About the Episode:
I was at the grocery store with my nine-year-old. She'd had a hard day (the class bully had gone after her) and she wanted everything. Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Brioche with Nutella. Red velvet cupcakes. Whipped cream straight from the aerosol can. And I said no to most of it.
In today's episode, I'm talking about why. I'm also talking about why I think the "let kids eat whatever they want, whenever they want" message that's everywhere in the body-positive parenting space is missing something really important.
Here's what we cover:
- Why full food freedom doesn't match child development. Intuitive eating is a beautiful concept, but it was designed for adults with fully developed prefrontal cortexes. Most kids literally cannot connect what they ate at noon to how they feel at 3pm. That's simply biology.
- Why neurodivergent kids need even more thoughtful food scaffolding. I'm sharing what this looks like in my own home with two neurodivergent daughters — one with ADHD, one with autism — and why "just trust their bodies" isn't a complete answer for every kid.
- The question that stung when I asked it of myself. How much of what we're calling "food freedom" is actually about our own unresolved diet culture wounds and whether swinging from hyper-control to total hands-off actually heals anything?
- What the middle actually looks like. I walk through three practical tools: structure without control, body literacy without shame, and naming food differences without attaching moral worth, all grounded in the Division of Responsibility framework from dietitian Ellyn Satter.
The goal is to hold a wide, wise, nuanced middle and to give our kids the scaffolding they need to eventually trust themselves.
Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today?
📘 Order the Books
Raising Body-Confident Kids
If you've ever caught yourself saying something to your kid about their body that sounded exactly like what your mother said to you, this book is for you. Raising Body-Confident Kids is a research-backed, judgment-free guide for parents who want to break the cycle of diet culture and body shame without swinging into toxic positivity or giving up all structure around food and movement. It answers the real questions parents are actually asking about Ozempic, about picky eaters, about what to say when your kid is being bullied for their body, and about social media influences. This is a practical, values-based game plan you can actually use, even if your own relationship with your body is still a work in progress.
My One-of-a-Kind Body
My One-of-a-Kind Body gives kids the language and understanding they need to care for their bodies with respect without fear, shame, or appearance-based messaging. Through inclusive illustrations and evidence-based health education, the book teaches body literacy, boundaries, and self-trust in a way kids can actually grasp.
