Amy Palanjian And Virginia Sole-Smith

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Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-SmithVirginia Likes Kale NowYou’re listening to Burnt Toast!I’m Virginia Sole-Smith, and today my guest is Amy Palanjian.Amy is my work wife and best friend of over 20 years. She’s also the creator of Yummy Toddler Food and author of the nationally bestselling cookbook Dinnertime SOS: 100 Sanity-Saving Meals Parents and Kids of All Ages Will Actually Want to Eat.Amy joined me last month at Split Rock Books to celebrate the launch of FAT TALK in paperback. They also host the Burnt Toast Bookshop for us, and are forever the place to get...2025-03-0637 min

The Burnt Toast PodcastVirginia Likes Kale NowYou’re listening to Burnt Toast!I’m Virginia Sole-Smith, and today my guest is Amy Palanjian.Amy is my work wife and best friend of over 20 years. She’s also the creator of Yummy Toddler Food and author of the nationally bestselling cookbook Dinnertime SOS: 100 Sanity-Saving Meals Parents and Kids of All Ages Will Actually Want to Eat.Amy joined me last month at Split Rock Books to celebrate the launch of FAT TALK in paperback. They also host the Burnt Toast Bookshop for us, and are forever the place to get...2025-03-0637 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-SmithWe're Not Calling It Girl DinnerToday Virginia is chatting with Amy Palanjian. You probably already know Amy as Yummy Toddler Food, which is her blog/Instagram/Tiktok. She’s also the bestselling author of Dinnertime SOS, and writes a great bi-weekly newsletter called YTF Community, which comes with super helpful meal plans. Some of you may have listened to our old podcast, Comfort Food, or maybe you’ve just heard Amy on her previous appearances on Burnt Toast (one, two and three). But we realized that Amy hasn’t been on the pod since we both got divorced! Obviously a lot in ou...2024-10-3140 min

The Burnt Toast PodcastWe're Not Calling It Girl DinnerToday Virginia is chatting with Amy Palanjian. You probably already know Amy as Yummy Toddler Food, which is her blog/Instagram/Tiktok. She’s also the bestselling author of Dinnertime SOS, and writes a great bi-weekly newsletter called YTF Community, which comes with super helpful meal plans. Some of you may have listened to our old podcast, Comfort Food, or maybe you’ve just heard Amy on her previous appearances on Burnt Toast (one, two and three). But we realized that Amy hasn’t been on the pod since we both got divorced! Obviously a lot in ou...2024-10-3140 min

Minimalist Moms Podcast | All Things Minimalism, Intentionality & Simple LivingEP293: Lunch Packing, Mealtime Management, Freezer Staples and More with Amy PalanjianWho is this episode for? Busy parents seeking tips for simplifying mealtimes - and, of course, fans of Yummy Toddler Food!Episode Summary: Joining me today is the creator of the acclaimed kid-friendly food site Yummy Toddler Food, Amy Palanjian. In this conversation, Amy brings her expertise to the table (pun intended) and covers a spectrum of topics, from mastering lunch-packing to unlocking the secrets of fostering healthy relationships between kids, their bodies, and the food they eat.-------------------------------Links Discussed in This EpisodeOrder a Copy of Minimalist Moms: Living and P...2023-08-2522 min

The Burnt Toast PodcastFamily Dinner SOSToday Virginia is chatting with Amy Palanjian, creator of Yummy Toddler Food and author of the brand new cookbook, Dinnertime SOS: 100 Sanity-Saving Meals Parents and Kids of All Ages Will Actually Want to Eat. We get into what makes family dinner a hellscape, diet culture in kid food, mom friends, and more. If you order Dinnertime SOS from the Burnt Toast Bookshop, you can get 10 percent off that purchase if you also order (or have already ordered!) Fat Talk! (Just use the code FATTALK at checkout.)If you want more conversations like this one, please rate...2023-08-2450 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-SmithFamily Dinner SOSToday Virginia is chatting with Amy Palanjian, creator of Yummy Toddler Food and author of the brand new cookbook, Dinnertime SOS: 100 Sanity-Saving Meals Parents and Kids of All Ages Will Actually Want to Eat. We get into what makes family dinner a hellscape, diet culture in kid food, mom friends, and more. If you order Dinnertime SOS from the Burnt Toast Bookshop, you can get 10 percent off that purchase if you also order (or have already ordered!) Fat Talk! (Just use the code FATTALK at checkout.)If you want more conversations like this one, please rate...2023-08-2450 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-SmithThe Myth of Equal PartnershipToday's episode is a Comfort Food rerun featuring a conversation between Virginia, Amy Palanjian, and Darcy Lockman. Darcy is a clinical psychologist and author of All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership. All the Rage explores how egalitarian relationships become traditional ones when children are introduced to the household and why a disproportionate amount of parental work falls on women, no matter their background, class or professional statusDarcy’s book was foundational for me in starting to understand this issue more deeply. One thing I really like about Darcy’s work is that she...2023-04-0645 min

The Burnt Toast PodcastThe Myth of Equal PartnershipToday's episode is a Comfort Food rerun featuring a conversation between Virginia, Amy Palanjian, and Darcy Lockman. Darcy is a clinical psychologist and author of All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership. All the Rage explores how egalitarian relationships become traditional ones when children are introduced to the household and why a disproportionate amount of parental work falls on women, no matter their background, class or professional statusDarcy’s book was foundational for me in starting to understand this issue more deeply. One thing I really like about Darcy’s work is that she...2023-04-0645 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-SmithHow to Tell if Your Resolution Is Rooted in Diet CultureNew Year’s is a fraught time for a lot of us! Resolution culture means that diet noise and fitness noise are turned up to level 1000 right now. I was thinking about that and remembered this really lovely conversation that Amy Palanjian and I had with Christy Harrison on our old podcast Comfort Food and I decided that this episode called “New Year, No Diet” would be the perfect rerun to share with all of you this week. It originally aired on January 13, 2019. And wow, the world is different! But diet culture has remained so much the same. If yo...2023-01-0545 min

The Burnt Toast PodcastHow to Tell if Your Resolution Is Rooted in Diet CultureNew Year’s is a fraught time for a lot of us! Resolution culture means that diet noise and fitness noise are turned up to level 1000 right now. I was thinking about that and remembered this really lovely conversation that Amy Palanjian and I had with Christy Harrison on our old podcast Comfort Food and I decided that this episode called “New Year, No Diet” would be the perfect rerun to share with all of you this week. It originally aired on January 13, 2019. And wow, the world is different! But diet culture has remained so much the same. If yo...2023-01-0545 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-SmithIs Sugar Really Addictive?This week, we revisit an old episode of Comfort Food where Virginia Sole-Smith and Amy Palanjian chat with Lisa Du Breuil, an incredible fat activist and clinical social worker who specializes in eating disorders and addiction. They discuss sugar addiction and how to navigate endless treats with your kids.If you'd like to support Burnt Toast, please rate and review us in your podcast player! And considering becoming a paid Burnt Toast subscriber. It's just $5 per month or $50 for the year. Producing a weekly podcast requires a significant investment of time and resources from several talented people...2022-08-2543 min

The Burnt Toast PodcastIs Sugar Really Addictive?This week, we revisit an old episode of Comfort Food where Virginia Sole-Smith and Amy Palanjian chat with Lisa Du Breuil, an incredible fat activist and clinical social worker who specializes in eating disorders and addiction. They discuss sugar addiction and how to navigate endless treats with your kids.If you'd like to support Burnt Toast, please rate and review us in your podcast player! And considering becoming a paid Burnt Toast subscriber. It's just $5 per month or $50 for the year. Producing a weekly podcast requires a significant investment of time and resources from several talented people...2022-08-2543 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-SmithOn Reclaiming Comfort FoodKids turn one and our expectations change. Suddenly, we want them to eat for nutrition and “food is fuel.”You're listening to Burnt Toast! This is the podcast (and newsletter) about diet culture, fatphobia, parenting, and health. As you are listening to this podcast today, I am also writing the last pages of my next book. It is called Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture. It will be out next April. I'm recording this with still about 6,000 words ahead of me. I'm hoping by the time you're hearing this, it's like a thou...2022-06-3028 min

The Burnt Toast PodcastOn Reclaiming Comfort FoodKids turn one and our expectations change. Suddenly, we want them to eat for nutrition and “food is fuel.”You're listening to Burnt Toast! This is the podcast (and newsletter) about diet culture, fatphobia, parenting, and health. As you are listening to this podcast today, I am also writing the last pages of my next book. It is called Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture. It will be out next April. I'm recording this with still about 6,000 words ahead of me. I'm hoping by the time you're hearing this, it's like a thou...2022-06-3028 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-SmithNobody Asked Mark Bittman Why He Needed Childcare.Like yesterday, I included goldfish crackers in a lunch picture. And I’m like, how long is it going to take before someone yells at me about the goldfish?You’re listening to Burnt Toast! This is the podcast where we talk about diet culture, fatphobia, parenting, and health. Today I am chatting with fan favorite, and my best friend, Amy Palanjian. Amy is the creator of the blog Yummy Toddler Food, and she’s on Instagram and Tiktok, as we’ll talk about. She’s also my former podcast co-host of the Comfort Food podcast, a...2022-06-1600 min

The Burnt Toast PodcastNobody Asked Mark Bittman Why He Needed Childcare.Like yesterday, I included goldfish crackers in a lunch picture. And I’m like, how long is it going to take before someone yells at me about the goldfish?You’re listening to Burnt Toast! This is the podcast where we talk about diet culture, fatphobia, parenting, and health. Today I am chatting with fan favorite, and my best friend, Amy Palanjian. Amy is the creator of the blog Yummy Toddler Food, and she’s on Instagram and Tiktok, as we’ll talk about. She’s also my former podcast co-host of the Comfort Food podcast, a...2022-06-1600 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-Smith“The More You Feel Like You Don’t Have Permission to Eat It, the More You Will Crave It."NOTE: We're planning a special AMA episode of the podcast and we want your burning questions! Please submit your questions via this Google Form to help us stay organized.Welcome to Burnt Toast! This is the podcast and newsletter where we talk about diet culture, fatphobia, parenting, and health. We don’t have a brand new episode for you today because I’m on spring break this week. As many of you know, I used to co-host another podcast with my best friend Amy Palanjian, the creator of Yummy Toddler Food. Our podcast was called Comfo...2022-04-1441 min

The Burnt Toast Podcast“The More You Feel Like You Don’t Have Permission to Eat It, the More You Will Crave It."NOTE: We're planning a special AMA episode of the podcast and we want your burning questions! Please submit your questions via this Google Form to help us stay organized.Welcome to Burnt Toast! This is the podcast and newsletter where we talk about diet culture, fatphobia, parenting, and health. We don’t have a brand new episode for you today because I’m on spring break this week. As many of you know, I used to co-host another podcast with my best friend Amy Palanjian, the creator of Yummy Toddler Food. Our podcast was called Comfo...2022-04-1441 min

The Burnt Toast Podcast"The Goal Is Not A Kid Who Eats Everything."“This is exactly what diet culture, and everyone who gives advice on Instagram doesn’t want you to know, because it’s not straightforward. And there’s no clear solution.”Welcome to Burnt Toast! This is the podcast about why your kids should be eating more waffles and frozen burritos for dinner. We also talk about diet culture, fatphobia, parenting, and a bunch of other stuff. I’m Virginia Sole-Smith. I’m the author of The Eating Instinct and the forthcoming Fat Kid Phobia.Today’s guest is Burnt Toast fan favorite and friend of the show, Amy Pal...2021-12-1636 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-Smith"The Goal Is Not A Kid Who Eats Everything."“This is exactly what diet culture, and everyone who gives advice on Instagram doesn’t want you to know, because it’s not straightforward. And there’s no clear solution.”Welcome to Burnt Toast! This is the podcast about why your kids should be eating more waffles and frozen burritos for dinner. We also talk about diet culture, fatphobia, parenting, and a bunch of other stuff. I’m Virginia Sole-Smith. I’m the author of The Eating Instinct and the forthcoming Fat Kid Phobia.Today’s guest is Burnt Toast fan favorite and friend of the show, Amy Pal...2021-12-1636 min

The Burnt Toast Podcast"Can I Make My Kid's Candy Disappear?" with Amy Palanjian of Yummy Toddler FoodHello and welcome to another audio version of Burnt Toast!Today is a very exciting crossover episode with my best friend Amy Palanjian, who is the creator of Yummy Toddler Food; parts of this conversation will also run next week on Amy’s newsletter. Longtime listeners will remember Amy from our podcast Comfort Food (RIP) and from her previous Burnt Toast. And! Just a reminder that guest episodes of the audio newsletter are now free for all listeners! That means you can go back and listen to Rachel Millner, Gwen Kostal, Alyson Gerber, the founders of...2021-10-2140 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-Smith"Can I Make My Kid's Candy Disappear?" with Amy Palanjian of Yummy Toddler FoodHello and welcome to another audio version of Burnt Toast!Today is a very exciting crossover episode with my best friend Amy Palanjian, who is the creator of Yummy Toddler Food; parts of this conversation will also run next week on Amy’s newsletter. Longtime listeners will remember Amy from our podcast Comfort Food (RIP) and from her previous Burnt Toast. And! Just a reminder that guest episodes of the audio newsletter are now free for all listeners! That means you can go back and listen to Rachel Millner, Gwen Kostal, Alyson Gerber, the founders of...2021-10-2140 min

Sunny Side Up Nutrition[REPOST] Parenting Amidst Diet Culture with Virginia Sole-Smith and Amy PalanjianAbout our guests: Virginia Sole-Smith is a journalist and author of The Eating Instinct: Food Culture, Body Image and Guilt in America. She is a frequent contributor to the The New York Times parenting section, and many other publications. Amy Palanjian, is a writer, editor and recipe developer. She is the founder of Yummy Toddler Food, a site filled with practical feeding advice, as well as Yummy Family Food, a site aimed at helping families lessen the stress around eating. In this episode Elizabeth, Anna L., Virginia & Amy discuss: Evolving philosophies about food, particularly after becoming...2021-08-1633 min

The Burnt Toast PodcastOn Trusting Little Kids To EatWelcome to Burnt Toast, a newsletter from Virginia Sole-Smith, which you can read about here. If you like what you read today, please subscribe and/or share it with someone else who would too.This week, I’m trying out my first audio newsletter! If that’s a confusing concept for you, I get it. Technology is so extra. Think of this as a podcast in your email. You can listen to the episode right here and now, or you can add it to the podcast player of your choice and listen whenever. And just in case you don’...2021-04-2825 min

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-SmithOn Trusting Little Kids To EatWelcome to Burnt Toast, a newsletter from Virginia Sole-Smith, which you can read about here. If you like what you read today, please subscribe and/or share it with someone else who would too.This week, I’m trying out my first audio newsletter! If that’s a confusing concept for you, I get it. Technology is so extra. Think of this as a podcast in your email. You can listen to the episode right here and now, or you can add it to the podcast player of your choice and listen whenever. And just in case you don’...2021-04-2825 min

Sunny Side Up NutritionParenting Amidst Diet Culture with Virginia Sole-Smith and Amy PalanjianAbout our guests: Virginia Sole-Smith is a journalist and author of The Eating Instinct: Food Culture, Body Image and Guilt in America. She is a frequent contributor to the The New York Times parenting section, and many other publications. Amy Palanjian, is a writer, editor and recipe developer. She is the founder of Yummy Toddler Food, a site filled with practical feeding advice, as well as Yummy Family Food, a site aimed at helping families lessen the stress around eating. In this episode Elizabeth, Anna L., Virginia & Amy discuss: Evolving philosophies about food, particularly after becoming...2020-10-2633 min

Comfort FoodIn Which We Take A Hiatus (And Talk Back To School Mental Load)We're starting this episode with a sad announcement: We're taking another hiatus. (Thanks to COVID, remote schooling, 2020 in general...) But before we go, we're downloading all of our thoughts about the mental load of back to school season — especially this year, when many kids (like Amy's!) are still stuck at home, and others (like Virginia's!) are going to school in tents. We also discuss: Our favorite lunchbox. Amy's exhaustive insulated lunchbag research. And even more exhaustive idea lists for daycare lunches, kindergarten lunches, and disposable lunch gear. Oh and the super cool sandwich sealer! In less go...2020-09-1032 min

Comfort Food86. Violet and Beatrix: An Ode to Pesto PastaWe've decided to embrace the lack of childcare and bring the kids on the podcast! This week, almost-7-year-old Violet and 2-year-old Beatrix join Virginia to talk about their favorite foods, least favorite foods, and then a lot about butterflies and poop. You're welcome. Find us @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood on social media or email comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com. FEEDING YOUR FAMILY, THE COMFORT FOOD WAY Our new e-book takes you through 8 concepts that will form the foundation of your understanding of how to feed kids and give you a firm starting point for improving mealtimes in your hou...2020-09-0312 min

Comfort FoodWhat To Do When Kids Talk About DietingThis week, we're talking about some recent food/parenting fails in our own homes — as well as getting into what to do when kids talk about "needing to diet." (Gah!) Resources for this episode: Jennifer Berry's Thrive By Spectrum Pediatrics Love Me, Feed Me by Katja Rowell, MD Virginia's NYT story on the Weight Watchers app for kids. Why Kids Don't Need to Diet Ellyn Satter's Your Child's Weight: Helping Without Harming Free Girls Body Image ebook The Problem With Poodle Science video The Full Bloom Podcast Find us @v_s...2020-08-2738 min

Comfort Food84. Linden and Cantaloupe HeavenWe've decided to embrace the lack of childcare and bring the kids on the podcast! This week, 8 year yold Linden joins Amy to talk about her favorite foods, least favorite foods, and all her best tips for parents trying to encourage kids to try new foods. Find us @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood on social media or email comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com. FEEDING YOUR FAMILY, THE COMFORT FOOD WAY Our new e-book takes you through 8 concepts that will form the foundation of your understanding of how to feed kids and give you a firm starting point for improving mealtimes in...2020-08-2014 min

Comfort FoodAll the Anxiety, Sad Eating and Food OverwhelmWe are just OVER food right now. So this week, join us to commiserate about how often children need to be fed, but why they don't like the snacks you bought, how boring it is to keep making dinner and what to do about feeding yourself right now, because we're betting it's been a minute since you did that first. This episode includes shout-outs to the wisdom of Dr. Rachel Millner, Dr. Katja Rowell and Nicki Sizemore of From Scratch Fast. Find us @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood on social media or email comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com. FEEDING YOUR...2020-08-1334 min

Comfort FoodAmy and Virginia, Reunited! (And it feels so good)Our quarantine schedules and the stars have finally aligned and we're back to (mostly) recording together! This week we're just catching up on all things in our #pandemicparenting and food lives. (Yes, we're agonizing over school.) Plus an update on episode 80, with some thoughts on the role weight tracking can play in eating disorder prevention and recovery, from educator, parent coach and HAES advocate, Oona Hanson. Find us @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood on social media or email comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com. FEEDING YOUR FAMILY, THE COMFORT FOOD WAY Our new e-book takes you through 8 concepts that will form the...2020-07-3034 min

Comfort FoodWhat Amy Ate For Dinner Last Week (Because Kitchen Burnout Is So Real Right Now) Amy shares a week's worth of real life dinners to (hopefully!) share a little cooking inspiration during these days when meal prepping and making can feel somewhat endless. She talks about meals from a recent week that included Homemade Pizza, Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta, Bean and Cheese Quesadillas, BBQ Baked Chicken and Rice, Burgers and Alexia Sweet Potato Fries (also known as why would you make homemade fries when these frozen ones are so good!) and more. Amy also shared one tip that helps her break out of a cooking rut and feed herself first. Find us @v_solesmith and...2020-07-2321 min

Comfort FoodWhat If Doctors Stopped Weighing You (and Your Kids)?For this week's mini, Virginia is chatting about the process of reporting her new feature for Scientific American: What If Doctors Stopped Prescribing Weight Loss? We're getting into what the science really tells us about weight and health, the harm caused by weighing patients as a default medical practice, and what to do at the pediatrician's office. Here's a letter you can use to explain your decision to skip the weigh-in at your doctor's office. And here's a letter you can use to explain your decision to skip weight talk at your pediatrician's offi...2020-07-0226 min

Comfort FoodWhy Amy Doesn't Ban Goldfish Crackers AnymoreThis week, Amy shares her evolution on how she feeds her own kids —from waging war on Goldfish crackers and packing "better" food for her first kiddo to bring to daycare (where lunch was provided) to her current kitchen where Goldfish and applesauce pouches live happily next to bananas and homemade snacks. She's still pretty OCD about cooking (it is her job after all!), but coming to terms with exactly what we can and cannot control about how our kids eat — and why banning favorite snacks always backfires — has been key to happier family meals. Find us @v_solesmith and @yummytod...2020-06-2517 min

Comfort FoodDiversifying the Stories We Tell About Food (Mini Episode with Virginia)For this week's mini episode, Virginia shares some of our favorite Black voices in the food world, especially in the "feeding kids" space, which is not nearly diverse enough. Here's the list if you'd like to explore, follow and support their work: Jessica Jones and Wendy Lopez of the Food Heaven blog and podcast. (Check out Jessica's episode of Comfort Food here.) Jessica Wilson, MS, RD Christyna Johnson, RD, of Encouraging Dietitian. Shana Minei Spence, RDN, of The Nutrition Tea. Deanna Belleny Lewis MPH, RDN, on Instagram @deanna.rdn and @diversifydietetics. Veronica Garnett, RD SLPs Of Color on In...2020-06-1820 min

Comfort FoodA Life (And Weaning) Update From AmyNOTE: We recorded this episode before the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests, so you won't hear that discussed here. We are committed to doing the work of anti-racism and you will hear more about that in upcoming episodes. Thank you to everyone protesting right now. Stay safe. Life looks a little different for our families right now, but we're excited to be sharing quick episodes for your summer listening pleasure. This week, Amy shares an update on what life looks like in her house and talks through the process of weaning her one year old—and how doing so h...2020-06-1118 min

Comfort FoodOn Loving The Body You Have (Rebroadcast)We're on pandemic hiatus, but rebroadcasting some of our favorite episodes — that seem super useful right now! We know that motherhood (and just... life) can dramatically change how you feel about your body, whether you’re newly postpartum or several years in. Today we’re talking through some strategies to help you feel more body-positive and comfortable in your skin — no weight loss required (or even encouraged!). Find us @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood on social media or email comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com. And you can read the show notes for this episode here. Sponsor Spotlight...2020-05-2851 min

Comfort FoodDinner Is In Your Pantry, with Nicki Sizemore of From Scratch Fast (Rebroadcast)We're on pandemic hiatus, but rebroadcasting some of our favorite episodes — that seem super useful right now! Dinner. It has to happen every night, no matter whether you meal planned, or are now staring down some hard 5pm truths about the state of your fridge. We asked Nicki Sizemore, of From Scratch Fast, to share some family-tested ideas for quick, easy dinners that you can make more or less out of thin air. Send us your dinner questions! Find us @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood on social media or email comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com. And you can read...2020-05-2145 min

Comfort Food74. The Mental Load of Staying Home (Rebroadcast)We're on pandemic hiatus, but rebroadcasting some of our favorite episodes — that seem super useful right now! Why do most men do so little at home — and especially in the kitchen? Why are women (still!) doing so much? Darcy Lockman, author of All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers and the Myth of Equal Partnership is on the podcast this week to talk about why mental load tasks like grocery list making and meal planning and prepping are still especially gendered — and what we can do, to find a better balance. Send us your mental load questions! Find us...2020-05-1445 min

Comfort FoodWhen the Kids Just Don't Eat (Rebroadcast)We're on pandemic hiatus, but rebroadcasting some of our favorite episodes — that seem super useful right now! There are lots of meals (especially dinner!) that kids just don't eat. And this can be frustrating and even alarming for parents—but most often, it's completely normal. We're chatting with Jennifer Berry, OT, a feeding therapist and owner of Thrive By Spectrum Pediatrics, about what can help and what might be making the situation worse. Send us your family food questions! @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood on social media or email comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com. And you can read the sho...2020-05-0737 min

Comfort FoodSurviving. No Pressure to be Thriving.This week, we've got another report on how we're working, parenting and feeding our families and ourselves while in the isolation trenches. We're talking about ideas for making the same old kid meals a little more fun right now, Virginia's new Meal Prep for Lazy People strategy and the rising problem of food insecurity and what we can all do to help. Send questions and comments to comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com or find us on social: @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood. And visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com for all the links discussed in this episode. FEEDING...2020-04-3042 min

Comfort FoodGrocery Tips and Easy Meals for Isolation LifeWe're talking through the logistics of stretching between grocery store trips, cooking from your pantry, and figuring out how to feel good about what you're eating when family meals look a lot different than usual. Plus Virginia's biggest pantry dinner successes and fails. Send questions and comments to comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com or find us on social: @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood. And visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com for all the links discussed in this episode. FEEDING YOUR FAMILY, THE COMFORT FOOD WAY Our new e-book takes you through 8 concepts that will form the found...2020-04-2343 min

Comfort FoodWhy You Can't Eff Up Your Kids (Even Now!) with Lindsay PowersWe recorded this one pre-pandemic, but it couldn't be more timely. Lindsay Powers, founder of the #NoShameParenting movement, mom of two, and author of You Can't F*ck Up Your Kids, joins us to talk about why performative parenting and pressure are the enemy, not your kid's tablet. We also cover how to take the stress out of how you're feeding your kids, from breastfeeding to family dinner. Send questions and comments to comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com or find us on social: @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood. And visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com for all the links discuss...2020-04-1636 min

Comfort FoodThe Mental Load of Staying HomeManaging home school schedules, balancing work from home with a total lack of childcare, grocery store stress — parents are navigating a million new mental load challenges right now, and moms, not surprisingly, are carrying the bigger burden. This week we're talking about the schedules we've come up with to (sort of) keep work and school on track in our own families, how we're preserving an equal division of domestic responsibilities with our spouses, and why Virginia is deleting the gym teacher's emails and you can too. Send your COVID food and mental load-related questions and struggles to com...2020-04-0944 min

Comfort FoodPandemic Food Fears: Picky Eating, Food Safety, Food Access and MoreGreetings from our bunkers! We put together this very special episode to talk through all of your anxieties about feeding your family—and feeding yourself—during these long weeks of isolation life. Amy and Virginia chat about grocery shopping strategies, why it's okay for the kids to eat all the mac and cheese right now, and how we can all lower the bar to reduce stress during this difficult time. Send your COVID food-related questions and struggles to comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com or find us on social: @v_solesmith and @yummytoddlerfood. And visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com for...2020-04-0245 min

Comfort FoodHow To Make Veggies Kids Will Actually LikeNOTE: This episode was recorded before the United States coronavirus outbreak, so you won't hear any discussion of our current state of affairs. We hope it provides some much-needed distraction! Sending love and hope you're staying well and staying home. Helping the kids eat their veggies can feel like a fruitless task—it can be so hard and they’re often just not interested in food groups other than carbs and cheese. (We get it! We love carbs and cheese!) But there are some fun strategies you can use that won’t have you in the kitchen cutting...2020-03-2641 min

Comfort FoodMom Body Love At Every Size, With Jen McClellan of Plus MommyMom body image is, for better or worse, a fairly universal struggle. But if you’re a mom in a larger body, there can be a lot of added layers to navigate. Today we’re chatting with Jen McLellan, author, speaker and creator of Plus Size Birth and the Plus Mommy Blog and Plus Mommy Podcast about how she helps plus size moms navigate birth, body love and motherhood. FEEDING YOUR FAMILY, THE COMFORT FOOD WAY Our new e-book takes you through 8 concepts that will form the foundation of your understanding of how to feed kids...2020-03-0543 min

Comfort FoodWhen Food Restriction Sneaks InEven if you think you're not "dieting," much less trying to restrict your kids' eating habits, we've found that a restriction mindset (especially around certain foods) can sneak in all too easily. We'll talk about how to spot the underlying restriction in food rules, portion sizes and the assumptions and anxieties we all carry around certain food groups. We'll also explain why it's so important to keep an eye on our restrictive tendencies—and how to let them go, in order to raise kids with a healthy relationship to food. TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We wan...2020-03-0536 min

Comfort FoodThe Truth About Emotional EatingAs you might guess from our podcast name, we’re firm believers in the comforting power of food. But diet culture gives “emotional eating” a bad rap, and convinces us that anytime we eat because we’re sad, happy, tired, etc that we must be doing something “wrong.” Today we’re sorting through some common myths about emotional eating, and exploring the fundamental importance of “comfort food” for our kids, and for ourselves. TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more about you, and what you think of Comfort Food. Please take our quick and easy survey so w...2020-02-2730 min

Comfort FoodBalancing the Mental Load and Me Time with Rachel BertscheLosing yourself in parenthood is such a common struggle, especially for moms, because the sheer logistics of caring, feeding, and scheduling our kids lives can be completely time consuming. But staying in touch with ourselves and the things we love (including watching trashy TV, connecting with our partners and eating food other than our kids' sandwich crusts) is vital to our happiness. This week we're chatting with Rachel Bertsche, author of The Kids Are In Bed, about how to find—and own!— your pockets of indulgence. TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more about...2020-02-2039 min

Comfort FoodHow Do You Balance Social Responsibility and Intuitive Eating?We often hear from listeners who are vegans, vegetarians, or just want to eat more sustainably — but aren’t sure how to balance those goals with wanting to practice intuitive eating and avoid diets. Today we’re exploring some of the challenges of combining morality and food — and offering our best strategies for figuring out your own mix. TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more about you, and what you think of Comfort Food. Please take our quick and easy survey so we can keep making this podcast better and better. Thanks so much! Visit our...2020-02-1342 min

Comfort FoodBody Peace For Moms with Crystal Karges, RDNThis week we're chatting with Crystal Karges, a registered dietitian nutritionist, maternal health specialist, certified intuitive eating counselor, international board certified lactation consultant and mom of five. Crystal specializes in helping moms nurture a peaceful relationship with food and their bodies so they can mother from a place of abundance, confidently feed their children, and truly thrive in life. Sign us up! TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more about you, and what you think of Comfort Food. Please take our quick and easy survey so we can keep making this podcast better and...2020-02-0642 min

Comfort FoodCan You Do Intuitive Eating and Lose Weight? (With Jessica Jones, RDN of Food Heaven)Is it possible to practice intuitive eating and have a healthier relationship with food, while also wanting to lose or maintain your weight? We’re getting into this super common — and super complicated — question with Jessica Jones, RDN, co-host of the Food Heaven podcast, who recently wrote about it for Self.com. Plus, an Unrelated about why you won't see how much our kids eat on Instagram. TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more about you, and what you think of Comfort Food. Please take our quick and easy survey so we can kee...2020-01-3052 min

Comfort FoodHow To Anti-Diet with Christy Harrison, RDNThis week, we’re welcoming back fan favorite Christy Harrison, RDN, host of the wildly popular Food Psych Podcast, to talk about her new book ANTI-DIET: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being With Intuitive Eating. We’ll cover how writing the book changed her own relationship with food, and go over some of your common questions about intuitive eating and breaking up with diet culture. Plus an Unrelated on why everyone got worked up about Amy's kid eating a banana! TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more about you, and what you think of Comfo...2020-01-2351 min

Comfort FoodThe Trouble With Food Rewards (with Leslie Schilling, RDN)M&Ms for going potty; a lollipop at the end of soccer practice; dessert for eating dinner; a pizza party prize from the PTA — these are just a few of the ways that parents and teachers use treat foods to reward kids for good behavior. Some parents bemoan the extra sugar that these treats represent — we’re more concerned about the weird message it sends kids about needing to earn their food. We’ve asked Leslie Schilling, RDN, a registered dietitian and nutrition therapist who wrote about this issue for US News & World Report to help us sort through the issu...2020-01-1643 min

Comfort FoodMeal Prep for Busy Parents with Talia Koren of Workweek LunchEven if you’re a somewhat reluctant meal prepper, there is one meal of the week that you probably often wish you had planned ahead for: Weekday lunches! Most of us don’t have time to cook ‘em, but we also don’t love eating a sad desk salad—or the leftover crust from our kid’s grilled cheese. We asked Talia Koren of Workweek Lunch to help us out of our Thursday lunch slump. And we talk about how meal prepping can support your intuitive eating goals. TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more abo...2020-01-0933 min

Comfort FoodFamily Meals with Ashley Smith of Veggies & VirtueThis week we’re talking to Ashley Smith, RDN, of Veggies and Virtue, where she provides parents with age-appropriate food ideas, meal time organization strategies, evidence-based insight on feeding questions and concerns, and fun ways to get the kids into healthy eating. Ashley is also a mom to three kiddos and has one of our favorite, easy to understand, approaches to handling picky eating. Plus we're talking about our favorite NON-DIET New Year's Resolutions (and why we mostly hate resolutions)! TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more about you, and what you think of...2020-01-0238 min

Comfort FoodFamily Meals and Food Traditions with Leah Koenig, author of The Jewish CookbookThis week, we're chatting with Leah Koenig, author of The Jewish Cookbook and several other books and articles about Jewish cuisine around the world about why one country's comfort food is another's haute cuisine. She's also a mama of two with great tips for getting dinner on the table fast and building your own family food traditions. Plus an Unrelated on girls, sports and body image. TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more about you, and what you think of Comfort Food. Please take our quick and easy survey so we can k...2019-12-1947 min

Comfort FoodListener Qs on Sharing The Mealtime Load and Fixing Kiddo SleepIf you’re like most households, there is one person (and we’re guessing it’s you!) who notices when we run out of milk, thinks ahead to restock the kids’ favorite cereal, and remembers to pull chicken out of the freezer in time to defrost for dinner. We know this mental load work can really pile up — so today we’re tackling your big questions about how to broach the topic with your partner and sharing our best tips and hacks to lessen your load. And, because nobody can stay on top of the mental load when we’re ex...2019-12-1256 min

Comfort FoodWhy Nutrition Doesn't Matter As Much As We Think (with Jennifer Berry of Thrive By Spectrum Pediatrics)Eggs, sugar, red meat — we know nutrition is important, but what we’re supposed to know about nutrition seems to change, a lot. And it can be hard to keep your knowledge around food and health from interfering with how you approach family meals and feeding yourself. Today we’re talking with podcast favorite Jennifer Berry of Thrive By Spectrum Pediatrics about how to decode nutrition news and how to keep what you know in perspective with your larger goals for feeding your family well. Plus an Unrelated update on bottle weaning Beatrix! TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! W...2019-12-0541 min

Comfort FoodFamily Meals with Mary Ellen Phipps (Milk and Honey Nutrition)This week we're chatting with Mary Ellen Phipps of Milk & Honey Nutrition about how growing up with Type 1 Diabetes has informed her approach to food and family life. Plus Virginia has a family meal planning breakthrough. TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more about you, and what you think of Comfort Food. Please take our quick and easy survey so we can keep making this podcast better and better. Thanks so much! Sponsor Spotlight: Bumkins Take 18% off your order of suction plates, reusable snack bags, bibs, baby utensils and mo...2019-11-2140 min

Comfort Food10 Ways To Love Your Mom Body Right NowWe know that motherhood (and just... life) can dramatically change how you feel about your body, whether you’re newly postpartum or several years in. Today we’re talking through some strategies to help you feel more body-positive and comfortable in your skin — no weight loss required (or even encouraged!). Plus an Unrelated Update on all of your feelings about chocolate milk. TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We want to know more about you, and what you think of Comfort Food. Please take our quick and easy survey so we can keep making this podcast better and bet...2019-11-1444 min

Comfort FoodBeyond Body Positivity with Lexie Kite of Beauty Redefined You know that thing where you find yourself thinking about how your body looks, when you'd rather just be living in your body? This week, on a very special 50th EPISODE, we're chatting with Lexie Kite, PhD, a body image resilience expert and co-founder of Beauty Redefined, about why so many women experience self-objectification and the role media plays in our ability to feel good about our bodies. She's got great advice for how we can teach our daughters — and ourselves — to be more than our bodies. For starters: Buy kid pants in the boy's depart...2019-11-0744 min

Comfort FoodHow To Stop Freaking Out About Halloween Candy (Rebroadcast)We're downloading a day early because it's almost Halloween! And all too often, parents biggest fear about Halloween is... what to do with all the candy. But Halloween is also a fantastic opportunity to let your kids explore new foods, learn to handle themselves around treats and (yes, really) enjoy some sugar. We're rebroadcasting this classic Comfort Food episode with tips for making the onslaught fun and manageable for the whole family. And, Amy chats with Sally of Real Mom Nutrition about her Switch Witch strategy. Visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com for all the links an...2019-10-3038 min

Comfort FoodFAQs about Intuitive Eating With Kids Part 2 (With Elizabeth Davenport, RDNWe talk a lot about intuitive eating and the Division of Responsibility or "responsive feeding" approach we like to take with family meals — but we know these big ideas can be tricky to put into practice. We've asked registered dietitian nutritionist Elizabeth Davenport of Sunny Side Up Nutrition to tackle this week's questions. Visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com for all the links and research referenced in this episode. Send questions or comments to comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com or find us on social media: @v_solesmith, @yummytoddlerfood & @sunnysideupnutritionists. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Thrive By Spectrum Pediatrics Th...2019-10-2443 min

Comfort FoodFAQs about Intuitive Eating for Kids, Part 1 (With Emily Fonnesback)We talk a lot about intuitive eating and the Division of Responsibility or "responsive feeding" approach we like to take with family meals — but we know these big ideas can be tricky to put into practice. We've asked nutrition therapist Emily Fonnesback, RD, to tackle your questions. (And stay tuned for even more next week!) Plus, an Unrelated about why moms get stuck with the mental load while dads go to the playground. Visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com for all the links and research referenced in this episode. Send questions or comments to comf...2019-10-1735 min

Comfort FoodA Week of 20-Minute Family DinnersVirginia has hit a wall with family dinner - so much prep! so much crying! so little eating! - and we're betting she's not alone. If you're struggling to get a meal onto the table at the end of a long work day, Amy is here to save your sanity (at least for a few nights!) with her go-to fast dinners. These easy meals hit all the marks for fast, nutritious, and accessible—and they’re meals that both little kids and adults will be happy to eat. Visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com for all the l...2019-10-0338 min

Comfort FoodWhat We're All Really Spending on GroceriesDo you worry whether you're spending the "right" amount of money on the food you buy for your family? We sure do... so we got some hard numbers on how much Americans spend on groceries and they may make you feel way better. We also talk about the cultural pressures that contribute to our anxiety about how much is too much to spend on food, and the social status issues involved in where you shop. And, Amy has some breaking news about her former gluten intolerance! Visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com for all th...2019-09-1232 min

Comfort FoodFitting in Fitness as a Mom (and Raising Body Positive Kids with Rebecca Scritchfield)We realized we had A LOT more to say about moms and fitness (and why you don't need to get your "pre-baby body" back!). So we're talking in more detail about how we find our exercise motivation and fit stress-free, fun workouts into our lives, while avoiding common diet culture fitspo traps. We're also re-broadcasting the second half of Virginia's conversation on raising body positive kids — and navigating all the weird stuff people say about children, food and bodies — with Rebecca Scritchfield of the Body Kindness Podcast. Visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com. And get i...2019-09-0550 min

Comfort FoodIntuitive Eating Secrets from a Mom of 5 (with Melissa Griffiths of Bless This Mess Please)It can be daunting to raise one or two healthy, happy eaters... so how about five?! This week, we chat with Melissa Griffiths of Bless This Mess about how she's raising her kids to honor their hunger and fullness cues, trust their bodies and love family meals... even when they don't love what's being served! We also get into her secrets for sharing the load and the snack drawer strategy that's kind of blowing Amy's mind. Plus an Unrelated discussion of the USDA's new school lunch rules and what it means for your kid's cafeteria. Visit our sh...2019-08-2944 min

Comfort FoodHow The Heck To Start Milk Weaning (plus Summer Veggie Ideas With Nicki Sizemore of From Scratch Fast)Welcome to the final episode of season 2! Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, weaning your baby or toddler from their first milk over to a cup can be a fraught process. We’re exploring why our cultural expectations about moms, toddlers and feeding make it so much harder — and brainstorming ways to make it go more smoothly. (As Virginia gears up to bottle-wean her own toddler!) Plus, fan favorite Nicki Sizemore of From Scratch Fast is back with some family-friendly ways to cook summer veggies. We'll be back in mid-August with a whole new season of Comfort Food...2019-05-2349 min

Comfort FoodWhy Moms Should Say Eff It To Dieting with Caroline DoonerThis week, we're taking a break from our usual family-focused fare to chat with Caroline Dooner, author of The F*ck It Diet, a radical new book that just might help you rethink your whole relationship with dieting, food guilt, and body image angst. Don't worry; The F*ck It Diet is not a diet — it's a set of tools to help you reevaluate the role diet culture plays in your life, and at your dinner table. (And don't worry, the language on this episode is still G-rated!) Plus, Amy and Virginia talk about some favorite new #feed...2019-05-1650 min

Comfort FoodFeeding Your Family and Getting Out Of Your Own WayIn a lot of kitchens, dads need to be doing more to even out the mental load and division of emotional labor. Period. The end. Except...it's also true that moms make the project of feeding our families harder than it needs to be when we buy into too many unrealistic cultural expectations about meal planning, meal prepping, what we should be eating and how much work we need to put into making those meals. This week we're examining some times when we've fallen into the expectations trap and offering specific strategies for digging yourself out — by doing less, an...2019-05-0936 min

Comfort FoodPlease Don't Screw Up Our Kids, Part 2! A Conversation About Food, Weight & Body Image with Rebecca Scritchfield of Body KindnessThis week, we're teaming up with Rebecca Scritchfield's Body Kindness Podcast for a very special cross-over episode. Rebecca is a registered dietitian nutritionist, certified exercise physiologist and author of Body Kindness. She and Virginia decided to dive deep into how to handle unwelcome comments about our kids' bodies or food preferences, what to do when they first use the word "fat," and how we can model body positivity... even on days when we're not feeling totally positive about our own bodies. Listen here, then check out episode 116 of Body Kindness for the other half of this important conversation. J...2019-05-0234 min

Comfort FoodFamily Dinners IRL: A Conversation with Jenny Rosenstrach of Dinner, A Love Story.There's the American ideal of Perfect Family Dinners... and then there's what actually happens. Jenny Rosenstrach, author of three cookbooks and founding editor of the blog Dinner: A Love Story has devoted her career to helping us "fight the good fight" of feeding our families, every night. (Or most nights, if you're Virginia.) Plus a postpartum #feedyourselffirst update from Amy. Questions or comments? Email @comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com or find us on social media: @v_solesmith, @yummytoddlerfood & @dinneralovestory. And don't forget to visit our show notes for links to our favorite Jenny Rosenstrach recipes and more at comfortfoodpodcast.co...2019-04-2538 min

Comfort Food31: The Mental Load of Meal PlanningIn which Virginia realizes that her reluctance to meal planning is really a one woman protest against yet more emotional labor — that essential work of caring and keeping our families that so disproportionately falls onto moms. We talk about why meal planning is requires so much mental load work, and ask: How can we even things out and make it work better in our homes? Struggling with your own meal planning mental load? Tell us your stories: comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com or @v_solesmith & @yummytoddlerfood on social media. And check out our show notes for all the a...2019-04-1140 min

Comfort Food26: Crazy But Normal Toddler Mealtime BehaviorWe're welcoming Amy back from maternity leave with an episode focused on her expertise — feeding toddlers! This episode covers what to do with little ones' food obsessions, fickle appetites, and non-existent table manners... and Amy helps Virginia figure out how to persuade her 15-month-old to actually use a high chair. Have a question or a family mealtime challenge? Email us at comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com or find us on social @yummytoddlerfood and @v_solesmith. Visit our shownotes at comfortfoodpodcast.com. Sponsor Spotlight: Bumkins Bumkins makes bibs, placemats, reusable bags, diapers and more that we ado...2019-03-0737 min

Comfort FoodTips for Picky Eaters (Rebroadcast from Didn't I Just Feed You?)Comfort Food is about to go on a short hiatus while Amy has that baby. So for this week's very special episode, we're rebroadcasting a fun interview she did with Stacie Billis and Meghan Splawn of Didn't I Just Feed You?. Then we're bringing 6-year-old Linden on to give us some insider perspective on what kids really think about dinner. We'll be back with weekly episodes in March. Until then, check out our archives for the gems you might have missed — and continue the conversation with us on Twitter or Instagram: We're @yummytoddlerfood and @v_solesmith. And send...2019-01-2437 min

Comfort FoodNew Year, No Diet (with Christy Harrison, RD)It’s January! Which means we’re getting bombarded with “new year, new body” messages. But what if you just… didn’t start a diet this year? What if you did an anti-diet instead? We’re talking to Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CDN, an anti-diet dietitian and host of the Food Psych Podcast about why January is such a tough month for our relationship with food, and how you can protect yourself from the onslaught of toxic diet culture messaging. Plus, Amy and Virginia share a few body positive resolutions we can get behind. Send your questions to comfortfood...2019-01-0345 min

Comfort FoodHoliday Hosting Sanity StrategiesTis the season... for a house full of guests, a fridge full of food, kids hopped up on present stress and even Virginia is making menu plans because holiday hosting is no joke. If you're stressing over how to get big holiday dinners on the table, or what to do when your kids only eat rolls (spoiler: They will only eat rolls), we've got you covered with 8 strategies for simplifying and enjoying this most magical time of the year. For more tips and resources, visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com. Have a holiday hosting (or general f...2018-12-2033 min

Comfort Food20. Holiday Baking with Kids (Feat. Samantha Barnes of Radish Kids!)Baking (or cooking, or just inhabiting the kitchen) with your children sounds so great in theory...but the reality is often sticky counters, broken egg shells, and bored littles wondering when you're going to get to the fun frosting part already. (But you're making soup.) This week, Amy and Virginia ask Samantha Barnes, founder of Radish Kids to share her best strategies for having fun in the kitchen with kids of any age. Be sure to listen to the end for a special discount code on a Radish Kids membership of your own! Visit our show notes at...2018-12-1335 min

Comfort FoodThe Feeding Philosophy That May Save Family Dinner (with Katja Rowell, MD)You've heard us mention Division of Responsibility a million times by now. And you may have encountered this feeding philosophy, developed by renowned therapist and dietitian Ellyn Satter in mom groups or on parenting sites too. But while DOR can be pretty life-changing, it's not always simple to put into practice—and it's easy to get stumped along the way, as your kid ages or goes through phases of picky eating or food fixation. We've got Katja Rowell, MD —the feeding doctor and co-author of Helping Your Child With Extreme Picky Eating standing by this episode to answer all of you...2018-12-0640 min

Comfort Food18. Behind The Scenes of THE EATING INSTINCT (Virginia's new book!)Virginia's new book, The Eating Instinct: Food Culture, Body Image and Guilt in America, is finally here! So today, we're chatting all about how it came to be — from Virginia's daughter's dramatic story of feeding tube dependency and learning to eat again, to the interviews Virginia did with dozens of other folks, from all walks of life, all struggling to feel good about food. She also discusses easy strategies parents can use to protect our kids' eating instincts. Plus, Amy has a pregnancy-food update. Check out our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com. And leave a review for us b...2018-11-2931 min

Comfort FoodThe Great Meal Planning Debate (with KJ Dell'Antonia, author of HOW TO BE A HAPPIER PARENT)Amy loves to meal plan (and posts amazing menus every week @yummyfamilyfood!). Virginia is… more of a meal planning rebel. Is it helpful to spend your weekends pinning recipes and chopping vegetables—or does that just create more pressure around family meals? We talk with KJ Dell’Antonia, author of How To Be A Happier Parent (and self-professed dedicated meal planner!) about how to take the stress out of the kitchen and find a meal planning and prepping style that works for you. Check out our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com, and tell us about your meal planni...2018-11-0638 min

Comfort FoodTeam Dinner (How Shared Parenting Makes Family Meals Easier)Our biggest gripe about family dinners? When all of the cooking/chopping/planning/prepping/cleaning falls to just one family member—because all too often, it’s all on mom. This week, Amy and Virginia talk to a very special guest (Virginia’s husband Dan!) about why this problem persists and go over five strategies that Virginia and Dan use to share the mealtime load at their house (even though Dan’s cooking game is mostly breakfast-sandwich-based). Visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com, and email us at comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com to tell us: What's your share the load...2018-11-0141 min

Comfort FoodWhy Does Starting Solids Get So Controversial?Virginia's baby Beatrix just turned one! And she's sharing their journey from spoon-feeding mushy banana to self-feeding all the foods. We also discuss why the decision of when to start solids with your baby can feel so fraught. And Megan McNamee, MPH, RDN, CLT of Feeding Littles joins the conversation to share some tips. Don't forget to visit our show notes at comfortfoodpodcast.com. And email us your starting solids stories or questions at comfortfoodpodcast@gmail.com. 2018-10-2536 min

Comfort FoodHow to Stop Freaking Out About Halloween CandyThe spooky season is upon us! And all too often, parents' biggest fear about Halloween is... what to do with all the candy. We know it can be a lot (especially if you've got multiple parties, parades and trick-or-treating ops in your town). But Halloween is also a fantastic opportunity to let your kids explore new foods, learn to handle themselves around treats, and (yes, really) enjoy some sugar. We talk about where this new candy phobia has come from, and go over our tips for making the onslaught fun and manageable for the whole family. And Amy chats...2018-10-1836 min

Comfort FoodWhy Being Body Positive Matters To Your KidsIt can be super hard to feel good about your mom body because we live in a culture that wants us to have all the babies... but then look like we never had a baby. So a lot of us end up denigrating our bodies or our food choices, almost without realizing it—and for sure without realizing how much our kids are listening to us body shame, fat talk or apologize for eating. But new research shows that kids as young as 5 years old know when their moms aren't happy with their bodies—and are more likely to feel...2018-10-1135 min

Comfort FoodThe Protein Myth: Do We Really Need to Eat As Much As We Think?These days, "healthy eating" seems to mean "eat all of the protein, with some protein powder sprinkled on top." This can be super stressful for parents who worry their kids aren't big fans of meat or beans (or protein powder!). And it really messes with pregnant ladies' heads, as if eating isn't tricky enough during those months. We cut through the marketing hype and misinformation to share some solid info on how much protein you need...and why this is actually one thing we can relax about. Don't forget to check out our show notes for links t...2018-09-2731 min

Comfort FoodMama, Is Your Wellness Plan Really a Diet? (Here's Why It Matters)With so many wellness plans, detox bootcamps, food challenges and diet “rounds” available now, it can be hard to suss out whether something will really help you improve your health long-term — or is just a crash diet going by a new hashtag. And these plans love to target moms! Amy and Virginia explore whether diets, food restrictions or “lifestyle plans” can ever be compatible with family life. Plus, what to look out for if you’re exploring one of these newer plans—like the inevitable crash that comes after the honeymoon period, the guilt, and the ramifications that can reach the rest...2018-09-2031 min

Comfort FoodEnjoying Family Meals with Food Intolerances and Food AllergiesThese days, most of us have a friend or family member who can’t eat a specific food, or who is choosing not to for one reason or another, so today we’re talking about what that can mean for family meals — and our mental health. Amy shares how she figured out that gluten gives her migraines, and the impact it has had on her family, plus how talking about this challenge with her kids has helped her avoid some diet culture pitfalls. And we get into the more serious issues that can arise with real food allergies — and what we...2018-09-1336 min

Comfort FoodEating While PregnantHoly pregnancy hunger! Amy is expecting baby number three (and eating all of the pretzels), so this episode is all about how eating changes when you're pregnant because of cravings, aversions and weight anxieties. We look at how diet culture shows up in pregnancy apps and even at your prenatal check-ups, and talk about how to get away from the (unattainable) "perfect" pregnancy paradox and listen to what your body — and your baby! — needs most. PS. Don't forget to check out our show notes for all the links, recipes and products discussed during the episode. 2018-08-2335 min

Comfort FoodThe Truth About Sugar Highs and Your KidsA new study on kids and sugar consumption has triggered a flurry of handwringing — and mom shaming. But are American toddlers really living on Snickers' bars alone? And is banning sugar from your kids' diets a good idea (or even possible)? Amy and Virginia look at the data behind the hype in order to bust some common myths about sugar highs and childhood obesity. And we discuss why kids need to eat treats (yes, really!) in order to have a healthy relationship with food — and adults do too. Check out this episode's show notes page for links to th...2018-08-0931 min

Comfort FoodFeed Yourself First!You know how you can be up for hours in the morning, your kids will be on their second breakfast or third snack and somehow, you still haven't had a bite? (And you've had to warm up your coffee 17 times?) Well, in Episode #3 of Comfort Food, we reveal our new Mama Manifesto: #FeedYourselfFirst! We talk about why this seemingly simple thing can be so hard to pull off. (Hint: It's not you, it's sexism). And we brainstorm our best strategies to help moms prioritize their own needs at mealtimes — yes, even if it means everyone else in your family ju...2018-07-2632 min

Comfort FoodHow Much Do We Care About Kids and Vegetables?Little kids are notorious for not wanting to eat things that are green (or often yellow or red...). So in episode 2 of Comfort Food, we ask: How much pressure is too much pressure when it comes to getting kids to eat their veggies? And is it possible to entice them to eat their fill without relying on sneaking veggies into everything they eat? What do you do if you have a picky eater? As you'll hear in the episode, we have slightly different takes on this issue — and whether it's ever okay for pancakes to be green. Ch...2018-07-2630 min

Comfort FoodWhy Are We All So Obsessed With Food?Welcome to Comfort Food: The podcast about the joys (and meltdowns!) of feeding our families and ourselves. In Episode 1, we tackle a giant issue: How can we stop obsessing about what we eat? We discuss why diet culture, picky eating kids, and perfection pressure leave most of us overly fixated on every bite our kids eat... and every bite we think we shouldn't be eating. And we offer real-life strategies for relaxing a bit to help reduce mealtime drama and increase enjoyment — like the one simple thing you can do today, to feel better about how you eat. Y...2018-07-2530 min