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” poop look like anyway? (and how to help your kids manage theirs)
- Some crazy simple foods to incorporate into the family diet more often to support gut health
- Why chocolate (in the right way) can help! Woo hoo!
- How cold French fries become a health food for the gut
- Helpful tips for constipation, some of which I’ve NEVER heard before, even though I did a deep dive into the subject a few years ago!
- Some really helpful tips and stories about HOW to figure out if what you’re trying is working or needs to be ditched
- The supplements that actually heal the gut rather than supporting it like a crutch (i.e. the ones you take for a while and then stop buying them because your body doesn’t even NEED them any more!)
- How to help the body recover after antibiotics (including ANOTHER probiotic tip I’ve never heard before!)
Genevieve is a wealth of knowledge on gut health and poop and so generous with her time and practical tips. If you’re a fan of healthy living without being too complicated or spending too much money, this is the interview for you!
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No time for the video? Here are the notes!
Gut Health Tips for Families
1:12 – Meet Genevieve Howland, also known as Mama Natural. She’s been a friend of mine for a very long time and I can’t believe I’ve never had her on my podcast! Genevieve has a thriving YouTube channel and is the author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, the crunchy mom’s What to Expect When You’re Expecting!
Gut health doesn’t have to be that hard or complicated. – Genevieve Howland
Simple Steps to Improve Family Gut Health
4:06 – Colorful produce is one of the easiest tools for a healthy microbiome. Genevieve recommends rotating through berries, pomegranates, and even cocoa powder for rich polyphenols that feed good bacteria. Her tip: use organic when possible, or try fruit powders in yogurt and smoothies to make it fun for kids.
6:41 – She also emphasizes soluble fiber, which binds toxins and supports hormone balance. Foods like beans, chia seeds, psyllium husk, and oats are her go-tos—especially for families who want to “feed the good guys” naturally.
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The Power of Beans, Resistant Starch, and Fiber Diversity
7:40 – Beans might not be every kid’s favorite, but Genevieve shares how persistence pays off. Her family snacks on simple beans drizzled with olive oil and sea salt, rotating between black beans, garbanzos, and pintos. (Try making pizza crust with chickpea flour or find a ton more ways to eat beans in my Everything Beans cookbook!)
11:21 – She also loves teaching parents about resistant starch, which forms when foods like potatoes or oats cool after cooking. These foods fuel beneficial bacteria in the large intestine and can even reduce inflammation. Her message: variety matters. Rotate your foods to keep the gut microbiome thriving and kids excited about mealtime.
Morning Light and Movement: The UVA Rise Connection
12:38 – One of Genevieve’s most surprising tips has nothing to do with food! She swears by early-morning sunlight. Stepping outside within an hour after sunrise (during what is called the “UVA rise”) helps regulate serotonin, hormones, and digestion. (Morning sunlight has other benefits, too!)
13:59 – For families, she suggests making it a habit: eat breakfast outside, do morning reading on the porch, or simply soak in the light for a few minutes. I mentioned 1000 Hours Outside, one of my favorite podcasts and sites to follow!
Why Snacking Less Can Help Everyone’s Digestion
15:08 – Genevieve tried to cure her SIBO but couldn’t quite nip it in the bud until …
16:05 – Constant grazing keeps the digestive system “on” all day. By giving it a break, both kids and adults allow the body to complete its natural cleansing cycle. Genevieve noticed fewer stomach issues, less heartburn, and even better dental health when her family stopped snacking constantly.
17:38 – I tie this back to picky eating work. Kids need to feel hunger to build an appetite. Together we explain why protein and healthy fat are key for keeping little tummies satisfied longer.
What Your Poop Can Tell You About Your Health
20:01 – Poop is the body’s daily report card. Genevieve explains what color, texture, and frequency reveal about digestion and bile flow. Listen in or watch here for the scoop!
21:44 – She shares natural ways to support healthy elimination: soluble fiber, magnesium, bitters, and probiotic diversity. Simple foods like kiwis and pears can make a noticeable difference. (Some Kimball family favorites are Earthley’s Digest-Support for bitters, Magnesium Lotion Shop lotion, and Llama Naturals probiotic gummies.)
I believe…
- kids can have a healthy relationship with food
- dinner tables don’t have to be stressful
Let’s make a difference at YOUR family dinner table with a strategy-filled challenge so that you feel empowered to serve healthy food without stress, and without any charge. My gift to you!
Jump into the No More Picky Eating 5-Day Challenge right now. End power struggles and have more peaceful mealtimes!
Getting to the Root Cause of Digestive Issues
25:55 – Many people assume heartburn means too much acid, but it’s often too little. Genevieve explains how HCl supplements, cabbage juice, and bitters can improve stomach acidity and digestion. She also clarifies when to use each one and why healing the gut isn’t about dependency: it’s about restoration.
Cabbage juice is phenomenal for healing the stomach lining. – Genevieve Howland
29:32 – She encourages parents to experiment carefully, track symptoms, and notice when the body starts producing its own acid and bile again. The goal is to heal, not rely on endless supplements.
Practical Family Tips for Better Digestion
31:57 – I tell Gen one of my favorite tips for sauerkraut from my interview with Elissa Arnheim. Check it out here!
33:17 – Genevieve gets real about parenting and poop talk. She coaches her kids to chew slowly, notice their body’s cues, and even track how different foods affect how they feel. Garlic, herbs, and fermented foods like yogurt or kefir are staples in her kitchen.
35:21 – She shares creative tricks for picky eaters—like using raw garlic in vinaigrette and adding pumpkin seeds into baked goods.
Healing After Antibiotics
38:12 – When antibiotics are necessary, Genevieve suggests pairing them with spore-based probiotics that survive the medication. Once treatment ends, she recommends a multi-strain probiotic for one to three months, sometimes “activating” it by mixing into yogurt overnight.
40:43 – Her line of Mama Natural probiotics includes specific blends for babies, kids, women, and prenatal moms, each designed for maximum diversity and gentle support.
Start Simple and Stay Consistent
43:43 – Genevieve closes with encouragement: healing the gut isn’t about perfection. Observe your poop, eat more colorful plants, and be consistent. Small steps, done daily, build a resilient microbiome and a healthier family.
“I just want my kids to eat what I make!”
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Resources We Mention for Gut Health for Families
- Purchase The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth (Amazon/Bookshop.org)
- If you’re expecting, check out the Mama Natural Birth Course
- Chickpea Pizza Crust that is a favorite in our house.
- Everything Beans eCookbook
- Morning sunlight for busy moms
- Quick Change Tastebuds, Gut Health, and Picky Eating with Elissa Arnheim
- Products Genevieve Recommends:
- Visit Genevieve on her website MamaNatural.com, or on social media: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook
With 120 million views on YouTube, Genevieve Howland’s funny but informational videos have empowered millions of women to embrace natural pregnancy and parenting. A childbirth doula, educator, breastfeeding advocate and nutrition consultant, Genevieve is the bestselling author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, published by Simon & Schuster and has natural pregnancy supplements available for sale.
Along with Midwife Maura Winkler, Genevieve created The Mama Natural Birth Course, the #1 bestselling childbirth education course online. She later partnered with Dr. Elisa Song to launch the Mama Natural Baby Care Course. Genevieve’s work has been featured on Dr. Oz, ABC News, Time Magazine, New York Magazine, and more.
Genevieve and her husband Michael live on the Gulf Coast of Florida with their three rambunctious children.
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