The Follow-Up: Raising a Flexible Eater
6/22/202613 min
If your toddler begged for mac and cheese, took one bite, and declared it disgusting, this episode is for you. Picky eating is one of the most common and most stressful phases of childhood, but the good news is there are real, practical things you can do before it starts and when you are already deep in it.
Dr. Mona sits down with Jennifer Friedman, registered pediatric dietitian, picky eating expert, and founder of Feeding Picky Eaters, to break down what actually works at the dinner table and why letting go of control might be the most powerful thing you can do as a parent.
In this episode, we cover:
- The three things you can do right now to prevent picky eating before it starts
- Why the feeding relationship matters more than any single meal
- How to get out of a menu rut without overhauling everything
- The stoplight food method to bring variety back to the table
- Why flexibility with food is a muscle, and how to build it in your kids
- The Division of Responsibility and why trying harder at the table often backfires
- How to let go of mealtime expectations so everyone can actually enjoy the meal
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMona Amin· Host0:00
Welcome back to the follow-up. [upbeat music] I'm Dr. Mona, pediatrician and mom, and this is the Monday episode series of the PedsDocTalk podcast where we revisit a favorite conversation in less time than it takes your toddler to declare they hate the exact meal they begged for two hours ago. Picky eating is one of the most common phases children go through, and one of the most stressful for parents. But here's the good news. There are things we can consider before we ever get to that stage, and if you're already deep in the beige food era, this episode is for you. I'm re-airing this conversation because the feeding relationship we build with our kids matters so much more than any single meal or the food that they're eating. Yes, I know. As a pediatrician and a mom, I know how easy it is to fall into the pressure trap, the menu rut, or the just take one bite negotiation. This episode is a reset. In this episode, I'm joined by Jennifer Friedman, registered pediatric dietician, picky eating expert, and founder of Feeding Picky Eaters. We talk about three simple things you can do to approach picky eating before it starts, how to get unstuck when you're in a rut, and the factors that can increase or decrease the likelihood of picky eating. My favorite takeaway? Flexibility with food is like a muscle. The more our kids get to practice it, the stronger it gets, and the same goes for us letting go of control at the table. To learn more about Jennifer, visit jenniferfriedmannutrition.com or find her on Instagram and Pinterest at Feeding