It marks almost a month since I stirred up a giant shitstorm with some commentary I made on one certain pink and gold sequin lunchbox.

In what will heretofore be known as #LunchBoxGate, I (unintentionally) started a conversation about the importance of messaging to our young girls, and in turn, that spurred multiple discussions on what exactly it means to help our kids lead healthy lives.

It’s a topic I had already tackled on my blog, long before this post went viral. I had interviewed an expert on the topic on Facebook and then broke that interview down to a helpful article, because this is always a topic that parents want to know more about.

But since #LunchBoxGate and all the feedback and discussion that followed–both positive and negative–I felt it was important to renew the conversation. This time, let’s get some more practical advice out of it.

After all, if we’re going to be having conversations about what it means to raise our kids with a healthy attitude toward their bodies, it’s important to teach them what to put in those bodies to fuel them.

After all, if we’re going to be having conversations about what it means to raise our kids with a healthy attitude toward their bodies, it’s important to teach them what to put in those bodies to fuel them.

That’s why I was so grateful to connect with Dr. Julia Nordgren.

Parents know some universal Truths when it comes to feeding kids:

1 – It’s hard to find time to cook.

2 – It’s hard to find time to cook for a family.

3 – It’s hard to find time to cook healthy food for a family.

4 – And it is most, most, most difficult to find time to cook healthy food for a family that they will actually eat.

Dr. Nordgren, a pediatrician and chef, has dedicated her career to teaching kids and their families how to eat healthy. Now a new cookbook author, she’s teaching the rest of us, too.

In “The New Family Table,” Dr. Julia Breaks down simple recipes that are made from healthy, whole ingredients–all of which are battle-tested by her own family, and which also get the doctor stamp of approval for health and nutrition.

In this episode we talk about:

+ Why healthy eating is harder for families than ever, but still doable

+ How to conquer time challenges and still cook well

+ Why it’s important to follow your calling, even if it’s logistically difficult

+ Healthy eating for kids and teenagers

+ How to raise kids with good body image

(By the way, my favorites from her book are the Brazilian Chicken & Rice Soup and the super-simple (but INCREDIBLE) “Benjamin” Broccoli. AMAZING.)

Listen to our whole conversation below, and while you’re there, don’t forget to click “Subscribe” to get the latest episodes sent right to your device!