The Intentional Table

The Fastest Way to Make Your Kid Not Eat

If you know, you know... The more we remind, encourage, and gently push our kids to do something, the less they want to do it. Even when they already know. Even when we're right. My daughter said it to me out loud last week. My husband asked her to clean her room before family came over, and she looked at him and said, "Ugh! know. And when you say that, it just makes me not want to do it even more." She wasn't being difficult. She was telling the truth. And it's the exact thing that happens with food all the time. Except it's usually unspoken. In this episode, I'm sharing a few things I've been sitting with lately, including a peek at what I've been building behind the scenes and two real moments from my family that might shift how you think about food with your kids. In this episode, we talk about: * Why reminding, encouraging, and pushing kids to eat creates more resistance, not less * What my daughter said out loud that most kids only feel quietly * How my daughter tried tomatoes for the first time and then asked for them again 🙌 * Why my son now puts lettuce on his burgers at home, and how a Big Mac made that happen * What the research says about kids who find pleasure in food versus kids focused on nutrition rules Whether you have a "picky" eater, a kiddo you're worried eats too much, one who's obsessed with sweets, or all of the above - this episode's for you! ✨ DM me 'BALANCED' on Instagram and I'll send you the link to my free training! Want to connect? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529793/fan_mail/new] CONNECT with Nicole: FREE Training: Raise a Balanced Eater AND Protect Their Relationship With Food [https://nicolecruzrd.easywebinar.live/register] - Instagram: @nicolecruzRD [https://www.instagram.com/nicolecruzRD] SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, it would mean so much for you to follow, subscribe, share, or leave a review. Your support helps us reach more conscious and loving parents who need these insight! Thank you for tuning in and see you next week!

Weight Gain Isn't the Problem

When your child's weight goes up at their yearly physical, your pediatrician might comment that you should make some changes.  Or maybe you see a post on social media telling you what changes to make if your child has gained weight.  It can be really confusing. And it might leave you questioning what changes to make, or feeling like you should be cutting back on portions, or getting rid of "junk". In this episode, we talk about: * Why weight is one piece of data, not a diagnosis or a directive * The questions worth asking before changing anything, including what might actually be driving weight changes that have nothing to do with food * Why significant weight gain around ages 9 to 11 is often the body doing exactly what it's supposed to do * How restriction, even subtle, can create the very eating patterns we're most worried about * What to do when a provider tells you to make changes, and how to advocate for your child If you've ever left a pediatrician's appointment feeling like something was wrong with your child's body, and nobody thought to ask how things were actually going, this episode is for you. Want to connect? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529793/fan_mail/new] CONNECT with Nicole: FREE Training: Raise a Balanced Eater AND Protect Their Relationship With Food [https://nicolecruzrd.easywebinar.live/register] - Instagram: @nicolecruzRD [https://www.instagram.com/nicolecruzRD] SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, it would mean so much for you to follow, subscribe, share, or leave a review. Your support helps us reach more conscious and loving parents who need these insight! Thank you for tuning in and see you next week!

My Kid Won't Try Anything New - Where Do I Start?

If you have a "picky" eater, you've probably already tried to encourage them to take a bite, bribed with dessert, or even had a standoff at the table over food. Or maybe you've just given up and you make them something separate because, let's be real, they need to eat. And regardless of where you're at, chances are it doesn't feel great. Most of us want our kids to eat a variety, to be able to go out to a restaurant and find something on the menu, to make one meal the whole family will eat.  So it's frustrating when you feel like you're stuck in the same patterns and not sure what else to do. That's why I'm breaking down EXACTLY where to start if you're stuck in the "picky" eating cycle. In this episode, we talk about: * Why kids are picky and how that matters in your approach *  How to support your child without unintentionally making it worse  * The first three steps every parent can take with food (even if you don't have a "picky" eater) * What holding the boundary actually looks like - without creating battles at the table * What to do when they skip dinner and come back hungry 30 minutes later If you have a kid who won't try anything new and you want to stop fighting about food, this is for you! Want to connect? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529793/fan_mail/new] CONNECT with Nicole: FREE Training: Raise a Balanced Eater AND Protect Their Relationship With Food [https://nicolecruzrd.easywebinar.live/register] - Instagram: @nicolecruzRD [https://www.instagram.com/nicolecruzRD] SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, it would mean so much for you to follow, subscribe, share, or leave a review. Your support helps us reach more conscious and loving parents who need these insight! Thank you for tuning in and see you next week!

How We Teach Kids to Ignore Their Bodies

You've probably already heard that pressuring kids to eat backfires. It will likely make them more resistant to eat the things you want them to eat. But even when we know it - sometimes it's hard to not do it... even when it's not really effective. But the thing is, it's not only that it's ineffective or that it will likely backfire. It's likely interfering with your child's long-term relationship with food and how they connect to their body. In this episode, we talk about: * Why the short-term reactions we see are only part of the picture * What's happening underneath the surface - and why this is actually the far more important consequence * The long-term impact of controlling feeding dynamics, including what it looks like in adults * Why your child's body cues are actually their best tool for a lifetime of healthy eating * A simple check-in to notice where this might still be sneaking into your own mealtimes If you've ever caught yourself saying "just one more bite" and wondered if it's really that big a deal - you'll want to listen to this one! Want to connect? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529793/fan_mail/new] CONNECT with Nicole: FREE Training: Raise a Balanced Eater AND Protect Their Relationship With Food [https://nicolecruzrd.easywebinar.live/register] - Instagram: @nicolecruzRD [https://www.instagram.com/nicolecruzRD] SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, it would mean so much for you to follow, subscribe, share, or leave a review. Your support helps us reach more conscious and loving parents who need these insight! Thank you for tuning in and see you next week!

Why Your Kid Won't Eat Vegetables (and what you can do!)

You put broccoli on their plate and they won't touch it. You try again. And again. And still nothing. But what if you just don't have the right strategy yet? In this episode, we talk about: * Why more exposure alone isn't always the answer - and what else you need * Tons of ideas for preparing, serving, and encouraging your child to try veggies without pressure * Taste tests as a low-pressure, even fun way to build curiosity without expectations * What to do when you feel like you're already standing on your head serving it 22 different ways * Why it's normal to be frustrated - and how to make sure that's not accidentally turning into pressure at the table If you've ever felt like you've tried everything and your kid still won't touch a vegetable, this episode will give you a few new things to try - and permission to keep going without needing to control the outcome. Resources Mentioned: ✅ Give Your Kid a Knife with Heather Staller [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529793/episodes/19022138] Want to connect? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529793/fan_mail/new] CONNECT with Nicole: FREE Training: Raise a Balanced Eater AND Protect Their Relationship With Food [https://nicolecruzrd.easywebinar.live/register] - Instagram: @nicolecruzRD [https://www.instagram.com/nicolecruzRD] SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, it would mean so much for you to follow, subscribe, share, or leave a review. Your support helps us reach more conscious and loving parents who need these insight! Thank you for tuning in and see you next week!