Episode 46: Kids, Food, and Family Fears

In this episode of Food Shrinks, Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab tackle two heartfelt listener emails about food, weight, and grandchildren. The questions: How do I navigate my fear that my grandkids will inherit my struggles with food addiction? And how do I talk to my grandkids about food without shaming or harming them?

💬 Topics we cover:
• Why “hands off the body” is one of the most powerful family rules
• The difference between offering food with love versus testing or shaming kids
• How weight stigma—not weight itself—can harm children’s confidence and eating patterns
• Bliss point, ultra-processed foods, and what early exposure really means
• Why codependency, fear, and our own unresolved wounds often shape how we parent and grandparent
• Practical tools: keeping the focus on yourself, checking your nervous system, and modeling healthy boundaries

✨ Takeaways:
• Love is complicated, and fear often shows up as overprotection or control.
• Children need to be loved and accepted—not monitored or managed around every bite.
• Your relationship with your own body and food is the most powerful influence you bring to the table.
• Noticing when your concern is really about your own history can help you heal and protect the next generation.
If you’ve ever worried about your children or grandchildren’s relationship with food—or struggled to know when to step in and when to let go—this episode offers compassionate, honest insight from three therapists who have been there.

📩 Got a question for us? Email [e-mail].

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The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.