Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

Who would have thought a man in his 30s would give himself a "talking-to" about his own picky eating and work on reforming it?
That's exactly what Chef James Barry did, though, and now he's a vegetable lover AND passionate about organ meats! 
In this conversation, we're talking about his journey, why he thinks there are more picky eaters nowadays, and how ages 6 months to 2 years might be the prime time for expanding the palate. 
Chef James and I always have fun together, and I can't wait for you to hear this conversation!

Resources We Mention for Picky Eaters
Join our No More Picky Eaters Challenge!
Get The Naked Foods Cookbook on Amazon
Pluck seasoning (Use code KS15 for 15% off!)
If you struggle with emotional eating in your family check out this post and this interview
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
See the Kimball Family Chores System here!
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!

Why will your child happily eat the same chicken nugget every day but reject a strawberry because it tastes different from yesterday’s?
That predictability matters more than we might realize. In this solo episode of the Healthy Parenting Handbook, I’m digging into four ways ultra-processed foods may make picky eating harder to work through. We’re talking about familiar flavors and textures, the convenience of making separate meals, the constant availability of super-sweet foods, and what happens when babies and toddlers eat so much of their food from pouches.
And yes, I have a few opinions about “kid food.” When did we decide children needed an entirely different menu from the rest of the family?
I know parents need convenience. We have budgets, busy evenings, and days when getting anything on the table feels like a victory. So I’m sharing practical ways to introduce more variety, move toward one family meal, and give kids more opportunities to explore food. Some changes are as small as serving a puree in a bowl or letting your child help you cut a chicken nugget differently.
If you’re raising a picky eater who insists on the same brands or refuses unfamiliar foods, this episode will help you notice patterns and consider your next step. These are also some of the challenges I help parents work through in The Picky Eater Playbook, with the goal of less mealtime stress and a healthy relationship with food that lasts!
Resources We Mention for Processed Foods and Picky Eaters
“Picky Eating Isn’t about the Food” TEDx Talk
The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
The importance of family meals with Father Leo of Plating Grace
More on food jags in this episode with Dr. Kay Toomey and also this solo episode on picky eating and school lunch
Why Kids’ Menus Are Hurting the Next Generation
The Power of Teaching Kids to Cook
Expert Tips for Picky Eating with Melanie Potock
Why is white sugar bad for you?
Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
See the Kimball Family Chores System here!
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!

Your child eats lentils at daycare but won’t touch them at home. Or a favorite dinner suddenly gets an emphatic “NO!” Does this sound familiar?
In part two of my conversation with Dr. Deborah MacNamara, author of Nourished, we explore picky eating through the lens of child development, attachment, and emotional safety. We talk about why toddlers become cautious about new foods, how sensory sensitivities can affect eating, and why getting a bite into your child’s mouth doesn’t have to be the measure of a successful family meal.
I especially loved our conversation about serving one family meal while making room for different preferences and needs. Deborah shares how she adapted meals for her sensitive eater without pressure, and we discuss how shared food can help kids feel included.
And if you worry that your own complicated relationship with food will rub off on your children, please listen. Deborah offers such an encouraging perspective on that internal struggle and how recognizing the patterns you want to change can help you move forward. This episode is full of hope for parents who want less mealtime stress, stronger parent-child connection, and a healthier relationship with food for the whole family.
Resources We Mention for Picky Eaters
My TEDx talk on picky eating
Get more picky eating strategies here
Jump right in to the free No More Picky Eating Challenge
Infographics on picky eating and gathering to eat
Here are Deborah’s booksNourished: Food, Connection, and Caring for our Kids (And Everyone Else We Love)
The Sorry Plane
Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One)

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!
See the Kimball Family Chores System here!
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!

What if helping your picky eater started with how you connect, alongside what you serve? When family meals become a battle, it’s easy to focus on finding another recipe or getting your child to take a bite. But food also carries a powerful message: “You can count on me to take care of you.”
In this episode of the Healthy Parenting Handbook, I’m talking with Dr. Deborah MacNamara, author of Nourished, about the connection between food, attachment, and child development. We explore why being at the dinner table doesn’t always mean feeling connected, how everyday food routines can strengthen parent-child relationships, and why teaching kids to cook can be an act of care for the whole family.
If you’re raising a picky eater, juggling busy schedules, or wondering how to balance kids’ independence with their need for support, this conversation offers an encouraging perspective on feeding kids and building a healthy relationship with food. You don’t need a picture-perfect family dinner to help your children feel nourished.
Resources We Mention for Picky Eaters
Here’s the study Deborah mentions about family dinners
My TEDx talk on picky eating
Get more picky eating strategies here
Jump right in to the free No More Picky Eating Challenge
Infographics on picky eating and gathering to eat
Here are Deborah’s booksNourished: Food, Connection, and Caring for our Kids (And Everyone Else We Love)
The Sorry Plane
Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One)

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!

“Never require a bite.”
That’s advice I give parents of picky eaters. So what happens when I interview a psychologist whose treatment includes required bites AND rewards?
Well, I ask a lot of questions!
In part two of my conversation with Dr. Jessica Bodie, we dig into some approaches that made me pause, push back, and think more deeply. I had just finished writing The Picky Eater Playbook, so you can imagine what was going through my head: “Wait. Do I need to rethink what I just wrote?”
One distinction keeps coming up: who we’re trying to help. My work focuses on everyday picky eaters and building a healthy relationship with food. Dr. Bodie works with extreme picky eaters, including children with ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), for whom eating unfamiliar foods can feel incredibly difficult.
We don’t agree on everything, and I’m glad we had room to explore that. We also find plenty of common ground, especially around helping kids feel capable, encouraging bravery, and making food less of a battle.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why Dr. Bodie uses several practice bites instead of a one-bite rule.
How structured food challenges differ from “You can’t leave the table until you eat.”
Where rewards fit into her treatment approach, and why I question using dessert as a reward.
Why a child might happily eat chicken nuggets but struggle with other meat.
How grazing, snack portions, and drinks can affect appetite at meals.
Why “Do you like it?” might be a harder question than we realize.
How cooking and grocery shopping can help kids become more curious about food.
When screens enter the treatment picture, and when families need professional support.
If you’re worried about your child’s eating, I hope this conversation helps you understand the options and ask better questions. And if you’ve ever wondered why picky eating experts sometimes give different advice, come listen as we work through those differences together!
Resources We Mention for Treatment for ARFID in Kids
If you register for the No More Picky Eating Challenge, there is a questionnaire to help you figure out if you have an extreme picky eater! 
Why feeding therapy can backfire with extreme picky eaters 
Simplify your schedule by scheduling your food
Teaching kids to grocery budget, shop, and cook for themselves
I always suggest finding a therapist versed in the SOS Approach to Feeding if you have an extreme picky eater
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!