Raising Healthy Eaters: The Do's & Don'ts of Family Mealtime


Mealtime isn’t just about food—it’s about connection, conversation, and creating lifelong habits. In this episode, we explore how to make family meals a positive experience while encouraging healthy eating habits in children. From picky eating to power struggles, we’ll share practical strategies to transform mealtime into a joyful experience for you and your family.

5 Key Takeaways:
  1. Avoid labels like “picky eater” to prevent reinforcing negative food behaviors.
  2. Offer foods multiple times—it can take 10-15 exposures before a child accepts a new food.
  3. Make mealtime enjoyable with creative food presentations, fun names, and engaging conversations.
  4. Encourage independence by letting kids serve themselves family-style.
  5. Focus on connection, not just nutrition—mealtime should be a time of joy and togetherness.
Episode Highlights:
[00:30] – Why mealtime is a blessing and an opportunity for family bonding
[05:45] – Overcoming power struggles at the dinner table
[11:00] – Fun ways to make food more appealing for kids
[16:15] – The do’s and don’ts of raising healthy eaters
[20:40] – The role of patience when introducing new foods
[26:20] – How family-style meals encourage independence and better eating habits

Please send us your questions if you'd like to have them discussed on the podcast:
themindofachildpodcast@gmail.com

The Mind of a Child leans into early child development to encourage and equip parents to raise their kids to love God and love others. Discussions are tailored for parents of children 8 and younger but are relevant for all parents. Your hosts are Leslie Dudley Corbell and Diane Doucet Matthews.

Creators and Guests

Diane Doucet Matthews
Host
Diane Doucet Matthews
Wife of Elder, Fellowship Bible Church
Leslie Dudley Corbell
Host
Leslie Dudley Corbell
Childhood Services Specialist, Arkansas State
Daniel Matthews
Producer
Daniel Matthews
Rockwell Productions Owner & Operator
Raising Healthy Eaters: The Do's & Don'ts of Family Mealtime
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