Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

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
Don't miss #LifeSkillsNow - register right now!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
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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!

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
Don't miss #LifeSkillsNow - register right now!
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 have ever looked at your teenager and thought, “Why are we suddenly having toddler-level emotional meltdowns again?” this episode is going to make so much sense. I had such a fascinating conversation with Tania Johnson from the Institute of Child Psychology about what is actually happening inside the teenage brain, and honestly, it completely reframed some things for me as a parent.
We talk about why teens and toddlers are surprisingly similar from a brain development perspective, why emotional outbursts and withdrawal are actually normal parts of development, and what parents can do to stay connected without smothering their kids. I especially loved how practical this conversation became. Tania has such a gift for taking complicated psychology concepts and making them feel doable in real life.
One of my biggest takeaways from this episode was the reminder that connection is still the foundation of parenting during the teen years. Even when they roll their eyes, shut their doors, or seem like they do not want us around, attachment and relationship still matter deeply.
In this episode, we cover:
Why the teenage brain develops similarly to a toddler’s brain
What co-regulation actually looks like during emotional moments
Why talking less can sometimes help more with teens
What is happening when your teen explodes and then withdraws
Why parents should step back into connection after conflict
How attachment continues shaping mental health during adolescence
Simple family rituals that help teens feel loved and connected
Why family meals matter more than most parents realize! 
Resources We Mention for Parenting Teens with Connection
Check out Tania’s book: The Parenting Handbook: Your Guide to Raising Resilient Children by Tania Johnson and Tammy Schamuhn (Amazon / Bookshop.org)
What Is Nervous System Work, and Why Is It Important?
Teens Want to Be in Control. Here’s Why They’re NOT (& What They Can Do About it) Direct from a Teen Author
Table talk: why you need to prioritize family meals
Don't miss #LifeSkillsNow - register right now!
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!

Artificial intelligence is changing so quickly that honestly? I don’t think any of us can accurately predict what our kids’ jobs will look like in 10 or 20 years.
But I also don’t think parents can afford to throw up our hands and say, “Well, who knows?” and ignore the conversation.
In this second part of my AI series on the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast, I’m digging into the question I think every parent is asking right now: What skills will actually matter in the age of AI?
Not coding. Not memorizing facts. Not just following directions.
The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that our kids are going to need to become more fully human, not less.
In this solo episode, I share the seven skills I believe will help kids thrive in a rapidly changing future, whether they become entrepreneurs, tradespeople, creators, leaders, or something none of us can even imagine yet. We’re talking about the kinds of skills AI can’t practice for us: communication, resilience, critical thinking, emotional regulation, adaptability, and learning how to learn.
I also share some surprising thoughts about which college paths may already be becoming obsolete, why hands-on skills may actually become more valuable again, and what I’m seeing firsthand as AI completely transforms the way my husband works every single day.
If you’ve been wondering how to prepare your kids for a future nobody can fully predict, this episode will help you focus on the skills that actually last.
Resources We Mention for Raising Kids in an AI World
Get those kids #LifeSkillsNow!
Dr. Michele Borba’s episode on raising resilient kids
Raising kids who know how to problem solve
Teaching Kids the Value of Money and Joy in Spending — and Saving
How Kids Can Learn to Deal with Big Challenges and Big Emotions with Counselor and Coping Skills Expert Janine Halloran
Don't miss #LifeSkillsNow - register right now!
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 happens when the future changes faster than parenting advice can keep up?
Artificial intelligence is already transforming jobs, schools, communication, creativity, and even the way businesses run day to day. And as parents, it can feel equal parts fascinating and terrifying.
Should we be worried? What skills will our kids actually need? And how in the world do we prepare children for jobs that don’t even exist yet?
In this solo episode, I dive into the rapidly changing world of AI through the lens of parenting, critical thinking, life skills, and human connection. I’m exploring why parents can’t afford to ignore this conversation… but also why panic probably isn’t the answer.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why AI might eliminate some jobs… but create entirely new industries we can’t yet imagine
The surprising historical parallels between AI and the decline of family farms
Why trying to predict your child’s future career may be impossible (and that’s actually okay)
What Back to the Future got hilariously wrong about the year 2015
The reason “human touch” jobs may become even more valuable in the AI era
How my husband uses AI all day long and why he says he may never code manually again
The parenting mindset shift we need if technology keeps evolving faster than schools can adapt
Why life skills, critical thinking, adaptability, and human connection still matter more than ever
If you’ve ever wondered whether AI is something to fear, embrace, resist, or simply learn alongside your kids, this episode is the beginning of an important conversation for every modern parent.
Resources We Mention for Parenting in the Age of AI
Get those kids #LifeSkillsNow!
Here’s my TEDx talk on why kids need critical thinking skills
More about confidence and competence (especially as it has to do with learning to cook)
Why chores aren’t punishment – and here is my simple chores system if you need it!
How to Help Kids Thrive with (and in spite of) Tech and Screens
Nurturing Young Skeptics: Essential Guide to Teaching Critical Thinking to Kids and Teens
Don't miss #LifeSkillsNow - register right now!
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!