Educated Parent: Evidence-Based Parenting Tips to Solve Everyday Parenting Problems

Getting your child to eat vegetables can turn dinner into a nightly power struggle. You serve the broccoli, carrots, or cauliflower; your child refuses, and suddenly you're negotiating over every bite. If you've ever wondered how to get kids to eat vegetables without making everyone miserable, registered dietitian Jennifer Anderson of Kids Eat in Color has a surprisingly simple approach.
In this episode of Educated Parent, I talk with Jennifer about taking the pressure, guilt, and morality out of feeding kids. We discuss why picky eaters often become even more resistant when they sense pressure, what healthy eating for kids can look like without forcing bites, and practical parenting tips that can make dinner feel more relaxed and connected.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why learning how to get kids to eat vegetables starts with letting go of the idea that your success as a parent depends on what your child eats
Why telling picky eaters they "have to try it" can actually make them more resistant to unfamiliar foods
Why modeling the behavior you want is one of the simplest parenting tips you can try at dinner tonight
Why laughter, jokes, and connection at the dinner table can support a less stressful approach to healthy eating for kids

You don't need another complicated dinner strategy or a new way to convince your child to take "just one bite." Jennifer's approach to how to get kids to eat vegetables is about changing the environment instead of controlling the outcome. These parenting tips can help you take the pressure off picky eaters while building a more positive approach to healthy eating for kids - one toothpick, laugh, and low-pressure meal at a time.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Feed Them Well by Jennifer Anderson

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CONNECT WITH JENNIFER ANDERSON:
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Parenting has always been demanding, but what happens when you suddenly feel more anxious, irritable, overwhelmed, or forgetful than you used to? For many moms, these changes can feel like a personal failure when they may actually be perimenopause symptoms. And because we don't talk nearly enough about hormone changes in women, it can be difficult to recognize what's really going on.
In this episode, I talk with reproductive psychiatrist Elisabeth Netherton about perimenopause, parenting, and women's mental health. We explore why anxiety, sleep problems, mood changes, and brain fog in women can affect everything from keeping track of your child's schedule to responding calmly when your kid pushes your buttons.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why perimenopause symptoms can show up years before you might expect them
How hormone changes in women can influence mood, anxiety, sleep, attention, and the way you respond to your kids
Why brain fog in women can make managing school schedules, activities, work, and family responsibilities suddenly feel much harder
How struggles with women's mental health during perimenopause can be mistaken for simply "not handling things well"

If you've been wondering why parenting suddenly feels harder, this conversation may help you see your experience differently. Understanding perimenopause symptoms, recognizing brain fog in women, and talking more openly about women's mental health and hormone changes in women can help replace guilt and shame with information, self-compassion, and a clearer path toward getting the support you need.
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Thriving Child Center
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CONNECT WITH ELISABETH NETHERTON:
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LinkedIn

Bringing a new baby home can be joyful, exhausting, isolating, and completely overwhelming.
Suddenly you're responsible for this tiny person while trying to figure out when you're supposed to sleep, shower, eat, or have a moment to yourself. And all that pressure to do everything "right" can create some serious mom guilt. In this episode, pediatric nurse practitioner and lactation counselor Elyse Traverse joins me to share practical advice for new moms that might sound counterintuitive but can make those early months a whole lot easier.
We talk about why taking care of yourself doesn't mean neglecting your baby, how finding the right postpartum support can make new motherhood less isolating, and why you don't need to entertain your baby every second they're awake. From creating simple baby "stations" around your home to leaving a perfectly happy baby alone, these strategies can give overwhelmed parents permission to meet their own needs without feeling like they're doing something wrong.
In this episode, we cover:
Practical advice for new moms who aren't sure how to meet their own needs with a baby at home
Why mom guilt makes parents feel like they should constantly entertain or stimulate their baby
How finding a community of parents in the same stage of life can provide valuable postpartum support
How overwhelmed parents can take care of themselves while still giving their babies what they need
More advice for new moms about doing everyday activities while your baby is awake instead of waiting for naps
How letting go of mom guilt can benefit both you and your baby
Why community and postpartum support can make such a difference during an isolating season

You don't need to spend every waking moment entertaining your baby to be a good parent. For overwhelmed parents, giving yourself permission to shower, get something done, or simply enjoy a few quiet minutes while your baby is happy can be good for everyone. Letting go of some mom guilt and building the right postpartum support around you can help you feel more like yourself while caring for your new baby.
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.
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Have a parenting question or a topic you'd love to hear on the podcast? Submit your question here!
CONNECT WITH ELYSE TRAVERSE:
Email - elissetravers@gmail.com
Mom’s Group Meeting - South Boston Community Health Center - Every Wednesday at 1pm in the Community Room on the 3rd floor

One of the biggest transitions of the year is here: back to school. New teachers, new classrooms, new routines, and plenty of unknowns can create back-to-school anxiety for kids and parents alike. In this episode, I’m sharing what to say when your child starts worrying about the new school year, including how to validate feelings without accidentally reinforcing their fears. We’ll also talk about how confident parenting can help children face uncertainty instead of avoiding it.
You’ll learn why repeatedly promising that "everything will be fine" isn’t always helpful, how to use logic and past experiences to work through worries, and why rescuing kids from uncomfortable situations can actually make anxiety stronger. We’ll also discuss the difference between typical school-year nerves and signs and symptoms of childhood anxiety that may mean your child needs additional support.
In this episode, we cover:
Why back-to-school anxiety is a normal response to change, uncertainty, and new situations
How to validate feelings when your child tells you they’re worried about school
How confident parenting teaches kids that they can handle uncomfortable feelings and difficult situations
The signs and symptoms of childhood anxiety that can help you recognize when worry is interfering with your child’s daily life
How parents can manage their own back-to-school anxiety while helping their kids navigate theirs

The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety before the first day of school. It’s to help your child recognize that anxiety is a normal feeling, understand that they can handle hard things, and know that you’ll be there to support them if something doesn’t go according to plan. Learning how to validate feelings while resisting the urge to over-reassure is an important part of confident parenting. And recognizing the signs and symptoms of childhood anxiety can help you know when ordinary worries may require additional support.

LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
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One of the most frightening moments as a parent is when your young child tells you that something upsetting happened. Your mind immediately jumps to the worst-case scenario, but reacting too quickly can make it harder to understand what actually happened.
In this episode, I'm joined by child psychologist and trauma specialist Jenny Hughes to discuss how to respond in a way that helps your child feel safe, heard, and supported. You'll learn how to validate feelings without making assumptions, why calm communication with children matters so much in these moments, and how positive parenting techniques can help you navigate these difficult conversations with confidence.
Jenny shares a simple three-step framework: validate your child's emotions, gather more information with open-ended questions, and wait until you're calm to make a plan if needed. We also discuss why young children may unintentionally embellish details, how to avoid asking leading questions, and why preserving trust is more important than immediately finding every answer.
In this episode, we cover:
Why how to validate feelings is the first step when your child shares something upsetting
How communication with children can help you gather information without leading them
Why open-ended questions are more effective than yes-or-no questions
How positive parenting techniques strengthen trust during difficult conversations
Practical insights from trauma specialist Jenny Hughes on helping children feel safe and heard

If you've ever wondered how to validate feelings, improve communication with children, and use positive parenting techniques when your child shares something upsetting, this episode with Jenny Hughes will give you a practical framework you can use the next time your child opens up to you.
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.
Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!
CONNECT WITH JENNY HUGHES:
Website
YouTube
Instagram
LinkedIn