infants such as Nestle’s misleading nutritional claims about its baby milk formulas. Links:  UNICEF’s Nutrition Information Webpage Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition Mr. Durrani is responsible for providing leadership and vision to the UNICEF country programme team to implement the Government of Timor Leste – UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation for the realization of the rights of children. Bilal is a national of Pakistan, and lives in Dili with his wife and two children.

Anna Lutz, Elizabeth Davenport and Anna Mackay, have a conversation inspired by Virginia Sole-Smith’s essay “What Instagram Gets Wrong About Feeding Your Kids” (see link below to read the essay) about how Instagram’s portrayal of The Division of Responsibility in Feeding (DOR) can warp perceptions of how parents and caregivers are doing with feeding kids, fueling feelings of shame and failure. DOR, created by Ellyn Satter, is a framework designed to help adults eliminate power struggles over meals, and empower kids to feel that they have a say in what happens at mealtimes, and to tune into their internal hunger and fullness signals.  We discuss:  The difference between DOR and Responsive Feeding The specific ways that Instagram makes it seem like there is are very specific ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ways to implement DOR Obstacles parents or caregivers can face when trying to implement DOR too rigidly or too permissively Ideas on how to deal with tricky mealtime situations that arise, while taking into account the fact that all families and kids are different and have different needs Links:  What Instagram Gets Wrong About Feeding Your Kids Virginia Sole-Smith Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast Episode 44 with Katja Rowell Responsive Feeding Pro Responsive Feeding White Paper The Ellyn Satter Institute Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

In this episode, Anna Lutz and Elizabeth Davenport are joined by Yaffi Lvova, a registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in early childhood nutrition and founder of Baby Bloom Nutrition. Yaffi is a proud mom to twins plus one and is passionate about providing nutrition guidance to pregnant moms and new parents through the transition to parenthood. In this episode we discuss how Yaffi’s own “rough tumble,” as she puts it, into parenthood inspired her to focus in pediatric nutrition and Yaffi answers questions about a wide variety of early childhood feeding topics including: Responsive feeding and how it differs from division of responsibility Baby-led weaning What to do about picky toddlers When to introduce solid foods and what foods to introduce first Yaffi Lvova, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist based near Phoenix, Arizona. She specializes in guiding new parents through the nutritional complexities related to pregnancy, breastfeeding, colic and fussiness and introducing solid foods. Yaffi is also the author of several cookbooks focused on feeding babies and toddlers.  Links:  Baby Bloom Nutrition A Letter to Your Child’s Doctor Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

Happy 2022! In the first episode of season 3, Anna Lutz and Elizabeth Davenport are joined by Zoë Bisbing, a licensed psychotherapist, child and adolescent eating disorder specialist and founder of The Full Bloom Project. We highlight the challenges of raising body-confident kids in today’s culture and how parents can cultivate body-positive values in their families and homes. We also discuss:  The term body-positive parenting Obstacles parents face when raising body-confident kids Three steps for parents to take to foster body-confidence in their home How to know if an adolescent’s dissatisfaction with their changing body is an expected part of their development or a cause for concern What to say if your child approaches you with body image concerns The connection between body-positive parenting and social justice Zoë Bisbing, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist based in New York City. She is the founder of Body-Positive Therapy NYC and has specialized in working with children, adolescents and adults struggling with disordered eating for over a decade. Zoë practices an integrative therapy approach that combines relational-psychodynamic, Internal Family Systems and Cognitive Behavioral therapies. She is certified in Family-Based Treatment and also the founder of The Full Bloom Project, a research-informed resource for parents striving to raise body-confident kids.  Links:  The Full Bloom Project The ABCs of Body-Positive Parenting Body-Positive Therapy NYC Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

In this episode, Elizabeth Davenport and Anna Lutz have a conversation with Katja Rowell, M.D., a family doctor, author, and responsive childhood feeding specialist. We highlight Katja’s work on extreme picky eating and kids with feeding challenges.  We also discuss:  Responsive feeding and responsive feeding therapy  Differences between responsive feeding and Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility Issues with mainstream advice on feeding and what makes these messages confusing What ‘pressure’ looks like and how a parent knows if they are creating pressure in the feeding relationship Advice for parents of teenagers who are selective eaters Felt safety and connection amidst traumatic experiences for children  Eating and feeding accommodations for neurodiverse children Katja Rowell M.D. is described as “academic, but warm and down to earth,” she is a popular speaker and blogger and has appeared in numerous publications. Katja has developed an expertise in anxious and avoidant eating (including ARFID), food preoccupation, and supporting foster and adopted children. Katja is on the SPOON medical advisory board and founder of The Feeding Doctor. Her books include: Helping Your Child with Extremely Picky Eating: A Step-by-Step Guide to Overcoming Selective Eating, Food Aversion, and Feeding Disorders, and Love Me, Feed Me.  Learn more about Katja at theFeedingDoctor.com Links:  Katja Rowell: The Feeding Doctor Responsive Feeding Therapy: Values and Practice White Paper Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

In this episode, Anna Lutz and Elizabeth Davenport are joined by Sumner Brooks, a registered dietitian and eating disorder specialist and founder of EDRD Pro. We highlight ways to raise intuitive eaters and discuss Sumner’s new, upcoming book on this topic. We also discuss:  The term positive embodiment The need for parents to be aware of contributing to the prevention of disordered eating and eating disorders What gets in the way with raising intuitive eaters nowadays How to move away from “perfect parenting” (Note: that doesn’t actually exist!) The three keys to raising intuitive eaters Tips for parents to support their children’s relationship with food during the holiday season Sumner Brooks, MPH, RDN, LD, CEDRD is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and certified eating disorder specialist (CEDRD) based in Portland, Oregon who has been working with clients on all levels of the disordered eating spectrum for 15 years. Sumner is a mom and has put her knowledge, intuition and parenting skills of Intuitive Eating to the test of real life. She is also the founder of an online training platform for weight-inclusive eating disorder professionals geared toward dietitians, called EDRD Pro.  Links:  How to Raise an Intuitive Eater: Raising the Next Generation with Food and Body Confidence EDRD Pro Website Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

In this episode, Anna Mackay and Elizabeth Davenport are joined by Bianca Russo, the owner of Bianca Russo Fitness which is a fitness community where you can be physically active in the absence of unsolicited diet-talk and weight-loss talk. She also implements Health at Every Size® principles. Her marginalized queer identity is the voice behind all of her training. We highlight access and barriers to wellness in the fitness industry. We also discuss:  Fatphobia and ableism as barriers to accessing health through fitness  Ways to push back on the fitness culture narrative that is primarily centered around weight loss Weight stigma in the fitness world How we can move toward a world where someone in a marginalized body can access mainstream fitness and there isn’t an automatic assumption that the person is there to pursue weight loss What would happen if the fitness industry transitioned into the world of HAES®? What would happen to industry profits?  Thoughts on body positivity HAES pledge-signer, Bianca Russo, is a NASM certified personal trainer. She's based in Washington, D.C. but works exclusively online for a specific community: plus-sized LGBTQIA2S+ humans. Bianca's delivery of fitness coaching is filtered with an awareness of trauma and eating disorders with the intention of empowering survivors to focus on changing their approach to fitness instead of changing their bodies. This holistic space promises that accommodations are always available and that sliding scale is an option for those who request it. Follow @biancarussofitness on Instagram or reach out through the website: www.biancarussofitness.com  Links:  Bianca Russo Fitness Justice Roe’s Instagram account Ilya Parker’s Instagram account Jesamyn Stanley Bodies are Cool  Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

This is the fourth and final episode in our series on answering questions about feeding children at various stages of development (preschoolers, elementary schoolers, middle schoolers, and high schoolers). In this episode, Anna Mackay, Anna Lutz, and Elizabeth Davenport discuss answers to listeners’ questions related to feeding high schoolers. High schoolers are between the ages of 14-18 years old. We discuss: How to best support your child when they are on a medication that may suppress their appetite  How to discern if your child is a late bloomer versus has a delayed onset of puberty due to a caloric deficit  Advice for parents/caregivers who are worried that their child is eating the “wrong” kinds of food How to handle when a child has negative body image, wants to lose weight, and/or compares their body to others How to determine your child’s motivation around exercise If teens need vitamins or supplements Links NCEED Webinar Post on Pediatrician’s Visit Leslie Schilling’s Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast Episode Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

This is the third episode in our four-part age series on answering questions about feeding children at various stages of development (preschoolers, elementary schoolers, middle schoolers, and high schoolers). In this episode, Anna Mackay, Anna Lutz, and Elizabeth Davenport discuss answers to listeners’ questions related to feeding middle schoolers. Middle schoolers are between the ages of 11-14 year old. Children are at all different stages of development during this age range. We discuss: Parents’ fear or unease about their child gaining weight The benefits of considering eating behaviors rather than body size and weight as indicators of health What to say if your child expresses a dislike towards their body Parents’ concern about ensuring their child is nourished when they don’t complete their lunch or skip breakfast How to address vegetarianism among children in this age range and how that may impact the development of eating disorders and/or intuitive eating How to best support your child if they stop and buy candy on their way home from school (Hint: allowing the candy is okay!) Links Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

This episode is the second in our four-part age series on answering questions about feeding children at various stages of development (preschoolers, elementary schoolers, middle schoolers, and high schoolers). In this episode, Anna Mackay, Anna Lutz, and Elizabeth Davenport discuss feeding elementary schoolers. They define elementary school age as age 5 to about age 11. We discuss: Creating structure around meal and snack times Navigating snack times without food commentary How to approach your child with curiosity if they aren’t eating lunch at school and if sensory input is overwhelming Navigating sugar intake without making your child feel excluded  Recommendations for when an elementary school child does not want to engage in formal physical activity  How to simplify and structure the meal time process, including dessert  What a parent or caregiver could do if a child doesn’t eat dinner but is hungry before bed Links Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility in Feeding Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition

This episode kicks off our four-part age series on answering questions about feeding children at various stages of development (preschoolers, elementary schoolers, middle schoolers, and high schoolers). In this episode, Anna Mackay, Anna Lutz, and Elizabeth Davenport discuss feeding preschoolers. They define a preschooler as a little older than 2.5 years old up until 5 years old. These are also kids who can sit at the table and eat independently. We discuss: Questions to consider around vegetable consumption and offer reassurance and guidance if your preschooler is not eating vegetables Why it is okay to serve juice and chocolate milk and in what capacity The importance of Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility in Feeding The importance of moving beyond the “here and now” with eating patterns How to handle if your preschooler eats more in the afternoon and does not eat much for dinner The developmental appropriateness of preschoolers becoming more selective with their food choices at this age  What to do if a preschooler’s teacher or caregiver dictate in what order they should be eating their food The big question of whether you should talk about sugar with your preschoolers and if sweets should be made available to a child at this age Links Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility in Feeding Katja Rowell’s, M.D. Lunch Box Card Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast  Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy Pinney Davenport Nutrition