“They’ll eat if they’re hungry.” This CAN be true for many kids when it comes to feeding and picky eating, but for some kids it’s not great advice. I welcome Dr. Taylor Arnold, a PhD, registered dietitian, and founder of Growing Intuitive Eaters, and she is on a mission to foster a healthy relationship with food and teach adults how to talk to kids about food in a positive way.

She joins me to discuss: 

• Why this advice can lack a lot of nuance 

• When to know or be concerned your child may have an underlying issue regarding feeding solids

• Why online guidance around feeding sometimes lacks necessary nuance

To connect with Dr. Taylor Arnold follow her on Instagram ⁠@growing.intuitive.eaters⁠, check out all her resources at ⁠https://msha.ke/growingintuitiveeaters⁠

00:00 – Intro

01:29 – Meet Dr. Taylor Arnold

03:45 – Let’s Break It Down: Why That Phrase Fails Some Kids

06:09 – Medical and Sensory Red Flags to Watch For

08:11 – So What Should Parents Do Instead?

10:56 – Red Flags That Signal It’s Time to Act

13:32 – A Pediatrician and Parent’s Perspective on Feeling Brushed Off

15:05 – Feeding, Sleep, and Behavior: The Pediatric Trifecta

15:58 – A Final Feeding Pet Peeve: School Nutrition Assignments

20:03 – Final Takeaway: If You’re Not Being Heard, Get Louder

21:54 – Where to Find Dr. Taylor Arnold’s Free Resources

22:55 – Dr. Mona’s Closing Reflections

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00;00;00;02 – 00;00;21;01

Dr. Taylor Arnold

This phrase is just wrong because there are so many kids who won’t. They will starve themselves. They will, you know, like start to lose weight, drop on their BMI percentiles. They may have nutrient deficiency. They may struggle with like low blood sugar or electrolyte imbalances because they just won’t eat.

 

00;00;21;03 – 00;00;41;14

Dr. Mona

Welcome to the PedsDocTalk podcast. It’s me, Doctor Mona, your favorite online pediatrician mom friend here to help you feel more confident, more equipped, and a lot less alone on this parenting journey. Today, we’re talking about one of the most casually dropped, well-meaning pieces of feeding advice out there. Don’t eat if they’re hungry. And here’s the thing it’s not wrong for a lot of kids.

 

00;00;41;21 – 00;01;04;28

Dr. Mona

Many children will eat when they’re hungry. If you’re offering food consistently, keeping a routine and including safe or familiar options alongside new ones. But for other kids, this advice can be unhelpful, and it can also be harmful. Some kids won’t just wait it out until they’re hungry enough. They’ll restrict, avoid, or even go into full on shutdown mode.

 

00;01;05;01 – 00;01;28;25

Dr. Mona

And if we’re only offering new foods without anything safe or familiar that can spiral into anxiety, refusal, and power struggles that leave everyone parent and child feeling defeated. That’s why I’m thrilled to be joined by Doctor Taylor Arnold, a registered dietitian founder of Growing Intuitive Eaters. Seriously, you should be following her if you’re not already, and feeding expert who brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to the topic.

 

00;01;29;02 – 00;01;50;14

Dr. Mona

We’re diving into the nuance of feeding kids, decoding when picky becomes more than picky and why your gut instinct as a parent should never be ignored. And if this is your first time here, welcome. Hit that subscribe button and download and listen to all of the amazing content I have on the show. And remember, those downloads really do help the show continue to grow.

 

00;01;50;21 – 00;01;56;06

Dr. Mona

Let’s get in to this week’s episode.

 

00;01;56;08 – 00;01;58;18

Dr. Mona

Thank you so much for joining me today. Thank you.

 

00;01;58;18 – 00;02;04;16

Dr. Taylor Arnold

I am really excited to talk about this topic because every time we hear this advice, it just grinds my gears.

 

00;02;04;18 – 00;02;20;08

Dr. Mona

Yeah, and I know you are on social media too. So obviously you’re on as growing into eaters. What is your sort of hope with your platform that you can do when it comes to picky eating that maybe fills a void that you don’t see on social media when it comes to picky eating education.

 

00;02;20;10 – 00;02;47;07

Dr. Taylor Arnold

I want to reach any parent who wants to learn how to feed their kids. With evidence based information and without diet culture, that is my goal. And so, you know, I used to I’m not about reversing picky eating because I think picky eating is often due to sensory needs, and that’s like integral to someone’s neuro type.

 

00;02;47;08 – 00;02;58;15

Dr. Taylor Arnold

And so I what I want to do is teach parents how to feed their kids in an evidence based way, without shame and diet culture. That’s my that’s my goal here.

 

00;02;58;16 – 00;03;14;14

Dr. Mona

That is the one liner of who you are and I love that. So, you know, you were on my show already. We were talking about the labeling of unhealthy, unhealthy foods. And this topic is really important, I think, for both of us being on social media, also, just to be better stewards of the information that I put out there.

 

00;03;14;14 – 00;03;45;23

Dr. Mona

Obviously you’re doing a great job of the information you put out there, and hopefully people who have social media accounts will listen to this that maybe can add a little more nuance to this discussion. Because what I also see in not just the nutrition space and picky eating space, but in everything, there’s a lot of just like, you know, clickbaity inflammatory sort of information that gets people going but doesn’t always solve the problem at hand, which for many families is getting your child to maybe smell or touch or explore a new through that they haven’t had before.

 

00;03;45;23 – 00;03;58;12

Dr. Mona

So the first thing we’re talking about is that what we said is they’ll eat if they’re hungry, that that phrase, why does that not always work for picky eaters? And, you know, does it work sometimes?

 

00;03;58;14 – 00;04;18;18

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Okay. Well, I think we need to, like, break this phrase down, because what this suggestion is, is just withhold food until they get so hungry and miserable that they’ll eat and, like, what do you the I mean, what’s the like? What do you think when you see that? If you hear that, if it’s phrased in that way, it’s not great, right?

 

00;04;18;20 – 00;04;39;02

Dr. Mona

It’s like I mean, already just from a common sense standpoint. And I don’t give this advice at all. So I can say this. But when I think about it, like if I’m hungry and like if I’m being withheld food and then all of a sudden dinner comes like, I’m going to be sick, like my body’s just not going to feel good if I’m just like, being avoided.

 

00;04;39;02 – 00;04;54;23

Dr. Mona

Like I need to have structure. I need to be exposed to food. I need to have some option. Otherwise acid production is going to make my make my body sick like it’s it’s we need food because it’s important for our bodies. So I agree it’s it’s not a already from a physiological standpoint. It can be very unhealthy.

 

00;04;54;26 – 00;05;03;25

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Right. And you know I, I don’t this phrase is just wrong because there are so many kids who won’t they will starve themselves.

 

00;05;03;25 – 00;05;04;14

Dr. Mona

They will.

 

00;05;04;14 – 00;05;24;25

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Yeah. You know like start to lose weight, drop on their BMI percentiles. They may have nutrient deficiency. They may struggle with like low blood sugar or electrolyte imbalances because they just won’t eat. And it’s not like a kid being difficult, which I also think is the perception of some in the medical community is, oh, they’re just being difficult.

 

00;05;24;28 – 00;05;48;15

Dr. Taylor Arnold

But there are often I probably say most of the time when a kid is like a picky eater or a selective eater, and they’re struggling so much that they’re given this advice, there’s often a medical underlying reason that’s being missed, or there are sensory needs or some form of neurodivergent that the that the child needs more support with.

 

00;05;48;15 – 00;06;09;18

Dr. Taylor Arnold

They either need to be working with an OT, they need to be assessed like they’re assessed by an SLP to ensure that there’s no oral aural motor challenges or like anything structurally going on. And then there’s so many medical conditions that make it painful or uncomfortable for a child to eat that might put them in this bucket of given this advice, or they’ll eat when they’re hungry.

 

00;06;09;18 – 00;06;44;23

Dr. Taylor Arnold

So like celiac disease, lactose intolerant, constipation, use anything like esophagitis. Any type of food allergy including F PiS, kids who have experienced trauma or have been punished using food, kids with any form of pediatric eating disorders. Kids with avoidant restrictive food intake disorders. Kids with other type of eating disorders. Like there are so many things that could be happening inside a child’s body that can make them, make them rather like choose to go hungry rather than to eat.

 

00;06;44;26 – 00;07;05;06

Dr. Taylor Arnold

And when we just say, oh, just starve them, we’re like completely ignoring this. Like, I think a child’s saying I’m not going to eat because it doesn’t feel good is them communicating something is wrong. Please help me. And if we just ignore them and choose to starve them, we’re ignoring that communication that they’re putting forward for and asking for support.

 

00;07;05;06 – 00;07;29;27

Dr. Taylor Arnold

And I think that’s really sad when you frame it that way. You know, like, no, no parent wants to just ignore their child’s cry for help. And I think that usually they’re following this advice. Not I’m not like I think it’s bad advice. And so when a parent does this, do I think that they’re willfully ignoring a child’s cry for help or I think they’re following bad advice?

 

00;07;29;29 – 00;07;46;17

Dr. Taylor Arnold

You know, I don’t I don’t really honestly think it’s the prior. I think it’s the latter. And but this is still happening all the time. Like I get people who still are telling me this and that they’re hearing this in the doctor’s office, and it’s just so frustrating to me. So frustrating.

 

00;07;46;17 – 00;08;11;03

Dr. Mona

Yeah. Well, I mean, I agree, and I think thank you so much for bringing up all the nuance conditions that we see. Right? I mean, you talked about, you know, celiac disease, you talked about eosinophilic esophagitis and all these things that we, we know are realities in the medical space. And so it is it is a reality that we need to be mindful of that sort of nuance that we said, what should a family do instead?

 

00;08;11;03 – 00;08;22;09

Dr. Mona

Right? I mean, I know this is obviously a loaded question, but how would how would you envision approaching it versus the the lead if they’re hungry? You know, verbiage that’s being used out there.

 

00;08;22;12 – 00;08;45;23

Dr. Taylor Arnold

I this this is a tough question because I don’t think that a parent should be in this position. However, it’s the reality of our current medical system. But in this situation, you really have to push and advocate for your kid. So if someone says they’ll eat when they’re hungry, like the response would be, no, they will starve themselves.

 

00;08;45;23 – 00;09;18;04

Dr. Taylor Arnold

I need a medical evaluation. I need a second opinion. I need to see a I need to see a gastroenterologist, which is often a next step, either a gastroenterologist, a feeding therapist, or an occupational therapist, a dietitian. We need to, like, expand our network of support for this child and or getting a second opinion from another pediatrician. And I say that also knowing that that is expensive and hard and sometimes, like really a major pain in the butt with insurance.

 

00;09;18;06 – 00;09;57;03

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Yeah. But you either need to push your current provider or find another one who will believe you and support you because as a parent, every parent deserves to be heard. And I’m sure you that you will agree as a pediatrician like every parent, deserves to feel heard and feel like there’s we’re doing something to help them. And if a parent is so frustrated with their their feeding and it’s causing a disruption to their family lifestyle, a significant disruption, a significant amount of stress that parent needs to support in some way, whether it be for themselves or their child, an additional referral.

 

00;09;57;03 – 00;10;03;22

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Something needs to happen, rather than just saying they’ll eat when they’re hungry because that’s not a solution. It’s like paying it off.

 

00;10;03;25 – 00;10;22;19

Dr. Mona

Yeah, and I love that you’re talking about this is like if it becomes an issue because I just want to be clear, because sometimes kids will eat if they’re hungry. You’re talking about if there’s kids that just won’t eat when they’re hungry and they’re going meal after meal and they’re just not consuming. Yes. Good. I, I wanted to be clear on that because, yes, children don’t have any of the conditions we’re talking about.

 

00;10;22;19 – 00;10;41;17

Dr. Mona

And yes, you you have a routine. You have the breakfast snack, lunch, snack, dinner and then they are eating. It’s not a progressive thing. So how would you kind of tell a parent that they know that? No, this is something more than that. They actually need to get that evaluation. Is it that they’re they’re not eating meal after meal?

 

00;10;41;17 – 00;10;50;18

Dr. Mona

Is it that it’s becoming a power struggle? When would you say that that would be the you need to talk to someone about this and advocate more for yourself.

 

00;10;50;21 – 00;10;53;28

Dr. Mona

Now let’s take a quick break to hear from our sponsors who support helps.

 

00;10;53;28 – 00;10;56;25

Dr. Mona

Us keep bringing you this show.

 

00;10;56;27 – 00;11;19;19

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Oh, this is a great question. So I think there’s there’s several red flags here. One is it is causing a significant like disruption to your family life or family functioning like you can’t go out to dinner with your kid. You can’t invite people over for dinner. You can’t make anything for your child for dinner except for macaroni cheese and peanut butter and jelly and chicken fingers.

 

00;11;19;21 – 00;11;46;25

Dr. Taylor Arnold

So those are like your child’s that is so limited that it’s causing you significant stress or it’s significantly affecting your family life. That’s number one. Number two is anytime you’re concerned about your child’s nutrition or growth. Pediatrician 100% reach out. Yes, like that should be immediate and it’s better to reach out and them to talk you through it and realize, okay, there’s like a small change we could do, and it’s really not that big of a deal then like constantly stressing and should I go in?

 

00;11;46;25 – 00;12;07;05

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Should I go in. Definitely goes here. Pediatrician as soon as you’re concerned. And then any time you see like weight loss or your child isn’t growing like your kid is sitting in their pants, and then all of a sudden they’re not sitting in their pants anymore. They’re they’re too big. And you’re concerned about their that they’re losing weight.

 

00;12;07;08 – 00;12;19;28

Dr. Taylor Arnold

And your pediatrician is tracking growth at their appointment. And so they can kind of look at that as well. But any time that your parent gut is like, this is not good, that’s when you should reach out. You should listen to that.

 

00;12;20;01 – 00;12;38;17

Dr. Mona

Love it. And yes, and I love that you already talked about advocacy. And, you know, I love on social media, we often talk about I see a lot of non pediatricians talk about, you know, speak to your pediatrician. And I will say that most pediatricians, there’s many of us out there will work with you and say and help you, you know, be that advocate for you.

 

00;12;38;22 – 00;12;59;07

Dr. Mona

But on a real reality standpoint, if you’re not feeling heard like you just said, right, like earlier, like if you’re not feeling heard, you’re not feeling like your pediatrician is understanding that there is a concern. Or maybe you just want that extra help, right? You can always ask for a referral for a specialist. You can always do that yourself if your insurance doesn’t need it.

 

00;12;59;11 – 00;13;17;23

Dr. Mona

I know you mentioned that there can be a little bit of loopholes to getting that, but it is important for you to advocate if you feel like you’re not being heard. And I see that as a pediatrician who’s worked with colleagues that have done that and also used to have moments of that myself to be completely transparent, where you’re so burnt out and you’re like, yeah, I think it’s fine.

 

00;13;17;23 – 00;13;32;20

Dr. Mona

But you’re like, gosh, I wish I had more time to actually talk to you and listen. But there is a reality of, again, the health care system, not always supporting physicians so that they can better support families. So thank you for bringing that up. And I want to yeah.

 

00;13;32;23 – 00;13;48;05

Dr. Taylor Arnold

I want to share real quick. Like I understand this from a very personal level. Like I have one of these kids, I have one of these kids who will start themselves. If, you know, we do not do X, Y, and Z. And and it’s a journey. It’s journey. And I have been brushed off by a provider, you know.

 

00;13;48;09 – 00;14;08;14

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Oh, well, toddlers are so picky. 95% of the toddlers I see are just picky. Like, that’s the response I get when I’m like, she’s not gaining weight. Like it’s been months and he hasn’t gained any weight. Yeah. And that is so frustrating. So like, I understand if you’re a parent out there and you’re frustrated with this, I just want to like, give you some solidarity.

 

00;14;08;14 – 00;14;22;04

Dr. Taylor Arnold

It is it sucks. It sucks when you’re not heard. And I agree with Doctor Mona, like you should have somebody who’s on your team. And if not, don’t feel bad about finding somebody who will be supportive of you finding answers.

 

00;14;22;07 – 00;14;45;08

Dr. Mona

And what I will say is that, again, I can speak again. Being transparent about myself and maybe some of my colleagues, is that sometimes we can get tunnel vision, right? What that means is that sometimes you know what you just said, right? Toddlers are picky. Every toddler goes through this. But I have a phrase that just because something may seem normal, for example, not even using restrictive where they’re not eating at all, but picky eaters.

 

00;14;45;11 – 00;15;05;07

Dr. Mona

I hate this terminology that sometimes said in this world that says, oh well, yeah, every kid goes through a tantrum. Every kid is picky. No, I get that. I get that they it’s developmentally normal, but it doesn’t mean that there’s not things that we can do to help support that child, nor does it mean that you have to suffer or struggle if it’s getting really bad.

 

00;15;05;14 – 00;15;24;17

Dr. Mona

Like the same narrative for sleep, right? Oh yeah. All children don’t sleep. No. Like there might be a medical issue going on here. There might be a reason your child’s not eating or sleeping or acting out like the trifecta. The trifecta for me is always sleep, feeding and behavior, right? Those are the three things that we need to be looking at.

 

00;15;24;17 – 00;15;40;13

Dr. Mona

And if any one of those three things are off for a family, we need to have conversations because like you said, it could be a sensory issue. It could be autism, it could be ADHD. There’s so many things that can happen. So I always say I’m like, how are all those three things going? Yeah, we’re able to manage it.

 

00;15;40;13 – 00;15;58;18

Dr. Mona

It’s not too stressful gaining weight. But I think, like you said, it’s an advocacy piece. So thank you for bringing that up because it is important for me to share from a pediatrician standpoint, because I do think it happens a lot. And parents can feel lost and feel like they’re alone in that. Well, now I just got to deal with this fact that my kid is not eating three meals in a row, right?

 

00;15;58;19 – 00;16;16;19

Dr. Mona

Like that’s scary. I think we have time for one more thing on social media or not even on social media. One more picky eating tip or guidance that’s given out there in the world that you wish you would just just stop a picky, picky eating pet peeve. In terms of guidance, what would it be for you? Oh.

 

00;16;16;22 – 00;16;29;24

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Does it have to be like right? On the topic of this podcast, no. Whatever you bring that would just stop. Okay, this is on my mind lately. So this isn’t, you know, the probably the most important thing.

 

00;16;29;25 – 00;16;31;00

Dr. Mona

Yes, but it’s something fresh.

 

00;16;31;00 – 00;16;47;16

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Yeah, yeah. Something fresh should be. I really want the healthy, unhealthy food assignments and the diet tracking assignments in school to go away. I just want them to be done. We don’t need them anymore. They’re not helpful. They cause more harm than good. Also weighing kids in school. Can I add that on there?

 

00;16;47;20 – 00;16;48;23

Dr. Mona

Yeah.

 

00;16;48;25 – 00;17;01;20

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Off weighing kids in school. There is. There is zero zero reason to weight kids in school. And it causes harm. So anyways, the school thing is in the forefront of my mind lately because of other outside projects, but.

 

00;17;01;22 – 00;17;17;21

Dr. Mona

I love it. Well, I think, you know, when we talk about I know we’re talking about picky eating, but this is obviously a conversation about your entire vision for your platform in your business, you know, growing into eaters. But also this is a it is a real thing, right? I mean, I, I love that you brought that up, even if it doesn’t particularly relate.

 

00;17;17;23 – 00;17;33;04

Dr. Mona

And so I want yeah. No, I, I don’t mind I love, I love this podcast for that reason. We can go on we can go on tangents that that feed our passion. And even from like a health care perspective, you know, I, I always say like the only useful thing for me for weight from a health care perspective is trends.

 

00;17;33;08 – 00;17;54;01

Dr. Mona

Because I need to know that we’re not skyrocketing or that we are plummeting right? I don’t care about where you are on the curve. And also we don’t really need to, you know, the whole culture of weighing a person right when they come in to the doctor, telling them that, like that whole culture also, I think we can do a whole episode on how we can like, you know, we can change this whole narrative when it comes to feeding.

 

00;17;54;01 – 00;18;12;21

Dr. Mona

But I really appreciate that. It’s a it’s okay that it had nothing to do with the picky eating, but it’s on your mind. And I think I agree, it is a very stressful thing for parents to keep hearing that, that, oh, I got this slip. And how many of those slips, by the way, come to my office? Oh, they checked my they checked my weight and they said that I’m overweight.

 

00;18;12;25 – 00;18;30;21

Dr. Mona

And then the kids showing up to me and like, the parents stress or they’re like, wait, what do I need to do? And I’m like, oh my gosh. Like, can we? There’s no utility or they can come to us about it. They can come to a pediatrician who hopefully is not going to shame them either. But and then we can have those conversations or we can refer them if needed.

 

00;18;30;21 – 00;18;42;22

Dr. Mona

But yeah, there really is no utility. And I think we all have memories of getting weighed. And also that little fat thing that they used to like take that little caliper and like put it on your belly fat. Do you remember that? Do they still do that?

 

00;18;42;22 – 00;18;53;23

Dr. Taylor Arnold

I remember that, I remember that, and I am ashamed to say that I once taught people how to use it. I, I have grown as a person, as a professional, and I no longer do that. But yes, I remember, oh my.

 

00;18;53;23 – 00;19;10;03

Dr. Mona

I have vivid memories and I’m a very petite. I was, I’ve always been petite, but I’ve always had a little more fat on my belly, which is completely fine even to this day. And I remember like, and then it would be this sort of comparison thing. The kids would all be seeing each other’s numbers. How so is that?

 

00;19;10;05 – 00;19;13;11

Dr. Taylor Arnold

It’s so dangerous. Wow. I mean, I get the whole.

 

00;19;13;11 – 00;19;14;28

Dr. Mona

Other episode about this.

 

00;19;15;01 – 00;19;25;14

Dr. Taylor Arnold

That people are doing that. Like my daughter came home and was weighed in fourth grade P.E. today like it’s 2024. Okay, people, we don’t need to weigh kids in school.

 

00;19;25;16 – 00;19;47;01

Dr. Mona

Yeah, well, no, I, I, I really appreciate you bringing that up. I think it’s an important thing and a good topic for you to come back for episode number three, because I just, I really I really love having you on. But again, thank you so much for bringing to light this, you know, again, when there should be a concern, those red flags like you mentioned, why this advice is not always great and why it’s important.

 

00;19;47;01 – 00;20;03;18

Dr. Mona

I think that if you’re seeing that advice, especially on social or from a pediatrician, and if it’s not sitting well with you because it’s not working, get the help from an actual person, maybe in person, or maybe maybe Doctor Taylor’s resources. But don’t feel afraid to ask for help. You don’t have.

 

00;20;03;18 – 00;20;06;14

Dr. Taylor Arnold

To go to accept that and and sit down. No.

 

00;20;06;16 – 00;20;13;01

Dr. Mona

I think you just I think you just mentioned your final message, but what would it be? That final message for everyone listening in regards to this topic?

 

00;20;13;03 – 00;20;41;00

Dr. Taylor Arnold

If you’re concerned about your kid and you’re not heard, get louder. Find somebody who will listen to you because you deserve to be heard. Your kid deserves to get the appropriate medical treatment for something going on, the appropriate support, whether it be therapy, a referral for a different pediatrician, or just working more closely with your pediatrician, maybe it can be a great way to strengthen that relationship with your current pediatrician.

 

00;20;41;00 – 00;20;55;19

Dr. Taylor Arnold

But you you deserve to be heard. And if this advice is given to you, speak up and say that doesn’t cut it. We got to do something else. And that’s okay to do that. But it’s so hard. I know it’s hard, but it’s okay to do that.

 

00;20;55;21 – 00;21;13;04

Dr. Mona

It is. And again, thank you. Because as someone on the other side, but also as a mother myself, I’ve been on both sides and that advocacy piece is lifesaving. I said that before not only for health but also this stuff. I mean, this is parenting, this is your child’s health and nutrition. So I agree, I’m saying it as a pediatrician that you need to be clear.

 

00;21;13;04 – 00;21;31;13

Dr. Mona

And many of us maybe were raised as people pleasers, that we don’t want to rock the boat. But you have to rock the boat. Me too. Me too. You kind of have to rock the boat and say. And you don’t have to be mean about it. You can say, hey, look, I really appreciate you. And I love the work that you do for our family, but I’m feeling something’s not right.

 

00;21;31;13 – 00;21;48;24

Dr. Mona

And I want to know what we can do. What are some of my options here? And that’s it’s not like, well, you’re wrong. You know, it’s but I understand a parent needs that from the clinician too. So, Doctor Taylor, thank you so much. I love chatting with you. I’m sure, you know, maybe for the whole school system thing, we can have a whole conversation.

 

00;21;49;02 – 00;21;54;20

Dr. Mona

For anyone who’s not familiar with your resources, please tell everyone where they can find you and stay connected.

 

00;21;54;22 – 00;22;11;21

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Yeah. So I’m on Instagram at growing Dot intuitive dot eaters. I’m also on YouTube, but growing intuitive eaters. That’s where I host all my free courses. I have a current one going feeding kids with ADHD. I also have courses on starting solids with your infant from an evidence based approach, either baby led weaning purees, or a combination of both of those.

 

00;22;11;26 – 00;22;28;20

Dr. Taylor Arnold

How to raise an intuitive eater and how to increase your child’s diet variety. So that way before, if you consider your child either or, you just want to help them expand their diet variety. Those are all 100% free, comprehensive upsell on you anything. Those are on my YouTube. And then I also have my new brand new shiny website.

 

00;22;28;20 – 00;22;42;05

Dr. Taylor Arnold

It will be out by the time this comes out. So that’s growing intuitive eaters, growing intuitive eaters.com. And you’ll find my courses, blog posts, lots of fun stuff. They’re all 100% free. My ebooks will be there, so check it out.

 

00;22;42;08 – 00;22;51;23

Dr. Mona

I will be linking all of this and thank you again for joining me today. This is such an awesome conversation. I love your work and I also love having you on my show. So thanks again.

 

00;22;51;25 – 00;22;55;05

Dr. Taylor Arnold

Thanks.

 

00;22;55;08 – 00;23;22;15

Dr. Mona

So yeah, some kids will eat when they’re hungry, but for others, hunger doesn’t override discomfort. Hunger doesn’t override sensory overwhelm, anxiety, or pain. And that’s the key takeaway. Feeding isn’t just about hunger. It’s about safety, predictability, trust, advocacy. If your gut is telling you something’s off, listen to it. Whether it’s advocating for a referral, asking more questions at your next pediatrician visit, or simply offering safe foods alongside new ones that is supporting your child’s relationship with food.

 

00;23;22;17 – 00;23;41;05

Dr. Mona

And as Doctor Taylor said, if you’re not being heard, get louder. You’re not overreacting. You’re protecting your child. If this conversation helped you or made you feel a little more seen, it would mean so much if you shared it with a friend, posted on your stories, and tagged at the PedsDocTalk podcast, and at growing Dot Intuitive Eaters.

 

00;23;41;09 – 00;23;47;16

Dr. Mona

And don’t forget to hit that follow button so you never miss a future episode. Thank you for tuning in and I’ll catch you all next time.