Managing Mealtime Madness

In this episode, Sarah and Katie discuss the challenges and strategies of feeding an active family. They discuss meal planning, dealing with selective eaters, and the importance of balancing nutrition with the realities of busy family life (including the challenges of feeding a child with cystic fibrosis). 

Katie shares her insights on increasing caloric intake for children, the emotional aspects of feeding kids, and the support ava...

In this solo episode, Sarah shares some of the best mom hacks she's come across for handling the holidays and ALL that comes with them! From tips for entertaining and bulk preparing, to shortcuts in the kitchen, wrapping stations and more, this is one episode that will send you into the holidays with a plan to protect your time and work smarter, not harder. 

Check out these Thanksgiving snacks for kids. 

Have a listener question...

Sarah's back for another quick solo episode sharing the family meals her family enjoyed last week with reminders to embrace imperfection. From some planned meals, to some off the cusp, here's how she and her family made it work. Don't forget about frozen foods for those busy weeks ahead!

Try these recipes:

• Pumpkin Chicken Chili
• Easy Skillet Lasagna
• Turkey Sweetpotato Chili (NEW!)
• Applesauce Oat Bars
• Low Sugar Cookie Do...

Edwina is a Registered Dietitian, dually credentialed in the U.S. and Australia, and a mother of toddler twin girls. She specializes in translating complex science into consumer-friendly messages and is a sought-after nutrition expert, brand advisor, and media spokesperson. A long-time advocate for pediatric nutrition, Edwina founded Baby Led Basics and wrote 'The Busy Parents Guide to Baby-Led Weaning', to help busy pare...

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based nutrition. Drawing from the current scientific literature and the wisdom of traditional cultures, her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and sensible. 

We dive into what a nourishing prenatal diet looks like, how to support blood sugar balance during pregnancy, and what to know a...

Welcome Samina Qureshi, a Registered Dietitian specializing in gut health and digestive disorders, to the podcast! Sarah and Samina discuss the importance of identifying common digestive issues in kids, and practical tips for managing GI distress and constipation. They discuss:

• How to identify food sensitivities or digestive difficulties in kids
• High fiber sources and ways to introduce them in kids' diets
• Foods and lifestyle ...

In this quick solo episode, Sarah shares some of her meals that her family shared last week, including opportunities to improve upon for next week's meals to make things easier, and also highlights what worked well for busy weeks. She also shares some easy recipes for you to try!

Your meals don’t have to be Pinterest-worthy — simple, repeated, even imperfect meals still get the job done.

Don't forget to leave a review for t...

Gisela Bouvier is a media Registered Dietitian based on Florida. In this episode, Gisela shares how to be okay with using convenient and processed foods in her busy lifestyle, while still nourishing her family. She talks about how and why she came to embrace mindful eating after suffering from an eating disorder for many years prior to having her three kids. From that experience, cultivating a good relationship with food is very im...

In this episode, Breana Killeen, Sarah speaks with Breana Killeen, a senior food editor at Food & Wine and a dedicated farmer and chef. Breana shares her insights on the unique experiences of raising children on a farm, lessons learned through farming, the importance of family meals, and how these experiences shape their relationship with food. Breana also offers practical tips for busy parents on meal planning and preparation....

In this episode, Sarah talks with Beth Stark, to discuss the challenges and strategies of meal prepping, especially during the back-to-school season. They explore:

- How parents can navigate the busy schedules to create balanced meals

- How to involve children in meal planning

- Redefining meal prep for busy families 

- Creative Lunchbox Ideas for Kids

- Encouraging Variety in Kids' Diets

- How to create a variety of meals that are ...

In this quick episode, Sarah shares a realistic approach to bedtime snacks — a common source of confusion (and negotiation) for many families. 

Should you offer them or not? Whether your child is genuinely hungry at night or using snacks as a stalling tactic, this episode explores how to approach bedtime snacks without guilt, pressure, or power struggles.

Sarah covers:

• Why bedtime snacks can be totally normal (and sometimes needed...

In this episode, my seven year old, Camryn, joins me to talk about snacking habits, and how kids may see snacks. We talk about strategies to offer more fruits and veggies, let kids play a role in the snack process, and fun ideas that you can try at home. Camryn even shares some tips for enticing picky eaters to try new foods, and some fun summer-friendly options!

Snacks mentioned in this episode:

• Edible cookie dough
• Pumpkin spice ...

If you've ever been worried about your child's weight, this is an episode you won't want to miss! Jill Castle, long-time childhood nutrition expert and founder of The Nourished Child and author of Kids Thrive at Every Size, joins Sarah on Managing Mealtime Madness. 

Together, Sarah and Jill explore:

• Why traditional approaches to weight and BMI in children often miss the mark
• How parents and caregivers can shift the ...

Chelsea LeBlanc is an award-winning registered dietitian, media personality, recipe developer, and nutrition expert in Nashville, TN. She runs a nutrition communications company and virtual private practice where she helps career-driven women plan and prep quick and easy meals on a budget. She frequently contributes to multiple media outlets––including Eat This, Not That!, Well + Good, MSN, and Eating Well.

Passionate about reducing...

Amid rising controversy and misinformation on social media, this episode explains what seed oils are, how they’re processed, and whether they deserve the “toxic” label they’ve been given.

As a Registered Dietitian, Sarah dives into the science behind seed oils, their role in heart health, inflammation, and whether they’re safe for kids. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• What seed oils are and how they differ from fruit oils 
• How seed o...

In this episode, Sarah talks about her recent firsthand experience on cattle ranches in Nebraska and some of the main takeaways for families. She shares some of the myths about beef and misinformation about grass-fed vs. conventional beef, and talks about beef nutrition, especially for growing kids. 

From how cattle are raised to what happens before beef ends up in your grocery store or on your toddler’s plate, Sarah breaks down 5 k...

Childhood nutrition is a complex issue! In this episode,  Sarah and Alex Turnbull, RD discuss the challenges of child nutrition, particularly in the context of school food service. As a Registered Dietitian who used to work in school food service, Alex talks about many of the challenges that school nutrition programs face, including funding, food policies, offer vs. serve and more. 

In this episode:

• How parents can reduce pressur...

In this episode, Sarah shares practical tips for making mealtime more enjoyable for families, especially with young children. To make family meals more fun, we discuss the importance of predictability and allowing kids to serve themselves to foster autonomy. Sarah also touches on providing empathy when dealing with picky eaters, avoiding pressure, and creating rituals to enhance family bonding during meals. This is a great and quic...

Sally Kuzemchak is a registered dietitian and founder of Real Mom Nutrition, where she shares down-to-earth advice about feeding kids plus simple recipes--and since she's a former picky eater, they're all created with the finicky palate in mind. Her passion is helping moms feel more confident, and less guilt and confusion around feeding their families. She's the author of two books and has been published in numerous ...