In today's show, Kelly Favret interviews Laura to answer some of the frequently-asked questions from MOMables community members. Together, they cover lunch-packing tips, cooking tips, feeding picky eaters, and more. 

Some of the topics covered in this podcast:

• Struggling with the transition to homemade foods
• When a two-year-old is hard to feed
• How to handle food-related celebrations when a child has a food allergy
• What to do when your child has food allergies or restrictions at school / how to deal with teachers
• Feeding/swallowing issues at 18 months
• My Munchbug
  
• The Chew Mama
• How do you know if a child is turning picky?
• Making nut flour from whole nuts
• Measuring butter and coconut oil - liquid vs. solid
• Nutiva Coconut Oil (Amazon)
• How do you measure "flours?"
• At which stores does Laura grocery shop?
• MOMables Amazon Store with Laura's favorite containers & products
• Is there such a thing as eating too many nuts?

In today's show, Kelly Favret interviews Laura to answer some of the frequently-asked questions from MOMables community members. Together, they cover lunch-packing tips, cooking tips, feeding picky eaters, and more. 

Some of the topics covered in this podcast:

• Struggling with the transition to homemade foods
• When a two-year-old is hard to feed
• How to handle food-related celebrations when a child has a food allergy
• What to do when your child has food allergies or restrictions at school / how to deal with teachers
• Feeding/swallowing issues at 18 months
• My Munchbug
  
• The Chew Mama
• How do you know if a child is turning picky?
• Making nut flour from whole nuts
• Measuring butter and coconut oil - liquid vs. solid
• Nutiva Coconut Oil (Amazon)
• How do you measure "flours?"
• At which stores does Laura grocery shop?
• MOMables Amazon Store with Laura's favorite containers & products
• Is there such a thing as eating too many nuts?

Have you been wondering if your child has food allergies, food sensitivities, or intolerances? Perhaps you are confused as to what exactly makes something an allergy versus an intolerance?

In today’s show, I interview Dr. Cynthia Libert, MD. Together, we will walk you through the confusing world of food allergies and intolerances in terms you can understand. We will explain why it is important to figure out if something is bothering your child (or you!) and what you need to know about it.  

Dr. Libert is board certified in family medicine and is a diplomat of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine.  She completed her residency training at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), affiliated with UNC Chapel Hill at Mission Hospitals in Asheville, North Carolina.  

She received her medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago and did her undergraduate work at Saint Louis University.  Dr. Libert is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations.

Cynthia is passionate about helping patients achieve optimal health. She practices a holistic approach to health and wellness utilizing the best of modern medicine and evidence based complementary therapies. 

She has a special interest in natural approaches to healing and disease prevention through nutrition, physical fitness, stress-management, and mind-body modalities. She enjoys running, cooking, and spending time in nature. She resides in Blairsville, Georgia with her husband and three daughters.

Dr. Libert practices at the Life Wellness Center for Integrative Medicine in Blairsville, Georgia, where she serves patients both in the north Georgia and southwestern North Carolina mountain region. 

For more information or to contact Dr. Cynthia Libert, MD, visit www.DrLibert.org.

Have you ever wanted to cut down on over-the-counter cough and cold medicines when your child is sick? How about using natural methods that work to help your kids' symptoms naturally?

In today's podcast, you will learn about the different types of coughs, from chronic to common colds, and what you can do to help your kids heal naturally. We discuss treatments, how to lessen the symptoms and everything else in between. 

Our guest, Robin Green, also introduces pediatric acupuncture as one of the options to treat chronic cough. She debunks the common myths and eliminates the common fear of treating kids with "needles."

Robin Green is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and leading expert in the field of pediatric acupuncture. Robin helps parents whose children suffer from chronic illness learn to use the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine to help their children heal safely and naturally from asthma, allergies, and eczema. 

Her popular kids health blog, KidsLoveAcupuncture.com, reaches over one million readers annually. She is an up-and-coming HayHouse author and her first book, Heal Your Child from the Inside Out, will be out in 2016. 

Robin also founded the Center for Advanced Acupuncture Pediatrics which provides premier pediatric acupuncture training worldwide. 

Her most important job, however, is being a wife and mom to her two boys. 

Great Resources to check out:

7 Ways to Calm a Cough Your Pediatrician Won't Tell You About

Free Massage E-book & Course

Products Discussed:

Gaia Kids Warming Chest Rub 

Poached Pears with Honey & Ginger

Did you know there is more to constipation than “not getting enough fiber” and a lot more to constant sinus congestion than “seasonal allergies?”

If you have heard either of these or similar phrases from medical professionals and wondered what else you can do to help alleviate some of the symptoms or even eradicate them completely, you are going to love today’s podcast. While we focused on gut health primarily, since the gut is the center of most autoimmune and inflammatory responses, once Wendi and I began chatting, we covered a lot more than just the gut!

You probably already know that my two boys suffer from food sensitivities, one from dairy and the other gluten. In both cases, I took matters onto my own hands and made the decision to change their diets, despite their pediatrician assuring me that one had common allergies and the other had chronic constipation, both being “very normal” among kids.

The changes in their health, behavior, and other symptoms have been noteworthy, and when the culprit ingredient sneaks in, I am able to see the effect on my children right away.

Today, I am delighted to bring in Wendi Combs. Wendi is a nurse and health practitioner at Jubilee Health, a private practice in the Atlanta area.

She is a mom of two girls, a pediatric nurse of over 20 years, and a passionate advocate of helping kids thrive. She helps parents in the journey of wellness for their children. From runny noses to Autism, she loves helping parents find a more holistic approach to caring for their family.

Her journey began when her daughters, Ansley and Lucy, experienced health issues at an early age. Through that, she discovered the beauty and effectiveness of natural remedies, and she became very passionate about guiding others who want to be a part of treating issues in children with a more holistic approach.

If you have always wondered how many of us cure our children with food, in today’s podcast you will learn a few tips on how to take the first few steps yourself.

For more information about Wendi’s practice or to book an appointment online with her, visit Jubilee Health.org.

This Book, Cure Your Child with Food: The Hidden Connection Between Nutrition and Childhood Ailments is a must buy. If your child is suffering from chronic autoimmunity, allergies, food intolerances, and other diseases, this book will change your and your child’s life. 

In today’s podcast, Carolyn Bond discusses how parents can struggle a little less when it comes to resolving common parenting issues like kids fighting for attention. As a mom to three young kids, I have often wondered how my grandmother handled five kids and managed to do all she did. She clearly implemented many of the ideas Carolyn shares in today’s show. If you have kids, are constantly resolving their bickering, and know they are often throwing tantrums to grab your attention, this is one episode you do not want to miss. 

Carolyn Bond is a parenting coach who is passionate about helping parents bring up great kids. 

She helps parents who are desperately seeking solid, proven, and effective ways of raising their kids to become respectful, considerate, loving, and independent adults.  Her tried-and-true approach continues to work for everyone who uses it thoughtfully and consistently.  

Carolyn is a graduate of the University of Calgary and the University of Toronto with degrees in sociology and social work. She always dreamed of having perfect children and a perfectly orchestrated life, like the one described as a possibility in many parenting books. 

To her shock, her first child cried for two- to four-hour periods for the first three months! After her second arrived, she experienced the wonderful world of sibling rivalry, which progressed to constant bickering and fighting as the children grew older. 

Around this time, she joined a parenting support group where she learned Adlerian psychology. She immediately began to see her parenting problems solved, almost miraculously, one after another. 

She immersed herself in the study of this miracle methodology at the Alfred Adler Institute of Ontario and became a leader of many parenting groups in the Ontario area. Over the last 20 years, she has helped countless families with their child rearing challenges. She has raised four wonderful children and now shares her expertise at HowtoBringupGreatKids.com.

For more information on how Carolyn can help you parent with confidence, check out her website and coaching programs. 

In today's podcast, you'll love that Jennifer understands how difficult it can be to introduce new foods to our kids. She also provides us with suggestions on how to make food interesting and fun for them. 

A mom of two, Jennifer Tyler Lee is the author of The 52 New Foods Challenge: A Family Cooking Adventure for Each Week of the Year and the creator of the award-winning series of healthy eating games, Crunch a Color. Her family cooking adventures have been featured by Jamie Oliver, Rachael Ray, Laurie David, Pottery Barn Kids, and Whole Foods.

She is a featured blogger at The Huffington Post and a regular contributor to the James Beard Award-winning magazine, Edible. Tune into her delicious recipes and weekly tips at 52NewFoods.com.  

In today's episode, Suzanne explains how to make sure our kids are getting enough nutrition and gives us some very practical suggestions we can apply immediately. Even if you have picky eaters, you'll find fresh ideas to help kids get the nutrition they need each day. 

Suzanne is a registered dietitian, nutrition consultant, speaker, and the owner of Cherry Creek Nutrition.

She is the nutrition coach for KWGN CW2′s Daybreak and former spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as well as the Colorado Dietetic Association. She has worked with a variety of media outlets including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Denver Post, Prevention, Self, and Shape.

Suzanne’s passion is to share nutrition knowledge and experience in order to help others make practical, personalized, and doable lifestyle changes.

Her philosophy is to combine nutrition science with the art of living a healthy and happy life!

Whether through one-on-one counseling, working with families, or nutrition seminars, her goal is to spark enthusiasm about food, nutrition, and living optimally.

As a mother of two children, she loves creating and discovering deliciously quick and healthy ways of eating and meal planning. Suzanne truly understands the challenges of not just knowing what to eat for optimal health, but how to do it!

Resources discussed on the show:

• Ellyn Satter’s books
• Fearless Feeding 

For more information on Suzanne’s four-week program or to book a consultation with her, visit her website, Cherry Creek Nutrition. Find great nutrition tips on her Facebook page or drop her a line on twitter, @SFarrellRD. 

If you have ever felt overwhelmed with all things parenthood, this podcast is for you. From delegating chores, responsibilities, keeping up with our house, work/life balance (is there such a thing?), mom-guilt, and sex (gasp!), Meagan and I talk about how to keep our emotional tanks full so we can focus on doing what matters.

Meagan Francis is a mother of five and a blogger, writer, and expert at being a happier, more productive mom. Her blog, The Happiest Home, and Book, The Happiest Mom: 10 Secrets to Enjoying Motherhood, help mothers find satisfaction in family and home life while encouraging them to go after their own dreams too. 

Meagan's work has appeared in dozens of magazines and websites like Parenting, Parents, Good Housekeeping, The Huffington Post, and Babble.com. She also appears often in media outlets including the New York Times, Woman's Day, and Fox & Friends. 

Referenced articles from Meagan's Blog:

- 7 Myths About Being a Good School Mom

- How to Have Sex After Kids

- "Aim Low and Go Slow" Concept

Meagan's Podcast: Home Hour

If you are ready to focus a little time and energy on yourself, check out Meagan's Beyond Baby Book and Boot Camp.

In today's episode, Aviva and I discuss various ways to make mealtimes easier and avoid the dreaded "six o'clock scramble".

Aviva is a family dinner expert and the founder of The Six O'Clock Scramble. She is a Today Show contributor and frequently appears in media such as The Katie Show, The Washington Post, O Magazine, Real Simple, Working Mother, Prevention, and more. 

Aviva is the author of two cookbooks: The Six O'Clock Scramble Cookbook and SOS! The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue: Earth Friendly, Kid-Pleasing Meals for Busy Families. She is a mother of two and great at all things dinner!

If you are tired of worrying about what to make for dinner, you can try 2 FREE weeks of Aviva's dinner planner solution! The Scramble gives thousands of families a ready-made, healthy and seasonal dinner plan for the week that is also customizable! The plan includes side dishes and a grocery list, and it's conveniently sent to your inbox or phone for a few dollars per month. 

Some of the tools we discussed on the show:

- Vegetti: Spiral Vegetable Slicer

- Lemon & Lime Squeezers

- Bread Makers 

- A slow cooker/crockpot (you can set a timer)

In episode Dr. Dina Rose, author of It's Not About the Broccoli: Three Habits to Teach Your Kids for a Lifetime of Healthy Eating explains how we can teach our children to love a variety of foods and create rules for happier family meals. We also talk about how to handle the stresses and struggles that come when trying to get kids to try new foods and, how to avoid the tableside negotiations that so often become a part of mealtimes with picky eaters. 

Dina Rose, PhD is a sociologist, parent educator, and feeding expert. She writes for her blog, It's Not About Nutrition, for The Huffington Post, and for Psychology Today. Her work has been featured on TV, radio, and in both print and online news resources such as: Fox News Boston, NBC Connecticut News, Martha Stewart Radio, HuffPost Live, Sound Medicine, Health Talk Wisconsin, Good Parenting Radio, Babble, The Globe & Mail, Mamapedia, Parenting Magazine, and Spirituality & Health.