Comfort Food

The spooky season is upon us! And all too often, parents' biggest fear about Halloween is... what to do with all the candy. But Halloween is also a fantastic opportunity to let your kids explore new foods, learn to handle themselves around treats, and (yes, really) enjoy some sugar. We've got tips for making the onslaught fun and manageable for the whole family. And Amy chats with Sally of Real Mom Nutrition about her Switch Witch strategy. PS. Check out our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com.

It can be super hard to feel good about your mom body because we live in a culture that wants us to have all the babies... but then look like we never had a baby. So a lot of us end up denigrating our bodies or our food choices, almost without realizing it—and for sure without realizing how much our kids are listening to us body shame, fat talk or apologize for eating. Amy and Virginia explore how you can work towards body neutrality or even body positivity. Show Notes: comfortfoodpodcast.com.  

Every darn day we have to feed our families dinner. And on way too many of those days, it's harder than it should be. We’ve pinpointed 5 of the most common problems that come up during family dinner and are talking through our best solutions to all of the above—including the strategies we're road-testing in our very own homes.  Check out our show notes for more tips: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/podcast/comfort-food-podcast-episode-11/

These days, "healthy eating" seems to mean "eat all of the protein, with some protein powder sprinkled on top." This can be super stressful for parents who worry their kids aren't big fans of meat or beans (or protein powder!). And it messes with pregnant ladies' heads.  We cut through the marketing hype to share some solid info on how much protein you need—and why this is one thing we can relax about. Check our show notes: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/podcast/comfort-food-podcast-episode-10/ ‎

With so many wellness plans, detox bootcamps, and food challenges out now, it can be hard to know whether something will really improve your health —  or is just a crash diet with a new hashtag. And these plans love to target moms! Amy and Virginia explore whether “lifestyle plans” can ever be compatible with family life. Visit our show notes: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/podcast/comfort-food-podcast-episode-9/

Today we’re talking about what food allergies and intolerances can mean for family meals — and our mental health. Amy shares how she figured out that gluten gives her migraines, and the impact it has had on her family. And we get into the challenges that can arise with real food allergies — and what we can all do to make life with these food restrictions a little easier. Check out our show notes: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/general/podcast-episode-8-family-meals-with-food-intolerances-and-all

Maybe you’re packing your first preschool lunchbox. Or logging on to top up your elementary schooler’s lunch account. Or trying to figure out what your toddler ate at daycare all day. We’re talking about how to navigate this new facet of your child’s relationship with food, and what to do about all the new food messages they’ll bring home from school. Check out our show notes: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/podcast/podcast-episode-7-when-school-lunch-is-a-struggle/

Holy pregnancy hunger! Amy is expecting baby no. 3 (and eating all of the pretzels), so this episode is about how eating changes when you're pregnant because of cravings, aversions and weight anxieties. We look at how diet culture shows up in pregnancy apps and at prenatal check-ups, and talk about getting away from the "perfect" pregnancy paradox, to listen to what your body — and baby! — needs most.  Visit our show notes here: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/podcast/comfort-food-podcast-episode-

You know how nobody has ever eaten exactly one half cup of ice cream and felt satisfied in their life? Yeah. That. Diet culture and government guidelines are full of rules about the "right" amount to eat of any food.... but they rarely match up with how much we actually need to eat. So what should you do instead? We talk about encouraging kids to listen to their bodies, and help mamas ditch the guilt. Visit our show notes here: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/podcast/comfort-food-podcast-episode-5/

A new study on kids' sugar consumption has triggered a flurry of handwringing — and mom shaming. But are toddlers really living on Snickers' bars alone? And is banning sugar from your kids' diets a good idea (or even possible)? Amy and Virginia bust some common myths about sugar highs and childhood obesity. And we discuss why kids need to eat treats (yes, really!) in order to have a healthy relationship with food. Visit our show notes here: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/podcast/comfort-food-episode-

You know how you can be up for hours in the morning, your kids will be on their second breakfast or third snack and somehow, you still haven't had a bite? (And you've had to warm up your coffee 17 times?) You need our new Mama Manifesto: #FeedYourselfFirst! We talk about why this can be so hard to pull off. (Hint: It's not you, it's sexism). And brainstorm ways to help moms prioritize their needs at mealtimes. Visit our show notes here: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/podcast/comfort-food-episode-3/

Little ones are notorious for not wanting to eat green. So how much is too much pressure when it comes to getting kids to eat their veggies? And is it possible to entice them to eat their fill without relying on sneaking veggies into everything? As you'll hear in episode 2, we have slightly different takes on this issue — and whether it's ever okay for pancakes to be green. Visit our show notes here: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/podcast/comfort-food-episode-2/

Welcome to Comfort Food! In Episode 1, we're asking: How can we stop obsessing about what we eat? We discuss why diet culture, picky eating kids, and perfection pressure leave most of us overly fixated on every bite we (and our kids!) take. And we offer strategies to help reduce mealtime drama and increase enjoyment — like the one simple thing you can do today, to feel better about how you eat.  Visit our show notes here: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/podcast/comfort-food-episode-1/