Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

I was once called the Wikipedia of sunscreen by a morning news anchor.
I consider myself a total sunscreen geek!
Wait until you see my jaw drop in this conversation with cosmetic chemist and Stream2Sea founder Autumn Blum. She taught me things I had never considered before!
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why a scuba diving trip halfway around the world completely changed the way Autumn formulates skincare products
The surprising connection between the sunscreen you put on in your backyard and ecosystems hundreds or even thousands of miles away
What researchers discovered about certain sunscreen ingredients that sparked bans in destinations around the world
Why the word “organic” on a personal care label may not mean what you think it means
How sunscreen ingredients can travel through both our bodies and our waterways
Why protecting your skin and protecting the environment may not be an either-or choice
This is one of those episodes that will absolutely make you think differently the next time you reach for a bottle of sunscreen.

Resources We Mention for Sunscreens and Coral Reefs
Shop Stream2Sea – get 10% off with the code KITCHENSTEW!
What you need to know about reef-safe sunscreen
Is Your Sunscreen Full of Estrogen?
See all of my natural, mineral sunscreen reviews – or take a look at the cheat sheet if you want all the info in one place!
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Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.
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!

If you’ve ever looked around your house thinking, “Why am I still doing everything for these capable humans?” — this episode is for you.
I’m deeply passionate about helping parents raise kids who are not only healthy, but independent, resilient, and prepared for real life. And honestly? Chores and family responsibilities are one of the most powerful tools we have to make that happen.
In this conversation with Hunter Clarke-Fields from the Mindful Mama Podcast, we talk about why chores are about so much more than getting help around the house. They help kids build confidence, ownership, problem-solving skills, and even better mental health.
We also talk about:
Why responsibility protects teen resilience
How to start chores with toddlers and preschoolers
What to do if your teen has never really helped before
Why contribution matters more than perfection
How to stop nagging and build systems that actually work
And yes — I share the exact chore system we’ve used in our family for over 10 years.
Whether your child is 4 or 14, it’s never too late to start building the life skills they’ll carry into adulthood.
Resources We Mention for Chores for Teens
Building Strong Families, Connected Kids with Father Leo of Plating Grace
The Kimball Family Chores System That Works!
Can Mindfulness Make You a Better Parent? (+ Bonus Guided Meditations for Kids!)
Get some life skills, right now! Easy workshops for kids and teens to take ownership.
Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.
Shop Third Rock Essentials at kidscookrealfood.com/thirdrock, and use code KITCHENSTEW for 20% off!
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!

If your family does not deal with food allergies, it can be easy to assume this episode is not for you. But after this conversation with Kathlena, The Allergy Chef, I think every parent will walk away with more empathy, awareness, and practical tools for helping all kids feel included.
Kathlena’s stories are powerful, heartbreaking, and deeply hopeful. We talked about the hidden isolation many families experience and the surprisingly simple ways we can make our homes, classrooms, and communities safer and more welcoming for everyone.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why many families with food allergies feel socially isolated — even during everyday gatherings
The emotional story of a 12-year-old receiving her very first safe birthday cake
Simple ways to include kids with food allergies without making things complicated
Why “food-free” gatherings can sometimes be the best solution
What parents often misunderstand about severe food allergies and cross-contamination
How empathy and communication can completely change a child’s experience
Why schools and parents need to advocate earlier and more openly
Practical ways to teach kids kindness, flexibility, and inclusion around food differences
This conversation is such an important reminder that connection matters more than perfection — and that small acts of thoughtfulness can have a lifelong impact on a child.
You can watch Kathlena in action at this year’s #LifeSkillsNow summer camp. She teaches teens how to turn basic ground meats into an amazing variety of dinners. Her workshop is SO GOOD! Don’t miss out – register now. 
Resources We Mention for Including Kids with Allergies
45 Easy Non Food Birthday Celebration Ideas for School
Food Allergies and the Art of Hospitality: Tips for Hosts and Guests
Allergies are also a good reason to eliminate team sports snacks
See Kathlena’s cookbooks here
Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.
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!

I have to tell you, this episode completely stretched my understanding of food allergies, chronic illness, and what it means to truly listen to your body.
Kathlena, also known as The Allergy Chef, has one of the most unbelievable stories I have ever heard. She personally manages more than 200 food allergies and intolerances, was once given 30 days to live, and today somehow works as a chef helping other families navigate food restrictions with creativity and hope.
But this conversation is not just about extreme allergies. It is also about paying attention to our kids, respecting what their bodies may be telling us, and understanding that no two humans respond to food the same way. Kathlena brings so much wisdom, humor, and perspective to a topic that can feel incredibly overwhelming for families.
In this episode, we cover:
How Kathlena went years without proper diagnosis despite severe reactions
What happened when she finally started eliminating foods on her own
Why she believes kids should never be forced to eat foods they reject
What daily life looks like when you can safely eat only a handful of foods
How food allergies changed the way her whole family cooked and ate
Why involving kids in food preparation builds confidence and resilience
The surprising connection between chronic inflammation and obesity
The “five pillars of health” that helped transform her family’s health
You can watch Kathlena in action at this year’s #LifeSkillsNow summer camp. She teaches teens how to turn basic ground meats into an amazing variety of dinners. Her workshop is SO GOOD! Don’t miss out – register now. 
Resources We Mention for Food Allergies and Healing
What’s It Like for a Kid to Get Diagnosed with a Food Allergy?
The No More Picky Eating Challenge isn't just for picky kids, but any families struggling with eating and tension at the dinner table 
Elimination diet tips and tricks for families with children
Free knife skills class to start on the path to cooking
See Kathlena's cookbooks here
Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.
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!

If you listened to part one of my conversation with Tania Johnson, you already know how powerful it was to understand what is happening inside the teenage brain. In this second half, we move from the “why” into the “what now?” We talk about the practical side of parenting teens in today’s world, including chores, emotional intelligence, resilience, family connection, and of course… technology.
One thing I really appreciated about this conversation is how balanced and hopeful it felt. Tania does not come from a place of fear or perfectionism. Instead, she reminds us that parenting teens is about relationship, repair, and helping our kids gradually build the skills they need to become capable adults. We also talk honestly about screens and smartphones, and I think every parent of tweens and teens will feel seen in this conversation.
In this episode, we cover:
Why emotional intelligence may matter more than IQ long-term
How parents teach EQ through everyday conversations and reactions
Why family dinners and chores build confidence and connection
How to hold expectations without constant power struggles
The reason more teens seem afraid of failure and independence
Why resilience grows through small risks and mistakes
What parents often get wrong about smartphones and social media
Why it is okay to “rewind” and change tech decisions later
Resources We Mention for Raising Resilient Teens
Check out Tania's book: The Parenting Handbook: Your Guide to Raising Resilient Children by Tania Johnson and Tammy Schamuhn (Amazon / Bookshop.org)
The Kimball Family Chores System
Raising Digital Citizens conversation cards
Passing along ownership to your teens
Some more thoughts on teens and tech from me and one of my interviews with Andrea Davis of Better Screen Time
Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.
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!