Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

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.
Get your kids REAL skills for real life - register for #LifeSkillsNow!
Shop Thrive Market right here: https://kidscookrealfood.com/thrive
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 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
Get your kids REAL skills for real life - register for #LifeSkillsNow!
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
Get your kids REAL skills for real life - register for #LifeSkillsNow!
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
Get your kids REAL skills for real life - register for #LifeSkillsNow!
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
Get your kids REAL skills for real life - register for #LifeSkillsNow!
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!