Kids' Virtual Nutritionist For ADHD & Picky Eating

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Picky Eating Coaching
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Free Picky Eating Guide

Home
About Me
Picky Eating Coaching
ADHD Nutrition Coaching
Blog
Contact
Free Picky Eating Guide

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How'd I miss this? When my daughter did a psychoe

How'd I miss this?

When my daughter did a psychoeducational assessment, some results were expected like trouble with working memory and organization.

But this was a bombshell: she'd scored in the lowest 1% for motor coordination.

I knew she was a bit clumsy, but bottom 1%?!

My heart sank thinking of her hobbies: piano, drawing, dancing…how would this impact her?

Could I have helped if I'd known sooner?

The doctor’s reaction: Some kids are just less coordinated and need to work harder at some things.

In other words, just ‘cause she’s not naturally gifted doesn’t mean she’s doomed to a life without piano and dancing.

Does it feel like your kid's in the bottom 1% of trying new foods?

Does your heart sink while you watch them struggle to accept new foods over and over again?

I understand. Watching our kids struggle with any skill, whether it's tap dancing or eating well, crushes us.

Some kids are just pickier. But that doesn't mean they're destined to stay picky.

Just like my daughter needs more time to master a tap routine, your picky eater needs more exposure, encouragement, and time before diving into a beet salad.

They need YOU to believe they can do it.

Because adventurous eating is a learned skill, just like dancing.

It comes naturally to some, while others struggle to crush it.

When you view adventurous eating as a skill like math, your whole mindset will shift when you see your kid reject food.

Rather than angry, you understand they're struggling and are willing to try a new way.

A crucial step in setting them up for success is creating a positive environment around food.

Here are 2 key tips:

Focus on fun over food - fun conversation means kids enjoy meals and let their guard down (translation: become more likely to try new foods)

React the right way. Keep your reactions calm and neutral. “You’re still learning to like this” is a great phrase to keep in your toolbox.

Need more specifics, like exactly what to talk about at the table or more phrases to use when your kid spits their salad out?

My Picky Eating Guide has that!

If you haven't grabbed it yet, DM me “picky" and it's yours.

Because even the bottom 1% can crush it.

Family dinners are linked to physical and mental h

Family dinners are linked to physical and mental health benefits…but not if those dinners are a nightmare, right?

💣 And I’ve got an unpleasant truth bomb to drop:

Picky eating isn’t the reason your dinners are terrible.

Your reaction to picky eating is. 😬

And your reaction - anxiety, questioning, bribing, threatening, exasperate sighing, is completely understandable.

We’re not taught how to deal with pickiness and it’s a stressful situation when your kid refuses yet another food they used to eat all the time. 😑

But we need to change the atmosphere before we see picky eating start to reverse.

That’s the first step in every picky eating program.
And it’s often the hardest!

You’re not sure how to make meals fun, peaceful, and stress-free.

You’re tongue-tied for a response when your kid yells out “Gross” or spits out food in disgust.

I know you’re craving a family meal that brings you closer together. And I want to give it to you.

That’s why my new (free!) guide covers exactly how to create a peaceful dinner for picky kids.

It shows you exactly what to do and say to guarantee improvements to the dinner mood in your house right away!

Send me a DM that says “GUIDE” and I’ll ensure you get the link to download it.

The phrase that makes me cringe on the inside:

🌱 “We’ve been trying to incorporate more plant-based meals”

Why do I cringe? Let’s look at the facts about eating for brain health.

✅ We need complete, easily absorbed protein for mental health.

It helps control blood sugar spikes and crashes that can dysregulate focus and mood.

It gives us the raw material for all those amazing brain chemicals that regulate mood and attention.

BUT…Plant-based proteins are often NOT absorbed as well as animal-based proteins. This isn’t my opinion. It’s just the truth.

✅Plant-based diets often lack zinc, B12, and Iron.

All 3 are heavily involved in brain health AND deficiencies in all 3 are more common in the ADHD population.

✅Plant-based diets often cause digestive upset (beans are the musical fruit, right?)

Gas and bloating impact how you feel and make it hard to focus on anything but your belly.

🤯 I know we’re bombarded with “plant-based = better” messages online, but when you’re trying to balance blood sugar, mood, and focus, it’s often a lot easier to focus on bumping up the basic proteins at mealtimes: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and (if it’s well-tolerated) dairy.

🥜 That’s not to say plant proteins should be avoided - nuts, seeds, and roasted chickpeas make great snacks that won’t cause a sugar rush.

🧠 It’s hard to know what’s best for your kid when a simple Google search of “ADHD Nutrition” throws millions of results at you.

I’m here to show parents that you don’t need to go to extremes to nourish your kid’s brain for optimal focus and energy.

Getting to a balanced diet is often as simple as intentionally including more of the specific foods your kid already likes - rather than trying to change their daily menu drastically.

Want more info on why a plant-based diet isn’t in my Nutrition Toolbox? Check out my latest blog (link in bio)

You’re 100% capable of reversing your child’s

You’re 100% capable of reversing your child’s pickiness.

You just need a bit of guidance and a boost of confidence to take the first steps.

I want to help you take that first step.

Using an approach that gets you:

-Kids that can’t wait to sit down and eat with you
-Meals that don’t end in bickering, yelling, or tears
-Kids that try new foods of their own volition, without using band-aid tactics like bribes or threats

Ready to get started?

I’ve got a new picky eating guide that shows you exactly how to get started

It’ll teach you:

-5 easy first steps guaranteed to make dinner with your kids more enjoyable, right away! And guess what? They’re all free! 😁

-Exact phrases to use when presenting new food or when kids reject food, so you’re never wondering how to reply in a way that won’t make things worse.

-15 kid-approved conversation starters that shift your focus from food to fun. These will have your family chatting and laughing together about fun stuff...not how much everyone’s eating.

I know you can crush picky eating without bribing, threats, or hiding veggies in smoothies.

I’ve done it myself and I’ve helped countless others do the same.

Now it’s your turn.

The guide is yours when you sign up via the link in my bio 😀

The BEST first move you can take to improve picky

The BEST first move you can take to improve picky eating:

Keep mealtimes positive.

Skeptical?

I get it. But think about this:

Remember your school days.

Which subjects did you learn fastest…

A) The ones taught by amazing, innovative teachers who made class time fun?

B) The ones with boring, miserable teachers who hated their jobs and bored you to tears with monotonous lectures?

Of course, it was A.

Most parents don’t realize learning to be an adventurous eater is LEARNING.

And learning ALWAYS happens faster and easier in a positive environment with maximum engagement.

If you go to the table with threats, bribes, & obvious frustration, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

When a teacher gets angry and impatient when a kid doesn't learn a math problem right away, it tends to delay learning.

Your negative reaction will impact your child’s ability to learn to eat new foods.

Yes, it is hard to stay positive - just like it's hard to explain a multiplication problem 10x in a row.

But you can do it.

Yes, their pickiness is annoying, but let’s look at the big picture:

They’ve got food.

They won't die if they don’t eat a veggie tonight.

So take a deep breath.

Accept that it might take a while and in the meantime, focus on making meals fun again.

→Chat about their favorite TV show, an upcoming event, or a book they’re reading.
→Play the ol’ favorites “Would you rather…”, “I-Spy”, and “20 Questions”.

When the pressure is off and “class” becomes fun, you might be surprised how quickly they learn to love broccoli.

Ready to jump head-first into positive meals and start enjoying dinner again?

Then it's time to grab my new guide:
"5 Simple Steps to Peaceful Dinners With Your Picky Eater"

You'll uncover:
👏5 easy first steps guaranteed to make dinner with your kids more enjoyable, right away!

🔥Specific phrases to use when presenting new food or after they reject new foods, so you're never stuck searching for the right thing to say.

🎉15 kid-approved conversation starters that shift your focus from food to fun.

Head to the link in my bio and sign up for your copy today.

Cheers to happy dinners!

The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Shawna Hughes, R.H.N. Please note that Shawna Hughes is not a dietitian, physician, pharmacist or other licensed healthcare professional. The information on this website is NOT intended as medical advice, nor is it intended to replace the care of a qualified healthcare professional. This content is not intended to diagnose or treat any diseases. Always consult with your primary care physician or licensed healthcare provider for all diagnoses and treatment of any diseases or conditions, for medications or medical advice as well as before changing your healthcare regimen.

COPYRIGHT © 2024 SHAWNA HUGHES NUTRITION. TORONTO KIDS' NUTRITIONIST. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. HEADSHOTS BY JIBBER MEDIA. FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS BY LUCY TRAN PHOTOGRAPHY. THEME BY LAUNCH IT