I had my first baby shortly after I turned 30 to prepare I
shortly after I turned 30 to prepare I
shortly after I turned 30 to prepare I read every single page of what to expect
read every single page of what to expect
read every single page of what to expect when you’re expecting more than once
when you’re expecting more than once
when you’re expecting more than once I followed the parenting advice of the
I followed the parenting advice of the
I followed the parenting advice of the times I breastfed my baby I pumped when
times I breastfed my baby I pumped when
times I breastfed my baby I pumped when I was at work I started solid food on
I was at work I started solid food on
I was at work I started solid food on time and I moved my daughter through all
time and I moved my daughter through all
time and I moved my daughter through all the stages of food introduction I was
the stages of food introduction I was
the stages of food introduction I was responsive to her I fed her when she was
responsive to her I fed her when she was
responsive to her I fed her when she was hungry and I stopped when she was full
hungry and I stopped when she was full
hungry and I stopped when she was full you could say I was very focused on
you could say I was very focused on
you could say I was very focused on getting this part of parenthood right
getting this part of parenthood right
getting this part of parenthood right when my daughter was 12 months old my
when my daughter was 12 months old my
when my daughter was 12 months old my pediatrician told me her weight was low
pediatrician told me her weight was low
pediatrician told me her weight was low she was clinically almost underweight at
she was clinically almost underweight at
she was clinically almost underweight at the time I had been privately struggling
the time I had been privately struggling
the time I had been privately struggling with how difficult it had become to feed
with how difficult it had become to feed
with how difficult it had become to feed her she didn’t want to come to the
her she didn’t want to come to the
her she didn’t want to come to the highchair and when she was there she
highchair and when she was there she
highchair and when she was there she only took a couple bites pushed the food
only took a couple bites pushed the food
only took a couple bites pushed the food off the tray and said all done
I struggled and I had to instincts my
I struggled and I had to instincts my first instinct when I heard the news was
first instinct when I heard the news was
first instinct when I heard the news was to feed her whatever I could get her to
to feed her whatever I could get her to
to feed her whatever I could get her to eat and make sure she made it all my
eat and make sure she made it all my
eat and make sure she made it all my second instinct was totally opposite it
second instinct was totally opposite it
second instinct was totally opposite it was to stay the course not push her to
was to stay the course not push her to
was to stay the course not push her to have more food not force her to finish
have more food not force her to finish
have more food not force her to finish her meals and I struggled with the
her meals and I struggled with the
her meals and I struggled with the decision I wrestled with the right
decision I wrestled with the right
decision I wrestled with the right approach ultimately I went with my
approach ultimately I went with my
approach ultimately I went with my second instinct I stayed the course I
second instinct I stayed the course I
second instinct I stayed the course I didn’t push her to eat more food and I
didn’t push her to eat more food and I
didn’t push her to eat more food and I certainly didn’t force her to finish her
certainly didn’t force her to finish her
certainly didn’t force her to finish her meals in fact I worked really hard to
meals in fact I worked really hard to
meals in fact I worked really hard to make sure food wasn’t an issue at her 18
make sure food wasn’t an issue at her 18
make sure food wasn’t an issue at her 18 month checkup I learned she was anemic
month checkup I learned she was anemic
month checkup I learned she was anemic and still not gaining enough weight you
and still not gaining enough weight you
and still not gaining enough weight you could say this kind of rocked me to the
could say this kind of rocked me to the
could say this kind of rocked me to the core not only had I failed my daughter I
core not only had I failed my daughter I
core not only had I failed my daughter I had failed as a mother
had failed as a mother
had failed as a mother and what was worse I had failed at the
and what was worse I had failed at the
and what was worse I had failed at the one thing I was supposed to know inside
one thing I was supposed to know inside
one thing I was supposed to know inside and out you see I’m a pediatric
and out you see I’m a pediatric
and out you see I’m a pediatric dietitian I’m a professional trained in
dietitian I’m a professional trained in
dietitian I’m a professional trained in the science of nutrition and feeding
the science of nutrition and feeding
the science of nutrition and feeding babies toddlers children and teens at
babies toddlers children and teens at
babies toddlers children and teens at the time I’ve been a professional for
the time I’ve been a professional for
the time I’ve been a professional for seven years and I was taking care of
seven years and I was taking care of
seven years and I was taking care of some of the sickest kids on our planet
nutrition and feeding that was my
nutrition and feeding that was my wheelhouse my comfort zone but what I
wheelhouse my comfort zone but what I
wheelhouse my comfort zone but what I knew in my bones as a pediatric
knew in my bones as a pediatric
knew in my bones as a pediatric nutritionist did not jive at all with
nutritionist did not jive at all with
nutritionist did not jive at all with what I was facing day in and day out
what I was facing day in and day out
what I was facing day in and day out with my own child at work I was an
with my own child at work I was an
with my own child at work I was an expert at home I was a stressed-out
expert at home I was a stressed-out
expert at home I was a stressed-out struggling parent I didn’t know if what
struggling parent I didn’t know if what
struggling parent I didn’t know if what I was doing was right or if I was making
I was doing was right or if I was making
I was doing was right or if I was making things worse humbling yes
things worse humbling yes
things worse humbling yes but what I didn’t expect was that this
but what I didn’t expect was that this
but what I didn’t expect was that this experience would be a pivotal moment in
experience would be a pivotal moment in
experience would be a pivotal moment in my life as a mom and as a professional
what I learned was that eating kids is
what I learned was that eating kids is not easy it takes a lot of work
that pivotal moment it influenced my
that pivotal moment it influenced my work as I moved forward it changed it
work as I moved forward it changed it
work as I moved forward it changed it radically changed the way I work and the
radically changed the way I work and the
radically changed the way I work and the way I see childhood nutrition today I
way I see childhood nutrition today I
way I see childhood nutrition today I had a powerful revelation if feeding my
had a powerful revelation if feeding my
had a powerful revelation if feeding my own child was so challenging humbling
own child was so challenging humbling
own child was so challenging humbling and causing me to swim in pools of
and causing me to swim in pools of
and causing me to swim in pools of self-doubt what was this experience like
self-doubt what was this experience like
self-doubt what was this experience like for other parents parents who didn’t
for other parents parents who didn’t
for other parents parents who didn’t have the education training and
have the education training and
have the education training and experience that I did our nation has
experience that I did our nation has
experience that I did our nation has many child health problems too many for
many child health problems too many for
many child health problems too many for me to list here tonight but I want to
me to list here tonight but I want to
me to list here tonight but I want to give you a little snapshot obesity
give you a little snapshot obesity
give you a little snapshot obesity affects one in three children eight
affects one in three children eight
affects one in three children eight percent of our babies are overweight
percent of our babies are overweight
percent of our babies are overweight eating disorders are on the rise in
eating disorders are on the rise in
eating disorders are on the rise in children under 12 and in boys one out of
children under 12 and in boys one out of
children under 12 and in boys one out of 13 kids will be diagnosed with a food
13 kids will be diagnosed with a food
13 kids will be diagnosed with a food allergy
allergy
allergy micki eating it is lasting longer and
micki eating it is lasting longer and
micki eating it is lasting longer and we’re seeing more and more cases of
we’re seeing more and more cases of
we’re seeing more and more cases of extreme picky eating iron deficiency
extreme picky eating iron deficiency
extreme picky eating iron deficiency anemia it’s still a significant concern
anemia it’s still a significant concern
anemia it’s still a significant concern in our youngest children you may hear
in our youngest children you may hear
in our youngest children you may hear these child health problems and think
these child health problems and think
these child health problems and think these things are caused by food fix the
these things are caused by food fix the
these things are caused by food fix the food and we will certainly fix the child
food and we will certainly fix the child
food and we will certainly fix the child I wish it were that easy
I wish it were that easy
I wish it were that easy the problem isn’t food the real problem
the problem isn’t food the real problem
the problem isn’t food the real problem is that parents don’t know how to
is that parents don’t know how to
is that parents don’t know how to nourish nourish and nurture the health
nourish nourish and nurture the health
nourish nourish and nurture the health of their children there are three main
of their children there are three main
of their children there are three main areas of nutrition education that are
areas of nutrition education that are
areas of nutrition education that are missing for parents addressing these
missing for parents addressing these
missing for parents addressing these gaps and be a real game-changer for our
gaps and be a real game-changer for our
gaps and be a real game-changer for our nation’s kids the first area is food
nation’s kids the first area is food
nation’s kids the first area is food education as a pediatric nutritionist I
education as a pediatric nutritionist I
education as a pediatric nutritionist I get questions about food all the time
get questions about food all the time
get questions about food all the time what food can I give my child to make
what food can I give my child to make
what food can I give my child to make him healthier what’s the best diet for
him healthier what’s the best diet for
him healthier what’s the best diet for my
my
my which brand of yogurt cereal granola is
which brand of yogurt cereal granola is
which brand of yogurt cereal granola is the best I hate to break the bubble but
the best I hate to break the bubble but
the best I hate to break the bubble but there is no magic food best diet or
there is no magic food best diet or
there is no magic food best diet or special plan chia seeds Greek yogurt
special plan chia seeds Greek yogurt
special plan chia seeds Greek yogurt broccoli will not cure obesity reverse
broccoli will not cure obesity reverse
broccoli will not cure obesity reverse picky eating or even make a child a
picky eating or even make a child a
picky eating or even make a child a healthy eater this idea of fixing our
healthy eater this idea of fixing our
healthy eater this idea of fixing our child health problems with food alone
child health problems with food alone
child health problems with food alone sends parents on the wrong path looking
sends parents on the wrong path looking
sends parents on the wrong path looking for a quick fix
for a quick fix
for a quick fix kale infused smoothies paulo flour
kale infused smoothies paulo flour
kale infused smoothies paulo flour mashed potatoes carrot spikes spaghetti
mashed potatoes carrot spikes spaghetti
mashed potatoes carrot spikes spaghetti sauce parents think if I could just get
sauce parents think if I could just get
sauce parents think if I could just get my child to eat healthy food everything
my child to eat healthy food everything
my child to eat healthy food everything will be okay
will be okay
will be okay and those child health problems they
and those child health problems they
and those child health problems they won’t happen to us almost every parent I
won’t happen to us almost every parent I
won’t happen to us almost every parent I meet needs food education they need to
meet needs food education they need to
meet needs food education they need to understand the balance of food the
understand the balance of food the
understand the balance of food the portion sizes for children and the
portion sizes for children and the
portion sizes for children and the nutrients they’re growing kids need and
nutrients they’re growing kids need and
nutrients they’re growing kids need and they need to know this early because it
they need to know this early because it
they need to know this early because it helps them nourish their children well
helps them nourish their children well
helps them nourish their children well yes food education is part of the recipe
yes food education is part of the recipe
yes food education is part of the recipe for a healthier child but it’s not the
for a healthier child but it’s not the
for a healthier child but it’s not the whole enchilada the second area is
whole enchilada the second area is
whole enchilada the second area is feeding education did you know that how
feeding education did you know that how
feeding education did you know that how a child is fed is just as important as
a child is fed is just as important as
a child is fed is just as important as what they eat let me repeat that how a
what they eat let me repeat that how a
what they eat let me repeat that how a child is fed is just as important as
child is fed is just as important as
child is fed is just as important as what they eat that interaction between
what they eat that interaction between
what they eat that interaction between the parent and child during the process
the parent and child during the process
the parent and child during the process of feeding can be a powerful predictor
of feeding can be a powerful predictor
of feeding can be a powerful predictor of how well a child will eat from the
of how well a child will eat from the
of how well a child will eat from the foods that they choose and their ability
foods that they choose and their ability
foods that they choose and their ability to regulate their eating to their
to regulate their eating to their
to regulate their eating to their developing relationship with food
developing relationship with food
developing relationship with food we have a body of research that tells us
we have a body of research that tells us
we have a body of research that tells us beating is powerful so let me explain
beating is powerful so let me explain
beating is powerful so let me explain will was a picky eater
will was a picky eater
will was a picky eater he was very underweight in fact he was
he was very underweight in fact he was
he was very underweight in fact he was not growing well at all
not growing well at all
not growing well at all his parents did everything they could do
his parents did everything they could do
his parents did everything they could do to get him to eat they begged him they
to get him to eat they begged him they
to get him to eat they begged him they bribed him they even tried to punish him
bribed him they even tried to punish him
bribed him they even tried to punish him nothing worked in fact will got worse
nothing worked in fact will got worse
nothing worked in fact will got worse pressuring a child to eat is largely
pressuring a child to eat is largely
pressuring a child to eat is largely ineffective in some kids like will shuts
ineffective in some kids like will shuts
ineffective in some kids like will shuts down their appetite leading to less
down their appetite leading to less
down their appetite leading to less eating more pickiness and even a dislike
eating more pickiness and even a dislike
eating more pickiness and even a dislike for the foods parents are trying to get
for the foods parents are trying to get
for the foods parents are trying to get their kids to eat other children they
their kids to eat other children they
their kids to eat other children they might comply they might eat more even
might comply they might eat more even
might comply they might eat more even though their bellies tell them I’m full
though their bellies tell them I’m full
though their bellies tell them I’m full you see some children will do whatever
you see some children will do whatever
you see some children will do whatever their parents ask them to do even eat
their parents ask them to do even eat
their parents ask them to do even eat more food when they’re not hungry what
more food when they’re not hungry what
more food when they’re not hungry what if there’s an overweight child or a big
if there’s an overweight child or a big
if there’s an overweight child or a big eater or a child who just loves food in
eater or a child who just loves food in
eater or a child who just loves food in that scenario a family a mom or a dad
that scenario a family a mom or a dad
that scenario a family a mom or a dad might get nervous might worry about
might get nervous might worry about
might get nervous might worry about their children’s weight or their health
their children’s weight or their health
their children’s weight or their health or their eating habits and in that worry
or their eating habits and in that worry
or their eating habits and in that worry they may try to limit or restrict food
they may try to limit or restrict food
they may try to limit or restrict food access and even tightly control their
access and even tightly control their
access and even tightly control their child’s eating this happened to Rachel
child’s eating this happened to Rachel
child’s eating this happened to Rachel her mom was worried about her weight and
her mom was worried about her weight and
her mom was worried about her weight and so she did what she thought was the best
so she did what she thought was the best
so she did what she thought was the best thing to do and she took away sweets and
thing to do and she took away sweets and
thing to do and she took away sweets and treats and all the junky foods and she
treats and all the junky foods and she
treats and all the junky foods and she got rid of them out of the house in the
got rid of them out of the house in the
got rid of them out of the house in the hopes that this would prevent Rachel
hopes that this would prevent Rachel
hopes that this would prevent Rachel from gaining any more weight but this
from gaining any more weight but this
from gaining any more weight but this didn’t work out very well for Rachel she
didn’t work out very well for Rachel she
didn’t work out very well for Rachel she started to sneak food and when she was
started to sneak food and when she was
started to sneak food and when she was at class parties and friends houses when
at class parties and friends houses when
at class parties and friends houses when those foods were around she over ate
those foods were around she over ate
those foods were around she over ate them sometimes to the point of making
them sometimes to the point of making
them sometimes to the point of making herself sick
herself sick
herself sick and you know why she gained more weight
and you know why she gained more weight
and you know why she gained more weight when parents restrict or tightly limit
when parents restrict or tightly limit
when parents restrict or tightly limit or even control their children’s eating
or even control their children’s eating
or even control their children’s eating it can make children preoccupied with
it can make children preoccupied with
it can make children preoccupied with food seek it out and even over indulge
food seek it out and even over indulge
food seek it out and even over indulge when it’s available have any of you ever
when it’s available have any of you ever
when it’s available have any of you ever seen a parent reward a child for good
seen a parent reward a child for good
seen a parent reward a child for good behavior with a treat have you ever seen
behavior with a treat have you ever seen
behavior with a treat have you ever seen a parent offer dessert for a bite of
a parent offer dessert for a bite of
a parent offer dessert for a bite of broccoli when parents use sweets and
broccoli when parents use sweets and
broccoli when parents use sweets and treats to reward their children for
treats to reward their children for
treats to reward their children for eating children actually learn to like
eating children actually learn to like
eating children actually learn to like those foods more and this can shift
those foods more and this can shift
those foods more and this can shift their food preferences and tip their
their food preferences and tip their
their food preferences and tip their eating to an unhealthy place all these
eating to an unhealthy place all these
eating to an unhealthy place all these feeding strategies that I’ve just
feeding strategies that I’ve just
feeding strategies that I’ve just described bribing pressuring restriction
described bribing pressuring restriction
described bribing pressuring restriction even though they’re well-intentioned
even though they’re well-intentioned
even though they’re well-intentioned they don’t work very well with children
they don’t work very well with children
they don’t work very well with children in fact they can backfire when parents
in fact they can backfire when parents
in fact they can backfire when parents don’t understand the power of feeding or
don’t understand the power of feeding or
don’t understand the power of feeding or they don’t have effective feeding
they don’t have effective feeding
they don’t have effective feeding strategies they can actually do more
strategies they can actually do more
strategies they can actually do more harm to their child’s developing
harm to their child’s developing
harm to their child’s developing relationship with food encourage poor
relationship with food encourage poor
relationship with food encourage poor eating habits and even contribute to
eating habits and even contribute to
eating habits and even contribute to their child’s future health a bad way
their child’s future health a bad way
their child’s future health a bad way the third area of education is
the third area of education is
the third area of education is understanding child development and a
understanding child development and a
understanding child development and a child’s temperament for example when my
child’s temperament for example when my
child’s temperament for example when my daughter was a toddler
daughter was a toddler
daughter was a toddler her favorite word was no the favorite
her favorite word was no the favorite
her favorite word was no the favorite thing she liked to say I do it my big
thing she liked to say I do it my big
thing she liked to say I do it my big self toddlers want to separate from
self toddlers want to separate from
self toddlers want to separate from their parents and they want to be more
their parents and they want to be more
their parents and they want to be more independent this is a hallmark of
independent this is a hallmark of
independent this is a hallmark of toddler development my daughter was also
toddler development my daughter was also
toddler development my daughter was also high-strung and a little bit stubborn we
high-strung and a little bit stubborn we
high-strung and a little bit stubborn we don’t know really where that came from
don’t know really where that came from
don’t know really where that came from maybe her DNA understanding a child’s
maybe her DNA understanding a child’s
maybe her DNA understanding a child’s cognitive social and emotional
cognitive social and emotional
cognitive social and emotional development is golden it is like the
development is golden it is like the
development is golden it is like the magic 8-ball that tells us what could
magic 8-ball that tells us what could
magic 8-ball that tells us what could happen in the future even more this
happen in the future even more this
happen in the future even more this trifecta of food feeding and child
trifecta of food feeding and child
trifecta of food feeding and child development I’ve just described is the
development I’ve just described is the
development I’ve just described is the anchor the blueprint of exactly what
anchor the blueprint of exactly what
anchor the blueprint of exactly what parents need to know in order to raise a
parents need to know in order to raise a
parents need to know in order to raise a healthy child so how do we do this we’ve
healthy child so how do we do this we’ve
healthy child so how do we do this we’ve made a dangerous and costly mistake in
made a dangerous and costly mistake in
made a dangerous and costly mistake in our country we have overlooked the
our country we have overlooked the
our country we have overlooked the foundation of any success plan and that
foundation of any success plan and that
foundation of any success plan and that is education I believe the answer to the
is education I believe the answer to the
is education I believe the answer to the rising incidences of child health
rising incidences of child health
rising incidences of child health problems and the costs associated with
problems and the costs associated with
problems and the costs associated with them is in a system-wide
them is in a system-wide
them is in a system-wide institution based nutrition education
institution based nutrition education
institution based nutrition education program for parents we value education
program for parents we value education
program for parents we value education in almost every other realm we are
in almost every other realm we are
in almost every other realm we are patient and persistent with teaching our
patient and persistent with teaching our
patient and persistent with teaching our children how to read we invest time and
children how to read we invest time and
children how to read we invest time and money and teaching our teenagers how to
money and teaching our teenagers how to
money and teaching our teenagers how to safely drive a car we fund educational
safely drive a car we fund educational
safely drive a car we fund educational opportunities so our kids can go off to
opportunities so our kids can go off to
opportunities so our kids can go off to college or take that next step into
college or take that next step into
college or take that next step into adulthood we have plans policies and
adulthood we have plans policies and
adulthood we have plans policies and guidelines for nearly everything you can
guidelines for nearly everything you can
guidelines for nearly everything you can imagine except for the job of nourishing
imagine except for the job of nourishing
imagine except for the job of nourishing a child like many parents I took a
a child like many parents I took a
a child like many parents I took a Lamaze class when I was pregnant with my
Lamaze class when I was pregnant with my
Lamaze class when I was pregnant with my first baby
first baby
first baby my husband John and I spent six or seven
my husband John and I spent six or seven
my husband John and I spent six or seven weeks in a two hour class learning how
weeks in a two hour class learning how
weeks in a two hour class learning how to breathe relax
to breathe relax
to breathe relax and for me how to
and for me how to
and for me how to push that baby out into the world 14
push that baby out into the world 14
push that baby out into the world 14 hours spent on learning how to birth a
hours spent on learning how to birth a
hours spent on learning how to birth a baby my baby came in 15 hours we give
baby my baby came in 15 hours we give
baby my baby came in 15 hours we give this in-depth training and education to
this in-depth training and education to
this in-depth training and education to expectant parents so they know how to
expectant parents so they know how to
expectant parents so they know how to birth a baby an event that takes on
birth a baby an event that takes on
birth a baby an event that takes on average less than 14 hours yet we give
average less than 14 hours yet we give
average less than 14 hours yet we give little guidance education or support to
little guidance education or support to
little guidance education or support to the job of nourishing a child a job that
the job of nourishing a child a job that
the job of nourishing a child a job that will last 18 years if we want healthier
will last 18 years if we want healthier
will last 18 years if we want healthier kids in our country we need a better
kids in our country we need a better
kids in our country we need a better prescription for raising them I believe
prescription for raising them I believe
prescription for raising them I believe we can do it with a systematic
we can do it with a systematic
we can do it with a systematic institution based nutrition education
institution based nutrition education
institution based nutrition education program that targets the parent can you
program that targets the parent can you
program that targets the parent can you imagine the difference if every birthing
imagine the difference if every birthing
imagine the difference if every birthing hospital offer nutrition education to
hospital offer nutrition education to
hospital offer nutrition education to expectant parents so that they knew
expectant parents so that they knew
expectant parents so that they knew exactly what to do for the first year of
exactly what to do for the first year of
exactly what to do for the first year of life can you imagine the difference if
life can you imagine the difference if
life can you imagine the difference if every pediatrician office offered
every pediatrician office offered
every pediatrician office offered guidance for what to expect at each
guidance for what to expect at each
guidance for what to expect at each stage of childhood and offered courses
stage of childhood and offered courses
stage of childhood and offered courses and a professional in the office to help
and a professional in the office to help
and a professional in the office to help parents navigate nutrition and the
parents navigate nutrition and the
parents navigate nutrition and the problems that can come up can you
problems that can come up can you
problems that can come up can you imagine the difference if parents knew
imagine the difference if parents knew
imagine the difference if parents knew and we’re knowledgeable about food
and we’re knowledgeable about food
and we’re knowledgeable about food feeding and childhood development you
feeding and childhood development you
feeding and childhood development you imagine I can
imagine I can
imagine I can it’s time for each and every one of us
it’s time for each and every one of us
it’s time for each and every one of us to up our game parents health care
to up our game parents health care
to up our game parents health care providers institutions government funded
providers institutions government funded
providers institutions government funded programs corporations organizations
programs corporations organizations
programs corporations organizations insurance companies when we collectively
insurance companies when we collectively
insurance companies when we collectively prioritize the nutrition education
prioritize the nutrition education
prioritize the nutrition education parents need to nourish and nurture
parents need to nourish and nurture
parents need to nourish and nurture their children we will see a healthier
their children we will see a healthier
their children we will see a healthier nation of children thank you
nation of children thank you
nation of children thank you [Applause]
”
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