We tend to think of "eyesight" as just needing glasses or not. But what if I told you that vision is actually a brain function, and if our kids are struggling visually, it could be impacting their learning, attention, and even behavior?

In our chat, Dr. B doesn’t just talk science — he gives us practical tips that any parent can use to support healthy vision for kids, especially in our screen-soaked world. He unpacks the sneaky signs of vision issues, why screen time isn’t just an eye problem, and what we can actually do about it.

But here’s what might surprise you…

• Many children are misdiagnosed with attention issues when the root problem is vision-related.
• Eyesight and vision aren’t the same thing (and that distinction is life-changing).
• The rise in screen time is truly affecting how our kids’ eyes — and brains — develop.
• There’s a simple at-home test you can do to check for red flags in your child’s vision.
• Vision therapy is not just for kids with glasses — it’s for brains that need support.
• Outdoor time isn’t just "nice" — it’s necessary for strong visual development.
• Functional eye doctors approach vision differently, and it’s exactly what so many kids need.
• And yes, the 20-20-20 rule? It’s real, simple, and super helpful!

We also talk blue light, digital performance glasses, and how to balance a tech-filled life without turning into a screen-time tyrant. 😉

So if you’re ready to understand what’s really going on behind your child’s eyes — and empower yourself with tools to help them thrive — don’t miss this one.

Resources We Mentioned for Healthy Vision

• Check out #LifeSkillsNow totally free right here.
• Try out ScreenFit for your family (get a discount with code "KCRF")
• How vision problems can be misdiagnosed as ADHD
• Here is the directory of eye doctors Dr. B mentioned
• Here's my review of the best blue light glasses I've found
• Find Dr. B online
• Follow him on social media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Raise your hand if you love money!

But…raise your hand if you DON’T love figuring out what to DO with your money, spending too much money, or not having enough money?

That’s Brad Nelson’s mission as Debt Free Dad - to help normal everyday people take control of their finances so they can live a happier less stressful life.

We dig into a lot of practical and philosophical tips, including:

• First steps to get out of debt
• How to STAY out of debt in the first place
• Letting go of limiting beliefs
• Creating a “debt is bad” mindset - for the wrong kind of debt
• Getting more time freedom in your life – because time is the one thing we never get back!
• We dig into how to teach kids and teens about finances too: “We have to teach our kids what debt is and the risk it can have on your life and the choices you make…”
• Why financial health is a daily commitment

Brad is one of our valued #LifeSkillsNow Season 4 camp leaders, teaching teens and tweens about the real cost of “convenience” and what compound interest can do for our high school kids. It’s phenomenal! My own kids and other teen testers were blown away.

Check out #LifeSkillsNow totally free right here.

Resources We Mention for Teaching Kids About Debt

• Check out #LifeSkillsNow totally free right here!
• The book Brad mentioned: Top Five Regrets of the Dying
• Rocket Money can help you get rid of subscriptions
• Check out Brad's free video to help you reduce financial stress
• Find Brad online
• Follow him on social media: Facebook, TikTok, Instagram

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Today I'm doing something completely new! It's a podcast swap! Here is an episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast with Hunter Clarke-Fields.

It's the third of a three-part series so definitely go check that out when you're done with this one!

Find Hunter Online

Follow her on social media: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube  

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Raise your hand if you’ve ever yelled or lost your cool as a parent.

Keep that hand up if you thought you would never yell as a parent.

I know, right?

It’s the story of many who go on to be mindful or positive or grounded parenting experts. “I never thought I would…”

Me neither!

That means we need tools, and today’s guest will give you some powerful ones in the form of mindfulness for parents.

Resources We Mention for Parenting Without Yelling

• Get Hunter's books:
  • Raising Good Humans: Amazon, Bookshop
  • Raising Good Humans Every Day: Amazon, Bookshop
  • Raising Good Humans Guided Journal: Amazon, Bookshop
• Mindful Mama Mentor
• Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
• Hunter's free guide to repair the relationship after yelling
• Hunter's "Stop Yelling Formula"
• Learn more about the lizard and monkey brain states

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

In today's Healthy Parenting Handbook episode, I'm going to take 5 different arguments against kids doing chores and learning life skills and counter them with facts, stories, research, and a big ol' dose of common sense.

These are real arguments I hear from both well-meaning parents AND keyboard warriors on social media, plus one from a well-established expert I heard on a podcast that I simply do not agree with!

If you've ever had to listen to someone say it's cruelty to make your kids clean a bathroom or have felt yourself that maybe kids are busy enough - maybe life skills aren't important to learn now - this one's for you.

Resources I Mention for Chores and Life Skills

• Reserve your spot in our 2025 Life Skills Now Summer Camp
• Purchase access to Life Skills Now Season One from 2022, Season Two from 2023, or Season 3 from 2024
• 3 Reasons Giving Kids Responsibility is a Gift

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Moms take care of everyone…but sometimes we forget ourselves.

If you’ve had those moments when you blow up at a kid or spouse and then realize, “Oh, I haven’t eaten in 4 hours,” you know what it’s like to feel ‘hangry.’

My guest today draws upon personal and professional experience with nutrition and blood sugar to give us a masterclass on how to think about the contents of our food and fueling ourselves (and our families) for the day.

You’ll learn:

• 2 goals for daily eating
• how to anchor your food to feel better all-day
• the real cause of mood swings, anxiety, and tiredness
• why grocery shopping and trying new recipes may sometimes seem like a fun challenge and other times be a drag
• how to teach our kids about healthy fuel and choosing balanced meals
• whether calorie counting makes sense for moms in the thick of it
• how to stay motivated to feed our families when it starts to get us down
• some excellent grocery shopping tips to keep you on a budget

Chandis created a Christian-based series of nutrition and food classes for the whole family to watch, and you’ll get a taste of how important they are in this interview.

Resources We Mention for Balancing Blood Sugar

• Read more about "hangry" symptoms
• If food is causing burnout, it's probably time to pass some cooking skills on to the kids
• I now have 3 kids who make dinner one night a week!
• Listeners can use the coupon code “handbook” for 20% off the “Eating Close to Nature” series

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

When you yell at your kids, it always works to improve their behavior and your relationship, right?

Ha.

But what’s a parent at the end of their rope to do?

My guest today, Jennifer Kolari, has worked with some of the toughest, most challenging kids out there, and she has the answer: love them. Connect with them. Use the CALM technique so that your kids can truly learn better behavior in a safe environment.

Resources We Mention for CALM Parenting

• Find Jennifer online at Connected Parenting
• Here's a protein-rich small snack that's easy to make with your kids.
• Here are tips to get your kid sleeping enough
• Follow Jennifer on social media: Facebook, Instagram
• Jennifer's free webinar

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

I love hearing about homeschoolers who have the space, time, and freedom to really find their passions, and that’s far from the only benefit of homeschooling. My guest today would have told you homeschooling was a crazy option when she first got married, and now she’s a passionate proponent.

What changed?

You’ll find out in the interview, and I have to say that the Swanson family genesis of homeschooling was a big surprise for me!

Resources We Mention

• Helping teens pursue their passions
• Monica's books:
  • Becoming Homeschoolers: Amazon, Bookshop
  • Raising Amazing: Amazon, Bookshop
  • Boy Mom: Amazon, Bookshop
• Follow Monica online
• Listen to her podcast
• Instagram, Facebook
• What to expect in every stage of parenting freebie 

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

My guest today, Dr Morgan Cutlip, is a sought-after relationship expert, but she doesn’t talk down to moms - she’s right in it with us.

If you’ve ever had a disagreement with your spouse about who’s doing more than the other in the home, how full your brain is, or whether one of you is angry or just using your “go time” or “business” voice – you need this info.

We’ll dig deep into mental load with topics such as:

• what the mental load IS and why it really really impacts our relationships…
• possible gender roles when it comes to mental load and how that impacts our marriages
• the conversations we need to have with spouses 
• how to model good relationship building as a life skill for our kids
• the difference between discernment and judgement and how to teach that to our kids
• one super practical tip to raise kids who take initiative as adults

Resources We Mention for Balancing the Mental Load

• Check out Dr. Morgan's books
  • Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself: Amazon, Bookshop
  • A Better Share: Amazon, Bookshop
• Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
• My interview with Tidy Dad 
• Dr. Morgan's audio course for couples
• Find Dr. Morgan online
• Follow her on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
• Get Dr. Morgan's free guide to talking to your partner about mental load

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

We will ALL encounter tough situations and hard times in our lives. We will ALL cope with them in some way. But sometimes coping looks like throwing a chair or eat a whole box of cookies.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Janine Halloran joins us today to talk about the kind of coping that is safe and healthy and HOW we can teach those skills to our kids (while also modeling them ourselves).

In this super practical conversation, you’ll learn:

• What kinds of coping skills most kids prefer
• How and when to intentionally introduce coping skills to kids (and why our gut reaction is usually wrong)
• Kid-friendly deep breathing techniques that don’t come off as corny
• How we can help our kids (and, ahem, ourselves) USE the safe and healthy coping skills in the heated moments instead of the tantrums
• What it means to be the thermostat, not the thermometer…
• How food can help kids build mindfulness, yay!
• The FIRST, easiest, most practical step you can take TODAY to build these skills in your family

Truly, parents, this interview is full of golden moments. Take time to listen to it all, and some parts twice!!!

Resources We Mention for Big Emotions

• My interview with Suzanne Tucker about emotional health
• Janine's free coping skills for kids checklist
• Janine's workbooks: Coping Skills for Kids and Coping Skills for Teens
• Coping Skills for Kids Hub
• If you need help managing your own stress check out my Stress Mastery course
• My top stress relief strategy and  how to be BFFs with your stress
• Find Janine online here
• Follow her on social media: Instagram, Facebook 

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

I call myself a science geek, but my reading and research don’t hold a candle to Pearl and Serene of Trim Healthy Mama, authors of the new book Trim Healthy Wisdom.

What I love most about them is that they KEEP learning and aren’t afraid to add to and update their life’s work. When peri-menopause hit and their bodies asked for something different, they did in-depth research and figured it out - for themselves and everyone else!

You will learn SO much!

Y’all. These women are BRILLIANT and also tender, encouraging, and funny. I could hang out with them forever and soak up their wisdom. Get the book Trim Healthy Wisdom, start by reading the bullet summaries, and then dig into the parts you need the most.

Resources We Mention for Women's Metabolism

• Get Pearl and Serene's new book:Trim Healthy Wisdom: Book, eBook & Audio bundle, Audio book (Use code katie4THW for $5 off!)
• One Hundred Days of Inspiration: Devotional for Women of All Ages & Stages: Bookshop, Amazon
• Follow them on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube
• What's the cleanest protein powder?
• These meat sticks are a great on-the-go protein option
• There's a THM "Workin" series you can purchase, or you can become a member of their YouTube channel to access some videos

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

When Dr. Michael Goran started researching children’s nutrition almost 40 years ago, he wasn’t looking at obesity, type 2 diabetes, or fatty liver disease. That wasn’t because his head was in the sand - those things didn’t exist in kids but now all 3 are becoming prevalent.

What is going on???

Time and time again, the research pointed to a surprising cause - excess sugar.

In this professorial interview, you’ll learn:

• what excess sugar does in the body, including before someone is even born
• why “excess sugar” is a tricky term to use
• the changes in how we consume sugar since the 80s (it might not be what you think)
• the dangers of liquid sugar and the massive red flags with the current alternative option!
• very practical ideas to take control of the situation in the only place you can
• encouragement that you can take small steps to make a big difference!
• how to empower kids to make their own good choices

Does Sugarproofing your kids mean withholding all sugar? Find out in this interview!

Resources We Mention About Sugar and Kids

• Get Dr. Goran's book: Sugarproof: Protect Your Family From the Hidden Dangers of Excess Sugar with Simple Everyday Fixes (Amazon, Bookshop)
• There are some benefits to using honey or maple syrup
• More about how we deal with desserts and sweets in our family culture
• Reduce sugar intake with these muffins sweetened with bananas and applesauce and this date-sweetened frosting
• Sugar and inflammation 
• Find Dr. Goran online: Dr. Michael Goran, Sugarproof Kids
• Follow him on Instagram
• Get a free chapter and sugarproof breakfast guide here

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Imagine with me…your kids can take over a whole dinner meal and cook it themselves while you get something else done!

It’s a dream that has become reality times three for me here at the Kids Cook Real Food™ household.

I realized I’ve shared the process we used to gradually release cooking responsibility and teach our kids to cook a whole dinner by themselves many times on other podcasts when I’m the guest. It’s about time I share it with you as well!

It’s a multi-step process:

• Let the kids watch you make a recipe.
• Watch them make the recipe while you’re there with reminders.
• Let them make the same recipe while you’re available in the house for questions.
• Then they can make that recipe with zero help from you.
• For 3-9 months, the kids should make the same recipe weekly to learn it to a mastery level.
• Then in the second year of kid's cooking night (or second phase), you can let them make their old favorite every other week. In the interim weeks, they need to try other recipes.

This allows them to take on the physical labor of cooking first, then gradually ease into the mental load portion as you help them meal plan side-by-side.

We’ve used this process with three kids so far, and the fourth won’t be far behind!

You can watch Paul and Leah’s “old favorite recipe” for pizza right here. This is a great one to watch with your kids as it has Paul’s early teenage creativity stamped all over it.

Resources We Mention for Kids Cooking Dinner

• Get started teaching your kids to cook
• Some of Paul's favorite recipes to make: cheeseburger soup or pinto gallo
• You can see Paul and Leah's pizza recipe here along with their entire process. (They filmed and edited the entire video themselves!)
• Teach kids skills in the kitchen instead of just teaching recipes

Join us for free #LifeSkillsNow camp this summer! Register at https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskills4!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Did you know the pre-frontal cortex where executive functioning lives doesn’t fully develop until our early 30s???

I still struggle with some executive functioning skills like time management and following a plan, but if I learned anything from this interview, it’s that we ALL can continue to grow, change, and improve. You are not married to your weaknesses!

If we can help our kids BEST develop their executive function, they will be more independent, better at their jobs, find deeper relationships, and be better parents themselves. It’s THAT important!

My guest today, Noel Foy, helps us understand what executive functioning is, how it develops over time, and some really practical ways to build it best in our kids.

Her question, “What is your plan for that?” is pure gold, and I know you’ll love all the little strategies she shares to reduce anxiety in our kids while improving their executive function. As we teach life skills and independence, we are also teaching executive functioning skills! Score! 🙂

Noel just released a new book 1/30/25--15-Minute Focus: Executive Function: Strategies to Build Underdeveloped Skills, Maximize Learning, and Unlock Potential. You can grab it here on Amazon or at Bookshop.org. 

Want to join the podcast birthday party? Find out more HERE!

Resources We Mention for Executive Function

• Find Noel online here
• Noel’s books: ABC Worry Free, Are You a Bird Like Me?, 15-Minute Focus
• You can see my first interview with Noel about helping kids with ADHD here
• Watch my TEDx talk on the importance of teaching kids critical thinking skills
• Get anxiety coping skills in this interview and this post
• Here’s Ned Johnson’s book The Self-Driven Child that Noel mentioned

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

I’ve always said that parenting is “an 18-year-long game,” fully expecting that parenting would markedly diminish after my kids turned 18. Now that I’m parenting a 19-year-old…it turns out parenting DOES change and it ought to diminish, but it’s still a thing!

Kim Muench coaches parents of “emerging adults,” a new term needed to describe 18-30-year-olds who aren’t quite ready to be real adults, apparently.

In this interview, we talk about WHY we need both this term and parenting strategies to continue our conscious, intentional parenting beyond age 18.

But this podcast isn’t just for parents of emerging adults!

If you want to set your teens up for adulthood – and since you’re here, I’m assuming you do – it starts at least in high school and most likely long before that.

Kim and I dig into the pitfalls of becoming your child or teen’s friend, screen use at various ages, life skills, problem-solving, and soooo much more. Believe me, you’ll need all of it well before your kiddo hits 18.

If you want to prepare yourself for the next phase of parenting, and more importantly, prepare your kids to enter adulthood more smoothly, this interview is for you!

Thank you to our sponsor Paleovalley! Check them out at kidscookrealfood.com/meatsticks. 

Resources We Mention for Parenting Adult Children

• Kim’s book: Becoming Me While Raising You: A Mother’s Journey to Her Self (Amazon, Bookshop)
• Find Kim online here
• Follow her on social media: TikTok, Instagram
• We teach life skills to kids, teens, and even adults!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

I’ve known about proper breathing technique and oral posture for over five years now and I’m STILL doing it wrong if I don’t focus on it!

Seriously. Breathing.

If you’ve ever thought about your breathing - and most of us don’t because it’s so automatic - you might notice that you feel differently when you breathe differently. Breath drives a LOT of functions, from our mental health (think fast breathing when you’re anxious) to our behavior, sleep, cardiovascular and digestive health, and more.

Shirley Gutkowski thought she wanted to be an orthodontist, but a few careers in oral health later, she’s found something she’s really passionate about.

She says people simply don’t talk about breathing enough, and she’s on a mission to change that through education.

I’m so grateful for the time she spent with me on this interview, and my brain is bursting with ramifications in my own family after what I learned!

If you’re breathing…and you have children who breathe…this podcast is for you.

Get the free knife skills class at kidscookrealfood.com/HPHknife!

Resources We Mention for Proper Breathing Technique

• More than a Kissing Spot: Your New Baby's Face
• The Purple Guide: Developing Your Clinical Dental Hygiene Career
• Find Shirley online
• Follow her on social media: Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram
• More about mouthtaping here.
•  We really like Xlear for xylitol nasal sparay. 

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

How about some stats to make you sad? Kids are on screens an average of 7 hours a day…and we spend 85% of our parenting energy on what our kids are doing wrong.

Aw, man!

It stinks to start with the negative.

In fact, that will train our brains to see more negative things, which is why I did it.

Do you feel more down after reading that? More worried? More hopeless about our kids' generation?

The GOOD news is that there’s another way.

I’m beyond honored to host Ralphie Jacobs of Simply on Purpose today to remind us that not only CAN we look for the positive, but we must - because it works, and it’s actually easier than yelling angrily at our kids!

You’ll come away from this interview feeling so encouraged and ready to parent differently, with 85% of your energy (or more!) focused on the positive!

Get ready to learn:

• how to create positive momentum in your child’s day
• why asking a kid or teen, “Why did you do that?” becomes a parenting trap (that you DON’T want to fall into!)
• what comes first in parenting - the words or the feelings
• a much better way to say, “If you don’t clean your room, you don’t get to come to the movie,” that’s actually EASIER to enforce!
• why fear-based behavior is bad for everyone in the long run
• an incredibly powerful way to guard your connection with your child - and raise kids who, like Ralphie’s, want to call home and come home to be with parents <3
• what is MORE important than your child’s good behavior
• why holding to your boundaries IS showing love, and how to do that without yelling or threatening
• the only way to help kids make better choices is to…
• fascinating (and simple) ideas to get kids on board with chores (yes, chores!!!)
• allllll about “looking for the good” – the why and how and benefits

This is as uplifting as it is practical, mamas and papas out there!

Be sure to grab Ralphie’s free email course here!

Thanks to today's sponsor, Paleovalley. Go to kidscookrealfood.com/meatsticks to check out their delicious protein snacks!

Resources We Mention for Looking for Good

• Ralphie's Positive Consequences webinar 
• Looking for more positive parenting tips? Check out this interview with Amy McCready as well
• Why should kids do chores anyway?
• Ralphie's reward system is called the family economy
• Why you should make your own salad dressing
• Help your kids

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Depression and anxiety are plaguing our children, and stress is often a root cause...what can we do about it?

Whether we actually live stressful lives or simply stress ourselves out (or social media plays a role in over-stimulating our amygdala and fight or flight response), there's no doubt in my mind that Americans are experiencing stress, and are not all that great at dealing with it.

And it's showing in our children!

Past guest, Dr. Kelly Brogan, said, "Children are our sentinels," when something is wrong. With 1/3 of teens reporting anxiety and 9-13% clinically depressed, it's time to listen up. But what can we do to help our kids be more resistant to depression and anxiety?

This week's guest, nutritionist Jess Sherman, has a great answer, and it's all about increasing their RESILIENCY.

In this interview, we'll talk about:

• Why even great schools aren't able to fully tap into kids' brilliance and potential
• Removing roadblocks to resilience (including food!)
• Why self-regulation is critical to resilience, and some factors that interfere with kids being able to self-regulate
• Foods that parents need to be aware of for best school performance
• How to get kids on board with healthy food

If you love what Jess has to say join the workshop we're doing together about picky eating and stress!

Thanks to today's sponsor, Chef Junior, the only real food cookbook written by kids, for kids! Find it at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr.

Resources for Reducing Stress in Kids

• Join our workshop on picky eating and stress
• Jess's book: Raising Resilience
• Check out all of Jess's courses here
• Find Jess online
• Follow her on Facebook or Instagram @askjesssherman

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Imagine if your child was kicked out of daycare for behavior issues, in spite of the fact that you’re making intentional choices as parents.

Devastating!

But what if the problem wasn’t caused by your child OR your parenting choices?

Brandon and Whitney Cawood’s story will break your heart and then give you hope because they found what was hurting their son and were able to remove it from his life - and he’s a different kid now.

They wanted to share what they learned with the world and poured their talents into a 2.5-year project going live on January 14, 2025.

Look up their film To Dye For: The Documentary immediately on Amazon or Apple TV (and other streaming service, we hope)!

You’ll love this interview with such humble, curious parents, and I can’t wait to watch the documentary. They share some juicy behind-the-scenes stories and a lot of information about synthetic food dyes, the central focus of their family’s story and their film.

What started as a tiny ray of hope in the Cawood’s lives has become a beacon for hundreds of thousands of families, and their impact is soon to get even bigger!

If you’ve ever wondered if you should pay attention to ingredients like Red 40 and Blue 1, this is the interview for you!

Resources We Mention for Avoiding Food Dyes

• Find To Dye For: The Documentary
• Follow them on Instagram
• The ToDye For resource page
• The OEHHA report mentioned
• Sign up for the Cawood's email list to get the list of food dyes to look out for
• Here's an older post I wrote about avoiding artificial food dyes
• Dr. Elisa Song and I also talked about artificial colors and flavors

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Want to hear from a naturopath from down under?

Jess Donovan, with her lovely Aussie accent, shares all sorts of goodness with us today on the Healthy Parenting Handbook, like:

• favorite immunity-boosting foods to recommend to busy families
• the best way to get probiotics integrated into your family
• common nutrient deficiencies in kids (and what you can do to seek the best balance)
• food allergy management, whether the allergy is IN your family or just around you
• how mom’s health may be related to her kids’

And so much more!

Jess hosts an online masterclass where you’ll discover 3 PROVEN ways to TRANSFORM your Kids GUT HEALTH to improve their behavior, fussy eating, immunity, and allergies. Grab your FREE spot here!

Thanks to today's sponsor, Chef Junior, the only real food cookbook written by kids, for kids! Find it at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr.

Resources We Mention for Balancing Nutrition

• Find Jess Donovan online here
• Jess's free book on gut health
• Jess has put together a list of her favorite foods to boost immunity - grab your copy here
• Sauerkraut recipe
• Fermentation ebook
• Kimchi recipe
• Water Kefir recipe
• Probiotics for kids: MaryRuth's liquid probiotic, JustThrive
• Guide to finding a fish oil supplement
• Einkorn pasta
• US Wellness Meats
• Chia pudding for omega 3s
• Gluten and Dairy-Free Guide for Rookies
• My interview about epigenetics 
• The Jamie Oliver video we talked about

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Have you seen the dad who cleans on Instagram?

I don’t know if Tyler Moore, aka Tidy Dad, enjoys that people probably know him that way, but I think it’s accurate!

I’ve followed Tyler since the summer of 2022 - but who in the world remembers WHEN they started following someone on Instagram? You’ll hear why that summer was important in Tyler’s career during the interview, and also some little-known tales of how and why he got started online. (I was surprised!)

In this joyful and open conversation, you’ll hear:

• why Tyler “declutters” differently than the guru books
• how the Moore family pushes against “the norm” with how and where they choose to live
• how Tyler’s own parents helped lay some foundations for tidy-ness (but also ultimately caused his life to feel very UN-tidy)
• some of the practical cleaning advice that Insta-followers go gaga for
• what the philosophy of “just enough” really means and how it looks in real life
• peeks and glimpses into Tidy Dad’s new book, Tidy Up Your Life - super fun!
• what Tyler says to his girls when they don’t really feel like helping with chores

I really do love watching Tidy Dad clean; it’s kind of ridiculous. You’ll love listening to him and feeling his optimism even more!

Be sure to pre-order the book ASAP to help him hit the bestseller lists in January!!

Don't forget to sign up for the free knife skills class at kidscookrealfood.com/HPHknife!

Resources We Mention for Organizing Your Life

• Pre-order Tyler's book: Tidy Up Your Life on Amazon and on Bookshop
• Here are my top reasons why kids should do chores
• More on kitchen zones
• Ways to organize a kid-friendly kitchen
• Organization for families with Clutterbug
• Find Tyler on his website
• Follow him on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
• The "notice and do" technique is from Sam Kelly

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Ever been asked a question in person, and you replay the conversation over and over, a dozen times, rephrasing your answer?

I did that recently, not just rephrasing but adding and rethinking and adding some more.

The question was, “How do you raise such nice boys??”

I decided it would make a pretty decent podcast episode, exploring my meanderings through intentional parenting and how we’ve built a family culture.

Does this advice (If you can call it that) apply to girls too? You betcha. In fact, it’s pretty universal.

I look forward to hearing what you think about:

• the way we chose to parent our newborns and toddlers
• what I think about my husband
• whether boys can be gentle
• the impact of mirror neurons on our kids' brains
• the effect healthy food may or may not have on “nice boys”
• our “people over screens” rules and how we’ve pulled back and released technology over the years
• choice within boundaries, and agency while working as a team on high expectations
• and maybe most importantly - is it ever too late?

This episode is sponsored by Chef Junior, the cookbook for kids by kids - including my oldest son! Find out more at kidscookrealfood.com/chefjr.

Resources We Mention for Raising Nice Boys

• Avoiding "hangry" meltdowns
• How we are managing our screens
• Some benefits of family dinners
• The book I mentioned: Hold On to Your Kids

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

The world keeps getting more and more fast-paced, and our brains and bodies aren’t really keeping up.

As moms, can we possibly create a home that is a peaceful space, a safe place from which our kids can explore?

My guest today is Jennifer Pepito, author of Habits for a Sacred Home, and we talk about just that, including:

• Why moms are naturally fearful (and what we can do about it)
• What exactly IS a “sacred home” and how do we begin creating one
• Creating order in chaotic times through basic rules of life
• The joy and benefit of passing on life skills to our kids (and some practical tips to make it happen)
• The role of cooking in developing a community of shared values within (and without) the home
• The key to better outcomes and more responsible children
• Why rules don’t work when done incorrectly
• The first step to creating a sacred home is so simple, it takes only about 10 seconds per day, per child

Jennifer is so grounded and yet practical, balanced in her approach and yet challenging.

Resources We Mention for Creating a Peaceful Home

• Jennifer’s books: Habits for a Sacred Home (Amazon, Bookshop), Mothering by the Book (Amazon, Bookshop)
• There are many benefits to gathering together around the dinner table
• Restoration at Home Community
• Find Jennifer online
• Follow her on social media: Instagram, Facebook
• Jennifer’s podcast: Restoration Home

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Ever felt like your kids or teens want to do the opposite of what you recommend?

Dr. Mandy Patterson and I are both moms of teens, and we talk today about the perils of parenting and how we work around the resistance. She has some great tips for finding a way “in” to what your kids care about when it comes to health and behavior.

Since this is a parenting podcast, I’m guessing most of you have at least somewhat figured out “fertility” as it pertains to having babies - but that’s not all it’s about! Your fertility health really is a marker of your overall health and wellness, and if you can keep your hormones balanced, you’ll feel much better overall.

We get dirty on my late-night eating habit (sigh) and some best practices for women, especially in the morning.

Then we dive into how and WHY to help our tween and teen girls care for their own fertility right from the start, and the epidemic of PCOS.

Resources We Mention for Hormone Health for Teens

• Here are the lists of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15.
• Find the best forms of magnesium for kids here
• Helping teens thrive in spite of screens
• Why you might not want to put your teens on hormonal birth control
• LARQ water bottle filter
• My review of Berkey filters
• GRAYL water bottle filter
• Find Dr. Mandy online
• Follow her on social media: Instagram, Facebook
• Gutsy Fertility Podcast

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

I see a lot on social media about the “mental load” that women especially carry.

Meal planning, grocery shopping, cleaning the house, getting kids where they belong on time, making sure they have proper snacks and meals if they won’t be home for dinner, homework, emails from everywhere…

It’s a LOT.

And a lot of the mental load we home managers carry has to do with FOOD.

We gotta keep that family nourished!

I’m pleased to share a bit of advice on one time-tested way to reduce your own mental load – by sharing it.

In my own home, I admit that the mental load still falls mainly on me, but since I’m doing less of the physical work, it all feels lighter. Eventually, I think others in the family will think, “What IS for dinner tomorrow? Did someone plan dinner?” but I’m still working on that part.

The secret to sharing it is good training, and in this episode, I’ll teach you how to pass on some cooking skills to the young people in your household so that your load is lighter – and honestly, their load over the long run of life is lighter too, because they won’t have to “figure it out” through trial and error once they’re mired in adulthood.

Prepping for the holidays? Get our special BOGO deal on the Holiday Baking Challenge here!

Resources We Mention for Mental Load

• Check out Kids Cook Real Food™ today!
• You can watch our free knife skills class here
• Bonding through creating can help heal trauma
• Here are some tips for helping a child heal from a concussion

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Kids Cook Real Food
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at kidscookrealfood.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!