If kids are empowered in the kitchen, they can make healthier choices for themSELVES. -Dr. Madiha Saeed

I know you think I do these interviews for YOU because I’m a good person who wants to help everyone become better parents and raise healthy kids…but sometimes I feel like it’s just for ME to learn new things and get reminders about practices I need to adjust!! 😉

Ok…it’s for both of us.

My huge takeaways from this energetic interview with the fabulous Dr. Madiha Saeed include:

  • Start the day with gratitude, not just end it
  • Ask kids questions to help them connect how they feel with what they do in the day, rather than just telling them all the things

Those are MY 2 big goals after this conversation, plus I’m always filled up anytime I get to hang out with my friend Dr. Saeed. 😉

YOU might gain other insights, such as:

  • How and WHY we need to build kids’ resilience
  • Connecting kids with ownership of their health
  • One habit Dr. Saeed has her kids do at least weekly (and it’s easy!)
  • How real-life consequences decrease stress

….and more! I’d love to hear YOUR biggest takeaway or practical goal from this conversation, especially as we start the new year.

Forget a resolution that we’ll break within a few weeks…how can we set a new HABIT that’s sustainable?

Can’t see the video? Watch holistic parenting here on YouTube!

No time for the video? Here are the notes!

Holistic Parenting with Dr. Saeed

  • 0:44: Today I’m talking with Dr. Madiha Saeed about holistic parenting, resilience, and raising kids who own their health.
  • 2:06: We jump right in to discuss why parenting is so hard these days. Our kids are sick, and the parenting strategies that worked on our generation just aren’t cutting it. 

Our kids are living unbalanced lives. -Dr. Madiha Saeed

  • 3:06: Why are kids misbehaving, difficult to parent, and suffering? Their brains and bodies are suffering. Dr. Saeed explains neuroeconomics and how it affects our parenting.
  • 5:22: When our brains aren’t balanced we’re agitated, not connected with those around us, and anxious. Studies show that imbalance not only leads to behavior issues but also inflammation in the body and disease later in life. Here’s more about teaching social-emotional learning.
  • 7:28: We can empower our children. There’s so much we can do to care for our bodies and thus our brain and mental health as well. Holistic parenting raises mindful children. 

  • 10:14: I share an example of what we’ve been talking about playing out in my own life earlier today. 
  • 12:19: Let’s go into some practical steps parents can take to empower our kids to take care of themselves. Education is super important. Teaching them about gut health, nutrition, managing stress, getting enough sleep, etc. gives them the tools they need to make balanced choices. If you want to watch Madiha cook for 20 people like she mentioned, follow her on Instagram.

My child knows what happens when they put different foods in their body. -Dr. Madiha Saeed

  • 14:18: Wake up with gratitude. Gratitude helps kids make more rational decisions, be more content and happy overall, and can lower inflammation. 

After waking up, say 10 things you're grateful for. (Kids too!) -Dr. Madiha Saeed

  • 15:11: Focus on nutrient-dense, real foods with your kids. They are at a critical point in their development and need good building blocks to build healthy brains and bodies. 
  • 16:17: Giving kids real responsibilities around the house gives them a sense of belonging and reduces the overall stress in the house. They feel confident and empowered when they see the contribution they’ve made.
  • 18:38: The key foundations of health are digestive health, detoxification, sleep, stress, social and spiritual health. Build on these with your kids and you’ll see them taking responsibility for their own health. 
  • 20:34: Real-life consequences actually decrease stress! I wasn’t sure I heard that correctly the first time, but it makes sense after hearing Dr. Saeed explain it. 

No matter what life throws at our kids, we need them to be resilient.

This free download will give you some practical and actionable steps to improve brain health and resilience.







Discipline means 'to teach' and children need to know what's expected of them. -Dr. Madiha Saeed

  • 22:38: To set your kids up for success and good behavior here are Dr. Saeed’s top strategies: role-modeling behavior, building connection, setting high expectations and treating your kids like adults, having clear rules, using choices, appreciating good behavior, and searching for the root of behavioral difficulties. 

Every hug and every conversation builds connection. -Dr. Madiha Saeed

  • 25:54: Giving kids clear expectations isn’t being mean or strict, it’s making our kids feel safe. Kids thrive with structure. When they don’t know what’s going on or what is expected of them they don’t feel safe and secure. Here’s an excellent interview about positive parenting strategies to provide structure while maintaining a connection with your kids.

Kids don’t need plastic knives. They need real skills.

Teach safe technique, focus, and confidence in the all-time fav lesson from our kids cooking class! (ages 2-12)






Or find out more about the free knife class here.

Resources We Mention for Holistic Parenting

Dr. Madiha Saeed
Madiha M. Saeed, MD, also known as HolisticMom, MD, on social media, is a practicing board-certified family physician in the USA, health influencer, international speaker, and author of The Holistic Rx: Your Guide to Healing Chronic Inflammation and Disease and the children’s functional medicine book series, Adam’s Healing Adventures and to other international books, empowering the world towards healthier living. Her current online platforms reach millions of people.

Dr. Saeed is the director of education for Documenting Hope and KnoWEwell. She sits on multiple medical advisory boards including Wellness Mama. Dr. Saeed and her children speak internationally at the most prestigious holistic conferences, summits, radio, podcasts (including Mind Body Green), newspapers and the United Nations recently published her paper on religion and the food system. She is a regular on the international Emmy-winning medical talk show the Dr. Nandi Show. Dr. Saeed’s children host “The Holistic Kids’ Show” podcast, interviewing the biggest names in the functional, holistic, and integrative medicine world, and helping kids empower and educate other kids.

holistic parenting