Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

Were you scared away from taking hormone replacement therapy?
I was. 100%!
But this conversation with Dr. Stephanie Gray may have changed my mind. 
I’m 46, firmly in the “what is happening to my body and what is ABOUT to happen?” stage of life, and I had definitely absorbed the message that hormone replacement therapy was a Big Scary Decision.
I couldn’t have explained the research. I couldn’t have named the famous study that scared so many women away from hormones. I just had this sense of, “Ooh, probably not for me. I’ll just eat my way to good health and keep my mobility, thankyouverymuch.”
You know what I mean?
That’s exactly why this conversation fascinated me.
Dr. Stephanie Gray has been working with hormones for well over a decade, and she walked me through what actually happened with the research that shaped our cultural fear of hormone therapy, what she believes we got wrong, and some REALLY important distinctions that tend to get flattened into one little word: hormones.
This one gets dense in the best possible way. We’re talking perimenopause, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, delivery methods, heart health, brain health, metabolic health, and why the details matter enormously.
Listen in to hear:
Why the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study scared a generation of women away from hormone therapy, and the three major problems Dr. Gray sees with how that research was conducted
The surprisingly simple way to tell whether the hormone you’ve been prescribed is actually the same hormone your body makes
Why Dr. Gray says “progesterone” and “progestin” are NOT interchangeable words, even though they’re often treated that way
What oral estrogen has to do with the liver and clotting risk, and why the delivery method of a hormone matters
Patches, creams, pellets, lozenges, injections…oh my! How the options differ and why this definitely isn’t a one-size-fits-all conversation
Why timing matters when women consider hormone therapy, especially around perimenopause and menopause
Dr. Gray’s “healthy house” analogy for understanding estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones without needing a medical degree
The connection she draws between declining hormones and four major health concerns as we age: cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and metabolic dysfunction
If your entire understanding of hormone replacement therapy is basically, “Wasn’t there a study saying that was dangerous?” you are absolutely not alone.
I was right there with you.
This conversation gave me a LOT more questions to ask, which is exactly where I want to be when I’m making decisions about my health.
Resources We Mention for HRT and Perimenopause Hormones
Grab one of Dr. Stephanie’s books: Your Longevity Blueprint (Amazon/Bookshop.org); Your Fertility Blueprint (Amazon/Bookshop.org); Your Hormone Blueprint (Amazon/Bookshop.org).
Get 10% off supplements at Dr. Stephanie’s site with the code KIDS.
Perimenopause could be the best years of your life! with Jenn Pike
More about menopause and hormones with Cynthia Thurlow here and here
Women build muscle differently – especially over age 30
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
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YouTube shorts channel for HPH
Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

What should you do when your child is overwhelmed, melting down, refusing to cooperate, or acting like they cannot handle something you know they can do?
In part two of this conversation, Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge explains how parents can help kids build a more regulated nervous system before, during, and after stressful moments. She shares why parents should regulate first, connect second, and correct only after a child is calm enough to think and learn. Here's part one if you missed it. 
You’ll also learn why constantly rescuing kids from discomfort can prevent them from building stress tolerance, how to support a child without immediately fixing the problem, and why small daily regulation practices can make a big difference over time.
Dr. Roseann shares a simple 4-7-8 breathing practice parents can use throughout the day to lower stress and build greater nervous system capacity! This is just one of at least 5 solid techniques Dr. Ro shares with us, things you can implement right away at home. 
Don't forget to check out Dr. Roseann's new book, The Dysregulated Child.
Resources We Mention for Helping Your Dysregulated Child
Dr. Roseann’s book The Dysregulated Child releases 9/22/26! Grab it now.
Episodes on stress mastery: Can We Help Our Highly Sensitive Kids Handle Their Stress? and Stress Busting for Moms
What Is Nervous System Work, and Why Is It Important?
Raising Kids Who Can Do Hard Things with Dr. Kathryn Hecht
Try the Stress Mastery Challenge for free
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
YouTube shorts channel for HPH
Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

When your child is melting down, refusing to listen, shutting down, or exploding over something small, their nervous system may be overwhelmed—not ready for more words or discipline.
Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, a longtime friend of mine and Raising Healthy Families, explains what happens in the brain when kids become dysregulated and why their ability to think logically can temporarily go offline. She shares how a child’s “stress cup” fills up, why parents and kids can co-regulate or co-dysregulate, and why your own nervous system is one of the most powerful parenting tools you have.
You’ll also learn why the middle of a meltdown is usually the worst time to reason with your child, how to use a simple three-second “love pause,” and why regulation needs to come before teaching, correcting, or problem-solving.
This episode gives parents practical ways to respond with fewer words, more calm, and a better understanding of what their child’s behavior may be communicating.
If this episode hits a nerve, make sure you grab a copy of Dr. Ro’s new book, The Dysregulated Child.
Resources We Mention for Helping Your Dysregulated Child
Dr. Roseann’s book The Dysregulated Child releases 9/22/26! Grab it now.
Preventing nervous system wounds in your child with Ann Odom
Episodes on stress mastery: Can We Help Our Highly Sensitive Kids Handle Their Stress? and Stress Busting for Moms
Try the Stress Mastery Challenge for free
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
YouTube shorts channel for HPH
Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

In the previous episode, I talked about my first two philosophy shifts when it comes to how I feed my own kids and talk about picky eating. We dealt with the "no thank-you bite" and how/when to serve dessert. I'm truly grateful for the professionals who helped me change my thinking and my ways!
Today, we'll dive into three other mindset changes I've had when it comes to feeding kids. The first has to do with introducing foods to babies, which isn't actually a part of The Picky Eater Playbook—but it's still something to consider and an important first step for parents!
Then we will get into how our food looks (does it matter?) and briefly touch on kids who really WOULD starve themselves if they aren't served certain foods. 
You'll learn:
why I think eczema and food sensitivities might have been caused by Paul and Leah's first foods
what first foods I think work best for babies
why I started rethinking "you don't taste with your eyes" and how cute foods might actually be more appealing to children
what working with 20,000 families taught me about my stance that kids will eat eventually, they won't starve
and why the laid-back way I wrote The Picky Eater Playbook means you will probably be able to adapt it for your family!
I'm outlining all the pre-order bonuses for you, too, so make sure to listen or watch to the end of the episode. I sure hope you'll think it's worthwhile to pre-order a copy of the book and delve into making dinnertime a more peaceful time for your whole family.
You deserve that, Mom, and so do your kids! Get out of the chicken nugget and pizza rut. It CAN be better.
Resources We Mention for Picky Eating Tips
Pre-order The Picky Eater Playbook and get amazing pre-order bonuses!
Nourishing first foods for babies
More about problem feeders in my interview with Dr. Kay Toomey
Get kids in the kitchen! Check out the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse or Teens Cook Real Food if your kids are older
Jensen got help through my Picky Eater Playbook (P.E.P.) Club - learn more about the membership now
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
YouTube shorts channel for HPH
Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Have you ever given parenting advice with total confidence…only to learn a few years later that you had it completely wrong?
I have. 🙋‍♀️
After 21 years of feeding kids, 17 years of writing about healthy families, and a whole lot of conversations with picky eating experts, there are a few things I used to teach that I simply don’t anymore.
And I think it’s important to talk about them.
In this episode, I’m sharing some of the biggest changes I’ve made in my picky eating philosophy—and why learning more sometimes means being willing to do a complete 180. We’re digging into two especially common feeding practices: requiring kids to take a “no thank you bite” and making dessert something they have to earn by eating enough dinner.
You’ll hear:
Why I no longer recommend requiring even one bite of a new food
The simple phrase that can take an enormous amount of pressure off picky eaters
Why making dessert a reward may accidentally make it even more desirable
How our family shifted from “eat enough dinner to get dessert” to choice within boundaries
Why there probably isn’t one perfect dessert rule that works for every child and every family
And we’re only halfway through my list!
This is Part 1 of a two-part episode. In Part 2, I’ll share the rest of the major picky eating philosophies I’ve changed my mind about, including a powerful story of one child’s transformation and more of what I’ve learned while writing The Picky Eater Playbook.
If you’ve ever wondered whether the feeding advice you’ve heard (or even followed for years!) is actually helping your child build a healthy relationship with food, this conversation is for you.
Resources We Mention for Pressure-Free Feeding
Find all the places you can pre-order my book, The Picky Eater Playbook (and get those pre-order bonuses!)
Jump start your learning with the No More Picky Eating Challenge
The real cause of picky eating with Dr. Kay Toomey
Why We Should Stop Thinking About Nutrition and Build Our Kids’ Eating Habits Instead with Feeding Expert Dina Rose, PhD
Our real food sweets rules – are they necessary?
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
YouTube shorts channel for HPH
Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!