Ep. 158 | From “Fat Camp” to Losing 100 Pounds: Ilana Muhlstein on the Best Healthy Eating Habits For Yourself and Your Kids

In today’s episode, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein shares her story of growing up in a home where fast food was the norm. As her dependence on food grew, her parents sent her to what she calls “fat camp.” That’s where she had the life-changing realization: “You only get one body.”

From that moment, Ilana began making small, consistent changes that led to losing over 100 pounds, and keeping it off. Now she leads a community of over 300,000 people who are learning to have a healthier, more joyful relationship with food.

In our conversation, we talk about the impact of giving kids a sugar-loaded diet on physical and mental health - how it affects their mood, focus, and energy for the rest of the day. 

Ilana shares the two parenting patterns she sees most often when it comes to food—letting kids eat whatever they want or reacting out of frustration instead of planning ahead—and how to instead learn how to .

She offers practical, realistic tips for raising balanced eaters, teaching kids about carbs, protein, and energy in ways that make sense to them. We also explore how nutrition affects not just physical health, but mental health, confidence, and the parent-child relationship.

If you’ve ever wondered how to help your kids make better food choices without turning every meal into a battle, this episode is full of encouragement and easy, actionable ideas.

Get Ilana's book, Love The Food That Loves You Back. 

Find Ilana on IG: @raisingbalancedeaters and Ilanamuhlstein.com

Follow along with me on Instagram: @livingeasywithlindsey