Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

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 DinnerGet started teaching your kids to cookSome of Paul's favorite recipes to make: cheeseburger soup or pinto galloYou 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 recipesThanks to today's sponsor, JustThrive! Use code Katie15 for 15% off at https://kidscookrealfood.com/justthrive. 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. Resources We Mention for Executive FunctionFind Noel online hereNoel’s books: ABC Worry Free, Are You a Bird Like Me?, 15-Minute FocusYou can see my first interview with Noel about helping kids with ADHD hereWatch my TEDx talk on the importance of teaching kids critical thinking skillsGet anxiety coping skills in this interview and this postHere’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 ChildrenKim’s book: Becoming Me While Raising You: A Mother’s Journey to Her Self (Amazon, Bookshop)Find Kim online hereFollow her on social media: TikTok, InstagramWe 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 TechniqueMore than a Kissing Spot: Your New Baby's FaceThe Purple Guide: Developing Your Clinical Dental Hygiene CareerFind Shirley onlineFollow her on social media: Facebook, X, YouTube, InstagramMore 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 daywhy 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 feelingsa 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 runan 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 <3what is MORE important than your child’s good behaviorwhy holding to your boundaries IS showing love, and how to do that without yelling or threateningthe 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 benefitsThis 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 GoodRalphie's Positive Consequences webinar Looking for more positive parenting tips? Check out this interview with Amy McCready as wellWhy should kids do chores anyway?Ralphie's reward system is called the family economyWhy you should make your own salad dressingHelp 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!

In this engaging discussion, Jess Sherman, a nutritionist and author of "Raising Resilience," sheds light on the alarming rise of anxiety and depression in children. She emphasizes the critical connection between nutrition and emotional health, stressing how proper food choices can enhance resilience and self-regulation. Jess reveals that even the best educational systems struggle to unlock children’s full potential due to underlying stressors. Parents are encouraged to recognize these challenges and actively involve their kids in healthy eating to foster better behavioral and emotional outcomes.

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!Thanks to today's sponsor, Perfect Supplements! Shop at https://kidscookrealfood.com/perfect.Resources We Mention for Avoiding Food DyesFind To Dye For: The DocumentaryFollow them on InstagramThe ToDye For resource pageThe OEHHA report mentionedSign up for the Cawood's email list to get the list of food dyes to look out forHere's an older post I wrote about avoiding artificial food dyesDr. 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 familiesthe best way to get probiotics integrated into your familycommon 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 youhow 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 NutritionFind Jess Donovan online hereJess's free book on gut healthJess has put together a list of her favorite foods to boost immunity - grab your copy hereSauerkraut recipeFermentation ebookKimchi recipeWater Kefir recipeProbiotics for kids: MaryRuth's liquid probiotic, JustThriveGuide to finding a fish oil supplementEinkorn pastaUS Wellness MeatsChia pudding for omega 3sGluten and Dairy-Free Guide for RookiesMy 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 bookshow the Moore family pushes against “the norm” with how and where they choose to livehow 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 forwhat the philosophy of “just enough” really means and how it looks in real lifepeeks 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 choresI 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 LifePre-order Tyler's book: Tidy Up Your Life on Amazon and on BookshopHere are my top reasons why kids should do choresMore on kitchen zonesWays to organize a kid-friendly kitchenOrganization for families with ClutterbugFind Tyler on his websiteFollow him on social media: Facebook, Instagram, PinterestThe "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 toddlerswhat I think about my husbandwhether boys can be gentlethe impact of mirror neurons on our kids' brainsthe 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 yearschoice within boundaries, and agency while working as a team on high expectationsand 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 BoysAvoiding "hangry" meltdownsHow we are managing our screensSome benefits of family dinnersThe 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!