Raising Well Nourished Kids
We all want to raise healthy, emotionally resilient, food-adventurous kids, but what does that actually look like and how do we do it?
This podcast is a place for deep conversations and practical guidance about what it takes to raise well nourished kids, in every sense of the word. We tackle all the big topics from setting boundaries and creating healthy eating habits to instilling a good food culture in your household and fostering body positivity.
There’s a lot of information out there, much of it contradictory and confusing. This leaves parents overwhelmed and anxious about the ‘right’ thing to do when it comes to their child’s health and wellbeing. It’s time to reimagine a way to parent in this modern world that supports health, connection and the relational wellbeing of our families and precious children.
Every week we’ll bring you a new episode that draws on our combined 40 years of knowledge and experience in the fields of child psychology, behaviour and nutrition, as well as our own personal journey’s of raising healthy, thriving teenagers, in the hopes of bringing you some much needed clarity along with simple, proven strategies to help you raise well nourished kids.
We’re here to support you to support your young people in developing healthy eating habits and positive relationships with and through food.
Raising Well Nourished Kids
39. The Dessert Dilemma: How to end mealtime power struggles
In this episode, Georgia and Jane tackle one of parenting's most common challenges: the "dessert before dinner" dilemma. They offer a fresh perspective that goes beyond simple mealtime rules, diving into the fascinating science of how sugar affects children's developing brains and behaviour.
The hosts share strategies to help children develop a healthy relationship with food, explaining why simply making dessert conditional on finishing dinner can backfire. Instead, they reveal how parents can create a positive food culture where children genuinely look forward to nutritious meals as much as sweet treats.
Key highlights include:
- Why children's "primitive brain" makes them naturally gravitate toward sweets, and how parents can work with this biology
- The importance of protein-rich meals in managing sugar cravings and stabilising mood
- Practical tips for resetting mealtime dynamics without creating power struggles
- How to build a family food culture that celebrates all foods equally, rather than glorifying sweets
- Strategic approaches for handling growth spurts and varying appetite levels
Whether you're struggling with a dessert-obsessed toddler or simply wanting to establish healthier eating patterns, this episode offers actionable insights that respect both the science of nutrition and the realities of family life. Georgia and Jane's warm, judgement-free discussion acknowledges the challenges while offering hope and practical solutions for creating lasting change.
For more expert support, check out our Raising Well Nourished Kids online program
For support creating nutritious lunchboxes simply, take a look at The Lunchbox Formula online program
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