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Parenting
In each episode of the Healthy Parenting Handbook Podcast, Katie Kimball, the national voice of healthy kids cooking, interviews experts in fields like nutrition, medicine, psychology, parenting, technology, entrepreneurship and more to help parents get tools to raise healthy, independent kids.
Navigating Holiday Stress
The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year … or the most overwhelming. Between the excitement, the sugar, the schedule changes, and the constant stimulation, even the calmest kids can start to unravel. And let’s be honest, parents can too!
In this episode, I sat down with JoAnn Crohn, a former school teacher who’s now on a mission to help overwhelmed moms rediscover joy and raise healthier, happier families. She has a gentle, realistic way of helping moms shift from chaos to calm, especially during high-stress seasons like the holidays. You might recognize JoAnn, as she’s been a camp leader in all four seasons of #LifeSkillsNow!
JoAnn and I talk about what really happens to kids (and parents) when the routines disappear and expectations skyrocket. We explore why kids may act out more in December, how to prepare them for disappointment, and what it looks like to model calm even when you’re running on half a night’s sleep and the to-do list is longer than the wrapping paper roll.
If you’ve ever thought, “Why do my kids seem extra emotional this time of year?” or “How can I actually enjoy the holidays without snapping at everyone I love?”—this episode is for you.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How JoAnn helps overwhelmed moms find joy and balance again
- Why self-care isn’t selfish, it’s essential to being an effective parent
- What holiday overstimulation does to kids (and how to help them recover)
- Simple ways to validate your child’s emotions without giving in to every whim
- How to prepare kids for the changes and disappointments that come with the holidays
- Why calm-down strategies work best when practiced before the meltdowns
- The easiest ways to bring your kids into holiday traditions so everyone feels connected
You’ll walk away with practical tools and a fresh mindset to make this holiday season feel more joyful and a lot less stressful.
Listen in to learn how small shifts in preparation, awareness, and connection can help your whole family thrive when the holidays hit!
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Episode 91: The Daily Scoop: Secrets to Healthy Poops for the Whole Family with Genevieve Howland of Mama Natural
Our digestion happens every day and REALLY can impact how we feel, think, and treat others! So let’s talk all about poop. 🙂 My guest today is brimming over with practical tips about assessing your digestive output (aka poo) and solving issues in gut health based on what you see. For example: What does “healthy”...
Episode 90: Decode Your Child’s Behavior and Dial in Your Parenting Boundaries from the Author of Transforming Toddlerhood, Devon Kuntzman
Let’s talk toddlers. They scream at the banana that broke in half. They insist on doing everything themselves…until they melt down and demand help. And they can go from sunshine to thunderstorm in the time it takes you to sip your coffee. Cold. If you’ve ever thought, “What on earth is happening in that tiny...
Episode 88: Informed Consent Isn’t Optional: Reclaiming Your Role as a Healthcare Consumer with Alexandra of Just the Inserts
It shouldn’t be controversial to make your own healthcare decisions!! Informed consent has become a buzz word for no good reason. Information. We ought to be able to access information about the products we’re using, the consumer choices we’re making, where we spend our money, and what we choose to put in and on our...
Mess Is a Sign of Life: Overcoming Perfectionism and Overwhelm About Homemaking
Do you know any mom who ISN’T feeling a little overwhelmed by all the tasks she’s juggling, who’s NEVER thought, “My house isn’t clean/organized/gorgeous enough,” or who doesn’t think she has a lot of improvement to make on homemaking?
I thought so.
My guest today, Mystie Winckler, speaks to moms who are overwhelmed or paralyzed by perfectionism, who know their lives will never look like their favorite Instagram influencers, and who are tempted to just give up at home.
(Me! Raises hand…)
In case you’re looking for just the perfect system that will help you out of that, or if you’re hoping Mystie has a cleaning checklist you can try – because surely the next one you try will work even though others haven’t – you’ll be sorely disappointed.
Mystie starts somewhere else, and I believe her method is easier and more difficult at the same time.
For a positive conversation and a lot of encouragement for your home, tune in to this week’s episode!!
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Episode 86: The Evolution of Modern Food & Label Reading 401 with Becky Wells of Hippie Moms
You get to sit in on what turned into a college class in food history and nutrition label reading! This interview is high-energy, high impact, and will fill both your academic brain and your mama heart. Becky Wells of Hippie Moms is passionate about helping other mamas understand their food and build a healthy foundation...
Episode 85: Kids Are Showing Signs of Alzheimer’s, and No One Is Worrying with Dr. Kristina Bosnar
Alzheimer’s and dementia are some of the scariest realities for adults to consider. No one wants to feel like they’re going to lose their mind! But in this day and age, it feels like cognitive decline is inevitable for many of us, “just a normal part of aging.” Similarly, our culture has come to accept...
Episode 83: Why Feeding Therapy Can Backfire—Insights from Picky-Eating MD Dr. Katja Rowell
You’ve heard the figure that most MDs get less than 10-20 hours of nutrition and food training in medical school, and Dr. Katja Rowell (MD!) thinks this is a tragedy. Worse, she says, is that pediatricians and family doctors aren’t trained at all in HOW kids learn to eat, and many of them help families...
Episode 82: Building Strong Families, Connected Kids with Father Leo of Plating Grace
If having a strong family and raising kids who know how to serve others is important – or necessary – to you, my guest today will inspire, encourage, and challenge you to reach those goals! He prefers the word “invite” over “challenge,” so I’m curious to hear what you think! 🙂 I was beyond honored...
Episode 81: Diagnosing the Root Cause of Meltdowns & How to Calm Tantrums with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
Meltdowns start in the brain! In many situations your child’s brain may perceive a large gap between demand and capacity, may be flooded with emotion and not able to access the logical processing left brain, or may be feeling unsafe or threatened, and any of those situations (and more) can be at the root cause...